Our Best Advice for Starting to Write

Published: Fri, 03/07/14

If you're anything like me, you get a lot of email. Truth be told, I really don't mind. In fact, checking my email is one of my favorite parts of the day because more often than not, I'm greeted by success stories from folks like you.

Here's a recent example that I hope you'll apply to your own writing, especially if you're having trouble producing pages or getting a project off the ground.

Last week, I had a free consult with Michelle from Alabama. She wanted to write a play but didn't know how to start. She had encountered a lot of conflicting advice: draft an outline, make a plot map, study the three-act structure, etc. Naturally, Michelle was under the impression that she had to have a grand plan in place before committing a word to the page, and that felt scary to her.

During our chat, I suggested to Michelle that the best way to start writing is ... (drum roll please) ... to just start writing.

What?! That's it?

Yes, that's it. Just sit down and start writing, translating what's in your head to the page. It'll probably feel strange at first, something like driving at night with no headlights, but the more you do it the more comfortable you'll feel.

The thing is, we can plan and prepare and brainstorm until the cows come home but when you get right down to it, there is no substitute for the actual writing: only writing gets the writing done. So for now, don't sweat the planning. That's what revision is for.

Michelle emailed the very next day to let me know that she started writing as soon as we got off the phone, that she had already written seven pages, and that more were on the way. Now do you see why I love checking my email?

So what about you? Will you close this email and draft an outline or will you JUST WRITE?

-Justine

P.S. Here's an opportunity to write: our most recent Micro Fiction Challenge on WBN's blog.