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Before You Decide What to Write About
Face the Blank Page Challenge
So you have many ideas until such time as you sit down in front of a blank page. Then something strange happens, you can no longer remember your name or why you even thought you could write in the first place! This is perfectly normal if you are un-accustomed to writing every day.
Write Something Everyday.
Writing is a lot like putting together one of those 1000 piece seascape puzzles. You knew which puzzle to buy but from that day forward you cannot decide when to start your puzzle, where to start your puzzle or what you will do once you finish putting together the straight edges. Writing something everyday is your key. It doesn't matter really if it is a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph or ten pages. What matters is that you accustom yourself to the discipline of writing. Many times people have an idea that a writer sits down at his or her desk and just starts to write a novel from chapter one to the end. In reality you wouldn't expect any other craftsman to sit down in one sitting an complete a work. Pianists spend hours practicing scales and arpeggios before they even attempt a concert piece. What is building though, is the habit of work. The discipline of practicing your craft day in and day out.
Choose a Comfortable Toolbox
Decide whether you will write in a notebook with a pen, pencil, marker or sit in front of your computer and type. What tools are you most likely to keep using on a daily basis. If you dislike typing and are not comfortable with computers use a pen and paper. What matters is that you are familiar and comfortable with the tools you use. If you do not like writing longhand and you constantly miss place your pen the odds are you will not continue. Eventually the awkwardness of your tools will make you give up prematurely. This is not to say that once you decide you are going to type on your laptop you have to always do so. Remember the goal. Building the discipline of writing is what will make you a better writer. Practice does make perfect. Did you ever wonder how many times those olympic divers had to jump off 10 meter platforms for months and years before their important qualifying dives?
Timing and Location is Everything
Decide where are you most likely to be able to work undisturbed and when? If you are a working mother or father you will obviously have different scheduling challenges then a person who is home during the day. You will need to be able to concentrate. Some people are morning people. They cannot keep their eyes open past ten at night. Others seem to thrive past eleven. Ask yourself what time you are usually more alert and see if you can schedule your writing time during this time frame. You may have to juggle at this a bit before you find your perfect time slot. Location is everything in real estate and writing. If you are so blessed as to have a wonderful view of the ocean enjoy it. Most of us may have to face a wall or bricks. Even so, there are things you can do to improve your location. You can get a more comfortable chair, or improve your lighting. You can put up favorite pictures or posters that will help make a more welcoming area. I find cleaning my desk helps me concentrate. If I sit at a messy desk I feel as though my head has entered a cloud and I become totally distracted. Some people however find that a messy desk helps them. Again try out different locations and times until you feel most comfortable.
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