Writing Help

It's 2017 and we are still writing fiction novels like it's 1999 - sit down at the computer and start typing.  Do you have a block?  You will sit there and stare at your screen until it passes.
Well I am here to tell you today that literature has help.  That's right, whether you are writing romance novels or trying to write the great murder mystery novel, there is help available today that was not there just a few years ago.
For example, are you a terrible typist?  I think that many creative people find that getting words on the page (or screen) to be the worst part.  I mean, if we could just talk and tell a story, it would likely help the ideas to keep flowing and maybe that pesky writer's block would just go away.  If this describes you, then stop everything and search for a dictation app right now.  The technology is getting really good, you can just talk away in your normal voice and pace - and the book will write itself.  Of course, it's good to proofread it later to make sure - but as long as the ideas are flowing, just keep talking.
Another advantage to a dictation app may be the possibility of getting your book digital more quickly.  What I mean by that is there are websites where readers can read books online.  Many of them are free to read novels.  So if you can just talk into your phone, and then post it on a website, people can read your novel online right away.  Another break through in technology.
Is the silence killing you in your house?  Or do you live near a noisy park, fire station, or school?  Why not try listening to ambient music while you write?  A cheap bluetooth speaker and some mild instrumental music can drown out that background noise for you.  I bought mine for less than fifteen dollars, and use my phone.  Simple and cheap.
Try tracking your time.  I use the timer on my phone (look in your alarm clock app) and simply give myself a deadline for this chapter or sequence in the novel.  I have a character who needs to have this particular issue resolved in the next hour or two.  I find that this helps me to focus on getting something done, and will help me avoid distractions.
What about the computer you use for typing?  Is it also your home computer, the kids homework computer, and the research computer?  Well, research is a big part of any novel, especially if you are using a setting you are not familiar with or a real time in the past.  You will need to have internet access to do research of course.  But there is a danger of getting distracted by all the other things that you have on this computer.  Internet banking?  Don't do it!  Focus on the novel you are writing.  We will address this more in the next article.  For now let's stick to research.
Make sure that your research is using reliable sources.  Maybe make sure you can find the same number twice before using it.  For example, if you have a romance novel and the ending is at the top of Mount Everest for the wedding (clearly a terrible idea for a romance novel, I know), make sure you have the accurate height of that mountain before adding it to your story.  Check, and double-check.  Another huge advantage to life in 2017, that information is just a click away!