How to Do More Writing
7 Tips for Writing More Even When It’s Hard
Hello! I’m Bee (nice to meet you!) and today I’m sharing some ways that you can do more writing!
Writing can be hard when you don’t feel productive, but it can also be hard in general, no matter how you’re feeling. There are so many tips and tools so that you can write in a way that makes you feel good; like you’ve accomplished something. Here are a few.
1. Just Start
This may feel obvious, but it’s pretty helpful. Maybe you don’t feel like writing. Maybe you don’t feel like you have words to share. Maybe you just have no idea what you’re doing. One of my favorite ways to start writing if I don’t feel like it is to simply write for five to ten minutes just to get me started. An amazing writing tool is the Most Dangerous Writing App. If I ever don’t feel like writing, sometimes it can be best to force myself to do it just for fun. It’s like rolling a ball up a hill or pulling a sled up. Once you get to the top it’s easy and fun from there.
2. Write for Fun
Never write if you don’t like writing. Now, I can’t go tell your writing teacher not to assign any essays or papers, but I can tell you that you shouldn’t write a WIP (Work In Progress) if you hate it and you’re not enjoying it. I see so many writers saying things like “I have so many WIPs,” like it’s a bad thing! Sometimes if you’ve been working on a project for days straight… you need a break!
Having the freedom to switch between stories is great! Write creatively for fun! Use a writing prompt and just write. Don’t aim for publishing. Don’t aim for praise. Don’t aim for the next great novel. Don’t even aim for a certain word count! Try writing a fan fiction. This may sound cheesy, but even just writing a FanFic is better than nothing since you’re improving your writing (Those essays and papers help your writing too!). You’re getting to dive deep into a story you love and it helps you to understand the author’s process and writing! It can help!
3. Distraction
Our world has such a substantial amount of distraction. Companies are pulling you away from reality to their ads, signs, and products. And social media is one of the main culprits. It can drag you away for hours. So say goodbye to your distractions! Even if it’s just for an hour so that you can write. Maybe you put your phone in another room. Maybe you ask your family to allow you some quiet or alone time. Start a quiet (or loud, whatever you need) playlist! Do what will help you the most.
4. Write in a Genre You Love
Pretty self-explanatory, but don’t write science fiction if you never read science fiction. If you enjoy reading something, you’ll probably like writing it better than another genre. Don’t write in a genre you don’t like. If, for example, you want to publish and it’s selling better… Write for you, not for others! It’s so important that you understand not everyone is going to love your work, but it’s also important that you, as the writer, loves it! You’re better equipped to write in your favorite genre.
5. Find Support
This one is so helpful and it can really push your abilities as a writer! Having someone to keep you accountable is so much better than no one. Have family read your book as you write it. Ask them for feedback. Find writing friends, who really understand your struggles. They’re writers too! You can easily share your writing with them before anyone else. They’re your first set of eyes, besides yourself of course.
I joined Crazy Writing Week this past January and really loved it and I continued onto Crazy Editing Week. I came away with so many words, but most importantly some friends! I still get to talk to a few, which is great! (Young Writers Workshop is something I don’t do, but I would recommend it if you're looking for an online writing community for teens. You can also participate in their free events!)
6. Explore Online Tools
Online tools are a broad subject, but in general, they help your writing or writing career. There are tools to simply write on, meaning you can type out your story, but there are also those for community and those for learning. These days we have so many online instruction in classes, articles, videos, etc. They can be so helpful for learning how to be a great writer. If you think about it, you couldn’t even pitch to an agent through email until email was actually invented. Mail would take even longer to get a response! It’s amazing how much access to online writing tools we have.
Discover more online tools in this post:
7. Take Breaks
Writing is not just about writing. It can sometimes mean just resting. To sit and think about characters. To read about another author’s story. To sleep. (Yeah, sleep!) You wouldn’t go to school and work all day, you would take a break for lunch or perhaps walking to another class. If you take a break, then you're less likely to get burned out or deal with writer’s block. Sometimes, while you’re taking a break great ideas come and you can incorporate them into your writing. Spending time away from your project can get you excited to work on it more. Breaks help your writing so much just by simply stepping away.
In conclusion…
Writing uses your free time to be productive! You’re also getting to have fun! Win-win! Do a simple writing warm-up if you don’t feel productive. Write pieces for fun and not to necessarily accomplish a goal. Set distraction to the side. Write what you read. Have someone to keep you accountable and understand your struggles. Use your resources and what is available to you as a writer. Take breaks! It really does help! Now get to writing! (Unless you need a break, of course)
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Such great advice! Thank you Bee! I will try to put this to practice 😁
Sorry this post was late, y'all!! I was distracted and didn't get it formatted in time, but here it is now! Thank you, Bee, for writing this amazing piece for The YA Section!!