‘Let’s Get Writing’ Camp: Day 1
Easing into a rhythm
Hello, friends. And welcome to Day 1 of ‘Let’s Get Writing’ Camp. We’re using these five days to find our way back into writing despite what I’m choosing to call ‘all the everything’.
What Day 1 is all about
The previous two Writing Camps were all about harnessing excitement and curiosity to blast through writing projects. This week is different. This week, we’re going to practice the art of making gentle, gradual progress when we feel like writing is the last thing we’re able to do. And on this first day of Writing Camp, we’re going to focus on easing our way back into our writing projects.
Remembering our goals
First things first: what is it you want to chip away at this week? Note that down, either by hand or by typing it out.
Next: what part of that larger project do you feel able to chip away at today? Note that down, too.
Notice that nowhere in either of the two preceding paragraphs does the word ‘finish’ appear. That’s because finishing is not our goal this week. Our goal is simply to take time, each day, to sit down and write something related to those projects we’ve just noted down. We’re aiming to inch forward. That’s it. This week, slow and steady really does win the race.
To that end, take that simple document you’ve just created and put it somewhere visible. When you’re feeling fed up, drained, or just plain lost this week, take a glance at that document and remind yourself what you’re working on.
Day 1 Writing Prompts
To help get you writing, on each day of Writing Camp I’ll give you three different writing prompts to choose from. Pick whichever one you feel up to using today.
If you’ve already attended Writing Camp, then you might recognise some of these prompts. If you complete one and feel up to trying another, go for it. But go gently today.
Option 1: Freewritten description of your project
Two things often get in the way of a good, steady writing practice.
The first (which I write about a lot) is fear of imperfection (this is why nearly two years ago I made a resolution to master ‘messy writing’).
The second is sort of the inverse of the first: it’s unreasonably high expectations. Maybe you picture yourself churning out thousands of words each day, or getting your argument or plot perfect right from the start. Then, when you see yourself falling short of either of those pictures, you grind to a halt.
Here’s my favourite trick to trick my brain into chilling out and lowering expectations: instead of immediately trying to write the thing I want to write, I use [brackets], marginal comments, or simply a separate paragraph to describe the thing I want to write. This enables me to keep moving even when I can feel in my bones that today is not going to be one of my ‘good’ writing days.
At the very beginning of a project, this tactic helps me produce a sort of ‘sketch’ of what I’m ultimately hoping to write. In the middle of a project, it either helps me figure out what a particular chapter or section should look like (eventually) or helps me reframe or zero in on what I’m hoping my project will achieve.
When I write these little ‘notes to self’, I usually find that the words flow much more easily than they do when I’m Trying to Write. After all, these words aren’t for my readers, are they? They’re for my eyes only, and they’re just there to remind me of what it is I’m trying to write, or what I’ll need to add to the draft later. Sometimes I even end up using pieces of these descriptions in the final product. That’s because slapping down a scrappy description essentially gives your brain permission to relax and do its thing.
If this sounds like it might help you ease into writing today, then give it a shot: give yourself 5 minutes to freewrite a description of your project. During those 5 minutes, do not look back. Do not stop to correct anything you’ve written. Don’t stop at all. Just keep moving forward, even if what you’re writing occasionally includes stuff like ‘I’m really worried I won’t be able to figure X out’ or ‘I really don’t want this project to end up like Y’ or ‘why is Mary making me do this’.
Once you’re done with your freewriting, look it over, but don’t correct or erase anything. Instead, if there’s anything in there that seems useful, circle/highlight it, and maybe see if you can come up with any further notes on those specific useful bits. If you’re not yet sure whether there’s anything useful in there, don’t worry! You can either set it aside until Day 2 (the brain doesn’t stop writing just because you’re not typing or holding a pen!) or try out one of the other options below.
Option 2: Directed prompt
If you need a little more direction, take 10 minutes to write a response to one of the following questions:
Where does your project stand at the moment?
What do you think is the most exciting thing about your project?
What is going to be your biggest challenge when completing this project?
What is the most important thing about the writing goal you want to achieve this week?
How will today’s writing task help you finish your project?
These questions are designed to help keep you oriented and to motivate you as you inch forward this week. You can come back to your responses later if you feel your attention wandering or your motivation slipping.
Option 3: You do you
If you’re at Writing Camp for the camaraderie and support rather than the prompts, that’s great. Do your own thing, and let us know about it—and about how you’re doing—in the chat.
Ok, folks: time to write. But remember: go gently this week.
I’ll see you tomorrow for Day 2 of Writing Camp!
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VB,
M