Yes, you read that headline correctly. No, I’m not tipsy. We all have the right and the ability to pick up a pen and explore our thoughts, our experiences, and the world around us. Anyone can channel their creative energy and transform their experiences into writing.
But what about writing well, you ask?
Okay, let’s pause here for a moment, because I have a question in return: Why are you jumping ahead? Why are you skipping the line? Do we pressure ourselves to graduate from college and become a CEO overnight? Would we buy a piano with the expectation that we’d play like Mozart within a week? We need to cut ourselves some slack.
Every story begins with a crummy first draft. Even famous authors start with an idea and a few words that eventually form—no, not a masterpiece—but a shitty first draft. Those authors just keep going, keep editing, keep trying new techniques, keep learning and growing, and keep stretching themselves.
But you don’t have to, nor should you, compare yourself to them. You’re on your own journey, your own path; there’s no one ahead of you and no one behind you. So what’s stopping you from getting started?
Here are five small steps to help you get going:
1. Shift your mindset
Every time your mind shifts, your world shifts.”
– Byron Katie
We have to start with our mindset because if we keep telling ourselves that we don’t have time to write, that we're need elsewhere, that our skills are insufficient, that writing is too hard and tedious, then we’re sabotaging ourselves before getting started.
Instead, think about what becomes possible the moment we swap those thoughts. Einstein taught us long ago that time is an illusion. So, what becomes possible if we reassured ourselves that we have an abundance of time, that we're learning every time we sit down to write, that the process is a journey full of discovery?
For me, that kind of mindset removes the guilt I sometimes feel when I take time for myself. Plus, if we give ourselves permission to experiment and have fun, then we can once again enjoy the creative process—rather than judging each and every word as we type them.
In short, what we focus on grows. So focus on rewriting the stories you tell yourself. Say out loud, "I deserve to do this." Give yourself permission to experiment and have fun.
2. Brain dump possibilities
To be a person is to have a story to tell.”
– Isak Dinesen
We all have stories within us—scenes that we daydream throughout the day, seeds of ideas that pop into our minds at random moments, and thoughts or memories that make us wonder what if.
We come across tons of potential story ideas every day. The trick is to pause and record them, to not let them breeze past us as we rush off to our next meeting or task. So, keep a running list, in a journal or a note on your phone, where you can brain dump the ideas that filter through your mind.
Keep growing this list over time.
Whenever you read a book or watch a movie that sparks an idea, add it to the list. When a writing prompt or photo tugs your gut, add those as well. Given that authors tend to pull from real life, you can also add reoccurring thoughts, poignant memories, pivotal life moments, etc., that your characters may later explore.
This brain dump will become a magnificent repository of ideas that you can turn into a writing prompt, a fictitious story, a poem, a personal essay, or any other type of writing.
3. Pick one
A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.”
– Graham Greene
When looking at your repository of ideas, pick one to explore, the one that keeps calling to you. Sometimes the idea churning in your gut, the one that makes you think, “Um, maybe not this one just yet,” is exactly the story you need to release. Be open to accepting the challenge.
If the story idea seems too big, narrow your focus. Start small.
Give yourself permission to write just one description about the location, a specific character, or their feelings. If you wish to zoom out a bit more, take a mental snapshot of that setting. What do you see within that lens, what colors and people and emotions? Focus on writing about the contents within that snapshot only.
Regardless, remember it's okay to experiment.
4. Use a timer
Knowing that a timer is ticking down helps my focus to laser in on my writing.”
– Kristen Poli
Before I had a career, home, and family to maintain, I never used a timer. I would flop on my bed and write for hours without procrastination, interruption, or distraction. Now, the timer can serve 4 purposes.
- If my mind can't relinquish all the stuff I should be doing, the timer tells my inner nag that she can take a break and wait 10 minutes. That permission allows me to zero in on my writing goal.
- If I tell myself I need to write for only 10 minutes today but don't use a timer, then I tend to keep checking the clock. Knowing the timer will tell me when I've reached my 10-minute goal allows me to ignore the clock.
- The timer pushes me to keep going. If it hasn't stopped, neither do I. That means I need to visualize what I'm going to write before I get started. Yes, my characters may run off the page and surprise me, and that's okay. But I want to make sure I have enough fuel to get me started so I can keep going until that timer chimes.
- Ten minutes doesn’t feel like an overwhelming commitment. That helps me to tell myself to sit down now and start writing, rather than procrastinating all day.
So, do I actually stop when the timer goes off? Not so much anymore.
When I’m in the zone and my family doesn't need me, I keep going. In truth, the timer helps me to silence my inner nag, disconnect from the world, and know I have a net to reeling me back if I have other obligations that can’t wait until tomorrow.
For length of time, I recommend trying 10-, 25-, and 45-minute increments, and see which works best for you. The 25-minute version falls under the pomodoro method (see video below), which many writers rave about.
In the beginning, 10 minutes can feel like forever. But once you’re familiar with that, you’ll find disconnecting easier, you’ll sink into writing faster, and you’ll want more time to see where your creativity can take you.
5. Go crazy!
Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller, waiting to be released.”
– Robin Moore
Recall that one story you chose in step 3? When you start writing, jump into the deep end. Write about what generates the strongest reactions from you or that raises a question. What about this one idea has been calling to you? That’s your focus.
Write like you’re talking to your best friend, and let the energy of that conversation flow. Record every seemingly crazy thought that pops into your head. If at first your words feel bland, stilted, or forced, let them out and keep going. As you descend deeper into the strongest feelings, you'll find the gold.
This experience is similar to releasing air trapped in your water lines. You have to open all your faucets and let them sputter and spurt until they’ve released the air disrupting the system. Only after you’ve provided a path for releasing the air can the water flow freely again.
Likewise, don't disrupt your creative flow by editing yourself. Just keep writing. And don’t fret over chronology, setting up a scene, or establishing context. Tell your inner judge to hush; they’ll have their turn later. Much later. This space right now is for creative freedom.
Make it a judgment-free zone.
Featured photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash.
