Nicholas Bate

Writing and Flow State.

Working on your novel? A tricky report to write? Troubled over how to respond to that e-mail? Get into the zone.

How to Find 30 minutes Extra each day to Write your Great Novel

1. Switch off passive TV and write.
2. Go down the pub 30 minutes later. Write before you depart.
3. Set the morning alarm to arise 30 minutes earlier. Run through the shower: then write.
4. Write at lunch-time.
5. But whatever: write. That book is bursting to get out.

The Ten Magazine Commandments

A new blog and some clear thinking on design.

Budding author?

Ideas that might help in the tough market for manuscript to print are here.

On writing

Top blogger and clear thinker Michael Wade tackles one aspect of the book world here (read the comments, too). Another aspect is the increasing difficulty of getting people to actually read. It's not that books aren't being bought: they are. But are they being read? Often not. Covey's 7 Habits is bought, but so often not read. Michael Porter on strategy is bought but so often not read. Why is this? It's pretty clear, of course . Since the invention of the book when it must have appeared an amazing concept which captured all of our attention, the book has beome an every-day commodity which must try and tempt us from films, TV, the bar our family and Life.

So: what is to be done? For me, I've been trying to make my books simpler and smaller; higher value per word. One aspect of this is considering design: more white space, better layout etc. Daniel Pink has taken this to a new level with his new book on careers: it's a comic book. It's targetted at young adults and I think will work very, very well. But it's a good read for all of us. And if you are an aspiring author it's a useful reminder of there's always something else which can be done to make it easier for the reader.

The Writer's 20

1. Clear the desk: totally. If necessary, put everything in a box and put it on the floor.
2. Sharpen four pencils.
3. Get a pad of paper.
4. Start writing.
5. Nothing will appear until you write.
6. You are not stuck-you need to put pencil to paper.
7. You are not blocked-you need to put pencil to paper.
8. You don't know whether it will be any good until you write.
9. Start. The car drew up. A shot rang out. She collapsed on platform 4. He was staggered to find the notebook. Whatever. Start.
10. No: it's not the weather. Nor your mother. You need to put pencil to paper.
11. Nor do you really need a new printer nor to clear your e-mail; you actually need to put pencil to paper.
12. He couldn't believe his luck. They pulled at each as they strolled the beach; would they, could they ever re-create this day? Whatever. Start.
13. Write fast.
14. Write 500 words.
15. Edit.
16. Add. Subtract.
17. Put pencil to paper.
18. It'll be OK
19. You can write. It's what you are meant to do.
20. So: write. Right now.

This is all you will ever need to be a great writer.

Top blogger, astute commentator and man-with-all-the-links-you-need Michael Wade has a perfect article on writing. Print it out (I know, I know) read it and act upon it. Your book WILL appear.