The Dreaded Blank Page

Considering that I have just completed the first four chapters of my new book, I think it would be appropriate to say something about the process of writing.
Ernest Hemingway once said that the scariest thing he ever saw was a blank page. Once again, there is wisdom in his words. A blank page is not only intimidating, it is frustrating because after a while it feels like it is sitting there laughing at you. And if you are an absolute perfectionist like myself, everything you put on the page may appear to be ridiculous, and you will most certainly change it later.
So I have a few tips for you writers out there:

First Drafts are always bogus. You will never write a complete novel the first time around. But even if you do, it's really just a method for brainstorming. Look back over your ideas, polish some off, scrap a few, and bring in some others. First Drafts are good for future laughs, though.

Develop backstories and characters before starting. This is a big one. You want to have some sort of direction, and having a full explanation to motives and unexpected events will help you to pull the story together. You don't want to have things be vague or unexplained.

Chapter outlines are your friend. These will be a lifesaver if you get stuck. It really helps to completely right out a basic summary of the book, from start to finish. Then, separate certain events into chapters, and keep it all together. If you are unsure of where to go, just pull out the document and your writer's block is instantly diminished.

So is a thesaurus. Try to avoid using the same words over and over. It gives the sense that you truly are an amateur, and your readers will not be impressed. Using interesting vocabulary helps to enrich the context of the story; just try not to go overboard with the long words, or it will look like you're trying to show off.

Notebooks are great for experimentation. I always try to work with a notebook first, because it feels less judgmental and plus, you can cross out your mistakes and replace them with newer ideas. It will help you to get a better grip on the project if you have a clear view of how it's actually coming together. The only downside is that you have to copy the notebook pages onto the computer, and this is a tedious process.

Give it some time, but don't procrastinate. You can't rush art. If you are stuck, take some time to relax, and let it come to you. However, it would help to establish a certain type of schedule so you don't get off-track. Otherwise, you may find the tone of the book has rapidly changed, or certain events make no sense at all.