My Two Rules for Writing
#1: Take breaks.
As a Millennial, for a long time growing up, I put so much of my sense of self-worth into how “productive” I was, as I think a lot of us did, as products of grind culture: How many words did I get today?, Did I make that character rounder?, Do I know where to pick it back up tomorrow? While this gave me a sort of purpose and routine, I’d wear myself out. I’d power through scenes with bloodshot eyes, re-reading the same sentences over and over, wondering why I didn’t have that big book out yet, while so many others seemed to. I’d de-value social events with friends and family to hole up in my vacuum, and de-valued my own wellbeing in the process.
What I’m getting at is, step away from your writing. Regularly. A scene’s not working out at the moment? That’s fine—take a walk, go the gym, go to the mall—those story-threads are still rolling around in your head when you’re out in the real world, even if it doesn’t feel like they are. A stranger in the food court can remind you of your character, and be inspiration to give that character a new detail. An overheard tense conversation can help you write suspenseful dialogue. Take in the sounds, smells. All of these things build your writing repertoire, and it’s not “a waste of time” to the more production-focused individual like the guy I used to be—it’s living.
It is important though to set goals for yourself. Set one for each day, or each week, and do your best to hit that goal when the time comes, but also go easy on yourself if you miss the mark. There’s actually value in these underperforming days—they can serve as motivation for you to hit the gas harder tomorrow. A lot of the time these rebound days bring out my best work.
#2: Keep the faith.
A thought that would nag away at me during my drafting (and still does, from time to time), was, Is this story actually important? Does it matter if I finish it or not? Even if I can somehow make it remotely cohesive from beginning to end, and I can keep it interesting enough to hold a reader’s attention the whole time (a HUGE challenge in itself), who’s to say it’ll ever get published? And if it does get published, will anyone wanna read it? You have too many “failed stories” to count—who’s to say this one won’t only thicken the pile?
This is where friends are invaluable. Other writers, or readers you trust. Stepping outside of that snowballing vacuum of self-doubt and show them your pages. Sure, they’ll probably need some work, but oftentimes we’re harder on ourselves than we realize, and that reader just might connect with a certain line of yours, or a certain character, or a certain detail—these little assurances can be pivotal in bringing you back to your desk again the next day. Because that’s one of the main goals of writing anyway, isn’t it? To get a reader to feel something? Try to believe in you, even when it’s difficult—and in those slumps when you just can’t, oftentimes you’ll run into someone who does.
