You are a writer. And like all writers and other creative, you have a unique process. For most of us this process is subconscious and natural. But by uncovering your process and analyzing it you can refine it and even overcome challenges that have been blocking your success.
What Works
Ask yourself these questions to begin to analyze what your writing process involves.
- When do you find yourself most motivated to sit down and write?
- What distractions are there for you and how do you manage them?
- How long can you write before you need a break
- How long can you write and still maintain your creative integrity?
- What kind of writing space allows you to be most inspired and productive?
- What tools do you prefer?
- How do you measure your progress
- Do you prefer setting goals or keeping it loose?
Can you answer these questions?
Here are my answers to those questions as an example for you.
I write best in the mornings when my mind is fresh from sleep. I prefer to check emails and take care of them and social media prior to facing the blank page. It helps keep me from the distractions. I write for roughly two hours before I need a break. I can sustain a writing period for about 6-7 hours, after that the quality of my work begins to breakdown. Knowing this helps me create a work environment that positions me for success.
I work mostly from home as kids and other distractions are not a problem for me. I need an environment that is visually stimulating and I can tolerate a fair degree of disorderliness and chaos in my space and still be very productive. I am most creative and effective typing into a word document from my computer. I like to use word counts as a way to track my progress and to set goals. I set goals but I need a lot of flexibility with them.
Perhaps you work best late at night writing for only twenty minutes at a time. Maybe you write on using your phone or on post it notes that you can stick to your office wall. You might like to do your writing by hand and then transcribe it into a word document later.
You may need absolute silence to be productive or perhaps writing outside in nature keeps you inspired. You may love setting goals and keeping track of your progress through several different methods. One of the most effective ways I have found to create a sustainable writing life is to notice my natural rhythms and work within those constraints whatever they may be.
The Inner Critic
What is your relationship with the inner critic? That negative voice that is telling you that you’re not a real writer, that you’re doing it all wrong, that nobody is interested in your story, that your metaphor is lame, etc., etc., etc. The inner critic creates a different set of concerns. Answering these questions for yourself can help you learn what is effective and what causes you to spin your wheels when dealing with your own inner critic.
- How do you face the blank page?
- What happens when you hit a wall or a stumbling block?
- How do you silence the inner critic?
- How do you deal with the comparing mind?
The blank page can cause me to have the same ambivalence and hesitancy as the next person but my strategy is to just get some words on the page. Something is better than nothing. You can’t work with nothing. Once I have words on the page I can get rolling. But even so, I can find myself stalled or feeling unable to move forward. In this case, I will dictate those very thoughts onto my page, expressing my inability to move forward. This allows me to explore (with the written word) exactly what is holding me back. When I am back on track I can easily delete my inner conversation.
The critic is a valuable asset to any creative process but it has a specific role to play. When I am struggling to silence that negative voice I will respond to that part of me that is trying to control the outcome. I will tell my inner critic that I DO need and want his/her advice, but not yet. I need to get a draft down and then when I am ready to do revisions I will be calling on my inner critic to help me out. This usually does the trick and my mind calms right down.
Comparing yourself to others is a sure way to shut down the creative process. I can get pretty down about myself when I read some of the great authors of the past and the present. One way I deal with the comparing mind is to consider that even the most polished and award-winning work began as disorganized words and thoughts on a page, that continuing to hone my skills will eventually give me as much ability as any of the greats. I have to be patient with myself.
Respect Your Process
It is a powerful idea to honor your own way of doing things rather than seeking legitimacy from others. Taking the time to notice what works for you and what is not working can bring clarity to the problems and dignity to your own way of operating. Staying within the constraints of your own tendencies and natural habits can help you find a truly sustainable practice for your writing life.
