Removing the deadlock on your writing
by keeping going no matter what
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
I think the mighty Stephen King says it all in that quote. The trouble with wanting to write, whatever it might be (creative writing, non-fiction, blogging, a diary) is always the same. If you call yourself a ‘writer’ you better do some writing. And read too, of course.
But when? And how? Should it be in your own study and, by the way, do all writers have to have their own study?
As we all know, there are so many good reasons not to write:
you’re tired
you’re feeling ill
your family is ill
you’re too busy
you’re depressed
you’ve lost your writing mojo
and so forth.
You will probably know that there are lots of ‘rules’ other writers swear by to break Writer’s Block. Routines or rituals that ensure they get things written. Tried and tested, or so they say. But do they work? I’m not listing them all there. There’s too many and you’re too busy.
But here’s my top eleven rules that I’ve read over the years that promise to ensure you write. Most are 100% real. One or two are made up…
1.Wake up early and write first thing.
You could combine this with a morning run and ashtanga yoga? Or go back to sleep.
2. Stay up late and write.
Preferably in New York, drinking black coffee with Patti Smith and smoking.
3. Only use beautiful, unique notebooks for your notes and first draft.
If you’re like me, a stationery addict, the ‘right’ pen and the ‘right’ notebook feels important. However, the sad truth is that if you want to get published that beautiful, hand-written first draft will have to be typed up and usually on a computer.
4. Go on a writing retreat.
Preferably in the south of France.
5. Use a café where other writers go and write while sipping a spinach and matcha latte.
The café could be anywhere, except out of season British holiday resorts.
6. Write on the bus to work.
Only possible if you work outside of your home and have access to buses.
7. Write during labour.
In my experience this isn’t always practical.
8. Write on the bus to the nursery.
See point 6.
9. Write all the way through the Christmas holidays and New Year.
This can be done, but you do risk alienating all your family and/or friends and he clear dangers of this are self-evident.
10. Write at the hospital when you’re having a check-up for chest pains.
The dangers of this are self-evident.
11. Request that your headstone reads:
‘Died doing what they loved. Writing’
The best advice I’ve heard, and you probably have too, is to try and write consistently, every day is the gold standard, not ‘just once in a while’. Every other day is still better than nothing.
And you don’t have to write loads. A hundred words isn’t much. But once you start writing your hundred words can get longer and become interesting and suggest further work. You can also write some nonsense too. Keep it fun. And reward yourself.
Keep a simple diary of what worked and what you’ve achieved to remind yourself of what you’ve done. Sometimes, if no one else is doing it for you, you have to inspire yourself. Be your own cheerleader!
If you’re working on a novel, writing 1,924 words a week, over 52 weeks, will bank you a 100,000 words novel! And you can cut up that number of words for each day, any way you like, over a seven-day week. You might only be able to write on one day a week, so try and make that day perfect for writing. If you can write 200 a day, you’ll be good too. It just might mean a slightly shorter novel.
The best thing about trying to write consistently, even if it’s only a ‘little but often’, is that you will feel better about yourself and become a better writer. It’s all good practice :)
