If there’s one piece of writing advice I can give to you and others, it’s the title above. Let’s face it, many of us writers have trouble getting past that blank piece of paper or screen. Even we if have something written, often we don’t write anything else, and progress stalls.
So whenever you’re having trouble writing something, just write one sentence at a time. If you can keep up the momentum and write more, then that’s great. If not, just write another sentence the next day.
Let’s assume you’re writing a novel, 80,000 words and the average sentence is about 17.5 words. If you only write one sentence a day it will take you about 12.5 years to complete a draft. Yes, that’s a long time, but think of how many writers you know that have waited that long and still haven’t published anything.
The lesson: Compounding works. One sentence a day produces progress. It may take a long time, but you’re doing better than someone who keeps hesitating and letting perfectionism overwhelm them.
I consider myself a field writer. There’s no dedicated wooden oak desk to call my own. The dining room table feels uncomfortable. And any cafe is a violation of my quality writing time. So I have to be adaptable to wherever writing setting I go.
One day I had an idea. My wife and I have this little table. It’s rectangular and the legs are bent and shaped so that it can slip next to a couch or regular chair. And it’s the perfect height when I have to sit on the toilet.
So, I put it in our main bathroom and it looks perfect. I have the privacy to write while doing my business, or pretend I’m doing business. You’d think this is the best idea ever. But my wife put her foot down and said no. The reason was hygiene so that idea is dead.
Hey, if you can get away with it get a small table for your bathroom and if it works for your writing, then good. I hope your spouse, roommates, or whoever lives with you agree with it. Just make sure you clean it every day or so.
Wow! Can’t believe I made it this far. All three drafts of The Package trilogy are done. Now, all I have to do is revise and edit them.
If things go well, I’ll publish the first story by the beginning of June. Maybe sooner. I’ll let you know where I’ll publish them, stilll deciding on that.
Thank you for those still interested in the series. I hope you like them.
As a teen, I’d leave the TV on while writing, studying, and sleeping. It’s a terrible habit and has stuck with me since. Instead of TV, now it’s YouTube. But at least this habit has lessened throughout the years.
I can write without distractions for at least fifteen minutes. Then I’ll watch something on YouTube for a few minutes. I’ll write again and repeat the process. It’s the best system for me.
How about you? Is there some bad habit you do whenever you write? Let me know.
I recently watched the seventh season, second episode of Star Trek: DS9, Shadows and Symbols. The character Benny Russell (played by Avery Brooks) is in a psychiatric room writing his story on the walls. He does this because the doctors refuse to give him paper.
A psychiatrist, Dr. Wykoff (played by Casey Biggs) offers Benny a paint roller to erase his writings so he can be “cured” of his delusions. I won’t spoil any more so go watch. After watching that episode it gave me an idea.
Inside my home I have blue, white, and yellow walls. What color wall would I choose? Or would I write on all of them? Unfortunately, white and yellow walls are too bright even in low lighting. Blue walls are easier on my eyes and still bright enough when there’s not enough light.
However, all of this doesn’t matter. The real question is: how long can my kids and I write on the walls before my wife goes berserk and makes me clean and repaint them?
I’m halfway done editing Novelette 2 of my short story trilogy. There’s always some adrenaline left, this need to finish it. And I love it. I do want to get this series published as soon as possible.
I’m also using Claude to help put it together so I don’t have to worry about the technical details. I want to focus on writing the stories myself. Especially when I barely have time to write.
It feels great when I make progress on a story. Corrected all spelling, grammar, tense, and other mistakes. Other than adding a couple more things I’m one step closer towards publishing.
Going to work on Novelette 2. I expect to have the draft done in two weeks. Will update on my progress.
Ever since I decided to finish my short story trilogy it’s been a constant struggle for balance. The drive to finish editing and publishing my stories as ebooks is stronger than my need to post on my blog. However, it doesn’t mean I stop posting.
But it also means I may end up missing some deadlines or typing up my posts on the fly. I will try to stay consistent in my posts as best I can. I will also let you know when I publish my stories and post a link to them.
Thank you for your patience. Let’s keep on writing.
I recently bought a cover from Amazon to hold my notepads and other stationery items. This unknown brand cover holds a couple of 3.5” x 5.5” notepads. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit my small collection of A6 notepads. So, looking in my cubby there were a couple blank paper Moleskine Cahiers with previous writings that I wanted to finish before buying new notepads.
But writing on blank pages is unsettling. My sentences drift off center, the sizing is inconsistent, and my paragraphs smush together like a sat-on sandwich. This chaos makes my thinking just as jumbled as if I was typing them on screen. Ever wonder why you always have trouble writing on a blank screen? It’s the same with blank pages. There’s no structure.
Lines on a paper give order in the chaotic world of writing. It tells you can write as long as you don’t overstep your bounds. You don’t need a ruler. Lines are your companions helping you make those first few steps before they let go.
So the next time I’m given a blank notepad, I’ll just sketch random stuff. Like stick figures shooting at other stick figures, tanks, ships, helicopters, and fighter jets.