Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "sitting-down-to-write"
Writing Tip of the Week: Get in That Chair!
It’s often one of the hardest things to do when it comes to writing: sitting down to write. Since many of us have desk jobs that require us to sit and stare at a screen all day, the last thing we desire to do once we’re home is sit and stare at another screen, even if it’s to do something creative and beneficial.
How do we break this cycle and make the writing chair more inviting?
A Chair Change
If you do a lot of activities at the kitchen table, consider switching chairs when you plan to write. This can help create a division between mundane activities and creative endeavors. You can have a specific chair designated for writing, and that’s its only use. After a while, your mind will associate that chair with the writing process, so it's easier to write every time you use it.
Switching Locations
If you associate a part of your house with dinner or paying bills, why not move to a new area that you can specifically link to writing? Now, when you’re in that area of the house, your brain knows exactly what to do since it links the location with writing.
Glued to Your Seat
This is figurative, of course, but sometimes, we need to give ourselves a little push to get the writing process started. The next time you plan a time to sit down and write, stick to it even if you don’t feel like writing in the moment.
Give yourself a goal: I can’t leave this chair until I write 100 words. Then wait. And wait. This can be a tough thing to do, given that you are not allowed to do anything else until you reach the stated goal, but eventually, your creativity will spark, and word by word, you’ll see that 100 words appear on the page. And, once they do, you may discover that you have the momentum needed to keep going.
Initially, it may sound like you’re punishing yourself, but ultimately, as you begin to write, you’ll see that it is a way to get the creative process flowing.
Back to Basics
If the thought of sitting at another computer when you get home from work drives you crazy, consider going back to basics with a pen and paper. Using these writing implements instead of a computer can help eliminate the negativity associated with staring at a screen to do more work.
Now, it’s just you, a pen and paper, and your imagination coming together in a more intimate setting to get your thoughts and story onto the literal page. While this can be a longer process, it also allows you to think through your writing and connect you directly with your words instead of using an impersonal computer keyboard.
Final Thoughts
Getting in the chair to write can be a bigger challenge than actually writing. Making simple changes to your writing chair, writing location, or writing tools can go a long way to link writing with something fresh and new.
Allowing yourself to sit and remain seated until the writing flow begins is also a good way to ensure you stay committed to the craft even when you don’t feel up to the task.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
How do we break this cycle and make the writing chair more inviting?
A Chair Change
If you do a lot of activities at the kitchen table, consider switching chairs when you plan to write. This can help create a division between mundane activities and creative endeavors. You can have a specific chair designated for writing, and that’s its only use. After a while, your mind will associate that chair with the writing process, so it's easier to write every time you use it.
Switching Locations
If you associate a part of your house with dinner or paying bills, why not move to a new area that you can specifically link to writing? Now, when you’re in that area of the house, your brain knows exactly what to do since it links the location with writing.
Glued to Your Seat
This is figurative, of course, but sometimes, we need to give ourselves a little push to get the writing process started. The next time you plan a time to sit down and write, stick to it even if you don’t feel like writing in the moment.
Give yourself a goal: I can’t leave this chair until I write 100 words. Then wait. And wait. This can be a tough thing to do, given that you are not allowed to do anything else until you reach the stated goal, but eventually, your creativity will spark, and word by word, you’ll see that 100 words appear on the page. And, once they do, you may discover that you have the momentum needed to keep going.
Initially, it may sound like you’re punishing yourself, but ultimately, as you begin to write, you’ll see that it is a way to get the creative process flowing.
Back to Basics
If the thought of sitting at another computer when you get home from work drives you crazy, consider going back to basics with a pen and paper. Using these writing implements instead of a computer can help eliminate the negativity associated with staring at a screen to do more work.
Now, it’s just you, a pen and paper, and your imagination coming together in a more intimate setting to get your thoughts and story onto the literal page. While this can be a longer process, it also allows you to think through your writing and connect you directly with your words instead of using an impersonal computer keyboard.
Final Thoughts
Getting in the chair to write can be a bigger challenge than actually writing. Making simple changes to your writing chair, writing location, or writing tools can go a long way to link writing with something fresh and new.
Allowing yourself to sit and remain seated until the writing flow begins is also a good way to ensure you stay committed to the craft even when you don’t feel up to the task.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
