Habits of successful writers who should take over
Work And Study Inspiration / / December 25, 2019
Even the best writers have to deal with the difficulties, typical for most of us: the desire to postpone the work until later, loss of motivation, a crisis of ideas. We talk about how successful authors solve these problems.
1. How to configure itself to work
Not only writers, but we all experience difficulties when trying to create something from scratch. It's hard to - to look at a blank sheet of paper, slide presentation or spreadsheet. The desire to come up with something amazing presses on us, complicating workflow.
Toni Morrison: change your attitude to mistakes
In one of interview author Toni Morrison spoke about the error. According to the writer, when you change your attitude toward them, this greatly helps in their work.
Be careful with errors, but do not get depressed, do not be nervous and do not be ashamed of them. For errors of the writer - it's just information. I admit mistakes, which is very important (although some people do not recognize), and fix them. Because it is knowledge that is not working.
That is why writers must rewrite and edit. You analyze the process and find what went wrong, and then fix it. If you perceive the results as the information it brings you closer to success.
Toni Morrison
This advice is suitable not only for writingBut also for any other work. Often it is the fear to make mistakes prevents start. But if we see mistakes as an integral part of the process, it helps to tune in a working mood, because failure acquire its place and value.
Moreover, turning the job over the errors in the collection of new data, you are looking at a working process more analytically and objectively. And this leads to progress.
John Steinbeck: Focus on goals instead of system
Sometimes we are faced with an incredibly complex task. And we are afraid to start it, because it can not even believe that they can ever be completed. To learn how to make a complex goal more easy to understand, I told John Steinbeck.
Leave the idea that you need something to finish. Forget about goals in 400 pages and just write in a day page. This will help. Then, when you approach the finish line, it will be a surprise for you.
Write freely and as quickly as possible, laying out all the thoughts on paper. Never fix or rewrite until everything is ready. Making edits in the process is usually an excuse to not move forward. It also disrupts the flow of thoughts and throws off the rhythm set by the subconscious connection with the material.
John Steinbeck
In other words, focus on the system rather than the final product. To do this, Steinbeck offers to split the work into small fragments and concentrate on them.
Neil Gaiman: you learn, bringing the work to the end
Perfectionism - another reason that prevents to move from words to deeds. We analyze our work to the limit, because we want to get perfect result. As a result, it paralyzes us and prevents start or forces quit conceived halfway. Neil Gaiman has excellent advice for such cases.
When people come up to me and asked: "I want to become a writer, what should I do?" - I say, that they should write. Sometimes they say, "I'm doing this, anything else?" Then I say that they should bring the follow through. You learn by shutting down.
Neil Gaiman
When you bring it started to end, You earn the necessary experience, even if it does not get the best result. Do you recognize what is working and what needs to be fixed. The next time the process will be easier.
2. How to keep the concentration
Once you start to work, we need to continue, and this requires some discipline. We have to struggle with distractions, even when you are losing motivation and momentum. This is what is recommended three well-known author.
Zadie Smith: block distractions
Essays by Zadie Smith shared with readers of The Guardian is very simple, but effective advice for writers. Although it is suitable for almost everyone else.
Work at the computer is disconnected from the Internet.
Zadie Smith
Obviously, if your work requires access to the Internet, this recommendation is not for you. But the bottom line is to block all distractions. It helps to focus on the important things in life.
Jerry Seinfeld: do not interrupt the progress
Jerry Seinfeld has a simple system that forces him to write. The author uses a wall calendar, which can accommodate a whole year on one page, and a big red marker. He recommends to put a bright mark on the calendar each day when you get to write.
After a few days you have formed a chain. Keep up the good work, and every day she will grow. You will like to watch it, especially when the chain is stretched for several weeks. Your main task - not to break it.
Jerry Seinfeld
You can use this advice for anything from writing a novel to start business. It helps to deal with procrastination by daily visual reminder. This will add an element of the game your efforts to maintain discipline.
Raymond Chandler: write or die of boredom
If you work only when the inspiration comes, most likely you do not do a lot. Often they have to work according to plan, even if the matter needs creativity.
But even schedule a time for a particular project, we use those hours for walking, checking email, chat with friends, and let the other classes. That's the problem.
In Raymond Chandler, an American writer and literary critic, was right on that score. He planned time for writing and creating the conditions in which simply was not able to do anything else. The only alternative is physically accessible to the writer in such moments was walking around the room or the street watching through the window.
3. How to overcome writer's block
Writers face writer's blockBut if you are working in a different industry, you probably also experiencing something similar. It is a mental stupor, which stands on the path of progress. The reason may be the lack of inspiration or emotional burnout. Here are some practical tips from well-known authors, which should help.
Colson Whitehead: Let the adventure
In his satirical article for the New York Times Colson Whitehead shared one of the most original ways to deal with writer's block.
To adventure. Do not sit on the site, choose from the house and look at the world. A small dose of adventure you will not hurt. Take a ticket on a ship, earn dysentery. It's worth it if only for the feverish visions. Lose a kidney in a fight with a knife. You'll be happy about it.
Colson Whitehead
Of course, all this humor, but it is possible to see the sensible advice. The fight, of course, it is not necessary to climb, but really breaks increase productivity. In addition, out of the comfort zone and change activity to help find new ways to set goals. You get a charge of creativity and discover that the search for new ideas is given to you is not so hard.
Ernest Hemingway: stop in mid-sentence
If you do not like to leave a job, not having reached a logical point, this recommendation may seem daunting. If you are not a writer, you can make a pause in the midst of any other class. So done Ernest Hemingway.
It is best to stop when given the process is easy and when you know what to write about next. If you do this every day, you never get stuck. Always take a break when the work is not a problem, and do not dwell on it, do not worry on that score, as long as you do not go back to business.
Your subconscious mind all the time will work. But if you really think about consciously, it will spoil everything. The brain will be tired even before you return to the process.
Ernest Hemingway
You do not have to stop in mid-sentence literally. Rather, we are talking about a pause in the middle of the flow of ideas. This trick also helps to get back to work. With its help you eliminate the fear of the blank page and easy to pour into the workflow.