Steve Melton

I usually write an introduction. Sort of like a narrative outline of what's coming in the rest of the story. Next, I use an outline with Roman numerals, abcd, 1234 etc. Like the stuff they used to teach in grade school way back when the Earth was still cooling. I always think ahead, kind of like reading a road map of where I think the story should go.
Thinking ahead lends itself to many "ooooh yeah" moments. I consider these moments to be roadside attractions that I look forward visiting during the writing journey. I don't trust them to memory. I always scroll down to the next blank page and make notes on ideas, future scenes, dialogue, characters etc. I check them off as they are integrated into the story. There is always a page of ideas following the last page I am working on. That way I won't forget any potential future kernels of literary brilliance. For me, the best time to write is early in the morning before the sun comes up. My wife and kids are still in bed. The house is stone quiet with no distractions. A perfect time for the caffeine to kick in and start the old creative juices flowing. If I'm writing Christian literature, God gets all the credit. Other Christian writers can verity that If a writer is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, stuff just seems to flow through the old fingers and onto the page. The process is similar for secular works. Only I am always asking myself what I would like to see happen, how would I react to a situation, or what dialogue would I find interesting. I find editing to be painful. It's often like cutting off your own arm or leg. But it has to be done because everything written isn't always brilliant literature. Being objective about my work is impossible for me. One trick I use to help determine quality is to put a finished work aside for a time. The longer the better. Then read it again. If sounds so good that it seems like someone else wrote it, it just might be good. One last thought; It's always a good idea to write about things one knows about, or is familiar with. If there is a part of a work or a subject that I am not familiar with, I research it exhaustively before I include it in my writing. There is always that one person out there who knows everything there is to know about about DNA mapping and chromosome splicing techniques for the Peruvian rock snail. You don't want them writing on their blog, "This work is a waste of time and money. Steve Melton obviously knows nothing about Peruvian rock snail genetics."

Yes. It was the Adventures of Dick and Jane. You know. Way back when writing on cave walls was popular. I only remember one line from this famous work. "See the toy jump out at Tyke." I think it was a Jack in the Box that scared the pee out of the family pooch.