by David Brown
Here's some tips that I have found that helps in starting and keeping the momentum of a project, working on it, and completing it.
1) Writing - A Daily Commitment
I write daily with a commitment to time or number of words, or whatever system works to make it a daily event. It doesn't need to be all at once. Maybe 30 minutes in the morning and evening if other things are taking up too much time. It can be a certain time or time frame every day, as an appointed sacred time and space to focus on the writing, be creative, and let the words flow. The morning works best for me, however, I also am open to writing any time of day or night.
2) All Those "Other Things"
Other Things are anything that is not writing, including research. Research for writing is needed in most cases but it needs to be done in addition to actual writing time. The novel that I am work on is a prime example. I have done much more research on the subject than actual writing. This is starting to change as I integrate the actual writing time with research already done.
3) A Vision, Mission, and Goal
I have a vision, a mission statement, and goals for each writing project. A vision is seeing the purpose of your writing project, being inspired to research and write about it, and having the writing project accomplish certain goals, such as one chapter, one paragraph, one rough draft by a certain hour, day, week, month, and year. This is easier said than done.
4) Reasons to Write
The reasons why I write include enjoying the adventure of exploring ideas, topics, and themes in our complex world, and expressing my own insights, thoughts, feelings, and wisdom about them, to possibly help others in their own understanding, and make a contribution.
5) Writing as a Journey
Experiences in writing are as varied as experiences in life. Each writing project can be like a journey. A journey into the subject or theme of the writing project. A journey of the moments of actual writing and letting words flow with intuition, ideas, inspiration, and heart. The expression "the joy is in the journey" easily applies to writing, although there can be moments of frustration and challenge that may not be joyful. Accepting these moments is also an important part of this journey.
6) Reading for Writing Inspiration
Most all writers, including myself, are also readers, and enjoy an appetite for various types of writing, either within the same genre, or across a spectrum of different topics, subjects, and themes.
By reading how others have crafted words it is an important experience to be inspired in our own word crafting, and completion of writing projects. In a Google search for "The best books for a writer to read" (https://www.google.com/search?q=best+books+for+writers+to+read&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) , there are a number of resources to create a "reading journey" - an exploration of what books have been recommended both for books on writing, as well as books that are recommended to read in general or for specific purposes.
One example is Stephen King, whose book On Writing was published in 2000. In that book he provides insights as well as practical tools for writers, a description of his near death experience when hit by a car while walking on a road, and a list of 96 books in the appendix, which represent a wide spectrum of reading that has inspired him as well as his writing. I need to read this book again as I am reminded of how much it inspired me.
7) Writing about Current Trending Topics
What's the latest hash tag? Most popular post on Facebook? Why? What stands out as a topic that I want to write about, that is compelling, challenging, and makes a difference in people's lives who reads it? Example: As I am writing this section I will research hot topics using one of my research tools which sorts published works based on the most shared or liked in social media. Based on that, I can either curate the same article by writing about it or the same topic giving reference to it, or start my own original content with a catchy title, and publish it on blogger and Twitter, and Facebook.
8) Thank You Stephen King
Writers who write about writing may have many unique and distinctive insights that can be inspiring to those of us who have a gift, an inspiration, and some motivation to write now, and get into the process. Stephen King's book "On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft" is an excellent combination of personal story, journey, experiences, insights, and practical wisdom from a master writer.
When he describes the process of writing the book "The Stand", he gives us the details if his breakthrough in getting past an area of the story that has stopped and needed to get moving again. After getting the idea of a bomb in the closet, he had a an inspiration and in a frenzy of excitement, he wrote two pages of notes, followed by completing the rest of the book in nine weeks. Stories can take on a life of their own, as can the writing process for every story and parts of a story. It is a wide open playing field.
"If there is any one thing that I love about writing more than the rest, it's the sudden flash of insight when you see how everything connects. I have heard it called "thinking above the curve," and it's that; I've heard it called "the over logic", and it's that too." (p. 204 On Writing)
9) It's Never Too Late to Start
Although many writers start early in life and develop their craft over years, it is never too late in life to start writing (note to baby boomers). Writing has so many benefits as a process in itself. It is a journey, and there is joy in that journey, as a creative expression, as an art of word crafting, a fun experience, and even as a recreational hobby. Publishing does not have to be the main goal. If the goal is to write with a commitment to superb storytelling, on a subject that you love, with original ideas, killer scenes and unique characters, high stakes, and a flow of plot that keeps readers interested, then publishing will follow. This happens to be my goal, and I am working on it, although not every day yet, which is also one of my goals!
10) Thank you for the inspiration - J.K. Rowling
The story of J.K. Rowling and how she got started writing the Harry Potter series is an inspiring example of serendipity, love of the story, and opening up the creative imagination to receive the ideas, the unique characters, the twists and turns of a plot, and the mysteries of the supernatural.
On a train that was delayed to London in 1990, JK got the idea for the Harry Potter story. Seven years followed in which her mother died, she got divorced, and was living in poverty.
She finished the manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on a manual typewriter, was rejected by twelve publishers, and the one that accepted her was due to a review of the first chapter by an eight year old daughter of the chairman of the publishing company!
The rest is an amazing story in itself. The Harry Potter brand is now worth over $15 billion. The last four books in the series of seven were the fastest selling books in history. Her books have sold more than 400 million copies. Thank you J.K. Rowling for the inspiration to keep writing.
Like yoga, writing can become a disciplined practice, with many benefits, for the writer and the reader. It also is an ancient tradition. The scribes and writers who are living today as well as those who have passed continue to inspire writers today in the legacy of their written words. I try to listen to their voices in the silence of a meditation. It is both a challenge and a blessing.
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