How do you write every day? (video)

Viewing time: 4 mins 32 secs 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast all about writing. Today’s question? How do you write every day? If you have a question you’d like me to answer you can email me,  tweet me @pubcoach, or leave a message for me at the Skype account, The Write Question. 

Transcript:

How do you write every day? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach.

I have a question from Lisa Martin, a writer based in Mason, Ohio. Here’s what she’s asked by email…

“I’ve been unable to do any writing or editing for the last three days. I’m dealing with some really important business priorities right now and my writing is usually the casualty. So, my question is, how do I manage to write every day?”

Thanks for your terrific question Lisa. I’ve worked with thousands of writers — and would-be writers — over the last 45 years, and I can tell you that there are usually three main reasons why people don’t write every day.

First, many of them figure they need to earmark too much time for writing. Yes, you heard me right. Trying to spend too much time is a mistake. Make your commitment small so that it’s really easy to meet your goal. For most people, I suggest that 15 minutes a day is plenty, but for anyone who has any trauma relating to writing, one to five minutes will be enough. Make the goal so small it’s almost embarrassing to you, and then hit it out of the park. This achievement will make you feel happy and accomplished, making it even easier for you to write the next day.

Second, many people don’t write early enough in the day. You know what happens as the day goes on. You spill coffee on your suit. Your dog goes missing. You get into a car accident. Your boss demands a last-minute report. But if you write BEFORE any of these things happen, you’re far more likely to be able to protect your writing time.

Now, I’m NOT suggesting that you get up at 4:30 am to write. But perhaps you could get up five minutes early to write before your day starts to go crazy. And if that’s just not possible, then I suggest you try to identify another relatively early-in-the-day time. Perhaps your morning coffee break? Or maybe even five to 15 minutes from your lunch break. Remember, that’s a small amount of time!

Third, many people procrastinate because the writing process is too uncomfortable for them. But you won’t want to procrastinate if writing is fun enough for you. You can make it easy to start by mindmapping, first. See link in the show-notes, below. And you can also make it more enjoyable by refusing to edit WHILE you write. See link below. Editing is always a job you should do later.

So, to summarize, if you want to write every day, it will help if you do these three things: 

(1)  Make your time commitment small — five to 15 minutes is more than enough.

(2)  Do it first thing in the morning before anything has gone wrong in your day and before other obligations assert themselves. And,

(3)  Make the writing process more enjoyable by mindmapping first and refusing to edit while you write.

Finally, let me wrap up with the words of actress and comedian, Tina Fey: “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.”

Lisa, I’ve given you that quote by Tina Fey because it touches upon another point that should help. You need to be determined to write. In the question you asked me, you described your work “priorities” but if you want to be a writer, your writing needs to be a priority as well.

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If you have any writing-related questions, I’d be happy to do a video on them. Just send me a quick email, daphne@publicationcoach.com,or put a note in the comments section of this YouTube channel.

If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links

Mindmapping

How to stop editing while you write

Your Happy First Draft

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