I sit down to start writing, and at first it feels hard, impossibly hard. What foolishness made me ever presume I could write anything of consequence. I don’t know what to write. But, I have to try, give it a proper effort, so I keep jotting down rubbish.
Then I have another idea; I write down the same meaning with new words. It’s not “there”, but there is “something”. By the third or fourth try I feel good about that part. It’s not great, but it’s not bad either. Time to move on.
This time it’s easier, building off what I’ve already written, the next piece only takes 2 or 3 tries. And now I’m moving, racing to keep up with the thoughts that float through my mind.
There’s no room for doubt, only the words I frantically jot down, as my thoughts continue to race ahead.
Then I stop, catch my breath. I look at what I’ve written, more curious than anything else. Then I realize…it’s good? Not great, but better than I expected, better than I thought I could.
“How did I do that?” I wonder.
So I start writing again, and again it seems impossible, terrible, but I plod along, and before I know it “it happens again”, and again I’m too busy writing to notice, until it passes, and once again I have no idea how I did it, but now I’ve done it twice, and that means I can do it again.
I have the scary blank page of a new book to write looming in front of me. I can totally relate.
I once heard of an author who liked to write on little index cards, or napkins, anything small. Before he knew it he’d have a big stack of them, and he’d feel a lot better about his progress. It’s really funny how hard it can seem, until you get rolling, and how effortless once you do. Good luck. Let me know if you need feedback.
Thanks! I can’t imagine writing on index cards and napkins. What a nightmare. I’d find mine covered in syrup, spilled milk, and spaghetti sauce from the kids, or chewed up in pieces on the floor from the puppy. 🙂 This next book I have to write is the third in a series, so have a LOT of details to organize and make sure I get right. I’m feeling a little intimidated by the process right now. But as you pointed out in your post, I’ve done this before. I can do it again.