On Writing
Today ends the 7th week of Project 52, and so far I’m 4 for 6, not including this week. I did well in January and turned out a new article every week, but my motivation to write was clearly higher a month ago than it is today. As I had just started the project, I was actively and regularly thinking about it throughout the week. So when it came time to write the article it was easier and faster.
The past two weeks have been much busier than usual at work, but I feel like that’s a lame excuse. Everyone is busy. Some are just better at finding time to capture thoughts and write about them. So what are some ways that amateur writers go about their life but still find a way to write great articles at the end of the day? Because I haven’t posted anything for the past two weeks, and I’m keen to keep it from happening again over the coming year, I thought it would be fitting to explore this topic a little more this week. After thinking a little about this over the past few days, these are the top three ideas I had to improve the quantity and quality of my writing in the context of Project 52.
Pick your topic as early as possible
It’s easy to avoid the topic of your mid-term essay and wait until the last minute to write it. Many of us have been there. Similarly it’s easy to put off thinking about any essay until the deadline closes in - especially if you’re writing a series of articles which can be about anything, as is the case for Project 52. When I haven’t thought through the topic of a longer article before I start writing it, I often end up spending a lot of time nailing down the topic and determining what angle I’ll take. However, when I pick the topic early, I can spend short blocks of time thinking about the article leading up to the actual writing. So when I need to sit down and write, I have the topic and some notes — or at least some reformulated thoughts — about the topic.
Dedicate time for thinking and writing about the topic every day
Even if you pick your topic early, if you don’t set aside time to think and write about the topic — every day — you won’t have much more than an idea and blank slate when you need to do the real writing. Some writers have the uncanny ability to know what they’re going to write about and just write, planning and structuring their article in real time. While I can try to do this, it often takes me considerably more time than it would if I had some notes or some rough ideas about the the topic. Part of my plan to get back on track with with Project 52 is to reserve at least 15 minutes every day to do a short amount of research and record at least a few thoughts about the article.
When it comes time to write, just start writing
Just write. This sounds too simple, but it’s probably one of the most important writing tips that I’ve relearned since starting this project. Motivating yourself to start writing can be hard. It’s analogous to physics: it takes more energy to get something to start moving than to keep it going. But once you get going, it just flows. Or at least you have something to build your thoughts on. Don’t worry about quality the first time around; you can always revise and edit later. In other words, don’t be afraid to write a shitty first draft, an idea from Anne Lamott in her book, Bird by Bird:
Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something — anything — down on paper.
Writing isn’t easy for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be hard either. With a little bit of planning, a daily commitment to the task and an acknowledgement that just getting on with it is the best way to start, writing can be a easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
