 My son has the amazingly-annoying habit of looking over my shoulder while I read, and since we get the newspaper on Sundays, he always reads over my shoulder. Today, he asked, “Who is Kamala Harris and what’s going on with her?” I looked at the column on the right and there was an announcement that she’s running for President. I relayed the message and his response surprised me. “Yes! Finally a woman and not just another man.” What prompted his excitement about a politician, I really don’t know. Maybe it was watching Captain Marvel last weekend. Maybe it was that he sees women in most leadership roles in his life since all of his teachers and doctors have been women; even his martial arts teachers have been women. Or maybe he has deep thoughts about gender in politics that go beyond our dining room. What struck me is that his viewpoint is so different than what I expected from him; he is nine after all. The article in the newspaper jumped out at him, whereas I glanced over it without taking notice. The whole idea struck me as interesting that we would have different reactions to the same article.  Why does this matter to writers? Well, have you ever worried that spending time writing your book about the history of African-American aviators would go nowhere? Have you considered picking up a different hobby worried that no one wants to read a book about driving Land Rovers off road? Or what about the fantasy book series that has elements of history and science? Have you been concerned that publishers will laugh at the idea? Guess what? New and interesting ideas sell and they have the potential to sell well. Before JK Rowling was picked up for her Harry Potter series, publishers didn’t see a market for her books and thought of young adult fantasy as a money-losing genre. Before Ray Bradbury released Fahrenheit 451, the interest level in dystopian fiction was dried up. And before Stephen King published Carrie, no one could have predicted that the horror genre would be taken over by a Maine English teacher and become a best-selling sensation.  Is this true only of novels? No, not at all. Do you remember 2010? This was the time when films made it to the box office because they were written, produced, and directed by men. And their protagonists needed to be men, especially though white men. But then Frozen came along, and suddenly Disney broke their formula by offering a story about sisters saving each other and the love story was secondary. Then we got Hidden Figures, Diary of a Teenage Girl, and Wonder Woman. It seemed like out of nowhere people were excited to see films made by and about women. About two weeks ago, a writer who had attended one of my memoir workshops reached out to me. He asked if his book idea was worth pursuing. Did it have any possibility of being picked up by a publisher? Was there any kind of market for his ideas? Would anyone want to read about his life?  And you know what? The answer is yes. Definitely yes. You see, when you have an idea that is different, there may not be an open market in that first moment you have the thought. You may not have the easiest time finding an agent or a publisher who is ready to take on that project and run with it. But that doesn’t mean the story won’t find its audience. Because if you have an idea that people want to read, then you have a market waiting to be tapped. Just as my son surprised me that he wants to have a female President, new ideas can be refreshing, interesting, and liberating. Sometimes we get wrapped up in what we think is true that we don’t always open ourselves up to what could become true. Same thing for screenplays. Who knew ten years ago that female-centered films would take over Hollywood? I don’t know that anyone predicted the change in the industry, but when it happened, the whole field shifted. The same can happen with your book idea. Just because your book doesn’t have a clear market or audience today doesn’t mean that it won’t have an audience when you are ready to publish. People are on the lookout for new ideas, and when something appealing comes along, people tend to jump on it. So, keep your pen at the paper. Keep working on your book and stick with your stories, even if the ideas seem unusual or unpopular. We can’t predict today what people will want to read tomorrow, so give your ideas the time and energy to develop. Related Blog Posts |
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Ever since I can remember, I’ve heard a second voice in my head. We all have the usual inner monologue, but creative people oftentimes have a second voice that narrates the creative process. I’ve referred to mine as the nuisance, the artist, and most recently, the beast.
At the least opportune moments, the beast comes up with amazingly creative ideas and starts narrating in my head while I’m busy at another task. My beast is especially chatty while I’m driving or working out at the gym. And naturally, my beast never chooses to share incredible story ideas when I’m sitting at the computer. She only talks when I’m without paper and pen.
Of course, the ironic thing is that I feel like I would lose my creative energy altogether if I didn’t have that second voice in my head. Without her, I might limit my pursuits and stop writing altogether. For me, when she starts rattling off an idea in my head, the drive to write explodes and writing is all I can think about. She can drop a few words on me and in an instant, all I can think about is getting back to my book and dedicating more time to the craft.
At the least opportune moments, the beast comes up with amazingly creative ideas and starts narrating in my head while I’m busy at another task. My beast is especially chatty while I’m driving or working out at the gym. And naturally, my beast never chooses to share incredible story ideas when I’m sitting at the computer. She only talks when I’m without paper and pen.
Of course, the ironic thing is that I feel like I would lose my creative energy altogether if I didn’t have that second voice in my head. Without her, I might limit my pursuits and stop writing altogether. For me, when she starts rattling off an idea in my head, the drive to write explodes and writing is all I can think about. She can drop a few words on me and in an instant, all I can think about is getting back to my book and dedicating more time to the craft.
If you have an inner creative beast, then you know what I’m talking about. That inner voice that whispers sweet everythings in your ears and seems to have the pathway to exceptional creativity laid out in front of her. That’s the one.
A lot of writers have talked about this situation. Elizabeth Gilbert gave a Ted Talk where she discusses her writing process and how she is overcome with magical ideas and must stop everything she is doing to write them down before they’re lost. Maya Angelou wrote about being overwhelmed with a creative idea from an inner voice and having no choice but to stop and write when the moment hit.
I used to ignore my beast but after a while, I realized that if I fed her, then my creative process became more efficient and productive. I can’t necessarily pull the car over mid-commute to collect the ideas she whispers, but I can support the creative process when I’m not writing.
A lot of writers have talked about this situation. Elizabeth Gilbert gave a Ted Talk where she discusses her writing process and how she is overcome with magical ideas and must stop everything she is doing to write them down before they’re lost. Maya Angelou wrote about being overwhelmed with a creative idea from an inner voice and having no choice but to stop and write when the moment hit.
I used to ignore my beast but after a while, I realized that if I fed her, then my creative process became more efficient and productive. I can’t necessarily pull the car over mid-commute to collect the ideas she whispers, but I can support the creative process when I’m not writing.
Get Up and Move
Ray Bradbury talked about walking as a vital element in his creative process. He walked most nights after the sun went down, and even got himself into trouble. As the story goes, one night police questioned him extensively about why he was walking around town at night (which later became the impetus behind his short story “The Pedestrian”).
Stephen King walks every day. Of course, many writers are active and make a point of getting outdoors. Henry David Thoreau, Isabella Bird, and Sarah Orne Jewett were all well-known to be outdoor enthusiasts. Of today’s writers, Jon Krakauer, Tom Wolfe, and Jim Carroll are all known to be active outside of their writing.
Writers are well-known for spending long hours sitting at the desk, but those who get up and move are likely to feed the writing beast. When you move your body, you alter your body chemistry by releasing endorphins, deepening the breath, releasing toxins, and boosting energy. Exercise is a personal choice, and some writers are drawn to weight training, whereas others prefer the hike through the trees.
Whatever your activity of choice, do it to feed the writing beast. For me, I’ve found that when I exercise, my thoughts are clearer, my stress level is lower, and my ability to focus on writing is higher. Spending time moving the body can help you ignite your creativity.
Ray Bradbury talked about walking as a vital element in his creative process. He walked most nights after the sun went down, and even got himself into trouble. As the story goes, one night police questioned him extensively about why he was walking around town at night (which later became the impetus behind his short story “The Pedestrian”).
Stephen King walks every day. Of course, many writers are active and make a point of getting outdoors. Henry David Thoreau, Isabella Bird, and Sarah Orne Jewett were all well-known to be outdoor enthusiasts. Of today’s writers, Jon Krakauer, Tom Wolfe, and Jim Carroll are all known to be active outside of their writing.
Writers are well-known for spending long hours sitting at the desk, but those who get up and move are likely to feed the writing beast. When you move your body, you alter your body chemistry by releasing endorphins, deepening the breath, releasing toxins, and boosting energy. Exercise is a personal choice, and some writers are drawn to weight training, whereas others prefer the hike through the trees.
Whatever your activity of choice, do it to feed the writing beast. For me, I’ve found that when I exercise, my thoughts are clearer, my stress level is lower, and my ability to focus on writing is higher. Spending time moving the body can help you ignite your creativity.
Create Something Different
Most of the creative people I know do double duty. They’ll write, but they’ll also crochet, paint, or garden. The writing process isn’t just about finding the right words for the right piece; it’s also about fueling the fire on a continual basis so that you can keep writing.
Most of the writers I’ve met deal with some form of writer’s block. That sometimes looks like staring at a blank page with no ideas on what to do. Other times, it feels like a total lack of motivation to write anything. And it can also look like a downward spiral where each day it’s harder to write.
Sometimes, writing can feel overwhelming just to sit at the desk, and sometimes writers lack the mojo to begin writing anything. When this happens, feed the creative beast with some other type of creativity. Just stop writing and create something else, then come back to the writing.
Crochet, garden, carve wood, restore that old motorcycle, take photographs, and draw. Whatever your back-up creativity process is, use that as a way to feed the creative beast. When you engage in a creative exercise, it opens up the pathway to writing and allows you to restart that engine.
Most of the creative people I know do double duty. They’ll write, but they’ll also crochet, paint, or garden. The writing process isn’t just about finding the right words for the right piece; it’s also about fueling the fire on a continual basis so that you can keep writing.
Most of the writers I’ve met deal with some form of writer’s block. That sometimes looks like staring at a blank page with no ideas on what to do. Other times, it feels like a total lack of motivation to write anything. And it can also look like a downward spiral where each day it’s harder to write.
Sometimes, writing can feel overwhelming just to sit at the desk, and sometimes writers lack the mojo to begin writing anything. When this happens, feed the creative beast with some other type of creativity. Just stop writing and create something else, then come back to the writing.
Crochet, garden, carve wood, restore that old motorcycle, take photographs, and draw. Whatever your back-up creativity process is, use that as a way to feed the creative beast. When you engage in a creative exercise, it opens up the pathway to writing and allows you to restart that engine.
Read Outside your Genre
I feel like even though it’s so hard to make time to read, we have more reading options available to us. At work, we have a little group of people who do audio books while commuting. I have several friends who use an e-reader, and a colleague swears by listening to podcasts.
Although, I do believe that reading ink on a paper page is the ultimate reading experience, I don’t think that means that other forms of reading and ingesting material should be discounted.
I always have an audio book going in my car, and I get a lot of ideas for my writing from listening to audio books. I read the newspaper on Sundays. And I have at least three books that I’m reading at all times.
The benefits we gain from reading are nothing short of phenomenal: developing empathy, expanding our understanding of other cultures, extending our professional development, and increased comprehension and processing abilities.
The other amazing thing that reading does is that it supports the creative process. It feeds the creative beast. When we read outside of our genre, we come across many tools to use in our writing: different sentence structures, facts and opinions that we could integrate into our stories, methods of description, and different ways to present ideas.
When we read in the same genre we write, sometimes that can stifle our creativity. It can limit our thoughts and even encourage us to imitate another writer’s style. When we read outside of our genre, it can create new pathways for ideas, style, and presentation.
The little voice in the back of your head can be a powerful tool when you’re putting the pen to the page. If you support your writing process by feeding the creative beast, then your process is likely to be more efficient and productive. The creative process includes more than just writing. It is also about becoming better versions of ourselves, expressing our creativity in different ways, and learning on an ongoing basis. Feed your creative beast, and may the ideas keep flowing onto the page for you.
I feel like even though it’s so hard to make time to read, we have more reading options available to us. At work, we have a little group of people who do audio books while commuting. I have several friends who use an e-reader, and a colleague swears by listening to podcasts.
Although, I do believe that reading ink on a paper page is the ultimate reading experience, I don’t think that means that other forms of reading and ingesting material should be discounted.
I always have an audio book going in my car, and I get a lot of ideas for my writing from listening to audio books. I read the newspaper on Sundays. And I have at least three books that I’m reading at all times.
The benefits we gain from reading are nothing short of phenomenal: developing empathy, expanding our understanding of other cultures, extending our professional development, and increased comprehension and processing abilities.
The other amazing thing that reading does is that it supports the creative process. It feeds the creative beast. When we read outside of our genre, we come across many tools to use in our writing: different sentence structures, facts and opinions that we could integrate into our stories, methods of description, and different ways to present ideas.
When we read in the same genre we write, sometimes that can stifle our creativity. It can limit our thoughts and even encourage us to imitate another writer’s style. When we read outside of our genre, it can create new pathways for ideas, style, and presentation.
The little voice in the back of your head can be a powerful tool when you’re putting the pen to the page. If you support your writing process by feeding the creative beast, then your process is likely to be more efficient and productive. The creative process includes more than just writing. It is also about becoming better versions of ourselves, expressing our creativity in different ways, and learning on an ongoing basis. Feed your creative beast, and may the ideas keep flowing onto the page for you.
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Today, we are distracted, overwhelmed, and overworked which can leave us drained of creative energy by the end of the day. When we do have time to write, the little voices in the back of our heads can get loud as we attempt to focus. Instead of enjoying our writing time and making efficient progress, many of us dabble in our writing in between checking email, social media, and researching the obscure question. Setting aside writing time is hard enough, but when we use our writing time poorly, we can leave the desk feeling defeated.
One of the biggest obstacles to writing is focus. Many writers mean well and want to engage in the creative process and make progress on their projects. But when we sit down to write, if we wander off task and end up down the rabbit hole of distraction, our writing time can feel like a waste.
So, with the pull of social media, the responsibilities of work emails, and the curiosity of writers to find a quick answer to a question, how do we control our urges which interrupt our writing and wander onto the path of distraction? In all honestly, it isn’t easy. But successful writers set limitations on themselves and dedicate themselves to the craft.
One of the biggest obstacles to writing is focus. Many writers mean well and want to engage in the creative process and make progress on their projects. But when we sit down to write, if we wander off task and end up down the rabbit hole of distraction, our writing time can feel like a waste.
So, with the pull of social media, the responsibilities of work emails, and the curiosity of writers to find a quick answer to a question, how do we control our urges which interrupt our writing and wander onto the path of distraction? In all honestly, it isn’t easy. But successful writers set limitations on themselves and dedicate themselves to the craft.
Leave the House
I have an image in my mind of the perfect writing scene. In a beautiful home office, I have a huge desk that sits next to a window that leads to a gorgeous scenery of trees and flowers. On my desk sits my antique typewriter to inspire me to keep writing. And I spend hours and hours tapping away at the keyboard.
In reality, I have a hand-me-down standing desk in the corner of my daughter’s bedroom. The desk isn’t even mine, because she got a planter for her birthday so I have to share the desk with her planter. Every time I go in there to write, the frustration of being a grown adult without a real desk eats at me, the pile of laundry in the corner of the bedroom shouts to be cleaned, and the mismatched books on the shelf call me away from my writing project.
Writing at home is nearly impossible for me. There is no end to the laundry. The dog wants to go out. The cat walks across my keyboard. I need another cup of coffee. The dog wants to come back in. I really should vacuum the living room. Who left that cup without a coaster? The dog wants to go out again. The coffee is done, so I pour a cup. No one has dusted the bookshelves in a month. And I still haven’t written a word.
To focus, I have to leave the house to write. My two favorite places to go are the library and the coffee shop near my house. These days, it is totally normal to show up at a coffee shop with your computer in tow and plop down for a couple of hours to work. Millennials live at Starbucks for pity’s sake; they figured it out. If working at home leaves you with a blank sheet of paper at the end of an hour, then leave. Find a public place where you can write.
I have an image in my mind of the perfect writing scene. In a beautiful home office, I have a huge desk that sits next to a window that leads to a gorgeous scenery of trees and flowers. On my desk sits my antique typewriter to inspire me to keep writing. And I spend hours and hours tapping away at the keyboard.
In reality, I have a hand-me-down standing desk in the corner of my daughter’s bedroom. The desk isn’t even mine, because she got a planter for her birthday so I have to share the desk with her planter. Every time I go in there to write, the frustration of being a grown adult without a real desk eats at me, the pile of laundry in the corner of the bedroom shouts to be cleaned, and the mismatched books on the shelf call me away from my writing project.
Writing at home is nearly impossible for me. There is no end to the laundry. The dog wants to go out. The cat walks across my keyboard. I need another cup of coffee. The dog wants to come back in. I really should vacuum the living room. Who left that cup without a coaster? The dog wants to go out again. The coffee is done, so I pour a cup. No one has dusted the bookshelves in a month. And I still haven’t written a word.
To focus, I have to leave the house to write. My two favorite places to go are the library and the coffee shop near my house. These days, it is totally normal to show up at a coffee shop with your computer in tow and plop down for a couple of hours to work. Millennials live at Starbucks for pity’s sake; they figured it out. If working at home leaves you with a blank sheet of paper at the end of an hour, then leave. Find a public place where you can write.
Control the Net
Each of us has a different poison. Is yours Facebook? Instagram? Pinterest? Work emails? Googling weird questions related to the novel you are writing? What is it that pulls you away from writing and wastes your time? For me, email (both my personal and my work) pull me in.
Escape the control the internet holds over your writing time by blocking the sites. One option is to turn off your internet access on your computer. Most computers have an option to shut down the internet with a toggle switch. If yours does not, then disconnect from the internet by going into the internet settings and disconnecting from the wifi source.
If you are like me, you might turn off the internet then want to turn it back on after five minutes because you have a question about how far a person can fall before they break a leg or what is the difference between rhinovirus and the flu. Writers are curious creatures and tend to research while they write. Instead of researching in the moment (and turning on your internet) insert the question into your writing and come back to it later. This will keep you focused on writing and off the net.
If social media or specific websites work to your detriment, you can use a browser blocker to keep yourself off of them. For example, if you find that you check Instagram 30 times in 15 minutes when you are supposed to be writing, then block the site during your writing time. You can use a browser blocker to keep you off the time-sucking sites. Browser blocking sites include: Stay Focused, Freedom, Focal Filter, and Waste No Time. There are a dozen more, so search for one that fits your preferences if these do not fit the bill.
Each of us has a different poison. Is yours Facebook? Instagram? Pinterest? Work emails? Googling weird questions related to the novel you are writing? What is it that pulls you away from writing and wastes your time? For me, email (both my personal and my work) pull me in.
Escape the control the internet holds over your writing time by blocking the sites. One option is to turn off your internet access on your computer. Most computers have an option to shut down the internet with a toggle switch. If yours does not, then disconnect from the internet by going into the internet settings and disconnecting from the wifi source.
If you are like me, you might turn off the internet then want to turn it back on after five minutes because you have a question about how far a person can fall before they break a leg or what is the difference between rhinovirus and the flu. Writers are curious creatures and tend to research while they write. Instead of researching in the moment (and turning on your internet) insert the question into your writing and come back to it later. This will keep you focused on writing and off the net.
If social media or specific websites work to your detriment, you can use a browser blocker to keep yourself off of them. For example, if you find that you check Instagram 30 times in 15 minutes when you are supposed to be writing, then block the site during your writing time. You can use a browser blocker to keep you off the time-sucking sites. Browser blocking sites include: Stay Focused, Freedom, Focal Filter, and Waste No Time. There are a dozen more, so search for one that fits your preferences if these do not fit the bill.
Unplug the Phone
I have a writer friend who shows up to her writing time with her phone in hand. We write together with a group of people once a month, and her pattern is the same every time. She opens her computer and turns it on. Then she pulls out her phone and starts searching the web. For two hours, she will search around the web on her phone and not write a single word. If this is a challenge you face, leave the phone at home so that it isn’t there to distract you.
Create Tools to Focus
For some writers, the computer is an impossible tool. There are just too many distractions, the pull of the net is too great, and the multitude of files is impossibly interesting. I am sure no one is surprised that the computer is an inefficient tool for many people, regardless of the promise that technology would solve our problems.
Instead of using a computer to write, choose a different tool and improve your focus. Plug in headphones with music. Have you ever looked at people working on their laptops in public? Many of them are wired into music while they’re working. Listening to music blocks out the noise around you and can help you focus. For me, I go to You Tube and search for classical music for studying, because listening to jazz or classical music works well to keep me on task.
Another option is to dump the computer entirely. Instead, write with an old fashioned typewriter. Yes, this is a thing. Some people, including the playwright Sam Shepard and the writer Tom Hanks, compose on typewriters rather than laptops. The feel is different, the focus is much easier, and the mind has no where to wander.
If a typewriter doesn’t work for you, buy a paper notepad and a decent pen. I teach writing workshops to adults and we use paper and pen to write. Sometimes, people say that using a pen is uncomfortable because they are used to using a computer, but in an afternoon-long workshop, I can get them to write several pages more than they would have on a laptop.
I have a writer friend who shows up to her writing time with her phone in hand. We write together with a group of people once a month, and her pattern is the same every time. She opens her computer and turns it on. Then she pulls out her phone and starts searching the web. For two hours, she will search around the web on her phone and not write a single word. If this is a challenge you face, leave the phone at home so that it isn’t there to distract you.
Create Tools to Focus
For some writers, the computer is an impossible tool. There are just too many distractions, the pull of the net is too great, and the multitude of files is impossibly interesting. I am sure no one is surprised that the computer is an inefficient tool for many people, regardless of the promise that technology would solve our problems.
Instead of using a computer to write, choose a different tool and improve your focus. Plug in headphones with music. Have you ever looked at people working on their laptops in public? Many of them are wired into music while they’re working. Listening to music blocks out the noise around you and can help you focus. For me, I go to You Tube and search for classical music for studying, because listening to jazz or classical music works well to keep me on task.
Another option is to dump the computer entirely. Instead, write with an old fashioned typewriter. Yes, this is a thing. Some people, including the playwright Sam Shepard and the writer Tom Hanks, compose on typewriters rather than laptops. The feel is different, the focus is much easier, and the mind has no where to wander.
If a typewriter doesn’t work for you, buy a paper notepad and a decent pen. I teach writing workshops to adults and we use paper and pen to write. Sometimes, people say that using a pen is uncomfortable because they are used to using a computer, but in an afternoon-long workshop, I can get them to write several pages more than they would have on a laptop.
Plan to Write
Finally, if you are serious about writing and using your writing time efficiently, then set a goal for each writing session. When you sit down to write create a list of three things: set your goal, create your plan, and decide how you will keep yourself accountable. Your goal might be to finish the chapter you are working on or to write a certain number of words. Set a realistic goal that you know you can achieve but don’t set the bar so low that you are bored and open yourself up to distractions. For me, I can write 1000 words in an hour if I am focused. Time yourself and determine what your production rate is, then use it as a guide for your goal.
Create a plan by listing out the steps you need to reach that goal. If you can write 1000 words in an hour, do you need to break that into smaller chunks to make it manageable? Are you really writing ten paragraphs that are 100 words each or four sections that are 250 words each? Break down your writing goal in a way that makes sense for you to keep yourself moving forward.
The last thing to consider is how you will keep yourself accountable. I have a writer friend who will text me and say, “I am writing 1000 words by noon today.” I’ll get her text and send back a smiley face or a few words of support. Around noon, she texts me when she hit the goal. She and I created this system to keep each other accountable, and it helps me stay on task while I write. If you don’t have a writing partner, is there a carrot that you can offer yourself when you meet your goal (if I make my goal, I’ll buy myself a latte or give myself 30 minutes of goof off time)?
The unfortunate truth is that technology hasn’t really solved our problems. Rather it has complicated our lives and made it harder for creatives to set aside time to engage in the craft. But, if we can identify what is holding us back from creating as efficiently and effectively as we want to, then we can improve our processes and use our writing time well.
Finally, if you are serious about writing and using your writing time efficiently, then set a goal for each writing session. When you sit down to write create a list of three things: set your goal, create your plan, and decide how you will keep yourself accountable. Your goal might be to finish the chapter you are working on or to write a certain number of words. Set a realistic goal that you know you can achieve but don’t set the bar so low that you are bored and open yourself up to distractions. For me, I can write 1000 words in an hour if I am focused. Time yourself and determine what your production rate is, then use it as a guide for your goal.
Create a plan by listing out the steps you need to reach that goal. If you can write 1000 words in an hour, do you need to break that into smaller chunks to make it manageable? Are you really writing ten paragraphs that are 100 words each or four sections that are 250 words each? Break down your writing goal in a way that makes sense for you to keep yourself moving forward.
The last thing to consider is how you will keep yourself accountable. I have a writer friend who will text me and say, “I am writing 1000 words by noon today.” I’ll get her text and send back a smiley face or a few words of support. Around noon, she texts me when she hit the goal. She and I created this system to keep each other accountable, and it helps me stay on task while I write. If you don’t have a writing partner, is there a carrot that you can offer yourself when you meet your goal (if I make my goal, I’ll buy myself a latte or give myself 30 minutes of goof off time)?
The unfortunate truth is that technology hasn’t really solved our problems. Rather it has complicated our lives and made it harder for creatives to set aside time to engage in the craft. But, if we can identify what is holding us back from creating as efficiently and effectively as we want to, then we can improve our processes and use our writing time well.
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If you could show up to work late without penalty, would you? How about work projects? If your boss gave you an unlimited time to turn in reports, would you submit them early? How about working out? If you suffered no ill effects from skipping workouts, would you still hit the gym several times a week or would you spread out your workouts?
In all areas of our lives, we are surrounded by layers of accountability. Our employers expect us to meet their expectations of timeliness and quality. The IRS expects us to submit our tax returns in on time. The library expects us to return books on time and fines us when we do not. And professors mark a zero in the grade book when we submit an assignment late.
In all areas of our lives, we are surrounded by layers of accountability. Our employers expect us to meet their expectations of timeliness and quality. The IRS expects us to submit our tax returns in on time. The library expects us to return books on time and fines us when we do not. And professors mark a zero in the grade book when we submit an assignment late.
When there are expectations connected to an activity, then we tend to meet them. They add a layer of accountability that ensures the success of the endeavor and lessens the chaos. Without accountability, would any of us pay a parking ticket? I think my Aunt Mary Jane would because she is a highly organized, detail-oriented lady, but I can’t say that I would.
So, how might accountability affect writers? We tend to work in solitary environments made of one writer at one desk. Most of us work without someone to supervise our writing. For the majority of writer, we work on our projects when we carve the time out of life’s less-interesting responsibilities. Without someone to shout, “Where is the manuscript?” will we complete our novels and edit our stories well enough to send them off to an agent? In many cases, no.
So, how might accountability affect writers? We tend to work in solitary environments made of one writer at one desk. Most of us work without someone to supervise our writing. For the majority of writer, we work on our projects when we carve the time out of life’s less-interesting responsibilities. Without someone to shout, “Where is the manuscript?” will we complete our novels and edit our stories well enough to send them off to an agent? In many cases, no.
For whatever reason, when we are beholden only to ourselves, we tend to fail more often than succeed. Likely this is why 97% of writers do not finish their novels; no one but themselves expects them to.
Think of it this way. Have you ever tried to lose weight, quit smoking, or start a meditation program solely for your own benefit and without any external accountability? How effective was it? But if your doctor instructed you to lose weight, drop your addiction, or relax or face serious consequences, you may be more successful at achieving the goal.
As writers, we can recognize that this is the case for many of us and take steps t o add a layer of accountability to our writing routines.
Think of it this way. Have you ever tried to lose weight, quit smoking, or start a meditation program solely for your own benefit and without any external accountability? How effective was it? But if your doctor instructed you to lose weight, drop your addiction, or relax or face serious consequences, you may be more successful at achieving the goal.
As writers, we can recognize that this is the case for many of us and take steps t o add a layer of accountability to our writing routines.
1. Create a Writing Plan
Choose exactly how you use your writing time so that you are producing writing. A friend told me about leaving her writer’s group to make more time to write. I understand the mental space she was in, because writers are constantly challenged to work our writing into the little creases of life. Sometimes, family or work or some other responsibility rears up and your writing time is gone. For most of us, having a plan is a more successful path than operating without one.
If you aren’t setting aside time to write, then you cannot reach the point of being accountable. Your first step is to write, and that rarely happens without a plan. Create a writing plan that includes routine and ritual with a balance between sticks and carrots. The plan does not need to be complicated to work.
Choose exactly how you use your writing time so that you are producing writing. A friend told me about leaving her writer’s group to make more time to write. I understand the mental space she was in, because writers are constantly challenged to work our writing into the little creases of life. Sometimes, family or work or some other responsibility rears up and your writing time is gone. For most of us, having a plan is a more successful path than operating without one.
If you aren’t setting aside time to write, then you cannot reach the point of being accountable. Your first step is to write, and that rarely happens without a plan. Create a writing plan that includes routine and ritual with a balance between sticks and carrots. The plan does not need to be complicated to work.
2. Get an Accountability Partner
I meet a colleague once a week to write. At the beginning of our meetings, we always ask each other what we are writing and what we plan to accomplish. This simple act of checking in during a writing session creates a level of accountability between us. Too, we check in with each other throughout the week just to see how things are going with our writing.
For me, I tend to work in fits and spurts, but I work on my writing every day. Having an accountability partner keeps my forward progress moving, even when I am in a slower writing cycle.
3. Hire an Accountability Coach
Some writers need an external accountability coach to support their writing progress. Recently, I worked with a PhD student who had made no progress on her dissertation for seven years. I created a production plan for her and we worked together on a daily basis between emails, texts, and phone calls. Within about six months, she had her dissertation prepared for defense and no longer needed me as her coach.
Spending the time and money on an accountability coach can make all the difference. Sometimes writers get stuck in a rut and need additional support breaking free of the stuck flow and maneuvering onto a new pathway of productivity.
I meet a colleague once a week to write. At the beginning of our meetings, we always ask each other what we are writing and what we plan to accomplish. This simple act of checking in during a writing session creates a level of accountability between us. Too, we check in with each other throughout the week just to see how things are going with our writing.
For me, I tend to work in fits and spurts, but I work on my writing every day. Having an accountability partner keeps my forward progress moving, even when I am in a slower writing cycle.
3. Hire an Accountability Coach
Some writers need an external accountability coach to support their writing progress. Recently, I worked with a PhD student who had made no progress on her dissertation for seven years. I created a production plan for her and we worked together on a daily basis between emails, texts, and phone calls. Within about six months, she had her dissertation prepared for defense and no longer needed me as her coach.
Spending the time and money on an accountability coach can make all the difference. Sometimes writers get stuck in a rut and need additional support breaking free of the stuck flow and maneuvering onto a new pathway of productivity.
4. Join a Writer’s Group
Of course, this always depends on the writer’s group. Some groups tend to be critical or competitive or unproductive, so choose a group that supports your writing path. For many, a good writer’s group is one with people who encourage your development, offer constructive critique, and hold you accountable.
If a writer’s group does not fit your needs, find another one. I attended one group where no one talked to each other; they sat down at a café, wrote for an hour or so, and left without speaking besides a quick greeting. I needed more interaction so left the group.
Another group offered the opposite: constant talking and no writing. It was more of an extrovert’s therapy session than a writer’s group. Without time to write during the meet ups, I made my excuses and left the group.
The process of finding a group that fits your personality, writing style, and needs may take a bit of work, but the payoff of joining a group of writers with similar goals can be immeasurably valuable to your success.
5. Apply Your Inner Grit and Get it Done
Like all challenging goals, writing is about hard work. The hardest step to take is sitting down at the keyboard. Set up your space to write and get started. It may feel foreign if you have been unproductive for a while, but hold yourself accountable by sticking to a schedule, working with a partner or coach, and buckling down to write.
Of course, this always depends on the writer’s group. Some groups tend to be critical or competitive or unproductive, so choose a group that supports your writing path. For many, a good writer’s group is one with people who encourage your development, offer constructive critique, and hold you accountable.
If a writer’s group does not fit your needs, find another one. I attended one group where no one talked to each other; they sat down at a café, wrote for an hour or so, and left without speaking besides a quick greeting. I needed more interaction so left the group.
Another group offered the opposite: constant talking and no writing. It was more of an extrovert’s therapy session than a writer’s group. Without time to write during the meet ups, I made my excuses and left the group.
The process of finding a group that fits your personality, writing style, and needs may take a bit of work, but the payoff of joining a group of writers with similar goals can be immeasurably valuable to your success.
5. Apply Your Inner Grit and Get it Done
Like all challenging goals, writing is about hard work. The hardest step to take is sitting down at the keyboard. Set up your space to write and get started. It may feel foreign if you have been unproductive for a while, but hold yourself accountable by sticking to a schedule, working with a partner or coach, and buckling down to write.
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In all likelihood, each one of us has expressed that our writing is a dream. Some dream to become a New York Times bestselling writer. Some dream of traveling the world to promote their books. Others dream of reading glowing book reviews exclaiming their genius and celebrating their every word.
Keep in mind that having a dream can be valuable. It gives us something to work toward, something to look forward to, and a vision to give us focus. But a dream is just that—a dream. Dreams rarely come true. Dreams allow us to be passive and wait patiently for fate to deliver our dreams on a silver platter. Dreams do not come true, because they do not require that we work for them. They occur while we sleep, while we gaze out of the window, and during moments of spacing out during staff meetings.
Keep in mind that having a dream can be valuable. It gives us something to work toward, something to look forward to, and a vision to give us focus. But a dream is just that—a dream. Dreams rarely come true. Dreams allow us to be passive and wait patiently for fate to deliver our dreams on a silver platter. Dreams do not come true, because they do not require that we work for them. They occur while we sleep, while we gaze out of the window, and during moments of spacing out during staff meetings.
But most dreams remain dreams, and that is the real problem.
If you think of your intentions for your writing to be dreams, then you are less likely to meet them. But, if you can make a viewpoint shift and think of your writing outcomes as goals instead of dreams, it changes the way you think and that can make all the difference.
When we have a goal, we tend to plan, study, and work in a different way than when we have a dream. When we have a goal, we are willing to work, because hard work and dedication were on the path we walked to reach other goals in life.
Think back to when you were a kid. You wanted to be the soccer team captain, but you were too young or too slow or too much of a follower. The goal was important to you, so you set out to achieve t his goal. You made changes to your practice, you worked harder, you networked with the right people, and you set out to improve yourself. In short, you made yourself into a soccer team captain, because you wanted to meet that goal.
If you think of your intentions for your writing to be dreams, then you are less likely to meet them. But, if you can make a viewpoint shift and think of your writing outcomes as goals instead of dreams, it changes the way you think and that can make all the difference.
When we have a goal, we tend to plan, study, and work in a different way than when we have a dream. When we have a goal, we are willing to work, because hard work and dedication were on the path we walked to reach other goals in life.
Think back to when you were a kid. You wanted to be the soccer team captain, but you were too young or too slow or too much of a follower. The goal was important to you, so you set out to achieve t his goal. You made changes to your practice, you worked harder, you networked with the right people, and you set out to improve yourself. In short, you made yourself into a soccer team captain, because you wanted to meet that goal.
The same scenario played out for us as adults. We wanted to earn a college degree, date the guy/gal of our dreams, or move into a better work position, so we set a goal and took steps to achieve the goal. When we work towards a goal, we know that we have to change our behaviors and activities to make it. We also recognize that we have to give up things in our lives to make the goal happen. And most importantly, we accept that we need to change ourselves to meet the goal. To become something different, we must let go of who we are and accept an updated version of self.
So, if writers genuinely want to achieve their goals, what steps should they take to be successful?
Mindset Shift
If you have been writing for some time, you have likely come to the realization that nothing really happens with your writing career unless you dedicate your whole self to it. Writers spend decades scribbling down poems and stories but never land a book deal to match. If your writing is a dream, then that is where it will stay.
Make the mindset shift to update your writing from a dream to a goal. The mental change you make can be the catalyst that bumps your career from uneventful to overbooked. Dreaming is not going to get your book picked up by a big publisher, but setting that as a goal is the first step to making it happen.
So, if writers genuinely want to achieve their goals, what steps should they take to be successful?
Mindset Shift
If you have been writing for some time, you have likely come to the realization that nothing really happens with your writing career unless you dedicate your whole self to it. Writers spend decades scribbling down poems and stories but never land a book deal to match. If your writing is a dream, then that is where it will stay.
Make the mindset shift to update your writing from a dream to a goal. The mental change you make can be the catalyst that bumps your career from uneventful to overbooked. Dreaming is not going to get your book picked up by a big publisher, but setting that as a goal is the first step to making it happen.
Analyze What is Working
We all have complicated lives: work, kids, pets, commuting, and the stress of keeping it all together can take its toll on our writing productivity. Keep daily notes on how much time you spend on your writing activities: reading, researching, writing, and editing. After a week, evaluate the notes. What is working for you? When are you most productive? Where is your creative work coming from? Is there a location where you are getting your best work done? Does your time with a writing partner or writer’s group produce higher-quality writing? What day or time of day are you spending more time on your craft?
Analyze what is working and add it to your calendar. If your notes suggest that writing at night allows you to compose 500 words a day on a consistent basis, then add that time onto your evening calendar. If your notes show that meeting your writer friends on Saturday results in great conversation but an insignificant progress of your novel, then reconsider that event. Find what is working to move you towards your goal and do more of that.
We all have complicated lives: work, kids, pets, commuting, and the stress of keeping it all together can take its toll on our writing productivity. Keep daily notes on how much time you spend on your writing activities: reading, researching, writing, and editing. After a week, evaluate the notes. What is working for you? When are you most productive? Where is your creative work coming from? Is there a location where you are getting your best work done? Does your time with a writing partner or writer’s group produce higher-quality writing? What day or time of day are you spending more time on your craft?
Analyze what is working and add it to your calendar. If your notes suggest that writing at night allows you to compose 500 words a day on a consistent basis, then add that time onto your evening calendar. If your notes show that meeting your writer friends on Saturday results in great conversation but an insignificant progress of your novel, then reconsider that event. Find what is working to move you towards your goal and do more of that.
Be Courageous
I think that we sometimes self-sabotage our creative endeavors. I have spent decades calling myself a writer while writing infrequently. The idea of writing was there, yes, it was there in a dream state where I thought about writing and talked about writing and read about writing. But I did not write.
It takes courage to put pen to paper. When we write, we express ourselves, challenge our skill set, and fulfill the personal drive to compose on the page. But we also make ourselves open to the world for personal and professional criticism. Writing for a goal requires courage not unlike the courage it took to achieve any other large-scale goal.
Take the Steps
The steps to reach your writing goals are straightforward. Decide on your goal, learn the skills to achieve the goal, and work towards the goal. Do not stop until you have met the goal.
If you do not step onto the path, then you cannot possibly achieve the goal. No one is going to sneak into your house in the middle of the night and read the poetry you stashed in boxes under the bed, exclaim you a genius, and offer you a million dollar writing deal. No, your path will be wrought with hard work, significant personal and professional development, and celebrations of milestones achieved along the way. To get to your writing goal, you must take the steps.
I think that we sometimes self-sabotage our creative endeavors. I have spent decades calling myself a writer while writing infrequently. The idea of writing was there, yes, it was there in a dream state where I thought about writing and talked about writing and read about writing. But I did not write.
It takes courage to put pen to paper. When we write, we express ourselves, challenge our skill set, and fulfill the personal drive to compose on the page. But we also make ourselves open to the world for personal and professional criticism. Writing for a goal requires courage not unlike the courage it took to achieve any other large-scale goal.
Take the Steps
The steps to reach your writing goals are straightforward. Decide on your goal, learn the skills to achieve the goal, and work towards the goal. Do not stop until you have met the goal.
If you do not step onto the path, then you cannot possibly achieve the goal. No one is going to sneak into your house in the middle of the night and read the poetry you stashed in boxes under the bed, exclaim you a genius, and offer you a million dollar writing deal. No, your path will be wrought with hard work, significant personal and professional development, and celebrations of milestones achieved along the way. To get to your writing goal, you must take the steps.
Be Accountable
It is one thing to set a goal and create a beautiful plan and another thing to push yourself to achieve it. One of the best ways to keep yourself on the path to achieve your goal is to have an accountability plan. When a professor tells us to turn in the paper on time, we do it. When a supervisor gives us a deadline for a project, we meet it. Having some kind of accountability can make all the difference between failure and success.
Your accountability could be self-imposed with deadlines attached to rewards and consequences. It could be an external by using an app or system that keeps you on track and acknowledges when you have completed a milestone towards the goal. Or it could be a partnership where you and another writer keep tabs on each other and keep each other accountable. Whatever works for you, do it and be accountable.
Your writing does not need to be a dream. Instead of daydreaming, restate your writing as a goal and create the path to achieve that goal just as you would for another other life purpose. Why would you stick to the path of dreams and fantasies when you can achieve your goals and accomplish what you have always wanted? Start working towards your writing goals.
It is one thing to set a goal and create a beautiful plan and another thing to push yourself to achieve it. One of the best ways to keep yourself on the path to achieve your goal is to have an accountability plan. When a professor tells us to turn in the paper on time, we do it. When a supervisor gives us a deadline for a project, we meet it. Having some kind of accountability can make all the difference between failure and success.
Your accountability could be self-imposed with deadlines attached to rewards and consequences. It could be an external by using an app or system that keeps you on track and acknowledges when you have completed a milestone towards the goal. Or it could be a partnership where you and another writer keep tabs on each other and keep each other accountable. Whatever works for you, do it and be accountable.
Your writing does not need to be a dream. Instead of daydreaming, restate your writing as a goal and create the path to achieve that goal just as you would for another other life purpose. Why would you stick to the path of dreams and fantasies when you can achieve your goals and accomplish what you have always wanted? Start working towards your writing goals.
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I know. You are thinking that writing every day is impossible. You have a lot going on. Life is busy. People are demanding of your time. You have a lot of responsibilities and not much time, and what little you have leftover you are unlikely to give up easily. I totally get it.
I too live in the world of too little time and too much work combined with impossible dreams. And yet, we writers want to write. We think about writing, dream about writing, and visualize ourselves writing. Not only do we want to write, but the experts tell us to write. Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and Barbara Kingsolver all recommend writers tap the keys every day.
But really, it is easy for a professional writer who spends all day drinking coffee and staring at the computer screen to tell everyone else to write every day. They no longer have to suffer through the workaday drudge of balancing life and love. I mean, they have personal assistants and lives of luxury, right?
I do not think that is true. I think they too struggle to sit down at the page every day—just like you and I do. I think the greats are just as challenged as the rest of us and create scenarios and schedules to keep them on track.
I too live in the world of too little time and too much work combined with impossible dreams. And yet, we writers want to write. We think about writing, dream about writing, and visualize ourselves writing. Not only do we want to write, but the experts tell us to write. Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and Barbara Kingsolver all recommend writers tap the keys every day.
But really, it is easy for a professional writer who spends all day drinking coffee and staring at the computer screen to tell everyone else to write every day. They no longer have to suffer through the workaday drudge of balancing life and love. I mean, they have personal assistants and lives of luxury, right?
I do not think that is true. I think they too struggle to sit down at the page every day—just like you and I do. I think the greats are just as challenged as the rest of us and create scenarios and schedules to keep them on track.
So, if King and Kingsolver can get themselves to the page every day, how do they do it? And how can the rest of us, who work jobs and have kids and deal with a lot of life, do it too?
If planting your backside in the chair each day is a struggle, then try out these tools to make it happen.
1. Take writing off of the lofty pedestal.
If you think of writing and your writing time as sacred or spiritual, then stop it. Treating your writing time as though it is a time of awe-inspiring inspiration could actually keep you away from writing. When we build up an activity in our minds to be overly important, sometimes we avoid it. If you can shift your mindset and think of writing as an enjoyable habit, akin to drinking a cup of tea, then you are more likely to write.
2. Make writing a ritual.
Many successful writers set aside a specific time to write. Some wake up early and write before the rest of the house is rustling around, and some stay up late at night to tap the keys while everyone else is dreaming quietly. Integrating your writing time into a ritual can make it more enjoyable and more engaging. We tend to stick with rituals once they are established, so this technique can be particularly effective. Connect your writing with a beverage, a snack, and a particular time of day. If you were to make a pot of coffee, grab a biscuit, and open your computer first thing in the morning, you have added writing into your morning coffee ritual.
3. Lower your expectations.
Stick with me for just a minute. I know this sounds bad, but it actually is a simple mindset shift that can bring you and your daily writing routine together. If, like many writers, you have enjoyed the occasional all-day writing extravaganza that allowed you to produce a large amount of writing, keep that memory but do not make that your expectation. Sometimes, as writers, we heighten our expectations of our writing time to become impossible feats—hours and hours spent producing everything from prose to poetry. But those instances are few are far between. Instead, set a reasonable expectation for your writing time. That makes the time you spend writing more enjoyable because you meet your personal expectation rather than fall short of it.
4. Set up your space.
What do you need to write? Do you need your notebook, the comfortable yellow armchair in the living room, and a foot stool? Do you need your wide desk with your white board on the wall next to you? Do you need to be away from home so that the house does not distract you? What do you need in your writing space? What you needed to write ten years ago may be completely different from what you need to write now. Take stock of what your real needs are—furniture, food and drink, tools and resources, and anything else that helps you focus and write.
5. Bring it all together.
If you make up your mind that writing is a simple, enjoyable habit that you do for a short amount of time each day, the pressure around writing can be lessened.
If you make writing a part of a daily ritual, like the first 15 minutes of your day while drinking a cup of coffee, then it becomes a part of your routine.
If you keep your expectations to a point where you can meet them no matter what the circumstances, like writing for 15 minutes a day, you are more likely to feel successful writing daily.
And if you have your space set up with everything you need to write, you are more likely to use your time productively rather than spending it searching for the pencil sharpener.
Writing every day does not mean you have to write for hours upon hours every day. Not at all. King and Kingsolver are spectacular professionals and have earned their place in the canon. For the rest of us, we can take their advice and engage in the writing process and communicate the desires of our hearts by writing every day. Sure, we work a lot, we have people to care for, and we have more responsibilities than time, but at the end of the day, the longing that we feel to write must be satisfied. We need to write.
If we can set aside just 15 minutes, we can successfully establish a daily writing routine. No one said that daily writing must take half the day to be successful. It is OK to write a little bit each day (in fact, writing a small amount each day can be highly productive). Give it a try. Put these steps into action and start writing each day.
What do you need to write? Do you need your notebook, the comfortable yellow armchair in the living room, and a foot stool? Do you need your wide desk with your white board on the wall next to you? Do you need to be away from home so that the house does not distract you? What do you need in your writing space? What you needed to write ten years ago may be completely different from what you need to write now. Take stock of what your real needs are—furniture, food and drink, tools and resources, and anything else that helps you focus and write.
5. Bring it all together.
If you make up your mind that writing is a simple, enjoyable habit that you do for a short amount of time each day, the pressure around writing can be lessened.
If you make writing a part of a daily ritual, like the first 15 minutes of your day while drinking a cup of coffee, then it becomes a part of your routine.
If you keep your expectations to a point where you can meet them no matter what the circumstances, like writing for 15 minutes a day, you are more likely to feel successful writing daily.
And if you have your space set up with everything you need to write, you are more likely to use your time productively rather than spending it searching for the pencil sharpener.
Writing every day does not mean you have to write for hours upon hours every day. Not at all. King and Kingsolver are spectacular professionals and have earned their place in the canon. For the rest of us, we can take their advice and engage in the writing process and communicate the desires of our hearts by writing every day. Sure, we work a lot, we have people to care for, and we have more responsibilities than time, but at the end of the day, the longing that we feel to write must be satisfied. We need to write.
If we can set aside just 15 minutes, we can successfully establish a daily writing routine. No one said that daily writing must take half the day to be successful. It is OK to write a little bit each day (in fact, writing a small amount each day can be highly productive). Give it a try. Put these steps into action and start writing each day.
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Ask anyone and they will tell you that it is difficult to focus these days. We have more competition for our attention than ever before. Smart phones have truly undermined our ability to enjoy a moment of quiet reflection or creative energy. Rather than helping us to communicate better, they have added a layer of stress and expectation.
When cell phones first came out, a friend hassled me for not getting one. She wanted to be able to reach me anytime of day. On the day she said this, I had been at a place called St. Mary’s Glacier that day on a hike, which is a mile hike straight up to reach a gorgeous glacier-fed mountain lake. My day had been quiet, which allowed me time to think and reflect.
When cell phones first came out, a friend hassled me for not getting one. She wanted to be able to reach me anytime of day. On the day she said this, I had been at a place called St. Mary’s Glacier that day on a hike, which is a mile hike straight up to reach a gorgeous glacier-fed mountain lake. My day had been quiet, which allowed me time to think and reflect.
Why would I want to carry around a device so that anyone could disturb me whenever they feel like it? The phone had always felt like an invasion of privacy to an extent, because I would never predict when it would ring and break the silence. For a person who spent years in college and has always been a heavy reader and writer, quiet space is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
Today, like everyone else, I have a smart phone, and it is attached to every attention-seeking application on earth. Like everybody else, I have my email and Google on the phone, and I take a zillion pictures of the kids and the cats. I have Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram—and all of my social media I justify having because I need to stay connected with my students and readers, even though I know that social media is distracting for me.
And that is what smart phones do to us. They stop us from slowing down. They turn our jobs into 24/7 tethers that drag us back to check for one more work email just in case the boss is up. They sit on our phones and flicker reminders that someone might want to talk to us, so we had better pay attention. They nag at us to keep checking in with the technical world to ensure we are still plugged in, still connected. Back in the olden days, we used to blame the television for our distractions, and it was and is still a distraction, but since the phone fits in a back pocket, its effects are more nefarious indeed.
So, how do creative people deal with this situation? Do we have to become Luddites and eschew all technology? Do we have to leave our phones behind and maybe even our laptops too since the internet features connected to our computers are no better than those on the smart phone? How does a writer manage the technologies that compete for our attention?
For starters, we have to take control of the situation and accept responsibility for what is happening to us. It can be appealing to fall back on the idea that we lack self-control or that we have lost our ability to focus on a single task. I have heard more and more people suggest that they lack the ability to focus with a tone of resignation. Just because the situation of owning a smart phone creates a challenge of feeling distracted does not mean all is lost.
When we can accept that the phone is not doing anything to us, but rather the outcome of being distracted is the way we are engaging with the device, a solution presents itself. The way we are engaging with the device is the problem, and we can change that.
For starters, we have to take control of the situation and accept responsibility for what is happening to us. It can be appealing to fall back on the idea that we lack self-control or that we have lost our ability to focus on a single task. I have heard more and more people suggest that they lack the ability to focus with a tone of resignation. Just because the situation of owning a smart phone creates a challenge of feeling distracted does not mean all is lost.
When we can accept that the phone is not doing anything to us, but rather the outcome of being distracted is the way we are engaging with the device, a solution presents itself. The way we are engaging with the device is the problem, and we can change that.
So, what are some ways that we can unplug for short periods of time?
How can we create a space between ourselves and the devices that take up our attention? That space should be physical space and mental space. When we physically separate ourselves from our devices, our attention moves elsewhere. It may take a few minutes to realize the calm that comes from being away from the device, but that space allows us to decide how we can organize our personal space in a different way.
We also need to consider the mental space that we need from our devices. The panic some people feel when they do not check their email accounts or social media feeds creates a fear of missing out condition which makes them feel like an amazing party is happening and they were not invited. Taking a break from that level of stress gives a person the ability to reconnect with their own thoughts. Instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, a writer can finally take a moment to breathe and to think. Writers need quiet, reflective time to be able to compose quality pieces.
If we are constantly pulled into devices that take our attention away from our creative projects, then where will we get the energy to be able to write at all? If we can recognize that the connection to devices is one that we have to take charge of and control, then we can redefine the way we interact with the devices and take back the quiet space we need to create.
While you are thinking about how to use your device in a different way, take steps to create more space between you and your devices.
1. Turn off the phone
2. Put the phone in another room or in the car
3. Turn off the internet router or the internet key on the laptop
4. Leave the house to write and leave the phone and laptop behind
5. Schedule specific time during the day to write. Turn off all devices during this time.
6. If you cannot write at home, then leave the house. Go to a cafe, a restaurant, a library—any place where you can write and focus without your devices.
7. Set up a partnership with another writer, reader, or creative friend. Meet up to write together and monitor each other so that neither of you are getting distracted by a device.
8. Create a rewards system for your writing time. When you meet your daily goal (word count or time on task), then give yourself the reward that appeals to you—a latte, time to watch TV, time on your device goofing off, etc.
Writers can be distracted by the features that our modern devices offer, but we do not have to be affected by them. We can redefine the way that we connect to our writing by creating more time to write. We can choose to redefine the way we interact with our devices and make a better space for our writing. Because the more uninterrupted time we have to write, the more writing we do, and the more productive we are as writers. Unplug and write.
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Unfortunately, I got to find out this one the hard way. While saying goodbye to my exhausted laptop, it crashed while I was in the process of backing up my files for transfer. Although I am reasonably good at backing up my files on a regular basis, my desktop had new files that are now gone.
At least a dozen short stories and two academic articles as well as an annotated outline for a nonfiction book were among the losses—around a hundred hours of writing disappeared in an instant.
Like any writer, I was devastated to watch the writing disappear into the ether as the proverbial blue screen of death popped up. $200 later and not a single computer geek on earth was able to retrieve the files. They were just gone.
At least a dozen short stories and two academic articles as well as an annotated outline for a nonfiction book were among the losses—around a hundred hours of writing disappeared in an instant.
Like any writer, I was devastated to watch the writing disappear into the ether as the proverbial blue screen of death popped up. $200 later and not a single computer geek on earth was able to retrieve the files. They were just gone.
My first thought was of Anne Bradstreet, believe it or not. In her poem, “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House” from 1666 when her house burned in front of her and she lost everything. Thinking of losing the whole house definitely lessens the blow of losing some files. Yes, I lost writing that I have been working on for the last couple of months, but I do not have to rebuild my life, just the words on my pages.
As writers, we hold onto our words in a different way than other hobbyists. Think of another hobby—woodworking or knitting. If I am knitting a sweater and it turns out horribly because the wool is stained after I started using it to make a sweater, I accept defeat and move on. If the wood pile that I use as my store get soaked overnight and I run out of good ash or oak for finishing the dresser I am building, then I accept defeat and move on. We seem to recognize that when we engage in a creative activity, there may be setbacks and those setbacks are acceptable.
As writers, we hold onto our words in a different way than other hobbyists. Think of another hobby—woodworking or knitting. If I am knitting a sweater and it turns out horribly because the wool is stained after I started using it to make a sweater, I accept defeat and move on. If the wood pile that I use as my store get soaked overnight and I run out of good ash or oak for finishing the dresser I am building, then I accept defeat and move on. We seem to recognize that when we engage in a creative activity, there may be setbacks and those setbacks are acceptable.
When we write, those words feel like a basket of butterflies—precious, delicate, and fragile. One harsh wind and they could be gone forever. For a variety of reasons, when we write, the activity is so personal, so connected to our development and revelation of self, and so real and true that to lose words can feel like the loss of a part of ourselves.
And yet, we kill our darlings every time we engage in the writing process. With each edit, we replace a favorite phrase with a better fit, even though we may be less emotionally connected to it. We cut whole paragraphs and whole pages to hone the rough edges of stories and make them clearer. Every time that we approach writing, the editing process is part of our thoughts.
And yet, we kill our darlings every time we engage in the writing process. With each edit, we replace a favorite phrase with a better fit, even though we may be less emotionally connected to it. We cut whole paragraphs and whole pages to hone the rough edges of stories and make them clearer. Every time that we approach writing, the editing process is part of our thoughts.
Words are temporary. Yes, the process of writing is therapeutic, it is restorative, and it is trans-formative. When we write, we become writers. We become not just craftspeople but masters of the art of literature; our thoughts, feelings, hopes and intentions all get wrapped up in packages of words that we long dearly to share with the world.
Our words hold meaning beyond what they say about your chosen topics. They hold meaning in that they proclaim who we are—essayists, memoirists, novelists, and poets. Our writing is more than writing, rather it is a definition of self and a clarification of personal and professional purpose.
Our words hold meaning beyond what they say about your chosen topics. They hold meaning in that they proclaim who we are—essayists, memoirists, novelists, and poets. Our writing is more than writing, rather it is a definition of self and a clarification of personal and professional purpose.
And yet, words are just words. Stories are just play things. Articles are just symbols on the page. All of these can be rewritten much more easily than a house built of wood that can burn again. Because what happens when you lose your writing? You accept the setback and you keep going. You write some more, you replace what you wrote, and you write something new, because the job of a writer is the put the pen to paper and get to work.
Luckily, when we lose our writing, all we lose are words. We do not lose our homes, our memories, or our friends; we just lose our darlings for a short time until we recreate them anew in a new story or article. As writers, we are lucky to be able to rebuild from the ashes something more beautiful that what we had before.
Luckily, when we lose our writing, all we lose are words. We do not lose our homes, our memories, or our friends; we just lose our darlings for a short time until we recreate them anew in a new story or article. As writers, we are lucky to be able to rebuild from the ashes something more beautiful that what we had before.
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Most novice writers view themselves as active in their craft, regardless of how frequently they write. When we spend a week or a month or a year not writing, we are still loosely engaged in the writing process by reading, taking classes, and thinking about writing. Although those activities may not equate to putting words on the page, they are necessary to cultivate a healthy creative mindset to write.
But at the end of the day, writers write. And writers who write infrequently are less likely to meet their personal and professional writing goals. Regardless of whether one’s goals are to write a series of love letters to a spouse or to write the next bestselling novel, writers need to put words on the page to make progress toward their writing goals.
Many of the professional writers recommend writing every day, 7 days a week 365 days a year. Stephen King’s non-fiction book On Writing is a popular read with novice writers. King covers his development as a writer and the tools he uses to crank out a minimum of a novel a year.
But at the end of the day, writers write. And writers who write infrequently are less likely to meet their personal and professional writing goals. Regardless of whether one’s goals are to write a series of love letters to a spouse or to write the next bestselling novel, writers need to put words on the page to make progress toward their writing goals.
Many of the professional writers recommend writing every day, 7 days a week 365 days a year. Stephen King’s non-fiction book On Writing is a popular read with novice writers. King covers his development as a writer and the tools he uses to crank out a minimum of a novel a year.
“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.”
Most writers produce a lot of terrible writing and a little bit of high-quality writing. The time spent producing the terrible writing is part of the process that opens us up to the possibility of creating the good stuff that we want to share with our audience. We need the time and space to practice our craft.
“Good description is a learned skill, one of the prime reasons why you cannot succeed unless you read a lot and write a lot. It’s not just a question of how-to, you see; it’s also a question of how much to. Reading will help you answer how much, and only reams of writing will help you with the how. You can learn only by doing.”
Most writers produce a lot of terrible writing and a little bit of high-quality writing. The time spent producing the terrible writing is part of the process that opens us up to the possibility of creating the good stuff that we want to share with our audience. We need the time and space to practice our craft.
“Good description is a learned skill, one of the prime reasons why you cannot succeed unless you read a lot and write a lot. It’s not just a question of how-to, you see; it’s also a question of how much to. Reading will help you answer how much, and only reams of writing will help you with the how. You can learn only by doing.”
Although writing takes time out of the day, and setting aside that time can be challenging for many writers, daily writing is the path to successfully meeting one’s goals. Writers do not improve their abilities without engaging in a regular writing routine, and for many people that means writing every day. Just as we take our professional careers seriously and take part in professional development, pursuing advanced degrees, and keeping up with the research in our field, that same level of seriousness is needed to write well.
“I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That’s 180,000 words over a three-month span, a goodish length for a book — something in which the reader can get happily lost, if the tale is done well and stays fresh.”
OK, King produces a lot of writing and functions beyond the realm that most of us are able to do and only a few of us could keep up with his pace. This is true, but all writers can engage deeply in the writing process. Even though most of us will never write 2,000 words a day, we can write 200 words a day or even 50 words a day. The key element of writing every day is more about connecting with one’s writing on a daily basis as much as it is about writing a lot of words on the page.
“I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That’s 180,000 words over a three-month span, a goodish length for a book — something in which the reader can get happily lost, if the tale is done well and stays fresh.”
OK, King produces a lot of writing and functions beyond the realm that most of us are able to do and only a few of us could keep up with his pace. This is true, but all writers can engage deeply in the writing process. Even though most of us will never write 2,000 words a day, we can write 200 words a day or even 50 words a day. The key element of writing every day is more about connecting with one’s writing on a daily basis as much as it is about writing a lot of words on the page.
So, how does the novice writer improve one’s writing practice without becoming overwhelmed by King’s high expectations? Think about it this way, King writes for a living. He doesn’t pack a lunch, take the train an hour each way to work, sit at a desk for ten crushing hours, then commute home before despairing that his children are growing up without him. He writes for a living. Most of us do not have that luxury. So, for a writer whose sole professional obligation is to write and support his writing (i.e., marketing, speaking, and engaging his readers, etc.), for him the time is easier to schedule.
For those of us who work full time, volunteer in our communities, raise children, and live generally chaotic lives, 2,000 words a day may feel like an impossible task and for many, it may feel like a goal so lofty it isn’t worth attempting. So, adjust the goal.
If King writes 2,000 words a day, what can your schedule manage? Can you swing 500 words a day? 200 words a day? 50 words a day? At just 50 words a day, a write would pen 18,250 words a year, which is a quarter of a novel. Pick a goal that is manageable and works for you. You do not have to be King to be successful.
For those of us who work full time, volunteer in our communities, raise children, and live generally chaotic lives, 2,000 words a day may feel like an impossible task and for many, it may feel like a goal so lofty it isn’t worth attempting. So, adjust the goal.
If King writes 2,000 words a day, what can your schedule manage? Can you swing 500 words a day? 200 words a day? 50 words a day? At just 50 words a day, a write would pen 18,250 words a year, which is a quarter of a novel. Pick a goal that is manageable and works for you. You do not have to be King to be successful.
For me, I work on my writing every night for one to two hours before bed. My family falls asleep around 8pm and I stay up in the living room and write until 10pm. On a good night, I can write 1,000 words in two hours, but usually I am closer to 400-500 words a day. As well, I spend that time editing, revising, submitting my work to publications, editing my writer friends’ pieces, backing up my writing, and researching ideas.
Regardless of what specific task I focus on each day, I focus on the writing process and the task at hand. Just spending this amount of time on my craft daily makes me feel successful because I am making consistent progress towards my goals of completing my writing projects.
So, if you are not writing on a daily basis, what is the hold up? Can you carve out 15 minutes a day? 30 minutes a day? Maybe you can set aside more time than that? Writing on a daily basis keeping your writing mojo flowing and helps you maintain a high level of creative energy to put towards your work. And the consistent practice can go a long way to raise your confidence level and will certainly improve your writing skills over time. So, if you are not writing every day, start.
Regardless of what specific task I focus on each day, I focus on the writing process and the task at hand. Just spending this amount of time on my craft daily makes me feel successful because I am making consistent progress towards my goals of completing my writing projects.
So, if you are not writing on a daily basis, what is the hold up? Can you carve out 15 minutes a day? 30 minutes a day? Maybe you can set aside more time than that? Writing on a daily basis keeping your writing mojo flowing and helps you maintain a high level of creative energy to put towards your work. And the consistent practice can go a long way to raise your confidence level and will certainly improve your writing skills over time. So, if you are not writing every day, start.
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Over the last 20 years I have taught writing to people from the age of 12 on up, and one thing that novice writers have in common is a true desire to become better writers. One of the things I appreciate so much about new writers is their drive to improve their abilities. We can all learn a little more and become better writers if we are willing to follow the formula.
How do Writers Improve?
The formula for improving one’s writing is surprisingly simple. First, read every day. Next, write every day. Finally, open yourself to change. That may come across as an oversimplification of a revered profession, but for anyone who wants to be a better writer, these are the steps.
“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.” Ray Bradbury
“Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have “essential” and “long overdue” meetings on those days. The funny thing is that, although writing has been my actual job for several years now, I still seem to have to fight for time in which to do it.” J.K. Rowling
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” Stephen King
Yes, the process to improving our writing is simple. We need to spend time reading, we need to write, and we need to be open to change. This list brings up some common questions.
Should writers read specific books?
Should writers read books in their genre?
Should writers read books about the writing practice?
Pondering what decisions to make can feel overwhelming, because novice writers have a strong drive to become professional writers. Writing is their passion, their dream, and their chosen path. It can feel like one wrong step and the dream will be destroyed, but happily, that is not the case. As new writers move through the steps by increasing their reading and writing times and open themselves up to change, they activate their own sense of self-reflection, which allows them to hone their practices into a more efficient and personalized experience.
“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.” Ray Bradbury
“Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have “essential” and “long overdue” meetings on those days. The funny thing is that, although writing has been my actual job for several years now, I still seem to have to fight for time in which to do it.” J.K. Rowling
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” Stephen King
Yes, the process to improving our writing is simple. We need to spend time reading, we need to write, and we need to be open to change. This list brings up some common questions.
Should writers read specific books?
Should writers read books in their genre?
Should writers read books about the writing practice?
Pondering what decisions to make can feel overwhelming, because novice writers have a strong drive to become professional writers. Writing is their passion, their dream, and their chosen path. It can feel like one wrong step and the dream will be destroyed, but happily, that is not the case. As new writers move through the steps by increasing their reading and writing times and open themselves up to change, they activate their own sense of self-reflection, which allows them to hone their practices into a more efficient and personalized experience.
Should writers read specific books?
Read the books that you enjoy. If you devour young adult literature, even though you are in your 40s, then read every young adult book you can get your hands on. Read them, read them a second time, analyze them, and read them out loud. This will give you not only immense pleasure by reading the books you love, but it will allow you dedicated time to study the specific aspects of your craft.
You cannot know a genre if you are not interested or willing to allow it to take over your reading life. So, if you have the idea that you will write science fiction because it sells well, but you are not terribly interested in reading science fiction novels, then get rid of that idea. Writing is as much about lifestyle as it is about producing a completed story. Read what you love.
You cannot know a genre if you are not interested or willing to allow it to take over your reading life. So, if you have the idea that you will write science fiction because it sells well, but you are not terribly interested in reading science fiction novels, then get rid of that idea. Writing is as much about lifestyle as it is about producing a completed story. Read what you love.
Should writers read books in their genre?
Yes, definitely. But do not let that limit your reading. If you write historical fiction novels set in Medieval Europe, it is perfectly acceptable to read modern Scandinavian thrillers too. There is no expectation that writers need to limit themselves to one genre or to a short list of writers. If it appeals to you, read it. Oftentimes, I find that when an unusual book calls me to read it, I have something important that I need to learn from that book.
Over the years, I have met a handful of people who cannot read in their writing genre while they are writing a larger project (like a screenplay or novel). I have only heard of a handful of people who say that reading in their writing genre alters their writing style and voice. To correct that situation, they read outside of their writing genre until the project is finished. Voila, problem solved. Most writers do not run into that issue, but if you find yourself in an unexpected situation, then be open to change by altering your normal routine to create a better fit for your writing.
Over the years, I have met a handful of people who cannot read in their writing genre while they are writing a larger project (like a screenplay or novel). I have only heard of a handful of people who say that reading in their writing genre alters their writing style and voice. To correct that situation, they read outside of their writing genre until the project is finished. Voila, problem solved. Most writers do not run into that issue, but if you find yourself in an unexpected situation, then be open to change by altering your normal routine to create a better fit for your writing.
Should writers read books about the writing practice?
Absolutely. Every writer should be reading about how to write, and there is a hefty list of books available on the subject. If you have a mindset of being open to change, then you realize that everyone has something to learn, and none of us were born perfect writers. Many writers do not realize the array of books available on how to write, but these books can be a game-changer for many novice writers.
Eudora Welty, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Anne Lamott, William Zinsser, Natalie Goldberg, Annie Dillard, and Julie Cameron all published books about the writing process. These books offer tips and tricks on improving one’s writing habits, reflections on the writing process, and stories of what inspired people to pursue writing—as both a hobby and a career.
So, when you look over your writing practice, where can you make an adjustment for a small improvement? Perhaps if you are not reading at all, you can add in 15 minutes a day of dedicated reading time? Or if you are limiting your reading to magazine articles, you can change your focus to books. If you want to write better, you have to put in the work to make that happen, but reading, writing, and being open to change is natural for most writers. Sometimes, we just need a little nudge to get ourselves on track.
Eudora Welty, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Anne Lamott, William Zinsser, Natalie Goldberg, Annie Dillard, and Julie Cameron all published books about the writing process. These books offer tips and tricks on improving one’s writing habits, reflections on the writing process, and stories of what inspired people to pursue writing—as both a hobby and a career.
So, when you look over your writing practice, where can you make an adjustment for a small improvement? Perhaps if you are not reading at all, you can add in 15 minutes a day of dedicated reading time? Or if you are limiting your reading to magazine articles, you can change your focus to books. If you want to write better, you have to put in the work to make that happen, but reading, writing, and being open to change is natural for most writers. Sometimes, we just need a little nudge to get ourselves on track.
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