In a post on the Stage 32 blog, Raven Riley suggests an experiment to finding the right mix of foundational elements for your story. “Writing is a process of iteration and collaboration,” she says. “When you try to cut either of those things out of the process, you end up with a half-done, half-hearted version of what your story could have been.”
As an example, if you are trying to decide between first person POV and third person omniscient, Riley suggests writing 5-10 pages in each perspective. Let both versions sit for a few days, then return to them. Consider the pros and cons of each approach, and choose the POV that feels better for your story.
“This works for any writing choice you’re facing,” Riley says. “If you have five different ideas, now you have five different sets of variables to test and you can get to writing. This is game-changing for writers who spin their wheels when making creative choices.” This approach helps you spend more time writing than thinking about writing. It also gives you a bias towards action and gets you to the editing phase faster.
