I remember once asking Christopher Buckley if he ever got writer’s block. He responded, let me tell you about what I learned when I wrote my first New Yorker article. The legendary William Shawn was my editor. I was unable to write. I was consumed with the thought of how many millions of eyes would be on whatever I produced. I went to William Shawn and said, do you have any advice for a new writer. Shawn looked very wise, pondered my question, and said to me, Chris I didn’t say I wanted it to be good, he said I want it tomorrow.
I never forgot that. Writers block often comes from worrying about whether the quality is there. Sometimes you just have to write and not stress over how good it is. You can go back and pretty it up later.
So… I look forward to responses because I’m not at all disciplined in this. I am in a writing group that employs a 15 minute sprint writing exercise once a week from a prompt. I amaze myself what I can come up with and put on paper in 15 minutes.
DDL is really too important to me kk. No ddl would make me very struggle to write. I set myself now to write a little bit every day, no matter how much. Communicate with friends who have the same interests, urge me to write because she wants to see it, I think it can help me. But sometimes if I did not have inspiration right now, it will make me feel so anxious. I feel so conflicted. ><
Yes!!!
I remember once asking Christopher Buckley if he ever got writer’s block. He responded, let me tell you about what I learned when I wrote my first New Yorker article. The legendary William Shawn was my editor. I was unable to write. I was consumed with the thought of how many millions of eyes would be on whatever I produced. I went to William Shawn and said, do you have any advice for a new writer. Shawn looked very wise, pondered my question, and said to me, Chris I didn’t say I wanted it to be good, he said I want it tomorrow.
I never forgot that. Writers block often comes from worrying about whether the quality is there. Sometimes you just have to write and not stress over how good it is. You can go back and pretty it up later.
Love that story. Journalists have the advantage of deadlines--and the disadvantage of not always producing "perfect" work (in their eyes).
So… I look forward to responses because I’m not at all disciplined in this. I am in a writing group that employs a 15 minute sprint writing exercise once a week from a prompt. I amaze myself what I can come up with and put on paper in 15 minutes.
That's another great example of an external deadline. It really forces us to focus in and write!
DDL is really too important to me kk. No ddl would make me very struggle to write. I set myself now to write a little bit every day, no matter how much. Communicate with friends who have the same interests, urge me to write because she wants to see it, I think it can help me. But sometimes if I did not have inspiration right now, it will make me feel so anxious. I feel so conflicted. ><
Writing every day is wonderful. And having a writing buddy who wants to see your work is a great tactic (and one I'll address more in the future!!).
The image of an evil and menacing Count Dracula popped into my head - maybe that's fitting?
Ooh, threatening imagery! I like it!