Write Through Once
The hardest part is sitting at the desk.
Many people have an idea for a writing project or they want to write, but they never actually get started. There are two reasons.
The idea of writing is far more appealing and enjoyable than the experience of doing it.
The idea of writing is born in us when we’re young, and fears keep pushing it away from us.
The hardest thing in the world is generation—a writer has to produce the stories. That means you have to nail your shoes to the floor beneath your writing desk. Your friends and family want you to watch a movie, visit faraway places, hike trails, bake cakes, make love. The last thing you want to do is sequester yourself in your writing cubby.
A recent survey
Recently for a writing workshop I sent out a pre-survey. When I asked the question, “Are you at work on a book-length project or do you have an idea for one?” 55 percent said yes. But the same percentage of folks had never published anything and did not keep a journal.
You see where this is going.
The first rule
Therefore, you have to show up. First. You'll never get anywhere unless you show up, and showing up is not easy. In fact, it's about the hardest thing you'll ever do. Most people can't do it. Much of the time I can't.
The second rule
Then, finish. "People write promising pieces but never finish them," my teacher William Kittredge told me. "Finish them!"
"Write through once," he said. Then revise.
A writer is always in the middle of a long and painful process. By the time she gets to revisions she has done the hardest part of all, the part that most people never actually accomplish, and that is getting the rough draft on paper.
Dear student
I found a note I wrote to one of my university students sometime back. Could I be writing this note to you?
In your piece I find some wonderful moments, great sentences, and interesting introspection. I can see that you have a flair for writing and you’ve proven your dedication in these pages. You have a wonderful start here.
As time goes on you’ll have a beautifully strong and fluid voice from which to tell your story. I don’t want any of my suggestions to hamper you from moving forward valiantly and capably and quickly.
So if this were me, I would not pause in my writing to do any tinkering or revising.
What you need more than anything, right now, is to get the entire story onto paper.
Write to the end
When I edit a piece that I did not write, I first try to appreciate that the writer stuck with the project to the end. She put the final period on the final sentence of the final page. That’s more than most people can say. Good for her. Congratulations are in order.
My advice to you—to everybody—is, Keep going. Write. Write and do not waste time. Get to the end.
Afterward you can begin the process of winnowing, patching, deleting, sanding, ordering, replacing, and otherwise making yours the powerful story it can be.
The solution
Set yourself a time to show up at your desk and work on the idea you have for a longer project. Do it daily if at all possible. Otherwise, do it when you can.
In personal news
I finished another round of edits for Craft and Current: Write to Change Your World. It’s a how-to book for writers on the craft of writing and the magic needed for writing. In my newsletter Trackless Wild last week I confessed that I was struggling over a subtitle. I conducted a poll (at the very bottom of that issue) to find out which subtitle out of four that folks like best.
The winner was Craft and Current: The Magic of Writing to Change Your World.
In addition, the poll generated another 35 titles to think about! That was exciting but left my head spinning.
Another wonderful result of the poll is a list of new and powerful words that could be used in this book’s title.
Channeling
Flow
Alchemy
Unexpected
Chaos
Mysteries
The book is with the designer nonetheless, so when she returns the designs I’ll have to make a decision once and for all.
In general, I’ve found that either a title comes easy, as if it falls from the sky, or it’s exceptionally difficult. Titling doesn’t seem to happen in any kind of happy middle-ground.
Also, I’ll soon have to make a decision on a pub date. I’m not sure why all of this is so difficult for me right now. But when a decision is made, you’ll be the first to know.
A question for you
I was thinking I’d like to make a directory of good podcasts and Substacks and Patreons on the subject of writing craft. If there’s one you particularly like, would you post it below? Then I’ll do my best to compile the list.
Thank you, my friend.
Feeling this essay a lot. A week off from "life" and now coming back to face all of the writing and goals I left from a break staring at me...it's time for list making and dedicated Deep Work time. Spring is my current shiny distraction, though...it's too pretty to miss. Might have to write at night.
"In general, I’ve found that either a title comes easy, as if it falls from the sky, or it’s exceptionally difficult. Titling doesn’t seem to happen in any kind of happy middle-ground."
... Titling a painting works the same way. The more I write, the more I realize how much the two have in common, both in frustrations and revelations. Central to both is perseverance. It is oh-so-hard to get back on the wagon once I have fallen off.
As always your words are right on time.