Six Ways To Start Writing Now.
Two years ago during the early months of the pandemic, I learned that I wanted to write more. I had been journaling consistently for a few years, a habit I picked up to reflect on my thoughts and experiences. I wanted to go further. I started writing a novel. Ultimately, I got sidetracked and my day job took up more of my time. But the seed was planted. I knew I wanted to keep writing and see where the path led. I started a blog. Fast-forward to 2022. I've had a blog for two years now, and just migrated from Blogger to a shiny new website. I am enjoying the process while following the path I set off on back in 2020.
I've learned a few things along the way. Here are six ways you can get started writing now:
Keep a journal.
A journaling habit is one of the most important tools in my writing toolbox. I journal every morning after some stretching and meditation. I log details and notes in a daily planner. In a large moleskine notebook, I reflect on the previous day's thoughts and experiences.
Journaling keeps me level, patient, and sane. I can write about anything and everything and no one will ever see it. It's for me. Journaling gets my brain working and my pencil moving which usually leads to another writing project. Get in the habit of journaling everyday; it may just help your writing practice.
Keep a notebook.
Writers are listeners and observers. Everything we see, hear and experience is material for your work. I'm always writing down tidbits of information, research notes, observations or things I overheard. I've got dozens of notebooks of different shapes and sizes so I'm never without one. Your smartphone notes app or voice memo is also handy in a pinch.
*See also Joan Didion's essay On Keeping a Notebook.
Start a blog.
I wanted to find something that would keep me writing and working on new projects. I learned through keeping a notebook that I tend to get really into a topic for a period of time, then move onto a new topic. I wanted to use this as fuel, giving me an excuse to get obsessed with something, do a bunch of reading, research, and note-taking and write about it.
I started a blog on Google's Blogger, an old and outdated platform, but it's a free, fast, and simple way to get started (I only just moved my blog to a new website this month). At first I could only manage one post per month, but over time I've managed to increase my output to 1 post per week. My goal is to be able to post everyday. When I first started blogging, posting every day wasn't a realistic goal. I'm grateful that I just got started and put in the time to practice and learn along the way.
Start a newsletter.
At the end of May I started a Substack newsletter. I had the same goal in mind as when I started my blog - to do something to keep me writing. The newsletter will also keep me accountable to my readers by publishing consistently every week at the same time (currently every Friday at 9am). Though a newsletter can have any theme, I’ve chosen to share five things I found interesting throughout the week. The newsletter allows me to share topics I’m interested in, which I can dive into as much or as little as needed. Sometimes I want to write about something but the topic is not quite long enough for a blog post, so I’ll write about it on the newsletter. I’ve just finished my first month on the platform and I am enjoying it. Why do I use Substack instead of using Squarespace, Mailchimp or any other platform? I enjoy discovering and subscribing to the unique community of writers there. The platform also allows writers to choose a free or paid subscription plan for their readers. I just have a lot of fun on Substack. I hope to expand my newsletter with some serial fiction soon.
Read, read, read.
If you want to become a better writer, you need to read. Get your eyes on something you might not normally read whether it's books, newspapers, magazines, ad copy, blogs, or newsletters. Read as much as you can. Take notes on what you're reading, record your thoughts, underline sentences. Use a dictionary to look up words you don't know.
Just write!
The blank page. The void. Don't give into Resistance. Pick a time to write when you can be free of distractions and treat this time as sacred, even if it's only 20 minutes. Set a timer on your phone and get to work. Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird has a whole chapter on "shitty first drafts" and reminds us that "no one is reading your first drafts". Get it out and onto the page. Once you've got a first draft, now is the time to start revising and rewriting. I enjoy the revision process because this is when I can mold what I've written into a finished piece.
That's it. Six things you can do now to start writing. No lofty goals, no magic tricks. Just simple, everyday habits you can use to help you get started. I hope this helps. Let me know your tips and tricks.
Until next time,
KW
Thank you to Anne Lamott, Steven Pressfield, Joan Didion, Stephen King, Austin Kleon, and a multitude of other writers I've read over the years who graciously shared their wisdom with the rest of us.
