A common adage says, “No one likes to write, but everyone loves to have written.” How do we transfer the brilliant ideas in our mind to coherent words on a page? The short answer is, everyone engages the writing process differently. But some tips and methods tend to encourage writing, and here are fifteen of the ones I’ve found most helpful.
Set aside your space
Our brains associate actions with locations. When you go to the kitchen, you expect to eat. When you sit on the meringue-colored couch, you expect to take a nap. Set a location for your writing, so when you sit down, your brain is already gearing up to write.
Know your own brain—know how it focuses
A key to reaching the “have written” stage is knowing how your brain works and under what conditions you work best. Do you love freewriting in a noisy coffee shop? Do you like to write from an outline, locked in a tiny office? Embrace it! When it comes to getting a first draft on the page, set yourself up for success by knowing how you write best.
Build a habit of writing
Get over the sheer intimidation of starting to write. If you create a habit of writing, even if it’s just five minutes a day, the process of starting will be less ominous. And when you have a two-hour block of time to write, you won’t have to spend the first hour trying to start.
Learn how to outline
This isn’t just for the analytical left-brainers. Knowing how to outline a story, book, or article is a valuable skill for all writers. Most of us have experienced the sinking feeling of, “I have no idea what comes next. What argument should I present? What action should she take?” Outlining gives you the structure so that once you’re actually writing, you don’t have to break your flow to decide what’s next.
Try Mind Mapping
If you’re still sorting out and organizing your ideas, mind mapping (or brainstorming, clustering, or webbing—essentially whatever you call the organic, associative, prewriting process) can help you clarify your thoughts and find your main points, or find better and more aesthetic ways to express your ideas.
Track productive times
Whether you’re a night owl, early bird, or love the lull right after lunch, everybody has a time of day when they’re most productive creatively. Try writing at different times to find your sweet spot.
Set deadlines
Having a goal to work toward can help you stay motivated. Set deadlines for yourself to keep up the progress.
Stop multitasking
Resist the urge to vacuum the house, watch the game, surf Facebook, and draft your book at the same time. Multitasking drains your focus and decreases your quality of work.
Turn off notifications
Protect your writing time from unnecessary distraction. Put your phone on silent, turn off the TV, and write.
Leave your home
If your happy writing spot is at home, make sure you get out of the house at other times. If you spend all your time in the same building, you may go a little cuckoo.
Start now and don’t worry about missed days
Be regular in your writing, but don’t let the pressure of consistency keep you from starting. Forgive yourself in advance for the days you’re going to miss, and just start.
Let your time be sacrosanct
Once you’ve set a time for your writing, protect it and value it. Mark it on your calendar. Don’t change the oil in your car, don’t plan a grocery trip, don’t wash the baseboards. It’s your writing time; write.
Set an attainable goal and commit to reaching it
Achieving goals makes our brains happy, which in turn makes us more productive. Set a goal for word count or time spent writing, and make sure it’s an attainable one that you can regularly reach. Don’t set a goal of four hours a day when you know you have only two free. You can also set rewards for yourself (every chapter done, go out for ice cream) or enroll in a goal-setting app.
Turn off your editor brain
When you’re writing your first draft of a piece, quell the urge to rewrite as you go. Even if this word isn’t quite right or the syntax of that clause bothers you, let it go and come back later. Stopping repeatedly during your writing can slow down your process and harm continuity.
Turn off your monitor and just start typing
If you can’t get the little editor on your shoulder to be quiet, turn off your computer monitor or cover your screen with a piece of paper and make yourself keep typing. After a set time, or once you’ve finished your chapter or article, turn the monitor back on and see what you’ve written.
Callie Johnson works as Editorial Assistant at Kelli Sallman Writing and Editing with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and Creative Writing from Calvary University. She previously interned with Kelli for two years, working as proofreader and copyeditor on several manuscripts. Her strange obsessions include kerning, East Coker, and the sound of cows chewing.