Panning for Gold by Marcin Chady, on Flickr
I’m returning to a daily writing practice because a) I need to get back to writing and this is the only way I can stick with it, b) it’s a great way to get/stay focused on (and remember) what the hell I’m trying to accomplish, and c) I can kill several birds with one stone by working on book ideas as well as coming up with blog post topics for The Complete Flake, TrustWanda, and OneBlueBerry. (Am I overextended again, or what?)
In fact, I’ve created a new category for these little brain dumps – which I will post here whenever they seem worth sharing. I’ll post only little nuggets, short snippets of useful or interesting ideas about productivity, creativity, and writing.
So let’s jump in, shall we?
My friend the-maths-tutor, Colin Beveridge, told me about a nifty idea one of his students came up with: instead of being bummed when he makes a mistake, he celebrates them.
Yay, I failed a test! Now I get to learn what I did wrong! Or in my case, Yay, I haven’t been writing! Now I can start all over again!!!
It sounds silly – and it is. Which is exactly the point. If you can make yourself smile by cheering and pumping your fists in the air when you screw up (instead of yelling at yourself with that nasty, Inner Critic voice), you’ll be surprised at how much more motivated you feel about trying again.
In fact, you could take it even further, says Colin, and actively try to make mistakes… to get them out of the way and make room for the good stuff. Create what BIRD BY BIRD author Anne Lamott calls a shitty first draft on purpose (like I’m doing now) so you’ll have something that you can work with and improve.
Yay, I wrote a shitty first draft! And it’s truly AWFUL!!!
Banded agate
You might find a few gold nuggets as you sift through the dross but if not, you could still polish it up into something quite acceptable, a shiny pebble – not gold perhaps, but agate. And agate is pretty awesome all by itself.
Shiny pebbles and golden nuggets – you won’t find them if you don’t mess around in the mud.
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I wrote a full length play that way. I didn’t set out to write something shitty and improve it, but I decided to write what was easiest-what came to me, what was on hand ie in my mind. And it worked! I mean, I wrote a full length play, produced it, won a contest with it, etc.
I was blocked for a long time because I felt I had to write something GOOD-like it had to be on a literary level that equaled some of the most genius stuff I have ever read or studied. But that’s unreasonable. Instead, I decided if I was ever going to get something done, it would be because I wrote something that WORKED-something practical, not theoretical. Something real, not abstract.
Some writers are able to be perfectionistic-and the ones who are, might be the best. But they are certainly not prolific! And they have an incredible amount of willpower, certainty, and passion. For most of us, though, it can be hard to sustain interest about anything to that extent of idealism.
You just gotta know it’s all a process. And that’s particularly clear with theatre. My play went through many drafts as I worked with the actors, getting the piece on it’s feet. None of it is precious.
And its like you’ve been saying in your blog-you’re not going to get good unless you write-so just write. And maybe, the more you practice writing, the better you’ll get.
Anyway, just read your first 2500 word posting, so that has maybe inspired my little rant here. And was just getting into writing again when I saw the post-so congrats!- and thank you!
Wow, a play! I majored in drama but somehow, the idea of writing a play scares me. (Wait a minute – ALL writing scares me.) You’ve hit the nail on the head when it comes to blocks – I can even get stuck on replying to a comment, as though I have to craft the wittiest, most thoughtful comment in the world, every time.
I love what you said about process and going through many drafts. I’m supposedly working on revising the first draft of a novel, but the truth is I’m working on working up the NERVE to work on revising it. :p Maybe I should find a troop of actors to help me work through it!
Thanks so much for your comment, Nina!