PERSPECTIVES ON WRITING AS A CREATIVE PROCESS

By Ruth Saunders

The quantity and quality of words placed on the page are not determined by the amount of time spent writing. Inventing prose or poetry moves forward in fits and starts interspersed with occasional steps backward. On good days, words flow from the fingertips. On other days, hours of hard work produce one line which is later deleted. The outcome is uncertain each time we write. 

This fickleness is one of the reasons getting started is difficult. Another is the human tendency to continue doing the same thing. Overcoming inertia of rest, or the state of not-writing, takes energy. Writers must negotiate the reality of moment-to-moment uncertainty and the challenge of  inertia. I cannot change the unpredictability of the creative process or human nature, but I can offer some observations about writing as an activity.

First, the process is effective in the long run; one period of writing may not produce much, but consistent writing moves the work forward. Frequent practice alters the beginning state of inertia from not-writing to writing which begets more writing. More frequent sessions lower the stakes of each. Knowing this enables me to be more realistic about a single session and to keep going.

Second, it is easy to get frustrated and fall into the habit of nonproductive self-criticism. Internal dialogue such as “Why do I bother?” and “I am not good at this” tends to shift us toward a state of not-writing. But this thinking is an emotional reaction to a transient situation; it is not a reflection of yourself as a writer. It can be useful to create a positive internal dialogue that recognizes the other side of the coin, tailored to resonate for you. Examples which work for me include, “I love words” and “I am good at reaching my goals.”

Third, not all writing will be at the optimal level. Perhaps some people routinely produce the highest quality work, but most of us write a lot of ordinary lines, paragraphs, and pieces. Realizing this results in “perfectionistic procrastination” and not-writing. I remind myself, as I did when I played basketball in high school, you must shoot to score—but they’re not all going in. This means you need to shoot more, not less. High scorers take risks rather than waiting for the “right moment.” It’s commonplace advice, but you must keep writing.

Our perspective on the creative process of writing affects the way we feel and what we do as writers. Challenging our habits, expectations, and internal dialogue can reduce stress and make it easier to start and maintain frequent writing sessions, and this can enhance work quantity. Seeking and managing feedback from other writers is essential to improving writing quality. But that is the subject of a future blog.