Do's and Don'ts

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Do:
*Take breaks. Find what works for you, 20 minutes/5 minutes. 
*Get in the chair to write something everyday, preferable at the same time/regular schedule.
*Look for inspiration in daily life, in research, or from writing craft books.
*Write what comes to mind no matter the quality of the writing.
*Take the time to create a ‘book bible’ to record details you don’t want to forget. This can be character sheets, spreadsheets, sticky notes, rough drawings, etc. Whatever keeps you flowing but helps with consistency.
 

Don’t:
*Try to be perfect. - in your first draft OR your creative process
*Get bogged down in details/ get caught up in research for days 
*Get hung up on small details like names/colors/wardrobe/etc. Find a way to mark these fill them in later
*Treat it like a homework assignment or work project.
*Try to incorporate every writing technique you know
*Pidgeon hole or try to copy someone else’s process/style exactly. Try out many things! A good mentor will give you many options to find your process/style.