10 Easy Tricks to Help You Start Writing

How often have you been told that all you need to do to start writing is put your butt in the chair and write? Someone at every conference or retreat I’ve ever gone to has shared this glaring kernel of wisdom as if that’s all it takes for an author to start writing. They lie, and it’s not that easy. Ask any author staring at a blank screen with a sick feeling in the pit of their stomach. I don’t think that’s just me.

So how can you go beyond this strategy and start writing for real?

What is the problem?

Writing is not as easy as some people think. There is no one magic wand that you can wave to create motivation. There are a million things that make getting started difficult. It really becomes a matter of trial and error to find what will work for you.

Why does is it so hard to get started?

I always need to take a look at why I’m stuck and work from there. Am I struggling to find an idea? Is life distracting me? Am I freezing because of a deadline? The solution changes for me based on what my real problem is. So I’m giving you a list of things that have worked for me for different reasons. Try them out and find your muse.

10 Best Trick to Get You Writing

Start Writing Tip 1: Ways to Start a Story

Sometimes the problem is that you just don’t know how to start your story. That is different from most other reasons not to write, so here are some specific suggestions to help you.

• If you’re struggling to come up with an idea, there are several ways to start. Try some basic writing prompts or check out tip 8 for some journaling ideas. Also, read our article “8 Quick and Easy Ways to Generate Story Ideas” for more ideas!
• If you have your idea but don’t know where to start, try writing your ending first. You could also start in the middle. No one said that you have to start at the beginning and write to the end.

Start Writing Tip 2: Goals and Rewards

The little gold star isn’t just for kids. We all need a little something to get us motivated. Try this:

• Set a short-term goal, something quick and easy to manage. It could be a word-count goal. It could be to finish a certain scene. Maybe you want to finish fleshing out a character. Pick something you can do quickly.
• When you achieve your goal, give yourself your version of a gold star. I’ve used everything from a coffee at my favorite coffee shop to a new journal. You could even go with the gold star sticker, whatever moves you.
• For more ideas, check out “Goal-Setting for Writers: Achieving Success.”

Start Writing Tip 3: Get Out

It’s easy to procrastinate when you’re home. There’s always something else that you could be doing. If you’re feeling stuck in your writing, you’ll think scrubbing the bathroom is more important. Try writing somewhere else, even if you have to do it on paper instead of computer. Try some of these places:

• Local library
• A coffee shop
• A book store
• Outside, even your back yard
• For more ideas, check out this article.

Start Writing Tip 4: Schedules

Humans are creatures of habit. While putting your butt in the seat isn’t the be-all end-all, having a schedule does help. Especially if you want it to be your job. You have to treat it like a job, with set hours.

Start Writing Tip 5: Don’t Go It Alone

Writing groups are there for a reason. I know it can be scary. I’m a total introvert, but even I’ve joined a few groups in my time. Online communities are an option, if one-on-one really isn’t your cup of tea. Find a writing partner or beta reader. It can be difficult to find one you trust. But they are out there. For more information about the importance of a writing community, check out “Community Support: The Key to Motivated Writing.”

Start Writing Tip 6: Deadlines

This can be linked with your reward system. Some people just work better with a deadline. I’m one of them. If I don’t have an end date, I’m more likely to procrastinate. You don’t have to have a specific publication date. Set your own. Short-term or long-term, find what works for you.

Start Writing Tip 7: Have a Writing Nook

We can’t all have an office with a door we close when we’re writing. But you should have a space that is your writing area. When you’re there, anyone else in the house needs to know to leave you alone there. When I wrote the first book I ever published, it was from a card table set up next to our breakfast bar. I let my husband know it was a “no pestering” zone.

Start Writing Tip 8: Journal

Some writers can be resistant to this, thinking it means writing so glorified diary page. But there are different types of journals that can work for different reasons. As a self-proclaimed journal fanatic, I’ve tried them all.

• Dream Journal – If you have really vivid dreams, this can be a great source for future plots. I have dreams that remind me of movies, so I try to jot down the plotline before I forget. I’ve even written down dreams my daughter had (got some great ideas there).
• Bunny Journal – I keep a small journal by my computer at all times. It’s for plot bunnies that start hopping around, trying to distract me. If this is a problem for you, capture them on paper and promise them you’ll come back. They usually leave me alone after that.
• A “What if” journal – I play games of “What if” with myself when I really get stuck for ideas. I’ll focus on characters, fanfiction situations, or any other random thing I have playing havok in my brain. Then I ask a series of “what if” questions and write down whatever comes to mind.
• Diary – Yes, this kind of journal can have its place. It can be present day, or you can go back and addres past events. It can help with more realistic fiction ideas if nothing else.

Start Writing Tip 9: Switch Your MO

If you’re a creative writer, you may have had someone ask if you are a plotter or pants-er. If not, ask yourself that right now. This has to do with how you start writing. If you’re a plotter, you outline and plan most of your story out before you ever start actually writing it. A pants-er, on the other hand, flies by the seat of their pants. They may have a general idea of where the story is going, but don’t have an outline and are more flexible with the direction they travel.

Whichever one you are, if you’re truly stuck, try it the other way. I’m a hardcore plotter, but one of my favorite stories to write was done on the fly with little planning. Sometimes you’re brain just needs a change.

Start Writing Tip 10: Write What You Enjoy

When I first started writing, my teachers were stuck on the “Write What You Know” train. Problem was, they meant as only write what you had experienced. That didn’t work for a woman who want to write about monsters. One of my college professors actually asked me if I ever met a vampire. Like I would tell him if I had.

The point is, they should have said, “Write what you enjoy.” Romance writers often call this “Writing the Book that’s in Your Heart.” Basically, if you don’t like what you’re writing, no one else will either. Don’t jump on a trend just because it’s hot. Don’t write a specific genre just because of the money. Nothing can kill the muse quicker than not being interested in your own story.

Final Thoughts

In the end, how to get motivated to write depends on what is keeping you from it in the first place. Whether it’s coming up with ideas, preventing procrastination, or not knowing how to start, these tips should help you shake yourself out of your freeze.

So good luck out there, fellow writers. Don’t just put your butts in your seats. Write your asses off.