WRITING

Sticking to a Writing Habit

Only three days in, and I’m stuck! Joy.

Writing is indeed a sullen art.

Two days ago, I decided it was time to get serious about freelance writing and blogging. I have a four-day weekend for Independence Day, so I’ve used it so far to write two articles on Medium in two days. Now it’s Day #3, and I’m stuck for ideas for a third article. I can feel the resistance in my head, and it’s pissing me off.

Come Hell or high water, I’m going to post something on Medium today. It might as well be an article about overcoming the first obstacle to a writing plan, since that’s what I’m dealing with.

I don’t think there are any easy ways, really, to get past resistance to writing. You just have to apply your rear end to the seat of a chair, put your fingers to the computer keyboard, and write, no matter how much you want to whine that your ideas suck. But here are some things I’m learning as I sit at my desk, typing this.

Use your emotions to overcome writer’s block.

If a writing plan and an outline aren’t coming to you, use what is coming to you — your emotions. Right now I’m annoyed at myself, and I’m determined not to give up. I also feel embarrassed at having to admit that, after only two days, I’m scrambling for ideas.

Make a list of writing ideas every day.

Ayodeji Awosika recommends coming up with 10 article ideas per day, most of which will be duds, but if I had done that, I would now have 20 ideas to choose from instead of zilch. Think about that. They don’t all have to be brilliant ideas, because they won’t be. The purpose of making a daily list is to build in you the habit of looking for things to write about. I once wrote an article here on Medium about a fascinating conversation I had with an Uber driver. Had I not been looking for writing ideas, I would have completely missed the chance to write that article. Making a list each day will train you to keep your eyes and ears open for unexpected gems.

Write anyway.

Have you ever read the poem that Mother Teresa of Calcutta kept on the wall in her homeless shelter? The point of the poem, “Build Anyway,” is to build things, to be happy, to be kind, etc., because…