Writing can be a creative art, but it also requires discipline.
Sheer willpower, however, isn’t a strategy for long-term success. You inevitably get tired, cranky and resentful.
I do.
That’s why I started looking for ways to make the writing process enjoyable. If you don’t like to do something, you won’t do it. Not for the long term.
It’s taken me a long time to get this concept through my thick skull. This blog represents my effort to share what I’ve learned and to help other writers—or would-be writers—bribe their creative selves into writing.
Just as Julie Andrews sang “a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down,” here are some of my favorite tricks for luring myself to the page:
- Road trips. I’ll grab my notebook and head to a local café or Starbucks. I’m less likely to get distracted if I’m sitting at a table with nothing but a pad of paper, a pen and a cup of coffee.
- Cool pens. If you’ve read other entries, you probably picked up on my love of fountain pens. Even gel-ink pens and rollerballs are fun. Part of me enjoys the simple act of putting words on a page, even if they’re garbage. I’m leaving my mark with a fun tool.
- Hot tea. Brewing a pot of tea puts me in a contemplative state of mind. The ritual appeals to the artist in me. I find it easier to get the creative juices flowing when I’m holding a mug of steaming tea.
- Fun stationery. Perhaps it’s the romantic in me, but I love the idea of creating a physical work of art. Each new writing project gets its own notebook or journal, and I scribble my way through it. As time goes by, I can see my progress in pages filled.
- Old media. I started writing first drafts longhand because my work has always kept me in front of the computer for hours at a stretch. Writing by hand is a tangible way to separate fiction writing from my day job.
- Cupcakes. These tiny treats remind me of childhood. Sometimes, if my creative energies are lagging, I’ll coax myself into writing by heading to my favorite coffee shop, Mara’s, and indulging in a cupcake.
This is a short list of what’s worked for me. Please let me know if you decide to try any of these. What were the results? If this doesn’t float your boat, please share what does.
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