I’ve collected a bunch of old books and articles, all in English, freely available online and published around 1832.
- Elements of operative surgery (1829)
- The principles of surgery (1832)
- A synopsis of modern practical surgery (1835)
Articles and short books:
-
-
-
If you are writing for fun, and if you don’t want any help, please write any way that works for you. I am not trying to convert you to writing with a plan. It truly does not matter to me how you write. However, if you are struggling to finish a book that makes sense, I would love you to carry on reading.
Why should you do it?
When I used to teach Writers Write regularly, one of the first things I asked students was: How does your story end? I did this for two reasons. Firstly, as much as some people love the idea of working with meandering storylines, it has been my experience that those writers seldom finish writing a coherent book. Secondly, most people who go to workshops or sign up for courses are truly looking for help, and I’ve learned that the best way to succeed in anything in life is to have a plan. Successful people will tell you that you need to know where you’re going before you begin.
Smell the roses
This does not mean that you can’t take time to smell the roses, or explore hidden paths along the way. It simply means that you always have a lifeline and when you get lost, it will be easier for you to find your way back again. Remember that readers like destinations. They love beginnings, middles, and endings. Why do you think fans are terrified that George R.R. Martin will die before he finishes A Song of Fire and Ice? They want to know how the story ends.
Here are seven reasons why I suggest you write your ending first.
- If you know who the characters are at the end of the story, you will know how much you should reveal about them at the beginning.
- You will be forced out of the ‘backstory hell’ that beginner writers inhabit and into the story the reader wants to read.
- Hindsight is an amazing thing. We all know how different life seems when we’re looking back. We can often tell where a problem began. We think about the ‘what ifs’ with the gift of hindsight. You can use this to your advantage in fiction writing.
- You will have something to work towards. Instead of aimlessly writing and hoping for the muse to show you the way, you will be able to pull the characters’ strings and write the words they need to get them from the beginning through the middle to the end.
- Plotting from the ending backwards saves you so much time because you will leave out stuff that isn’t meant to be there. You will not have to muddle through an overwritten first draft.
- Writing the end forces most of us out of our comfort zones. We have to confront the reality of what we are doing. It might not be as romantic as flailing around like a helpless maiden, but if you want writing to be your profession, it’s good to make the outcome visible. This is a way to show yourself that you are serious. The end gives you a goal to work towards.
- The ending is as important as the beginning. Good beginnings get people to read your first book. Great endings get readers to buy your second book.
There are a handful of famous authors, like Stephen King and George R.R. Martin, who say they don’t plot. I think they just don’t realise they are those rare authors – natural born storytellers, and that plotting is instinctive for them. I have interviewed many successfully published authors and I can revel that the majority of them do believe in plotting. They outline, in varying degrees, before they begin. And yes, most of them know what their ending will be. Why don’t you try it? What have you got to lose?
I truly hope this helps you write, and finish, your book.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy 10 (Amazingly Simple) Tips to Get You Back on The Writing Track and The Author’s Promise– two things every writer should do. You could also read The Top 10 Tips for Plotting and Finishing a Book.
-
Maya women hairstyles and headwear in the Classic period (c.600-900). Based on primary sources: vase paintings, murals, ceramics, figurines, bone carvings, stelae etc.
-
Art
paint online // paint tool sai brushes // painting tutorial // blend colours // firealpaca (like paint tool sai) // remove backgrounds from images online // don’t know what to draw? // illustrationfriday // art therapy exercises // more art therapy exercises // how to draw grass // calming silk art generator
Writing
how to write a character from start to finish // building strong characters // how to describe colours // how to write an animal protagonist // write non-boring descriptive passages // big writing masterpost // music that’s good to write to
Be Happy/Distract Yourself
answer questions and give people rice // make a giant squid pillow // make your own interactive acapella band // a livestream of the ocean // go to a cool place // calming sand generator // click to give food to an animal shelter // make a flower crown // language learning masterpost // personality tests // which les mis character are you? // see what it’s like to live on minimum wage // make glitter from salt // check your post limit // make a wand // make a gif // make your handwriting into a font // get an emergency compliment // daily puppy // coping skills masterpost // go on a stickman adventure // make a comfort box // make some music // colour identification game // 100 beautiful and ugly words // read any book // baking cakes for beginners // relaxing and calming sounds
-
In your head:
In paper:
AUTHOR | HISTORIAN | ARTIST 