historylass
sallyduchessWriting When You Just Don't Feel Like It
October 20th 2006 09:02
I have a confession to make. I really don't feel like writing. I was busy for most of the day, so it's evening and I'm tired. I have a terrible toothache and a lot of stuff on my mind. I just want to do nothing, to be honest with you.
But I'm not doing nothing. I'm here, writing this blog. The question you might be asking me right now is "Why?". It's not like the fate of the world depends on it. Why write, if I don't feel like it? There are two reasons for that. The first is that I made a commitment to myself. People who don't honour commitments to themself aren't likely to honour commitments to other people. The second reason is that once you start making excuses not to write, the excuses never end and the writing never starts.
So how do you write when you just don't feel like it?
The hardest thing is usually beginning. I find that once I begin, it's easy to continue. So just sit down and start writing. If you don't want to write for an audience, then write for yourself. Write about why it's so difficult to write. Just write nonsense, if need be. It doesn't matter what you write, so long as you're writing.
The next thing you can do is pick an easy task. Pick something you enjoy doing. Write a plan, if you like planning. Start with the part of your writing that seems the most interesting. Start with the conclusion if need be. Or start in the middle. Or brainstorm article topics. Just do something - something fun.
One other trick is to let the creativity flow. Forget about writing in proper sentences, with good grammar. Write the worst piece you've ever written in your life. You can always edit later. But allowing yourself free reign to do what you want helps in the writing process.
By now, you should be getting into the swing of thngs. But sometimes you can do all these things, and still not feel like writing. That's when it's time to discipline yourself. Just write anyway. Even when you don't feel like it.
But I'm not doing nothing. I'm here, writing this blog. The question you might be asking me right now is "Why?". It's not like the fate of the world depends on it. Why write, if I don't feel like it? There are two reasons for that. The first is that I made a commitment to myself. People who don't honour commitments to themself aren't likely to honour commitments to other people. The second reason is that once you start making excuses not to write, the excuses never end and the writing never starts.
So how do you write when you just don't feel like it?
The hardest thing is usually beginning. I find that once I begin, it's easy to continue. So just sit down and start writing. If you don't want to write for an audience, then write for yourself. Write about why it's so difficult to write. Just write nonsense, if need be. It doesn't matter what you write, so long as you're writing.
The next thing you can do is pick an easy task. Pick something you enjoy doing. Write a plan, if you like planning. Start with the part of your writing that seems the most interesting. Start with the conclusion if need be. Or start in the middle. Or brainstorm article topics. Just do something - something fun.
One other trick is to let the creativity flow. Forget about writing in proper sentences, with good grammar. Write the worst piece you've ever written in your life. You can always edit later. But allowing yourself free reign to do what you want helps in the writing process.
By now, you should be getting into the swing of thngs. But sometimes you can do all these things, and still not feel like writing. That's when it's time to discipline yourself. Just write anyway. Even when you don't feel like it.
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Comment by Lily
Ars Poetica
i tend to abandon a lot of my writing at some point when one soldier turns in the line of my thinking, creates chaos and there i am, sitting blank. Any suggestions for that?
~Lily
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
Comment by Wendi
This post ties nicely to your entry on journal writing. Moods like this one are perfect for the journals. I can't tell you how many journal entries I've started in just this exact way - I'd rather be doing anything but writing, but writing is what I need to be doing, so here I am. Oddly enough, I did publish a few pieces similar to that as well, and the public ate them up moreso than the pieces I slaved over and was proud of! People appreciate the real and the raw. They like to know we're human.
The ability to commit, or lack of, is what can make or break a writer. Some of the best writers in the world set standards for themselves of producing two thousand words per day. It doesn't matter what those words are, how well they're presented, whether or not they're spelled correctly, or whethe ror not they make a lick of sense. What matters is two thousand words. Most often, what I've found is that by the end of the "session", there's a nugget, a golden egg, a gem worth polishing off and using as a "starter" for your next session. It can also help us discover what it is that's causing our muse to go on strike! We can write our own truths... by complete accident!
Excellent write, brilliant advice. I'm glad my aimless wanderings led me to your blog. I'm enjoying every word of it.
Kudos!
W