Friends, if you’ve been following the blog or my newsletter for a while, you know that one of the common themes around here is making time for writing (or whatever your craft may be). We all have busy lives, and some things take priority over others. I occasionally fall out of the habit of writing (sometimes I fall hard) and I have to figure out my way back into it.
Recently I’ve been traveling and spending my time with people I love, so I haven’t done much wordsmithing lately. As I’ve been working myself back around to it, I’ve thought of three strategies that help me get started.
Stop Thinking About It, Get Started
I know, and I’m sorry—this is almost insultingly obvious. I’m not usually a grin-and-bear-it kind of person. But I’ll be the first to admit that, even though I frequently complain about having no time for writing…I usually actually do. It’s never as much as I would like to have, but every little bit counts.
Half the battle is psychological. Let’s be real—writing is hard, and even though it’s fun and rewarding, it does take a certain amount of discipline that I often struggle to find. That said, these next few tricks usually help me to get there.
Start Small
Some people work well under pressure, but I prefer not to if I can avoid it, so for me, telling myself to start small goes a long way. In my faith tradition,1 we sometimes say that “by small and simple means are great things brought to pass.”2 I think about this often in terms of my writing, when I fall out of my routine or when I struggle to make time to put words on the page. I often feel frustrated when my routine only allows for a few minutes of writing every day. But a few minutes of writing every day gets words on the page, and those pages eventually turn into chapters, which eventually turn into a full-length novel.
So start small. I like to get back into where I left off by re-reading my latest work in progress. Other times, instead of writing for a particular project, I’ll doodle and write about the things I see in my surroundings—I’ll practice my descriptive writing, or write down snatches of the conversations around me. It helps me to ease back into my projects.
Remember It Doesn’t Have To Be Good
Perfection can kill any project, but especially writing. Staring at a blank page and trying to think up the perfect sentence is a great way to never write any sentences at all. (This is also why I usually3 like handwriting over typing. It’s inherently messier.)
On that same note, I try to remember that the circumstances for writing don’t have to be perfect either. They don’t even have to be very good. I love the idea of spending time in a cafe, or in a cozy nook behind a closed door where no one will bother me. But if I tell myself that I’m going to set aside the perfect amount of time in the perfect space for writing, it doesn’t usually get done because those circumstances are hard to create. If I’m feeling squeezed for time, I’m more likely to get some writing done riding home from work on a crowded bus with just my phone, my notes app, and my thumbs. It’s not ideal, but I can get something done.
Carry A Notebook
If carrying a notebook around with you isn’t a small thing that makes a big difference, I don’t know what is. Even if I know that I won’t have time for writing wherever I’m going, I try to grab a notebook. Having a notebook and pen reminds me that I am a writer (and helps me feel like one too) even if I haven’t written a word in months, or even longer. And when I feel like a writer, it’s a lot easier to sit down and write something. Besides, you never know when you’ll have a few minutes to scribble down some words, or when an idea will come to mind.
Thanks for visiting and reading. Writing down these ideas helped me get excited about working on my project again, and I’d love to hear about what helps you to work on yours. Leave a comment below, or reach out to me through the Contact page.
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Jordan Radford Writes 