Implementation
Ok. Its the final of the five!
Recap time if you just signed up!
The Five ‘I’ of Story Creation
1. Intimidation
2. Inspiration
3. Ignition
4. Information
5. Implementation
If you haven't already - this is where you start writing!
Its not difficult, because I’ve prepped you for this by breaking your intimidation, giving you tips for inspiration, making you turn the key for the ignition, deciding your path for writing, taught you about information by introducing it as a currency and promoing the questions you need to ask.
Today is implementation:
This is when the plan, the passion and purpose come together!
You will be a writer after reading and implementing these things.
Your first piece may not win a Pulitzer prize. (Mine was a poem about my dog, when I was in third grade, and it was published in a vanity press before self publishing was inexpensive and common. Remember, I am older… I was going to say I’m older than then internet… but the idea of wireless communication was invented by Heddy Lamarr, a Hollywood starlet, and Jewish World War II refugee. She sketched it on the back of a napkin… in 1941. So I am not older than the internet... just older than Google. See the story here. Its more interesting than my first poem.)
But once you put those first words down on paper or digital paper... you are writing.
Let’s go into the mechanics of Implementation…
Its simply writing things down… which I hope you've been doing all along.
Now, take your writing assignment or idea for a story and start answering these questions…
1. Who
2. What
3. When
4. Where
5. Why
6. How
For non-fiction these questions will only have to be answered once.
For fiction, you’ll have to ask them much more often.
I’ll demonstrate...
For non-fiction:
1. Who
1. I'm writing this substack for people who want to be writers be don’t know how to start. If you have a specilized audience who you’re writing to, such as nuclear physiscists - it should go here, because I am not going to understand atomic maths. If you figure wrong, it goes boom… that's all I need to know about atomic maths.
2. What
1. This should be where your written work's mission statement or main idea goes.
3. When
1. How often? Or when does your assignment have to be finished?
4. Where
1. This can be where your assignment will end up. The end location will determine what the content, attitude and method of presentation. (Think about how a brochure for a business is different than internal memos for that business.)
5. Why
1. This answers the question of niche writing and the purpose of the written work. It is perfectly acceptable to answer this with, "Because I want this idea out of my head and I need space in the attic for something else!” (Sherlock Holmes descibes his brain as an attic, when Dr. Watson is shocked to learn that Holmes the genius detective doesn't know that the earth revolves around the sun. Bonus points if you caught that reference. Its from an original Conan Doyle text... not a movie or tv show.)
6. How
1. This is the moment, where if you choose you can do an outline of what you’re going to write about. Some people find this helpful - for some, its a creativity killer.
For non-fiction writers, answering these questions will help you get on track and break through the intimidation of writing something.
For Fiction Writers… you’ll get to answer these questions for your plot elements and your characters. It doesn't have to be done like this, but it will pay off when people ask you about your work in an elevator pitch.
An elevator pitch is a quick story you can give in about the same amont of time that you’d spend between floors in an elevator. (Usually less than three minutes. Most people prefer a one sentence, one minute pitch.)
You don't have to know all the details - but an elevator pitch is appreciated everywhere, whether in fiction or non-fiction.
Non-fiction elevator pitch…
Person: Oh you're a writer. What do you write?
Me: I specilize in historical fiction, but have experience in non-fiction, curriculum writing, journalism, science topics and have a Substack where I'm teaching writing tips for everyone called Chronic Writer.
Fiction elevator pitch…
Person: What is your novel about?
Me: Julia Venture and the Collision of Tomorrows is a fun steampunk style action adventure archaeology chase featuring science fiction and fantasy elements. Julia’s father Commander Venture goes missing and she must find him before fiends unleash the end of the world through misuse of a powerful ancient artifact!
Reminder: I’ll debut this novel when I have fifty paying subscribers. My target date for that is July 7, 2022.
I also have a conspiracy comedy series on Substack: The Tinfoil Fedora
If you can't subscribe with a payment, share to someone who can use my writing tips. Free subscriptions impact internet data and rank within Substack.
I also have a Tip Jar at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/inkslinger
Action step: Give me a line of your writing that answers one of the Five ‘W’s or a How!
Guess what you just did… the line you gave me… that's the start of your book!
You’re a writer now!
And your stories are awesome!
Til Thursday,
Chronic Writer