Writing can mean all sorts of things. Sometimes it’s getting words down on paper, putting sentences together. This is what most of think of when we think of ‘writing.’ Other times, though, it’s outlining, revising, fact-checking, editing for clarity, adding references, making diagrams, refining arguments, etc etc. What is important is being very clear with yourself about what you mean by ‘writing’ each time you sit down to do it.
If what you need to do today is the first kind — getting sentences written — then this way of thinking about it can be very helpful. It’s what my friend and collaborator Will Medd calls the three kinds of writing. Here they are:
Option #1. Write It. Start writing your piece. It doesn’t matter where you start – beginning, end, middle. Just get to it. Increase that word count.
Option #2. Write About It. If actual ‘writing’ it isn’t working for you right now, then write about your writing. Write about what you are struggling with, whether it’s a concept you’re questioning, an argument you can’t get straight, a character whose motivation you’re questioning, some data that isn’t doing what you thought, some literature you’re not confident in, some dialogue that’s not ringing true, a fundamental uncertainty about what exactly you’re up to here, or something else. Explore the challenge, in writing.
A few things may happen in this process. You’ll find you clarify the problem and can return to Option #1 and carry on. Or, you’ll get as far as you can with the problem, realise you need to do more preparation, and decide to focus on writing a different part today instead. Or, you’ll end up spending the whole session in this mode, working through your questions and doubts, and the possible directions they lead. Or, you’ll get so frustrated you need to turn to Option #3.
Option #3. Write About How You’re Feeling About It. This is useful when stuck, frustrated, angry, dispirited, distracted, etc. It’s a chance to vent, to give voice to lurking thoughts, and also, sometimes to gain some clarity over what’s troubling you. The things we ignore don’t go away. So, let yourself face them and write freely.
This is a chance for you to explore what’s going on, guided by the principle that the feelings we acknowledge have less power over us – our attention can deflate them, pop them like soap bubbles drifting above the garden. With this third option, you’ll end up with something to reflect on, a realization, a fresh determination, a lightness. You may feel disappointed that your writing time was not ‘productive’ in the usual sense, but that disappointment will be balanced by a new understanding that lets you pick up and move forward tomorrow.
Working with these three options means there is no escape from writing time. You are almost tricking that part of you that wants to avoid or run away from writing by saying to it, throw all the tricks you can at me, dammit, I’m still going to write. Eventually it’ll give up, submit and let you get down to work.