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Get a Notebook and Use It!
How many times have you seen or read something and thought it would make a great idea for a story, to forget the details before you go home? A notebook allows you to jot down thoughts, feelings, pictures, metaphors, descriptions, and outlines - anything that serves as a storehouse of ideas and helps you with what you write. Every writer needs a notebook.
You can, of course, use an electronic device like a cell phone or tablet to take notes, but I think nothing beats a paper notebook small and light enough to carry with you anywhere. Whether expensive or cheap, plain or lined, with white or colored paper, a notebook allows you to capture and record those fleeting thoughts that come to you unexpectedly during your day. You can also sketch out plans and maps, and paste or pin any photos, postcards, tickets, and diagrams you want to keep for your story.
Make sure your laptop is small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket or bag, and not too heavy for you to always carry with you. When you find the type of notebook you like, buy a bundle. Take one with you and keep the rest in your bedroom or office. If you're paranoid about losing it, photocopy it every now and then as a backup. Put your name and contact details in the foreground and write that you are offering a reward for the return.
Keep a Decent Pen on You
While the online versions are useful, I prefer to use a good printed dictionary and thesaurus. You can go through them in bed or when you are short of inspiration and ideas, and use them to expand your vocabulary.
Whenever you are in doubt about the meaning of a word, research it. This includes any words that you think you know the meaning of, but when someone asks you, you are not sure. As you read through your daily life, jot down any words you are unfamiliar with or never use in your notebook and look up them later. Work every day to consciously add new words to your vocabulary.
Buy the Best Computer and Printer You Can Afford
The computer is the most expensive item you use, so before you buy, do your research carefully. Getting something that you love to use is important. I once bought a cheap laptop to save money, and hated using it so much that I became a lot less productive. In the end, I gave it away and invested in a laptop that I love. I now positively appreciate opening it and getting to work.
I also struggled for two years with a slammed printer, which regularly stuck, ran out of ink, and shredded pages at a painfully slow rate. My life was revolutionized when I bought a printer - a reliable, fast scanner - and it didn't even cost much more than the old one!
Block Out Your Writing Time in a Diary
I use an office journal to mark writing days and time slots so that I don't book other appointments there. I can also write down my writing goals. If you need to make another appointment during your writing hours, cross out the slot and be sure to reschedule it immediately. Try to block out regular hours that work for you.
Many people now have electronic calendars, and these can help you by sending an alert that it's your time to write. If you don't have an electronic journal, try setting an alarm on your clock or cell phone.
Investing in a Desk and Chair
Make sure your desk and chair are at a comfortable height so that you don't experience back, neck and shoulder pain when spending time at the computer. Invest in the best chair and the best workstation possible. If possible, make the space welcoming and attractive, so that you want to go; if your office looks like it was hit by a bomb and is covered in dust and debris and half-drunk coffee cups (trust me my office looked like this at times!), you may subconsciously find yourself in avoid it.
You can get special ergonomic chairs that help you sit better and avoid strain on your back, neck and shoulders. Don't use that rickety old chair with the wobbly leg and bar digging into your back - find something better.
Put Up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ Sign
Make sure your family, friends, and roommates don't bother you when you write. A writer I know puts on noise-canceling headphones, and everyone knows not to ask him anything when he's wearing them.
Place a do not disturb sign on the door, turn your phone off or put it on silent, do not answer the doorbell, and tell people you know not to contact you at certain times because you will be working.
Ask people to support you in your writing by giving you time and space. You can also try writing when no one is around: early in the morning before anyone is awake, or late at night if you are a night owl.
Surround Yourself with Great Books
My office is full of books and I refer to them often when I write. If I'm stuck with a dialogue scene and feel like it's woody and lifeless, I think of writers who write great dialogue - Evelyn Waugh or Anne Tyler, for example - and research conversations to see why they work. and what is wrong with mine. If I find a description to be dull, I look at writers who use a good description - Michael Ondaatje and Thomas Hardy come to mind. If I feel that my writing is lacking enough tension, I watch a captivating passage from a thriller - perhaps by Michael Crichton or Ruth Rendell. You can learn more from reading than from anything else, so don't be afraid to look at good texts for inspiration and good skills.
Make sure you have classic, contemporary, and genre books. Also buy some on writing. Buy as many books as possible. Remember that by buying books you are supporting other writers and that someday you may want others to buy your books!
You can also purchase eBooks in electronic format for your eBook reader or tablet. Many of these are cheaper than the print versions, and sometimes you can get classics for free. You have no excuse not to have read these great books that have influenced generations of writers until today.
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