Help! I Want to Write!

 1. From Jeffrey A. Carver in Dealing with Writer’s Block

“Try setting up a regular writing routine and time, and stick to it.“

Understandably, a regular writing routine will reinforce our skills. Constantly writing will train our minds to let ideas flow and the more often we write the less it becomes difficult to get those ideas out. Stephen King was said to write 10 pages a day including holidays! Naturally, he is one of the most prolific writers of all time. The idea of  routine is not so much as to pressure our self but more to help hone our brains to getting used to the writing process.

2. Find your writing space.

I have written and read about this before. It may not be true to all but some of us do find  it easier to write when we are at some particular place. Some will prefer a quiet spot, others in a cafe, while others would prefer writing with blaring music on. Whatever it is, your chosen spot or setting must be that which would enhance the flow of ideas.

3. Keep a dream journal.

I have just recently came across this idea and I was so excited with it. I have not thought about this before, seriously. But with many famous books that are inspired by dreams, like Shelly’s Frankenstein, and the hip Twilight Series, keeping a journal might just give me something big to write about. Who knows? Also, keeping a journal will allow us to scribble those “Aha!” moments. There are times when a certain word seems to have escaped us and no matter what we do, it just don’t come to out. Then later in the day we remember this word so a journal will be handy in those instances.

4. Persevere.

This is one huge challenge! In my case, I have made many attempts in writing stories and end up tucking them somewhere bound to be forgotten. So this advice is really tough. And it is not something that a writer needs to be advised on, you might say. I came across a differently worded one but it essentially means the same, and it goes like this:

  “Keep working on what you started, even if you think it’s crap. Maybe it is, but so what.” 

So I am now determined to keep working on those crap, I mean stories.

And finally;

5. Every piece starts with a few words, so always start somewhere.

My experience is always that, when I do the first few sentences, even when they don’t appear to have a structure of some sort, it always feel like a spark that will turn the ideas burning. So this advice is very true and helpful for me. Like any other piece of art, a written piece had to start somewhere. A word written can open to a few more hundreds of words that will come rushing out and before we realize it, we have created something.

These tips are only a few of  the many many tips we can get from the equally many writers out there. 

We all write, yes, and hopefully we also find the same joy in writing.