I’ve been thinking and talking with other writers, and some non-writers, or would-be-writers-if-they-could-stop-prevaricating-and-just-get-on-with-it…. about-
Getting on with writing!
It’s taken me ages to learn what works best for me, and these can be narrowed down to:
- Chunking; breaking my writing time into 30/45 minute/hour long sessions, no matter how well it’s going I stop when my phone alarm goes off. Makes me want to go back to it the next time. And it’s the answer to the ‘but I don’t have time to write’ thing…yes, you do.
- Leaving mid-way through a sentence or paragraph or ending just before the end of a scene or section- makes it easier to pick up again the next time
- Reading my last few sections aloud to make me hear the words properly, not just have them be flat on a page or screen
- Writing at my ‘best brain’ time; which for me is early morning or late evening but never, NEVER afternoon. Deadly. I just want to sleep, or do something practical, or research, but not write. Too dopey. Find your good time.
- Reward-based. Chocolate, coffee, whatever your Pavlovian reaction is- I’m like my golden retriever, treat-based.
- Doing it often; like exercise, it’s much harder to do if you rarely do it.
- Warm-ups; little writing task-ettes that get me word-focused.
- Being in the right light, with no (obvious or loud) noise, uninterrupted by the doorbell, the dog, the cats; being warm enough, or cool enough, a comfortable chair, etc etc. Basically, giving myself no excuse.
Works for me. Take off every time.
