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.
