I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Hillary over the past couple of months, and I’m so glad she’s on the blog discussing writer’s block. I hope you learn some new tricks for overcoming this common issue in writing.
Prolific people write quickly in at least four ways:
(1) They write without much distraction. They don’t, for instance, stop to check their emails or text messages every few words or paragraphs. They don’t even stop to look something up – although they might make a quick note of it so that they don’t forget to look it up later. But rather than interrupt their flow, they will leave a hole in the manuscript and just keep writing.
In contrast, people who are underproductive write in fits and starts, which is not only problematic in terms of time use but constantly interrupts the creative flow.
(2) They write, and revise, with a “light touch.” They don’t spend a lot of time pondering or “drilling down” into problems. If there’s a section they are having trouble with, they do their best in the moment and move onto something else, knowing they can return to it later. (The combination of having worked on other sections, plus having let the difficult section “marinade”, means it probably won’t be so hard to write.)
(3) Fast writers also work relentlessly to simplify their writing (and other) tasks, so they can get them done fast and move onto something else. They don’t sacrifice quality, but – and this is important – they don’t automatically assume that they must do every part of the project, or all parts equally well. Instead, they ask questions such as these:
* What parts can I eliminate?
* How can I simplify the remaining parts?
* What resources do I have that can help me finish?
* Whom can I enlist to help me?
Simplifying projects is very important not just because simplifying in itself saves time, but also because you’re less likely to be afraid of, and therefore procrastinate on, simple projects compared with complex ones.
It’s easy for even adept non-procrastinators to fall into the perfectionist trap of overcomplicating their work. Once I was working on a query letter for a book I was writing with a coauthor. (A query letter is what authors send to agents asking for representation.) My coauthor is kind of glamorous, so I initially thought I would include photos and his biography with the query, to strengthen the pitch. But those were holding the project up, and eventually I realized that the letter would be fine without them – plus, if the agent does indicate interest we will be more motivated to provide the rest.
For a more trivial example, it took me years to break the habit of writing formal salutations and closings on a lot of my emails. It’s not so much about saving time – although as someone who places a high value on time, and who sends a lot of emails, the accrued time savings is meaningful – it’s the head space. By eliminating the unnecessary, I am better able to focus on the important.
(4) Finally, fast writers share their drafts. Perfectionists hold onto their drafts forever, while non-perfectionists send them out quickly for feedback. “I think the middle section is weak,” they might write in their cover note, “what do you think? Can you see a way to improve it?” Whereas the perfectionist would rather die than send something out with a weak middle section, and so they hold onto the piece, compulsively revising it – or, not touching it – for weeks, months, or maybe years.
Practice non-distracted writing, fast writing, pruning (eliminating tasks), and showing your work early and often. They are habits that will pay off hugely in terms of saved time and increased productivity.
Hillary is author of the bestselling The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Writer’s Block (Infinite Art, 2011), and teaches writing productivity at The Loft, SavvyAuthors.com, Grub Street Writers, the Mark Twain House & Museum, and elsewhere. Visit www.hillaryrettig.com for many free resources on how to become a joyfully productive writer.
