August 18, 2010

“Some days, even the best dentist doesn’t feel like being a dentist,” says Seth Godin on his blog. “And a lifeguard might not feel like being a lifeguard. Fortunately, they have appointments, commitments and jobs. They have to show up. They have to start doing the work.”

The result?

“Most of the time, this jump start is sufficient to get them over the hump, and then they go back to being in the zone and doing their best work.”

But…What About Writers?

If we work at home, we don’t have to keep strict office hours. No one will know–or the little ones underfoot won’t care–if we keep that “appointment” with our novel or article or lesson. No one will fire us if we don’t show up and do our writing.

It’s not that writers can’t have the momentum of the dentist or lifeguard. It’s just that no outside boss is going to help you get going, get over the hump, and build that momentum. You will have to do it yourself.

You must be a self-starter. (Gulp.) That’s the truth.

Help Is on the Way

There are terrific motivational books for writers. I’ve blogged about many of them. You can also re-read some blog entries on getting started or entries on the psychology of writing. These will often be enough to prime the pump and get you to the computer or legal pad.

Getting started and building your own writing momentum is a struggle for ALL writers. That’s why ten chapters in my Writer’s First Aid book are devoted to getting started and ten more on work habits that work for you. (Here you’ll find four sample chapters.)

What about you? What is one technique or ritual you use that gets you started writing?

[NOTE: see Nancy's comment below--great idea!]

6 Comments »

1. 

   Short answer: an assignment with a deadline!

   Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — August 18, 2010 @ 7:16 pm

2. 

   Jane, you’re so right. I never have trouble getting started the day before something is due! Now if I could just get started easily EVERY day, the tight deadline wouldn’t create such panic.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 18, 2010 @ 8:22 pm

3. 

   One that works for me every time: “I will just read what I’ve already written.” If I need to be editing, reading my work always ends up with me finding spots to fix. If I need to be writing, reading up to the place I stopped ends up with me wanting to put the next bit down on paper.

   Comment by Nancy — August 18, 2010 @ 8:55 pm

4. 

   Nancy, I’m going to try your tip this morning. I think that’s a very smart idea–kind of tricks your mind into getting started by promising it some very small, non-threatening task: “I’ll just read what I’ve already done.” I can see where that alone could prompt you to keep going. So much smarter than brow-beating yourself with, “Sit down! Get that Chapter Three written now!”

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 19, 2010 @ 5:54 am

5. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by NESI, KristiHoll. KristiHoll said: New post: Writer Momentum: a Do-It-Yourself Job: “Some days, even the best dentist doesn’t feel like being a… http://tinyurl.com/29au6mn [...]

   Pingback by Tweets that mention Writers First Aid » Writer Momentum: a Do-It-Yourself Job -- Topsy.com — August 19, 2010 @ 10:09 am

6. 

   NesiWrites, thanks for tweeting the blog post for others! I appreciate it!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 20, 2010 @ 7:48 am

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