Enjoying writing rather than having written
Engaging in the process rather than the product
Do you enjoy writing? Or do you enjoy having written, meaning you enjoy being done with writing?
For a long time, I was in the latter camp. In my head, there was this mythical time when I would no longer need to write or I would be finished with writing. This meant two things. First, it meant I rushed through the process of writing. I overlooked the enjoyable moments and the flow that can emerge when writing goes well. The equivalent of this would be if someone was rushing through their dance practices. What the heck is the point of dancing if you enjoy having danced? As a writer, it was all about finishing, never being in the moment. Second, it meant that whenever writing didn’t finish, it was somehow a failure. It meant only on the rare occasion, when I was able to submit something, or finally receive its acceptance, would writing be “done.” Most of the time, I instead experienced a writing failure and my progress was not well demarcated.
Now, however, I enjoy the process of writing. I enjoy fiddling with words, sentences, and paragraphs. I learned essentially to be patient. Here are the eight things I implemented to get from always wanting to finish writing to enjoying the process of writing:
1) Acceptance of long timelines. Most published writing doesn’t start that way. Published writing is not granite from the dirt. It’s polished in a tumbler, over and over, typically by more than one person.
2) Write out specific, actionable goals for EACH day. Write out these goals the day before. This advice comes in the form of “parking on a hill.” Make sure you can get started easily and without hassle. Make sure those goals are achievable and not something huge, such as “complete the chapter” or “publish article.” Instead set a word count or, even better, set 2-3 concrete tasks.
3) Identify revision, editing, thinking, and “marination” as writing. Build this into the process and write out goals for this too. An example could include spending time on revising certain paragraphs.
4) Develop awareness of when you are writing and thinking. If you get stuck, don’t open a browser or go online. Instead, get up from wherever you are, stretch your legs, and actively thinking about what you’re stuck on. Write out what you’re stuck on.
5) Messing around on social media or websites doesn’t count as writing. You might think it does but it doesn’t. Don’t confuse the writing process with the distracting process.
6) Talk it out. I’ve learned to talk out ideas literally. Speak them. Speak out the places where you get stuck or have writer’s block. Ask yourself questions aloud. Sometimes answers will come, sometimes not. But it’s the stochastic random thoughts that can prompt you into new and fun thinking.
7) Keep track with a log. Keep a spreadsheet. At the end of the day, write out what you did with 1-2 sentences. I find this is a good time to sketch out the next day’s goals (see #2).
8) Slow down while you’re writing. I mean this in all seriousness. Typing can lead us to write fast, almost too fast. I would speed through my writing and my thoughts, frequently needing to revisit words, sentences, and paragraphs. Now, though, I try to move my hands deliberately, not relying on muscle memory of my fingers over the keyboard. I find myself entering flow better, forgetting about the need to have written, and enjoying writing itself.