The Writing Rhythm and Blues

As I talk with my coaching clients and work with people in my programs, the self-criticisms and struggles of gotta write, "Just do it," and feeling not good enough abound.

As writers, it's what we all struggle with.

"Am I good enough?"

"I should just stop what I'm doing right now and give up this ridiculous idea."

"Now that I'm committed to this project, I'm not having any fun. When you're writing about something you're passionate about, isn't it supposed to be fun?"

Writing isn't easy. Oh, the crafting of words and putting them together isn't hard, but writing professionally isn't as easy as it looks. Especially when we create in our heads what a Real Writer looks like.

Real Writer sits down at his mahogany desk. He pulls out either a notepad with delicious paper and a calligraphy pen or an old-fashioned manual typewriter. He takes a sip of expensive French coffee, flexes his fingers, and -- writes. For two, six, eight (whatever seems right in our personal epic imagination) hours, he writes. At the end of the requisite writing time, he puts down the pen or covers his typewriter and flexes his fingers for the final time. He leans back in his high-backed leather chair, pleased with the book he's just finished, his, oh, let's just peg it at his hundredth book.

And writing never seems to come that easy to you as it does to Real Writer. Maybe that's because Real Writer is a fiction. He doesn't exist. And you should stop holding him up as the model for what writing looks like.

There is no one Real Writer. There's you, and me, and that writer over there, and the hundreds of thousands of other writers across the globe. And writing for each of us looks different. For me, writing might look like playing with creative strategies to work through a plot snag. Recently, that took the form of drawing a street map. Is that writing? Yep! Because it got me clearer in what was going on in the story and what I needed to convey.

For someone else it might look like research. If one is writing about how women, ages 25-59, are taking an independent, stronger role in their finances, then the writer probably is doing a lot of data gathering and interviewing of women in that age group. Is that writing? Yes, indeed it is.

So, if you're feeling stuck, unsure of your next step, or a lack of confidence in your writing ability, purpose, or just general low feeling (which is much more common than you might think), here are some ways to get out of those writing rhythm and blues.

Understand that writing is a process. Writing might look like staring out a window, drawing maps, researching. It might also look like going over and over your plot structure or outline until you're happy with it. Before you've even written a single paragraph.

Embrace the creativity. The minute you sit down and feel like you should emulate Real Writer above, you're in trouble. Let the creativity flow, in whatever manner it needs to.

Just do it. Unfortunately, sometimes that's what it comes down to. The thing isn't going to write itself, and you do need to devote time to your writing project.

Create a structured writing time. Don't wait for inspiration to strike or for the whole thing to magically write itself in your head so that then it's easy to transcribe from your head to paper or screen. Create a writing schedule and - write.

Adjust when necessary. Just because you create the structured writing time doesn't mean that it's written in stone. Maybe you find that you don't really have energy at 6:00 p.m. and so you have to find a different time to write. Maybe you need two or three big blocks of writing time instead of smaller blocks every day. Find what works for you and adjust as necessary.

Be kind to yourself. You are a writer. Your process works for you. You are not Real Writer. No one is. Stop holding yourself up to that as a model. Ease into your role as a writer and be gentle with yourself.

The best thing you can do is to flow with the writing rhythm and blues. Let the melody of your writing life carry you. Don't fight it and don't try to create someone else's music.