*If you prefer to listen to this article rather than read, please click here.
It seems like everyone is a writer these days! To some, that can feel like the “market” is flooded with writers and that feels discouraging, to others, it can feel exciting—like creativity is on the rise! Are you one of the inspired? Do you feel like you have something to say? Perhaps you have been tinkering with the craft of writing for years and have some experience, or maybe this is all brand new, and you just want to try your hand at it. Even if you don't have the proper skills, what you have to say is worth writing. Not everyone was born with a natural tendency for something that they love, but anyone can learn to do anything. Habits are not easily made, but good habits are always worth the effort, and writing is an excellent habit! Whether you write because you want to share something with the world, or you just want to express yourself privately, here are some steps to help you succeed:
I want you to think about your goals before you even begin to write. Do you want to write articles? Make your social media posts more creative and professional? Journal/blog entries? The next Great American Novel? Oh, how very F. Scott Fitzgerald of you! When we set our first goal, we can learn how to achieve it more effectively. If you don't have a lot of experience in this area, then let's start small. A great first goal is a word count goal.
Choosing a word count goal is something that can often feel intimidating. Bear this in mind: Highly proficient typists can type 80-90 WPM (words per minute). Now, you aren't likely to be creatively typing out that same 80-90 WPM, but let's set a preliminary goal of 250 WPS (words per sitting). If you can be faithful to that goal, then you can write a whopping 1,250 words in just five days! Give yourself the grace of allowing two days off per week. This allows for days when you have problems rise up, you have a lot on your plate, or you simply can't get your life together. Let's not make things harder than they have to be!
If you can manage just 250 words per day, then you will have written 5,000 words in a single month! See how quickly this is adding up? Now, let's go even further...a WPS goal of 250 words per day, only five days per week adds up to an astronomical 60,000 words per year! Look at you! You've written a short novel worth of words! Setting small goals might feel like you aren't doing enough, but when you put it all together, you can see the big picture of your success in an incredible way!
2. Get inspired! If you don't have anything on your heart and mind at the moment, I encourage you to use writing prompts to get your imagination moving.
These pieces can be serious, fun, whimsical, or existential. There is no wrong way to find inspiration, and your daily work doesn't have to tie together, it just needs to put your skills to work. How are you feeling on this particular day? Choose a writing prompt that makes your brain tingle, and this is sure to get your creative juices flowing!
Still having trouble with the one you picked? Pick another, or even try one at random! Write them down on slips of paper and put those pieces of paper in a jar. Pick a new one each day that you write and sometimes the element of surprise is all that you need!
Another fun way to prompt your writing is to use not written prompts, but visual ones. Scan your favorite search engine for images that inspire you. Maybe ask AI to create three images to inspire creative writing and pick one of those. When I began to use this method, I was surprised how quickly I could develop a story!
3. Set a timer. Begin by telling yourself that you are going to write for a certain length of time per day, and set a timer. Will you choose five minutes? Ten? Twenty? No matter what your goal is, just set the timer and sit down and go. Here's the thing: It doesn't have to be good right off the bat! Just getting used to writing is going to build your skill and boost your confidence. You might be surprised at the end of your timer how many words over and above your goal that you have written.
Writing with a timer can be a relief. A timer can be a finish line for days when you aren't sure how much—if anything—you will be able to crank out. You can tell yourself, “I only have to do this for twenty minutes.” When your timer starts beeping, you can look at what you've written, no matter how long or pitiful, and know that you gave it a solid shot.
A creative way to use a timer would be to tell yourself that you only have X minutes to write. When it goes off, you're done. No more allowed. This is challenging and will help your brain to work quickly. Some days we only have a handful of minutes and not a full 20-30 or more that we would like. That's okay! Life is messy and schedules can get wild. Are you microwaving something? How long did you put it in the microwave for? Or is your coffee brewing? Great! Grab your laptop and write until that super short timer goes off! This is a great way to encourage your mind to work quickly and concisely, hopefully creating full scope of thought in just a moment or two. Keep trying this; I think you will find that you improve rapidly!
4. Word count limits. Yes, that's right. You can read it again if you need to, but I did indeed suggest limiting your word count. Some of the most exhilarating challenges I have ever participated in when it comes to writing involved limiting my word count. Severely.
When you choose a writing prompt, sometimes it is helpful to decide how many words you'd like to write. Are you going for a few paragraphs, or do you like the idea of just one?
Give yourself a window of words for your limit. You might choose to write anywhere between 250-300 words. This gives you space to create without limiting yourself too harshly.
Need a really fun challenge? Tell AI or a search engine to pull up an image. Sure, give it a category if you like, or let it choose one at random—just be careful. The internet is a scarring place! Once you've landed on an image, tell yourself that you are going to write exactly 175 words in relation to that image. Yep. It has to pull a reader in, spin a tale, and leave them wanting more, all in only 175 words. This is truly a fun challenge! You can adjust it to fit any word count, and even character counts! The character counts are even more challenging.
I hope that this has given you some fresh ideas and encouragement on your path to becoming a better writer. We are all in a state of becoming, and honing our craft doesn't have to be frustrating or daunting, it should be fun!
Remember that you don't have to write publicly to benefit from writing. You don't have to publish a novel, be a critically-acclaimed journalist, or even a social media writer with a huge following. Your success as a writer is based on how you feel about the work that you have put in. If you are proud of it, then you are succeeding! If you are always looking to improve, then you are succeeding! Remember that God gave you this talent and desire, and He will give you the tools to use it. Enjoy your time spent writing, and I promise that it will bring joy to others in return!
Comments