The first step to becoming a writer and writing a novel is to make oneself write something every day
You must write every day; the amount doesn't matter, as long as you write daily. It's best to create a writing training system that suits you.
Many people get stuck in the wrong approach to writing, such as memorizing dictionaries and grammar, waiting for the right financial and time conditions, or even planning to major in Chinese literature... Only to discover that they still can't write well.
Writing isn't scientific research; it depends on practical experience and gaining experience points. Therefore, you need to write frequently to keep overcoming challenges and achieving insights. Consequently, setting up a writing training system that suits you is much more important than memorizing things you don't know how to apply.
Any writing training system involves the three stages of input, processing, and output. I use five micro habits to link these stages effectively.
Record your life, manage your time
I,随手记: Life takes our youth, but we capture stories
Let me share a short story. Ten years ago, I bought my first home with a tight budget and many demands, which intimidated many real estate agents. However, there was one young agent who stood out. He called me the most often and had an exceptional memory, always remembering every detail of our meetings.
Later, the house was purchased. I told the young man he had a brain like an octa-core processor. He showed me his work notes. When I turned to the page about "Mr. Ye," I was amazed — every time we met, whether I was in a good mood, how many times I smiled, it was all documented, enough to make my date jealous.
When I look through other customers' information, it gets even more interesting. Details about who went abroad, who wants to upgrade, who got married, and who had a second child... It covers all the bases, like a comprehensive gossip book.
I've always kept this in mind and learned a valuable lesson — memory and inspiration can be unreliable; it's the gradual accumulation of experiences that is truly dependable.
Similarly, writing requires recording. Life is worth documenting because it is a treasure trove, the source of all writing material. Remember this: to write well, you must first learn to record, and recording is a form of writing.
A classic example is Somerset Maugham, who carried paper and pen with him from the age of 18, amassing 15 volumes of notes over 50 years. Molière, no matter what he wore, kept a small notebook in his sleeve to secretly jot down the conversations of passersby. Henrik Ibsen loved visiting cafes, where he would pretend to read newspapers while covertly observing people. Jack London would write down ideas on small slips of paper and cover his room with them. Nikolai Gogol took it to the extreme, even copying down the menu when dining with friends.
In essence, recording is the simplest form of writing. Anytime, anywhere, a good idea, an interesting scene, a touching phrase, or a great reading summary is worth jotting down, and then regularly organizing and storing in your personal database.
Two, Diary: 15-Minute Pulse Time Management
A diary is also a form of documentation. However, the purpose of writing a diary isn't to complain but to solve problems. The main issue that writing addresses is time management. I spend 15 minutes each day writing a diary, and it's a continuous record of my day.
When writing, a 流水账 doesn't seem like a good thing, but it is quite suitable for a diary. It can reveal efficiency pitfalls.
For the format, I recommend listing "time period + significant events", for example:
10:30-12:30 Write the May journal column on the topic of building a writing database
15:00-16:30 Prepare the lecture notes and PPT for the weekend live class. Topic: Practicing Writing and Setting Style: Good Language Has Its Own Distinctive Mark;
16:45-18:00 Reviewing and grading last week's student assignments;
Refined translation
We'll notice that from noon to 3 PM, there's a large gap often filled with trivial tasks or checking the phone. This is a flaw in time management that needs to be addressed and continuously improved.
We should treat time as a miserly shopkeeper, never being generous with it.
Processing: Transforming information into knowledge, ensuring nothing is lost
Three, hearing, seeing, knowing, and doing: using traditional methods to create a personal database
However, the record is just the start; it also needs to be summarized and transformed, which requires an effective cognitive model. In my opinion, a sustainable and actionable model must be simple.
I greatly appreciate Xunzi's concept of "Wen Jian Zhi Xing," which posits that learning must progress through four stages: hearing, seeing, knowing, and doing
1. hear
It's second-hand information and knowledge, heard from other sources.
2, to see
Personally witnessing and experiencing something provides firsthand information and knowledge. Together, seeing and hearing form the foundation of learning.
3. Knowledge
In other words, understanding. The Feynman Technique has gained significant popularity over the past couple of years, with its core principle being "teach to learn" — if you can explain a concept to a beginner in your own words, then you have truly grasped it. If the beginner doesn't understand or becomes confused, you should revisit the material, relearn, and reteach until the beginner comprehends it.
4, go on foot
In other words, practice. Action is the ultimate goal and endpoint of organizing knowledge, and it represents the highest stage. Through the process of action, new insights and experiences are gained, thus initiating a new cycle.
This model is highly self-consistent and has been passed down for millennia. I organize and refine the information I record daily through these four steps, and store it in my personal database. For example, see the table below (please rotate your phone 90 degrees):
As an example, consider the second experience in the table: meeting a friend for breakfast at a fast food restaurant and noticing a waitress who brought her child to work.
She works hard, but she has to secretly criticize the children who don't do their homework, behind her supervisor's back. She whispers, "Are you studying for me? No, you're studying for yourself. If you develop good habits, you'll naturally come to love learning." The child clearly doesn't appreciate her efforts and responds with various forms of resistance.
My heart skipped a beat: This sentence sounds so familiar, passed down from one generation to the next. Does this mother really believe it?
Later, I went to the nearby coffee shop to wait for a friend, and there was a child not far away. His mother was chatting with a close friend, while he was engrossed in reading a book. The challenges of a humble background, the meaning of low-level effort, the subtle influence of nurturing, and the true advantage of resources... I have never understood them so vividly and clearly.
The contrast I observed between these two mother-child pairs is what I "see", the emotions and insights it inspires are what I "know", and my efforts to more effectively support the child's development are what I "do" (refer to the summary in the table for details).
These records and reflections are not only valuable for writing but also enrich one's life.
Output: Quick and steady progress; one fish, many dishes
Four, micro-practice: the compounding effect of writing 100 words daily
The fourth step, micro-practice, is the core of this training system and marks the beginning of the output phase.
After leading story writing workshops for many years, I've noticed a common pattern: most beginners are often overwhelmed by their own enthusiasm. They start writing with high confidence and energy, eager to complete a major work in one night. However, they eventually realize they can't finish it, leading to anxiety, helplessness, and a loss of confidence.
I know for sure that relying on motivational talks and pep talks won't help. Instead, you should scale down your goals until they are achievable.
I have a morning routine that I've been following for many years — posting a short piece of text to warm up my brain and also to encourage input. I call this “micro-practice”. The idea is to develop a habit with a small, manageable goal, taking quick, small steps, and eventually turning small changes into significant ones.
I introduced this method to those who struggle with persistence, leading them to do daily micro-practices in the course's community. As expected, many people managed to stick with it. I chose three categories to demonstrate:
First category: Dry goods sharing
I've always recommended starting with the area you're most proficient in. This is the best way to strengthen your competitive advantage.
I once read Wang Zengqi, and found his insights on writing style and literary atmosphere to be incredibly profound, which inspired me to do a small writing exercise:
Wang Zengqi stated that the beauty of writing lies in being "light yet flavorful." In other words, use common language to express ideas that are rarely written about. Here is the original quote:
Good language isn't strange or peculiar; it's not filled with obscure adjectives that, as Lu Xun said, 'no one understands.' Instead, it's ordinary language infused with new ideas, expressing what everyone feels but hasn't articulated.
In Wang's "Receiving the Precepts," there is a line — "They are of age, and it's not that they lack feelings. It's just like a thin cloud that drifts by, unable to bring rain."
We've spoken each character, but together they convey something different. Composure, artistic conception, and aftertaste are all found between the lines.
Second category: Book Excerpts and Reviews
Sharing your daily reading and reflections is also a great source of "micro-practice." It not only motivates you to keep reading but also enhances your practical knowledge.
For instance, one day while reading The Paris Review, I came across Nabokov's card writing method, found it fascinating, and decided to make a book excerpt and share it as a mini writing exercise
If we were to choose the writer most enamored with cards in the 20th century, it would undoubtedly be Nabokov. He believed that cards were the ideal medium for writing. In 1967, a journalist from The Paris Review interviewed him and uncovered his distinctive "card writing method":
Mr. Nabokov's writing process involves initially drafting short stories and novels on index cards. Throughout the writing, he frequently shuffles the cards to avoid following a linear plot sequence. Each card undergoes numerous revisions, and once the writing is complete, the final order of the cards is set. (The Paris Review)
Third category: Observation and Record Keeping
Writing demands insight, and to achieve this, one must first learn to observe. Literature is rooted in life but transcends it, so let's begin by documenting our experiences.
One winter, I met a foreign couple at a convenience store. They left their stroller outside and went in, leading to a series of interesting encounters that I decided to document
I was buying breakfast, and there was a couple of foreigners in front of me. They parked their stroller at the door before entering the convenience store, with the baby still inside! I went in to remind them that it was very unsafe, but they just smiled and said, "It will be fine soon."
My friend in Denmark told me that even during the coldest winter days, a line of strollers would be parked outside cafes, with the children freezing while their parents chatted inside, enjoying themselves. Initially, my friend was shocked, wondering, "Do they have such big hearts?"
The subjects for micro-writing practice are limitless, including personal reflections, memories, photos, inspiring quotes, poetry, movie and documentary reviews, children's adorable moments, class notes, and food critiques... all of these can be used. Most importantly, this habit will have a profound impact and add significant value to your writing journey:
Each character represents progress, as it is the result of thought and training. Taking 100 selfies won't improve your skills at all, but "micro-practice" can.
2. Fragmented writing, when accumulated, forms a book. As mentioned earlier, Nabokov's "card writing method" involves writing a little each day, which can eventually be compiled into a complete work.
3. Create a writing "parts library". Thanks to daily reading, thinking, recording, and writing, I can easily access these materials when preparing lessons or writing. For instance, if I search for "character", the exercises and insights on character writing appear, ready for use, making the process both precise and efficient.
4. Every character has a compounding effect. Anything that can accumulate also has compound interest. Writing 100 words each day is not only a visible sign of persistence, but also an invisible investment in life. If you persist long enough, you will surely receive a rich reward.
Five, weekly answer: driven by questions, reverse-engineered into writing, multiple uses from a single resource
By developing the habit of writing daily, you can consistently produce articles. However, selecting a topic isn't always easy, and many people struggle at this stage.
We can think in reverse: let questions guide topic selection. Regularly visit Q&A platforms to find questions in your area of expertise; those with high engagement and views make for excellent topics.
After providing an answer, refine it further, modify the introduction and conclusion, add a title, and you have a complete article. This way, you can make the most of a single piece of content. With more articles, a book is just around the corner.
The five steps outlined above, ranging from daily to weekly activities, including recording, time management, knowledge management, writing practice, and compiling fragments into a complete article, form a comprehensive writing cycle.
Finally, let's review and summarize the core logic of this training system together:
1. Focus on deep cultivation and excel in one task;
2. Observe and record, ensuring every grain is accounted for;
3. First break it down into smaller parts, then reassemble those parts into a whole
4. One operation, multiple outputs;
5. Break down your goals, maintain a steady output, and become friends with time.
Let's introduce the software and hardware used in this system
Hardware: mobile phone and computer
2. Software: Note-taking software + Fixed template
There are numerous note-taking software options available, including well-established ones like Evernote, Youdao Cloud Notes, and OneNote, as well as newer alternatives such as Notion and Obsidian. I recommend doing your research and trying them out to find the one that best suits your needs.
Additionally, utilize the template feature of note-taking software to keep diaries and organize observations and reflections. This makes it easy to use daily and serves as your process assistant.
This system isn't universally applicable; it's just better suited for me. Everyone can take what they need and develop a writing training system that works for them. Regardless of its final form, the core remains the three stages of input, processing, and output.
Once you have your own writing training system, your ideas and topics will flow endlessly, and writing will feel as natural and comfortable as sleeping and eating. Congratulations, this means that writing has become an integral part of your life, and you have become someone who can draw inspiration from everyday experiences.
Published on April 25, 2023 at 16:46・IP location: Zhejiang
更多回答
一个普通人,不论身高、体重、颜值、学历、语文水平、父母关系、阅读量、写作量等等在写作前都不重要,但在立志成为一个作者(仅限于网文小说作者)之后,就得具备以下的能力:
一基础能力:
- 收集自己的喜欢的故事及內容
- 每日要固定输出5000字以上
- 善于聆听別人的修改意见,并筛选良好的意见用以完善自己的小说
- 勤于阅读及修改自己的作品
- 务必要知道自己的作品与平台佳作的区別
- 培养及优化自己的写作习惯,如自己多去写,测试出自己适合写那些內容?写多少字后要休息?写不出来时,要找什么样的內容来继续?
- 永远不要熬夜,良好的睡眠习惯能让作者的大脑保持清醒
- 要在没能靠写小说养活自己之前,要解决自己的温饱
很多小说作者,多数是自己写的小说,自己不看,而想让別人阅读且得出修改意见,最好还想別人给他修改,真的是想让別人把他的丑作变成畅销作,这种想法绝不可能在自己的脑子里产生,百害无一利。
一定要知道自己的内容与平台优质内容的区別,常规方法是多精读平台优质内容,从而形成一种对优质内容的判断力,但大多数小白不具备,可以通过AI的方式来辩別。
找到同类VIP各项评分高的作品,与自己的内容作对比,让AI(诸如GPT、Cladue等算力)评分:
就这样修改方向就有了,改完再评分,改到评分相差无几为止。
二高级技能:
- 能在一天之內,阅读多本百万字数的畅销小说,并能讲出主角的经历
- 对阅读过的小说,能复写出30%以上的內容
- 总结并时刻优化出自己的写作系统,如自己适合写的內容;写不出来时,有不同的內容以供选择;想到什么內容就能记下来;时刻保持写作时大脑高速运转
要做到第1点,最快的方法就是用GPT4来「粗读」小说:
GPT一次只能上传约100万字以内的文本内容,一次可以阅读8章,然后「继续」就能再读8章,相当于是200万字变成了20万字,20万字当中又只用关注主角线即可,那就2万字左右。
阅读小说用到的Prompt(经过笔者的千锤百炼得出):
有些作者是用的AI工具或者是自身具有跳读速读的能力,阅读小说专门的阅读或写作AI工具,可以到知乎知学堂的最新公开课:AI工具训练营学习,找助教老师领取AI写作工具体验一下。
点击上面的卡片,添加工作人员领取AI工具体验和教程,我常用到资源:
如果拥有高级技能,即不需要基础能力,目前所有的白金级作者,都是具备高级技能中的其二,只有最高级的白金作者,才能全部高级技能。
大多数作者,都是只拥有基础能力之其五。
这是网文作者的全步,看看自己能走到那一步。
其中一步,就是AI工具折腾起来很麻烦,如果想要强大功能以及即搭建即用的AI环境,推荐以下三个途径:
A. AI 云原生:
https://aicloud.mygptmeta.com/
B.渗透智能-ShirtAI:
C.GPTMeta全球大模型API:
三成为作家要解决的问题:
- 自己在未能靠写书挣钱前,如何解决温饱和正常的睡眠的问题?
- 如何让自己每日固定产出5k+的字数?
- 如何让自己写一本小说能每天固定更新5k+字数,一直保持一个月更新150k+字数?,一年稳定更新1800k+字数呢?
笔者的建议:
1.自己在未能靠写书挣钱前,如何解决温饱和正常的睡眠的问题?
如果是学生,可以靠着父母的供养来兼顾学习以及写小说。
如果已经是社会工作者,那就得有一技之长,来支持自己写小说,最好考公务员、老师、事业单位等,像作家当时明月(《明朝那些事儿》的作者),就是公务员。
如果是连工作都没有的,可以靠老婆供养,像唐家三少,就是那样的例子,但是唐家三少本身一年就回本了,所以可以让老婆养一年,如何能成就成,不成就得自找工作以活。
2.如何让自己每日固定产出5k+的字数?
寻找自己善长写的题材,有些人写玄幻写不好,但写都巿现实风写得好,小说风格各异,总有一种风格是可以日产5K+,不要去问別人自己适合写什么?只要自己坚持去写一个月,就知道自己适合写什么了?
写玄幻卡半天,写武侠卡半天,写悬念不卡反快,中国小说的风格各异,但有一样是目前的发展方向——奇幻。
- 如果自己适合写都巿风,就得写奇幻都巿风
- 如果自己适合写武侠,就得写奇幻武侠
- 如果自己适合写古言,就得写奇幻古言
3.如何让自己写一本小说能每天固定更新5k+字数,一直保持一个月更新150k+字数?,一年稳定更新1800k+字数呢?
最简单的是用AI来辅助写小说,基本上GPT4等AI工具目前已经基本能胜任写作,用来写小说大纲、小说设定等等基本上一天就能搞掂,然后再修改,用GPT辅助写小说,要用到的Prompt :
- 请参考以下内容,重写一段类似的内容(要求改写后的内容根据参考的内容)!
- 要求1:点明时间、地点、人物角色,并且要交代主角在做什么(小说四要素)?
- 要求2:里面的角色名、地名、招式名不能一样(让AI自己改名字,直接先看效果)。
- 要求3:分四部来写,先写1000字,完成后再继续(超过1000字的内容多是复制粘贴)。
输入的内容是土豆的《万相之王》第一章!
一开始的“大夏国、天蜀郡”简洁的写法,被AI写成了“在北辰国的青云镇”,看着更加规范。
前半段的行文逻辑都差不多,在一千字结尾时,就能看到不太一样!
赵阔力压并砍向李洛,而重写后的结尾就是赵天赐的竹剑被震碎,感觉却又不一样!
行文逻辑也是非常流畅,总比那些网文小白写的狗屁不通要好很多了。
AI写小说,最后把关的是人工审核以及微调,需要判断好内容才是关键。
没有写作专用AI工具,可以到知乎知学堂的最新公开课:「AI智能写作」训练营学习,找助教老师领取AI写作工具体验一下。
主要是0元免费领取学习资料和体验AI写作工具,里面还会讲到AI写作的技巧。
又或者是快速写大纲的方法,笔者已经早就介绍过,可以参照以下:
分享不易,请各位大人不要光收藏和喜欢,求赏个小三角▲~
网文作者需要多阅读热销作品,以下是笔者的一些精读笔记:
- 我独自升级万字棈读版:《我独自升级》精读笔记
- 神秘复苏1.5万字精读版:神秘复苏这本小说讲了什么故事,为啥评价那么高?
- 诡秘之主7000字精读版:请问《诡秘之主》讲的什么?
- 道诡异仙1.5万字精读版:道诡异仙到底讲的什么?
有兴趣可以看看其它AI知识:AI大千宇宙
以下是笔者有关于小说的总结收藏夹:→→网络小说规律总结←←
不是逼,逼自己的人,基本上很难成为真正的作家。
但凡是有点成绩的人都有一个相似共同的特点,那就是有强烈文字表现欲。
真正热爱写作的人,每天都是必须写点什么出来的。
我这个人就有很强烈的文字表现欲,哪怕是不写书的时候,也要找个地方写点东西,吐槽、喷人、发牢骚。
对我来说,写这些东西,不用动脑子,那就是休息,就是娱乐。
因为只要能让我打几个字,发点东西出去,那就会觉得很爽很快乐。
这就是一种文字表现欲。
而有些人,梦想做个作家,却一点文字表现欲都没有。
写作是一种兴趣,继而把兴趣发展成职业,如果你连这个兴趣都没有,还要逼自己去写。
那我只能说,你根本不适合吃这口饭,也绝不可能成为作家。
是问,一个不热爱写作的人,他又怎么可能成为作家?
难道你以为作家是路上捡垃圾的,是个人就能干的?
能够成为作家的,无一不是自己想写,而不是逼着自己写。
如果写作要靠逼,我建议你还是不要写了,何苦为难自己,你根本就不是这号人,非要强迫自己去干,那只会是痛苦。
本王就是装逼界第一天王,逼乎柯镇恶,喷人大帝,知乎喷神,纸糊叶圣陶,文坛先知,网文拖拉机,不是在喷人,就是在喷人的路上,自号江苏第一狠人,姑苏扛把子,知乎警察局,阅读纪检委,吐槽小王子,怼人天王,立志把自己活 成一个段子的奇男子。
I want to write a novel, but putting it down on paper is really challenging. I'd like to ask how everyone manages to keep going?
How can one improve their novel writing skills more quickly? 22 answers
What issues should you pay attention to when writing a novel? How can you persist? 1 answer
I feel that the novel I write is really bad, yet I still manage to write 4,000 to 5,000 words every day. How can I convince myself to stop writing? 2 answers