October 9th, 2008 by Dave Perks

Where I go when my writing’s going nowhere

 Add a comment.

 

Writing Down the Bones, Natalie GoldbergWriting used to come very easy for me. It doesn't anymore. But that's not because I've lost the ability. On the contrary, I feel like I've gotten better. Maybe not Hemingway better, but definitely better.

See, writing is easy when you don't give much thought to it. The problem is that if you're not giving it any thought, then neither are your readers.

The first step to improving my writing was to realize that each word must contribute to my point of view. The other words on the page aren't going to volunteer to do the heavy lifting.

I've heard it a million times and said it a million more, the key to writing is to just write. Get everything out and then go back and scrutinize each and every word (a small example for you there). That's where I've usually fallen down, and it's been a consistent pattern in my life.

I rarely went back and checked my work in school. When I did, I just pretty much redid everything the same way I did it the first time.

Today, the temptation is great to treat my writing the same way. I can vomit one thought after another on paper with no problem. But going back and making sense out of them is as easy to avoid as a dental appointment.

That's my version of writer's block, and I freely admit it. But there is hope for me whenever I fall into an empty inkwell.

My personal solution is to open up my copy of Writing Down the Bones to any page. Natalie Goldberg and I couldn't be any different in our daily lives, but her ability to kick me in the butt and make me pick up my pen is undeniable.

This book is so full of writing exercises and ideas and thoughts that doing anything other than writing in response to it is only cheating yourself. I've written some of my most favorite stuff after skimming that book for a few minutes.

I love tips and suggestions that help make my writing better. But the biggest one I've ever gotten (and often, the hardest one to remember) is to always make sure I'm writing because I want to be and not because I have to be. That really is the only way to make it easier.

Speak up.

Respect.NewCity will never distribute, sell or otherwise treat your information like its ours to run around all willy-nilly, hither and yon with. That's because we appreciate your contribution to the conversation.

Search the blog.

Related Posts: