A Writer’s Journey: Figuring Out What Works

Depending on how often you (don’t) write, it can take decades to figure out what works and what doesn’t. And, sadly, even when you do know what gets you writing, you still have to muster up the motivation to actually do it. (If there’s a magic dog whistle that guarantees butt in chair, hands on keyboard, I haven’t discovered it yet.)

But you know you’ve found what works when you know what you should be doing to get yourself writing, and it’s making you uncomfortable that you’re not.

Failing to write gives me this internal guilt trip that builds over time. Left unchecked, it can make me feel sick to my stomach. The guilt (and pain) only goes away after I get fed up, surrender, and write. This phenomenon is reliable in that it’s inevitable, but it’s a slow charge… . I can be stubborn as a mule, so it’s no way to complete a novel in a timely fashion.

What works is different for everyone, and it’s an ongoing learning process that will continue for the rest of your life. But stick around in the craft long enough, and eventually you do figure out at least some of what tends to get you writing vs. what doesn’t.

For instance, there’s people who can only write at a desk, or people who write better while walking on a treadmill. Some writers work better with a pen and a notebook, while others can’t write a word unless they’ve had their morning coffee. Some can only write during their train commute. And some have to end mid-sentence or use cliff-hangers to guarantee they’ll come back to their manuscript on the ‘morrow.

It’s an intensely personal journey, so sharing what has worked for me probably won’t help you. But, who knows? As I said, everyone’s list is unique, and mine is no exception to that rule. I’ll be sharing some of what gets me into BICHOK mode in the coming days.