And the Big Mind would allow you to consider deep thoughts, but the Little Mind would occupy you, so you could not be distracted. ‘ used to talk about her “little mind.” So when I was young, from the time I was about 3 until 13, I decided that there was a Big Mind and a Little Mind.
I’ll come.’Īs with Hilary Mantel’s research process, Angelou’s unconscious mind would be busy finding the words, finding the stories. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay.
And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat,’…. Be boring, be awful – it’s all in the rewriteĮven the great Maya Angelou struggled with writing sometimes, and her example shows that sometimes you simply have to turn up and put words down on the page.Īccording to Angelou, she sometimes did this for weeks at a time: You could do the same thing for characters. Find images that evoke the atmosphere or mood you have in mind and save them. Create folders for images of settings you want to include in your novel, whether real-world places or imaginary ones. However, what she discovered instead was a kind of productive procrastination that she described as ‘imagination filling in the gaps.’ It is true that some writers need down time during which their unconscious minds do crucial work.Īnother method that is often helpful is switching to a more visual mode. This might sound strange, but you don’t necessarily need to be drafting to be doing the work that must be done.Īward-winning writer Hilary Mantel says that when she began researching historical fiction, she thought the research would be enough. Fill out your story even when you’re not writing Removing distractions can be as simple as installing browser extensions that limit the time you spend on social media, for example.ģ. You don’t necessarily have to sit in a concrete cell with nothing but a notebook and ambitions.
But you can’t do anything that isn’t writing or not doing anything. Staring out of the window gets boring after a while, and it is more interesting to write.’ ‘Do whatever you need to to place yourself in a world in which YOU ARE ALLOWED TO WRITE OR NOT DO ANYTHING AT ALL, JUST STARE OUT OF THE WINDOW. Gaiman’s third suggestion, however, can apply to anyone – limit your options for procrastination:
LAZY STORYWRITING PROFESSIONAL
These are motivators for established, professional writers. The first two don’t apply to many of us in the early stages of writing: He needs to write because he has to support his family and because he has an audience waiting for his work. Neil Gaiman offers three ways to prevent procrastination. Remove distractions or alternatives to writing As time goes by and you show up for your writing, you’ll likely find you’re able to write more each session.
Set goals and resolve to write something – even if it’s 100 words – every day and focus on just what you want to accomplish in this small space. Whether you are daunted by your task like Lamott’s brother or you procrastinate for another reason, chunk it up. Lamott describes advice her father gave her brother when he couldn’t start a book report about birds: “Just take it bird by bird.”
LAZY STORYWRITING HOW TO
In Anne Lamott’s classic book on how to write, Bird by Bird, she addresses a number of these blocks. Others procrastinate out of feeling guilty about taking the time to write when there are other obligations waiting in the wings. The thought of starting or finishing a manuscript that could be imperfect for some time is scary. Procrastination is often a response to feeling daunted or not good enough for the task. Most of us don’t procrastinate because we are lazy or don’t enjoy creating. Divide your writing into manageable tasks Try these strategies to boost your focus and motivation. If you’ve committed to writing a book or story but are avoiding the task, there are simple ways to write more. Procrastination is the enemy of writers, of all creative people.