Where Do I Even Begin? A Brief Guide to Setting Your Writing Process in Motion

Have you struggled with finding a writing groove? It might be your process, or lack thereof. It’s important to be conscious of what rituals we establish when we first sit down to write and evaluate what serves us as writers and what doesn’t. Whether you’re starting your career as a writer or already have a few publications under your belt, these tips are a sure way to help you out of a funk and onto the page.

Pick a Spot

Think of your happy place. Is it a room in your house? A coffee shop or library? A bench in the park? Go there. Bring whatever materials you need. Bring extra materials in case of spotty internet connections or pens that have run out of ink.

Be mindful of what may distract you. Some writers enjoy light background noise while others prefer dead silence. Some find it helpful to write in seclusion, while others like bouncing their ideas off others in real time. Find what makes you comfortable and stick with it. If it’s no longer serving you and your writing, it may be time to find a new spot.

Write Down Everything

Whatever comes to mind, write it down now. As soon as a thought crosses your mind, store it somewhere tangible to be found later. You are not an elephant, you will forget. Not every idea or sentence will stick around to be in the final edit but saving them may come in handy.

Remember, editing should not be a part of your drafting process. Checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation is not your first or even second focus. If those red squiggles become too hard to ignore, turn off the spellcheck. It’ll be there when you need it. 

Walk Away

You have found your spot. You are acclimated and comfortable, but your writing has hit a wall. Leave your spot – you can’t stay there forever. Make a phone call, go for a walk, or run some errands you’ve been putting off. No matter how far you are to finishing your thought, you will get stuck, and it will seem like there is no getting back on track. Clearing your mind and focusing on unrelated tasks can breathe new thoughts and inspiration you otherwise would miss out on.

Talk About It

Being a part of a writing community brings wonderful discussions, opportunities, and support when crafting a piece. It’s important to connect with others in your field to bounce ideas of each other. They may have experience in the topic you’re looking to discuss and can become great resources for editing and drafting advice.

The opposite may also be helpful. Talking about your ideas and thoughts with those who are not writers may bring a different insight and perspective to your piece. These audiences may see something you missed – unclear syntax, confusing terms or definitions, and missing information. They may not be very helpful in terms of grammar and punctuation, but writers aren’t the only ones who will read your piece.

Visualize Your Piece

As redundant as it may be, create an outline. It may not be fun, and it can be overwhelming, but remember there is no right way to make an outline. Software like Microsoft Office and Google Drive have great templates and resources for creating outlines. It may be helpful to create your own template. And outlines don’t have to only include text – using different colors, shapes, symbols, or images can help you further visualize what your piece is going to look like during your process and once you’ve finished writing.

You also don’t have to start your process with an outline. Brian Carroll in Writing and Editing for Digital Media suggests reverse outlining which tasks the writer with organizing the completed (or almost complete) piece after the prose has been written. This process can help clarify what information is needed or not needed and what best suits the organization of the piece.

Conclusion

Now that you're set up, it's time to hunker down and get writing! Have some other tips you might find helpful? Leave a comment!