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AllynCrowe
Jan '20

I posted this in the writing subreddit as a response against someone who said that authors should just slam out 20k words a week. I felt it could be relevant for authors here as well, who may struggle with writing consistently.

'As someone who actually wrote a full draft this year (~150k in 6 months), I disagree with the notion that you should just 'sit down and do it'. New authors are constantly bombarded with this idea that all it is is 'write write write', and to 'get off your lazy ass and do it'.

But a lot of people don't work that way. It is okay if you are not one of those people - I definitely am not. It's like telling someone with depression to 'just smile'. If you can't find it in you to write every day; if you can't find the mental energy to plan and outline; if your creativity is gone in that black abyss we all stare down from time to time, don't force yourself to do this. It's like pushing a jammed system: you may make an inch of movement, at the cost of breaking everything and having to give up again.

Ask yourself why you can't write. Why isn't this working? Maybe your job is too demanding; maybe you're not in the right frame of mind. It's very tempting to try and be a superhuman and work an 8 hour job and then write all evening, but for a lot of people that won't do any good. Imagination needs to breathe, it needs space and patience so it can grow inspiration.

If you are not in the right headspace, don't force it. Instead try to shift your life to accommodate for writing more. Write when you are inspired, but don't overdo it. Plan out your outline, but don't stare blindly at your map to the point where you get frustrated and exhausted.

The thing that worked the most for me, was to simply find the joy in writing. I started with a story I love to write, and love to be invested in. It doesn't need to be your masterpiece: it has to be your first piece. And don't give up if you hit a roadbump, it's fine to take a day off and try again later.'

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    Jan '20

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Maps
Jan '20

I fully agree. I have tried to have a schedule, but sometimes I just can’t do it.

It’s really hard for me to place myself in my characters’ shoes and get in the zone sometimes. If I were to do that while not being ready, the content would probably be awful and rushed.

Not all writers can operate that way and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

Even the past month, with the holidays, being sick, and having it tough at work, I haven’t posted at all because I’m drained. I know I wouldn’t do any of my works justice if I tried to right now.

It really takes a day of motivation for me to hop in and really fill my characters’ shoes so that I can write the way I want to write. And I’m happy for the patient readers I have that understand this.

ben
Jan '20

I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go beyond their means especially when it comes to whatever number of extenuating circumstances might prevent them from doing certain things at full capacity.

But I do think the advice of working on your craft everyday even if it’s unsuccessful for a while does lead to developing creativity and it becomes easier to maintain a stream of ideas. It’s an over-simplification to say just write write write and it also isn’t the kind of thing everybody ~needs~ to be able to do.

It took me years of habit forming, a lot of practice, and research into certain processes (there’s a lot of science and research done on this) to do it but it’s also what I DO full time so I don’t often have the option to take a break if I couldn’t find it in me to write something or draw something. But as a result of years of doing it I can get into the headspace anytime I sit at a desk.

However, that’s not something that’s required for most people and it can be a grueling process if you’re not doing it full time. I do think it’s all valid though and I’m wary of making blanket statements.

user400
Jan '20

I disagree.

The point of forcing yourself to write is that writing becomes a habit.

You sit down everyday from X o'clock to Y o'clock and write whether you like it or not. If you absolutely can't write, then you sit there at your desk/keyboard until Y o'clock regardless, because this is the time devoted to this specific activity and nothing else.

Once you've established this is what you do everyday, and you stick to it, your brain adjusts itself accordingly. It knows you'll be writing at that time. It wires itself to make it so you feel the need to write at that time, just like you'd feel the need to brush your teeth. It's a force of habit and that's a powerful thing.

You will no longer wait for inspiration to come out of the blue. You sitting down and working on your story will inspire you in an on itself. Why? Well because it's writing o'clock and you can't help but to write.

However, if you only write for fun, then it doesn't matter at all. Then you write for fun and the story can suck all the ass in the galaxy and remain unfinished forever. It doesn't matter as long as you had fun.

If you write for the love of writing though then be serious about it. Give it the devotion it deserves.

AllynCrowe
Jan '20

I see why you would say that, but I have never had that work, and I don't think that it ever would work. Because if I sit down for an hour forcing myself to write, I won't make a habit - all I would do is associate it with lost time and frustration. This would then stress me out so much I would just force myself to be frustrated for an hour a day.

I genuinely think that before you make a habit, you need to associate the activity with enjoyment or otherwise something positive.

user400
Jan '20

I see. That's unfortunate. I'll consider myself extra lucky in this regard then! :smiley:

I enjoy writing, so sitting down to write is something I get to do, not something I have to force myself to do.

Even when I'm not inspired, I'm happy to sit down for my writing time. I don't consider it a waste even if nothing but drivel comes out that day. Just sitting there X minutes reflecting upon my story is great. My writing time is in the morning before work, so often times something I've been thinking about will "click" during the day and I'm excited to get to write it the next morning.

darkone4587
Jan '20

Yeah, I do try to write everyday, but sometimes I either don't have the energy or will to get anything done.
While I do recommend an attempt at it if you think you can do it, I don't think it's something anyone has to force themselves to do. Everyone has their own pace with things what takes one person some years could take another months, so don't force it just go at your own pace.

Jenny-Toons
Jan '20

Kinda added advice on what I do for writing:

I like to switch it up. One day I'll write everything done on pen and notebook. Then I'll transfer it to my computer. Might go a little slower, but i'm more focused on what I'm doing. Other times, it's just all on the computer. Goes much quicker, and I get all of my rushing thoughts down easier.

That, and I like to write/draw when I'm listening to podcasts/music or if I'm in a voice chat with other people who are also working on other projects. Just seems to make the time flow quicker and I get more work done.

lil-sea-salt
Jan '20

i think there is also different types of writing. different places are more or less hardcore about this. this is a contract thing if you're a pro. but it's also more stressed in asia and it's kind of a quantity over quality mentality which is that a mentality for eastern webnovels. readers are hungry and the author who writes the most makes the most money. screenwriters preach the same thing. tv to a full extent as i am exploring that is literally just write and then shoot.

i think you should write everyday to build up discipline. 1k a day has been ruthless to me. i flipping hate it, but also i have the rewards from it. my writing sometimes is so strange i don't know where it came from. but it's kind of the beauty of what i do is that i'm tending a garden with different types of flowers. even if i get sick i have to make sure the flowers are doing well.

sometimes i would love to have some help. sometimes people mess up things i'm growing. but it's my burden. i want people to stop and stare at my beautiful garden. i want people to enjoy what i spend so much time cultivating. day off or not it shows.

there are many ways to relieve depression annd many ways to be creative. writing professionally is not for everyone. it's hard. but it's good to you if you keep at it. you can feed and clothe yourself if you keep a daily count.

i don't disagree with you, as i respect that mentality but that way did not work for me. this is what did so for young writers try both and see what works.

minamin
Jan '20

I write everyday -- but not the same thing. If I get tired of a scene, I move on. But sometimes I have to force myself into a schedule, sit down in a chair and tell my brain, "You write this. Today. Now." To add some (terrible) advice, buy many pretty journals that you'll rarely use :sweat:

It'll at least make you feel better-

nostalgicroxas
Jan '20
AllynCrowe

If I sit down to force myself to write and I don't have any ideas, then it's like 1 sentence every 30 minutes while I keep changing tracks on youtube to listen to :confused: It just doesn't work for me. But if I sit down to write a Writing Marathon, then even if it's just my thoughts saying "this is crap crap crap I forgot to buy honey" then that's the physical act of writing (not on a keyboard) and that somehow refreshes my brain.

I actually feel like everyone should do writing marathons for 2-3hours at least once every three months and see what it does for you. Again, even if you're just writing literal grocery lists, you're writing.

If I have a few ideas or thoughts, then I'll jump around writing those since I can't decide "which" to work on and it's almost more frustrating than the no idea scenario that happens to me. x_x;;

CarltonIsaac
Jan '20
1

@AllynCrowe I find this writing advice you offer a tad discouraging not to just new writers but all writers.
Writing is a skill, and like any skill it can be honed to near perfection with hard work and commitment. If one just does something when one only feels like it, it may end up as a frivolous hobby and no one really needs instructive and serious advice for a hobby. To become proficient at anything and profit from it monetarily, one needs to have discipline and dedication.

I am in agreement with @Nemlei
Dedicating a set amount of time each day to write is fundamental in becoming a successful writer. Even if one hits the wall at times, use that time to chip away and break down that wall. Ideas will always come when one dedicates time and effort to focus on the task at hand.

Stress is part of life, and overcoming stress is what defines the level of success one can achieve.

Maps
Jan '20
1

I seriously think it depends on the writer. Although I don’t disagree that it works for some, I don’t think that writing everyday and forcing yourself to do so is what makes a successful writer. Individuals understand how they personally operate and what schedule works best for ourselves.
I mean, as a job with demand, I can see how a writer has to force themselves to write daily. But I’d argue plenty writers have created a story, over time, with their own schedules that work best for them.

SeraphicMayin
Jan '20

While I'm in the camp of writing everyday, there's more to being a writer than just getting words into a page.

Along with honing the skill set of technical proficiency (Grammar, imagery, solid vocabulary, etc.). I believe you can also spend productive time learning Story craft (Differences in Genre, Tropes and conventions, Plot and Story Archetypes, etc.). There is a significant difference between the two.

And that's just academic stuff. Also to read widely. Both in your genre and out. We fill our creative wellspring with experiences AND the stories we expose ourselves to.

So movies, plays, shows, and especially books we love can provide us with motivation, inspiration, and just remind us to enjoy stories. We write because we have something to say. We get blocked when we don't know what we wanna say.

For me that's all inspiration is: Knowing what you want to say. Not necessarily in words, sometimes it's just a feeling. But what's most important is that its clear to you.

Stories cannot be written out of the void imo. Art reflects life. And Art reflects it's creator and how they see the world, how they think about the world.

One advice I like comes from Stephen king. Paraphrasing, he's said that a writer who doesn't have time to read is not a writer. If you're serious about writing, you have to know about your given medium and field.

I work full time in comics so I'm largely an artist. But i still count myself as a writer because I'm learning to be proficient in scripts and telling stories through dialogue and the subtext of writing a plot that ultimately has to be shown visually. When i don't have inspiration to work on the script, it's usually because my creative wellspring is dry.

When that happens I try to do something writing-adjacent: read novels, study screenplay and storycraft, watch a movie or show with an eye to how the plot and dialogue are done, and so on.

OP, when you mentioned shifting your life to accommodate writing, I agree completely here. Good writers make space not only to do the act of writing, but also the act of enjoying others writing.