I keep thinking about the statistic that 80% of Americans want to write a book.

Is that you?

If so, I have a simple way to help you get started.

I call it the Alice-in-Wonderland method and there are only two steps.

Step 1: You need to just get something down on paper, out of your head.

One of my teachers in college “made” us write daily in a journal.

We had to fill the entire page.

If we couldn’t think of anything to write, we could just write, “Nothing. Nothing. Nothing,” over and over.

So write for five little minutes.

You probably have a germ of a story idea you can suss out.

But, no worries if you don’t.

Do you have a view out your window you can play with or maybe a character in mind (a neighbor even) that just intrigues you.

If you can’t think of anything, write “nothing, nothing, nothing” until something else pops up.

Set the timer for five minutes and just write.

Spill the words onto the paper or the Google Doc or Word document.

Get it all out.

You’re going to go back later and tease out the good stuff.

And there will be good stuff there.

Step 2: This is where you fall down the rabbit hole.

Look at what you’ve written.

Does that character still intrigue you?

Start another five-minute exercise and interview them.

Let them tell you what their story is.

How old are they?

Where did they come from?

What do they hate doing?

What would they like to do?

What’s their BAG (Big Audacious Goal)?

In your writing, is there a word or a memory or an image that you want to explore?

Start another exercise writing about that.

All you’re doing now is writing and reading and exploring an idea.

Let yourself tumble down that rabbit hole.

That’s all.

Here are a couple of rules.

Rule 1: Start your writing exercise for just five minutes.

No more.

Like with any exercise, don’t jump in full tilt.

Start slowly.

Start as you intend to continue.

Make it sustainable.

Gradually increase your writing time.

Like any muscle, your writing muscle will get stronger the more you use it.

But for now, stick to five minutes.

By doing this, you’re going to get familiar with the story you want to write.

You’re going to get excited about it.

If you’re not excited about the idea, then go back to Step 1 and write for five minutes about anything.

Keep doing this until you’ve stumbled upon the jewel of an idea that does excite you.

Rule 2: Don’t worry about grammar, spelling or punctuation.

How many times have you heard that?

That’s because it’s true.

All this that I’m saying to you, I’m saying to me, too.

I’m toying with a new middle-grade story idea.

It’s a daunting task, bringing new life into the world.

But it’s also a big adventure.

If you want to write, you start writing.

It’s really that simple.

And that difficult.

But this Alice-in-Wonderland method may work for you—and for kids, too.

If you are one of the 80% who wants to write a book, give yourself this opportunity.

Think of it as a gift to yourself.

Bucket list items aren’t to be trifled with.

Make a plan.

Work on it.

Get it done.

I’ll share more in future posts about next steps.

Until next week,

~ Gail

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