by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam
Have you been in the situation where a writing deadline loomed on your calendar a short- few-days away and nary a paragraph was accounted for on a page? Whether those deadlines are self-imposed or set by someone else for you, they seem to nag and agitate you until you get that piece done. Or worse, you panic and freeze.
We sit down to write but can’t think about what we want to say. Why can’t we get started? It’s not fair that the words flood our minds while in the shower or when we’re in a car in super busy traffic. Or the dreaded time—and my worst nemesis—as soon as my head touches my pillow at night.
Why won’t the words come when needed? I believe it’s because the writing I feel we’re called to do, is what the Lord wants us to share. Which means the enemy isn’t happy with that and will put major distractions in our paths every chance he gets. Unfortunately, he often succeeds as he has done for me this summer. In a big way.
So, what is a poor writer to do? No, seriously—I am asking you!
Below is a list of eight ways I try to overcome those times I’ve sat staring at the blinking cursor. That flashing vertical line that taunts and mocks me. I hope the tips below help you.
8 Ways to Help Writers Get Started Writing Again
- 1. Pray. Of course, it’s the obvious one to start with, but if I’m honest, when stressed in this situation, I often charge in and hope words will pour over me out of my wishing them to do so. Instead, I need to pray to the one who can fix this.
- 2. I have one calendar that I log all my writing jobs on and what days they are due. With them written down, I can see at a glance what pieces are coming up and if I’ve already made a note or two about the title or topic.
- 3. I’ve created an Excel log sheet I use for pertinent information for each piece I’ve committed to, such as: title, date due, date I sent, where to send, and any guidelines for the piece. I can look over topics I’ve already written and often another idea will come to my mind based on a previous article or blog post.
- 4. I look ahead a couple of weeks to see what’s coming. Not only for the pieces I’m writing, but also what is scheduled outside of my writing life. Maybe something will be due during a very heavily scheduled week, this pushes me to get a start on it so I don’t run out of time—not like that’s ever happened! We all need margins of time built into each week or day for the “other” parts of life that could and will happen.
- 5. I’ve carried a small pocket tablet in my purse for many years which makes it easy to write in at the red light. Before I back out of the garage, I put it in the cupholder. Or I will sometimes use my voice memo on my iPhone. Once back at that blasted, blinking cursor that aggravates me, I pull out my notes and transfer the new info to the top of the blank page to get me started. Once I get going, I’ll go back and delete that note out of the way.
- 6. At the start of my writing sessions, I open a Word document I’ve titled, Brain Dump. It’s a continual list of thoughts that have come to me about my current project or possible future ones. It could be a scene idea or something I’ve thought of that I want to go back and change. But before I start writing, I scroll through the notes still there. Often there is something I need to change in a scene or even a note to find the scripture I was looking to add to a devotion I had written. Once done, I delete that note. Then I put the document down on the dock on my computer. If during my writing time something pops in my head, I can quickly pull up the list and empty my mind so I won’t forget it. Nor will I lose the momentum on the piece I’m working on at the moment.
- 7. I now use a cute kitchen timer to challenge myself with word sprints. I write down a word count number, set the timer for twenty minutes, and take off writing—unedited—until the timer goes off. It might be 500 words of mush, but when you edit, you will surprise yourself and find great golden nuggets to add to your WIP. Also, this little timer has been helpful for setting a time limit for surfing social media, too. Just saying! Wait, please tell me I’m not the only one with that issue.
- 8. I’m grateful for my writing partners who have been fantastic to hold me accountable in my writing. To know they will ask is often the incentive I need to push through. Ask a writing friend to be an accountability partner to keep you writing, too.
I won’t lie to you and tell you I’ve mastered any of the eight items above, but I am closer to a solid routine that works for me. I do like to read what works for other writers and I often give them a try for myself. I encourage you to seek what will get you into that funky, cool writing groove that is uniquely yours.
If you’ve come up with a great idea or two to keep you writing, we’d love for you to share with the rest of us. Do tell!
TWEETABLE
Her work was also published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. She’s also the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC, and Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. She’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, MBT Monday Devotions, The Write Editing and more. Connect with Tammy at HTTPS://WWW.TAMMYKARASEK.COM.
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