Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of discipline in writing, encapsulated in the advice to "SIT IN THE CHAIR."

Abstract

The author of the article shares the best writing advice they have ever received, which is to "SIT IN THE CHAIR." Despite not considering writing a passion, the author acknowledges the challenges and personal growth that come from the writing process. Writing pushes the author out of their comfort zone, requiring them to confront and process deep emotions. The author admits to engaging in mundane tasks to avoid writing but has found that the simple act of sitting down to write, as advised by Josh Millburn, significantly improves productivity. By committing to sit and write for an hour without distractions, the author experiences a sense of accomplishment and produces at least three pages of writing.

Opinions

Writing is not merely a passion for the author but a challenging and rewarding activity that

The Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Heard

It is simple but works.

Writing is not my passion. My passions are things like travel, reading a great novel, playing the piano, listening to music, eating a bowl of chocolate.

I like to write. Some days I even love to write, but, passion…I’m not sure if writing classifies as a passion.

What writing does is challenge me.

Writing makes me think and feel and focus.

It forces me to mull things over on the page, it allows for a greater understanding of everything in my brain. It allows for a greater understanding of life.

Writing has a sneaky way of pushing me out of my comfort zone. As writers, we take a considerable risk offering up our words to share, we put ourselves out there, and this can be scary.

I’ve noticed a pattern when I have trouble writing. What is the problem? And usually, the answer is, “I don’t want to feel the feelings my writing brings to the surface. I don’t want to bleed.”

I don’t want the discomfort. But the only surefire way to get through these writing blocks is to write. And, once I do, I feel a great sense of accomplishment because I got through the drudgery.

Which leads me to the best advice I have ever heard, and the four words I say like a prayer when I have trouble writing.

I learned them in Josh Millburn’s online class How to Write Better. He heard it from a mentor of his. The advice is, “SIT IN THE CHAIR.” It’s so simple but accurate. These four small words are such a powerful, motivating prompt for me to start writing and stay writing, that I now have them printed in big, bold letters hanging over my writing desk.

As someone who wants to call herself a writer, or even better to use the word “write” as a verb and not a noun, as in, “what do you do?” “I write.” I sometimes will do anything but write.

I find myself doing the most undesirable, tedious chores. Chores I would never do if the alternative was anything but writing.

My computer is open on my desk. I have a blank document open and ready for words to appear as soon as I start to type them on the keyboard. Most days, I know what I want to write, but instead, I find myself; taking all the shelves out of the refrigerator and scrubbing them clean. I’ll clean the litter box for the 100th time. I’ll pluck my eyebrows. I’ll cut my split ends — yes, one by one, this takes more time. I’ll try to get every crumb out from the cracks of my keyboard. I’ll do one more load of laundry. I’ll move my writing desk 180 degrees to see if this new view from my chair makes writing any more manageable. I’ll wash my dogs, clean their butts and the gunk from their eyes all in the name of getting out of writing. My house is sparkling clean but still nothing on the page.

Then I heard these four words. I know this advice is apparent for a writer, but this manta made a significant difference in my productivity. It is simple, and it works.

Sit in the chair. Feel the discomfort. Push through the feelings.

Now, I practice distraction free writing for at least an hour a day. I sit in the chair.

I cannot move for an hour. I cannot look at my email for an hour. I cannot go on Facebook for an hour. I cannot surf the internet — for stuff I don’t need — for an hour. I cannot go into the kitchen for more coffee for an hour. I cannot clean anything for an hour. I cannot move my butt from the chair for an hour.

And just like that, I have at least three pages of writing. From sitting in the chair.

Stay in touch. Join my email list.

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.