5 Things to Do to Start Writing When You’d Rather Do Anything but Write
And get out of a writing slump.
After a five-day vacation, I want to do anything but write. While not writing, I took a break from social media also.
I didn’t look at a screen.
My ideal writing life would be traveling to obscure countries and writing in a journal while gazing at a golden sunrise on the beach or sitting high on top of a mountain I just climbed. Or, propped up on fluffy pillows before the house wakes, my lover sleeping soundly by my side as I scribble in a notebook by candlelight.
If I could make money from writing and never look at a screen again, I would be one happy girl. The internet is a double-edged sword. I’m not sure I’d be making money from writing without it.
I know I wouldn’t.
I’ve been dragging my feet to get back on the computer after those few blissful days reminded me of what life was like before Facebook came along and ‘connected’ us all. HA!
Because writing makes me think and organize my thoughts, I must do it.
I rely on writing to keep me mentally sane, to recognize what is bothering me, and to solve it.
And, to make money.
And even though I know that every single time I write, I feel better, some days are harder than others to start. One hack that makes writing easier is to write every day, even if you don’t publicly share. Many experienced writers recommend a daily writing practice over and over again because it works. It is best to write daily, even on vacation.
Here are five things to do when you want to do anything but write.
Write angry.
When something angers you, you have a lot to say about that subject. Write it.
I learned this trick from Tim Ferriss while listening to one of his podcasts. It is a useful hack for a few reasons. It is unhealthy to hold onto anger, and one healthy way to release said anger is to write it on paper or in a document on your laptop.
Pick a topic that sticks in your craw, something you will not accept and explain why you are unwilling to accept it.
I can think of a couple things right now that would produce thousands of words.
Look around, there is plenty to be angry about, especially if you are female and paying attention to our broken political system.
Write a love letter to a lover, child, parent, or friend.
I do this even when I’m not having a hard time writing. I write love letters to my partner randomly just to tell him I’m thinking about him. It makes me happy, and I know it makes him happy too.
Writing a love letter is on the opposite spectrum of writing what you are angry about, but both generate words. Words will flow.
I write a letter to my daughter every year for her birthday, and it has become her favorite gift from me. This year, a few days before her birthday, she said, “Don’t forget the letter,” my heart sang with these words. It is the easiest letter to write.
A love letter to a lover is also a good exercise in writing and creativity. Even if your partner is a long-time love, write it as if you just meet him.
Journaling.
Write the first thing that comes to your mind. Write about your life in the past week. Write about your worries, fears, anxieties. Write about your hopes, dreams, aspirations, and goals.
You don’t have to share to get the benefits from journaling publicly.
Make it a brain dump. After you spill your thoughts onto paper, mine for gold. Go through your journals and highlight any ideas you want to dig further into, drill-down on and parse out, and write about that.
Write an email.
Writing an email is writing.
A well-crafted email is considered writing and will get you into the flow of pounding out words, which is the objective.
Let’s say you like to write every morning first thing, but nothing is coming. Open your email and respond to ten emails you’ve been putting off. Once finished writing some well thought out emails, open up a word document, and start writing the first thing that comes to mind.
It works.
Read.
Books are the primary source for me to generate ideas.
During my trip, I listened to a book on Audible by Patti Smith called Just Kids; it made me want to write while I listened. I didn’t know anything about Patti Smith, which made the book even more fascinating. I cried; I laughed. Check it out. Her book — beautifully written. Her life — endlessly fascinating.
When not listening to a book on Audible, I read a book with a pen in my hand.
I’m not the fastest reader because I don’t skim, so I only average about one book every two weeks. I read every sentence. I underline words, sentences, paragraphs that spark my curiosity.
After I finish a book, and sometimes before, I write about what I have highlighted.
Reading is the most effective content generator for me, but it takes time. I have five books by the side of my bed I’m dying to dive into them.
If I could read all day and get paid well for it, that would be my profession.
Once I sat down to write this post, it flowed out of me, and now, I’m back to looking at the screen and writing every day — time to share on Facebook.
Write on.
Jessica is a writer, an online entrepreneur, and a recovering type-A personality. She lives in Los Angeles with her extrovert daughter, two dogs, and two cats.
