The best metaphor I ever heard to describe writing, well, anything from blog posts to novel goes: writing is walking across Australia. You have the start with all the inspiration and hope (along with beaches and Guinness if you play it right). At the end, you achieved your desired goal; a book, a successful blog, a script or a speech along with a reason to celebrate. However, between those ‘coasts’ with their cities and fun and possibility, is desert. Miles and miles of desert. Some days there it blooms and dazzles with brilliant colors and scenery. Other days, miles of boring, grey lifelessness. You will have both. Trust me, I know. And when you do, here’s some writings advice a fellow member of the tribe.
Accept It
Some days, no matter how much you love writing, you hate it. Or, maybe you feel listless and don’t want to face life in general but want to Netflix and chill. Or maybe your schedule is packed and your mental energy’s arrow is at low. All of these are legit and I’m not going to tell you to there is a way around them. Feelings are not reasonable. You cannot negotiate with. Instead feel them. I bought this sign below as a reminder that tomorrow they will be different.
But Do It Anyway
Yeah, I know. You were looking for something easier. You wanted a shortcut. None available. You need to stay connected to your project. BUT, and this is important, don’t torture yourself. Heave a bad day minimum, say 100 words or 15 minutes, and meet it. These days will come and having a plan in place before hand lets you deal with them. Then you can put it away until tomorrow. And if tomorrow you feel the same, rinse and repeat as many times as necessary until it starts clicking again.
Reward Yourself
Hard tasks deserve rewards, so when you get to the other of this, treat yourself. Get a manicure or a massage. Buy fancy ice cream. Go out of your way and eat at that favorite place. Do something. Anything. Have a reward list at the ready. A writer’s life demands as many smiles as you can muster, now more than ever.
Let Go of the Cringe
Look, you and I know that whatever you got on paper during your dry spell (pun intended) isn’t your best work, but show them some respect. They did their job, letting you keep momentum going. Re-reading them will not be fun. Be kind to yourself. Let it go and trust that revision will fix it. In fact, this is what revision exists for.
Practice Gratitude
Writing is hard, often lonely work. But, it’s also an act of love. Not everyone gets to pour themselves into work they love. Some of those barriers are the fault of society. Some have cultural expectations or other pressures at their cause. Others have an internalized list of should and shouldn’t to blame. And you decided to do it anyway. Feel the gratitude that you did. The gratitude that you live in this time and place where the possibilities for publishing have expanded. The gratitude that you got the big inspiration for your story and all the little ones needed to complete. Write them down. Gratitude is powerful.
Writers write, even when they don’t want to. Some days you won’t. Expect them. Plan for them. Reward yourself for surviving them. Know that you’re not along. This blog posts proves it. Meet you in the desert.