Today's writers can learn a lot from Balzac. His fame as a writer is due to the many novels, stories, and commentary he produced during his short lifetime. His "Human Comedy" is breathtaking in scope, even though unfinished. One wonders how the final product would have looked if he had lived long enough to complete his masterpiece. The great care he took in gathering all the information available on a topic and then digesting it to produce his great social commentaries in fiction cannot be easily repeated. Here are a few writing tips that are based on the life and activities of this literary genius.
1. Choose a Good Writing Environment
Balzac's writing habits can only be described as extreme. He used to start his working day at around midnight. Clad in a long white gown, similar to that of a monk, and wearing a long gold chain around his neck, he would begin his daily writing. He would continue to write for the next twelve hours, pausing only to drink cups of black coffee, the same beverage that would ultimately lead to his early death. He probably chose the dark hours of the night because of the quiet and the freedom from interruptions at that hour. At around noon on the following day, he would finally call it a day. Many writers would benefit from writing under such conditions.
2. Rest Is Important
His ability to work for such a long period of time was probably because of the regularity of his habits. He took great care to go to sleep at the same hour each day. Even when he was entertaining his friends, or taking part in social engagements, he would return to his home whenever his bedtime approached. At six o'clock he would go to bed and wake up six hours later to begin his working day. He knew that a writer needed mental and physical rest even more than a worker whose job did not entail such hard mental labor. All writers should ensure that they get the amount of sleep that their constitution requires.
3. Think Big
Balzac is remembered for, among other things, the sweeping panorama of French society that is the "Human Comedy." His intention was to draw a word picture of all aspects of France and its inhabitants. He would draw his characters from the high and the low, the strong and the weak, the good and the bad. Unfortunately, he was only able to complete a few of the books planned, before his untimely end. A writer should be able to make plans just as the one envisioned by
Balzac. He should be able to go beyond the novel he is writing and think of it as a part of something greater, something that would live long after he has ceased to exist.
4. Networking
Even though Balzac concentrated almost exclusively on his writing, he did not ignore the social interaction that is needed for good mental health. When his working day was over, he would join his friends and participate actively in the social life of his peers. His quick wit and power of repartee were greatly appreciated by the salons that he frequented. A writer should be a part of society as well, observing and making note of anything that could serve as grist for his mill. Only after long hours of studying life would it be possible to make a concrete observation that has a solid basis of fact.
Balzac can be described as one of the masters of French literature. His contributions were many, and his place in the literary pantheon is assured. His dedication to his craft and his ability to conceive great projects can teach writers to love their profession and to go beyond their comfort zones.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
3 Writing Tips to Make You a Better Writer
If you’re a writer, you’ll know that one of the hardest things for a writer is to get down to work. Most of us waste valuable time and procrastinate before getting to work. We all know that our livelihood depends on our production of articles, stories, scripts or books. In other words, if we don’t write, we do not earn. We need to develop a fool-proof method that will enable us to sit down and write, impervious to external stimuli and free of stress. Here are three tips that can help you to be a more productive writer and to achieve whatever you propose in the way of words.
1. Set an alarm
One of the ways in which you can accustom yourself to sit down and start writing is to set an alarm. If you would like to start writing at 9:00 in the evening, you should set your alarm to go off at that hour. When the alarm sounds, you should at first consciously, through self-discipline, force yourself to sit down and begin the day’s work. After a few days, possibly a week or so, you will begin to associate the sound of the alarm with your writing desk and the work you need to do. Pavlov’s discovery is not only for the dogs, after all. You can use this simple technique to drill into your consciousness that you are a writer and that you need to write.
2. Prepare The Terrain
Another thing you should also do is to get everything ready before you sit down and write. When the alarm sounds, you should not have to deal with anything that can interrupt your train of thoughts. You would probably say to yourself “Maybe I should first see if I have any new or urgent e-mails waiting for me before I get down to write.” Interruptions of this type can quickly lead you away from your writing mindset. To prevent this from happening, you should have everything you’ll need on your writing desk beforehand. If you write like me, with pen and paper, you should have your favorite pen and writing pad on the desk, with a hardcopy of the previous day’s work beside it. An outline of the article or book chapter should also be available if needed.
3. No Interruptions
You should also make sure that there are no interruptions when you are writing. If possible, switch off your Internet connection or lower the volume of your speakers so that only visual reminders or notifications are visible. Your family should also respect your writing hours. They will know that after 9:00 o’clock you would not be available except for dire emergencies. This would enable you to keep your mind on your article or story and not on anything else.
I have followed these three writing tips for some time and, even though they appear simple, they have a quiet power. You’ll find that when 9:00 o’clock or whatever time you choose comes around, you’ll go to your desk and begin writing. Please share your comments on this article, along with any tips that could be of use to other writers.
1. Set an alarm
One of the ways in which you can accustom yourself to sit down and start writing is to set an alarm. If you would like to start writing at 9:00 in the evening, you should set your alarm to go off at that hour. When the alarm sounds, you should at first consciously, through self-discipline, force yourself to sit down and begin the day’s work. After a few days, possibly a week or so, you will begin to associate the sound of the alarm with your writing desk and the work you need to do. Pavlov’s discovery is not only for the dogs, after all. You can use this simple technique to drill into your consciousness that you are a writer and that you need to write.
2. Prepare The Terrain
Another thing you should also do is to get everything ready before you sit down and write. When the alarm sounds, you should not have to deal with anything that can interrupt your train of thoughts. You would probably say to yourself “Maybe I should first see if I have any new or urgent e-mails waiting for me before I get down to write.” Interruptions of this type can quickly lead you away from your writing mindset. To prevent this from happening, you should have everything you’ll need on your writing desk beforehand. If you write like me, with pen and paper, you should have your favorite pen and writing pad on the desk, with a hardcopy of the previous day’s work beside it. An outline of the article or book chapter should also be available if needed.
3. No Interruptions
You should also make sure that there are no interruptions when you are writing. If possible, switch off your Internet connection or lower the volume of your speakers so that only visual reminders or notifications are visible. Your family should also respect your writing hours. They will know that after 9:00 o’clock you would not be available except for dire emergencies. This would enable you to keep your mind on your article or story and not on anything else.
I have followed these three writing tips for some time and, even though they appear simple, they have a quiet power. You’ll find that when 9:00 o’clock or whatever time you choose comes around, you’ll go to your desk and begin writing. Please share your comments on this article, along with any tips that could be of use to other writers.
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