by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
To me, there are two different types of ‘writing slow.’ There’s writing slow when you’re word-crafting and being very deliberative with your writing. And then there’s the other kind of ‘writing slow’: slow writing because we’re hung up on something. It’s the second kind that I’m addressing today: the frustrating feeling of not getting far in a writing session because something was holding you back.
I’ve come up with a list of common things that can hold writers back and some solutions for getting around them. I’ll post the rest of them next week.
Being a slow starter: Is it tough for you to get started writing again the next day? If you’re routine-driven, it may help to write at the same time and place every day (for me, it’s become almost muscle memory).
You could also try Hemingway’s trick of stopping each day’s writing session in the middle of a sentence.
Another way I push past daily resistance to getting back into the story is by ending each day’s session with a mini outline for the next day. It’s very short: just a quick note as to where I left off with the story (this helps prevent re-reading and being pulled into editing mode) and a quick note saying what I plan on covering during the next writing session (sleuth talks to suspect Dan. Dan says he was at work during the murder. Mentions he overheard an argument between victim and another suspect, Gina).
A difficult scene: Sometimes there might be scenes we’re just not in the right frame of mind to write, for whatever reason. It could be something as basic as wanting an important scene to be written perfectly. It could be something more complex, like we’re not in the right mood to write a humorous scene or feel too upbeat to write a tragic scene.
One way to handle this is to simply skip the scene. Put some sort of marker in there, like ##, so that you can find the spot later on and go back to it. Then just pick up with the next scene in the story.
Slowing down to add setting or character description: This was a common roadblock for me when I was writing . . . until I started leaving this information out during the first draft. Otherwise, I’d spend a lot of time either trying to craft a unique character description for a recurring series character, or I’d end up sitting there trying to figure out how I wanted to describe a particular setting.
I leave out the troublesome descriptions from the first draft and then create a second document after that draft is finally done. On the new document, I brainstorm all of the character and setting descriptions for the story and, while I’m reading through and proofing, weave the descriptions in. That way, I’m in a descriptive mindset and can get a lot more done, much more quickly.
Not being sure what to write next in the story: We all get to that point in a story. Sometimes it’s a major plot point (especially if you haven’t already outlined the book). Sometimes it’s just trying to figure out a subplot or even a transition in the story.
I recommend either skipping through to the next scene you’re sure of or opening up a fresh document and brainstorming as many possible next steps in the story as you can possibly come up with. When you’re brainstorming, be sure not to hold back: the ideas can be as random or ridiculous as you dream up.
What kinds of things slow you down when you write? How do you address them?
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This is such good advice, Elizabeth! I think it’s easy to forget that, as much as anything else, writing is a matter of discipline. Life does get in the way, but it helps to get into some habits that keep us working at our writing, even during those tough times. I think it also helps to remember that even small progress is progress. Did you get one thing fixed in that messy scene? That’s progress. Did you fix one line of dialogue, so that it’s terrific? Progress.
So true, Margot. We may not get as far along as we’d like, but we should keep celebrating the progress we’re able to make, especially during challenging times!
Skipping the scene works best for me. Then I just go back later and play connect the dots.
That works for me often, too. I just have to keep an eye on my transitions later on.
I get stuck on description and plot so often and find it hard to move on. I could spend days trying to figure these things out. This is great advice. Thank you!
So glad it was helpful, Gwen! I do all my description during the 2nd draft now. Hope you have a great week!
Hello, Elizabeth! I’m usually a slow starter when I write and then I pick up pace, though it’s easier the next day and the day after; that is, till Procrastination comes along and ruins everything. Thanks for the writing advice. I look forward to reading Part II.
Thanks, Prashant! Hope you’re doing well.
I plot but the story develops organically as I write. I try to see a little farther down the road by the end of each writing session. I’ve had to train myself to do this. There are still days when I don’t see much farther than the end of my nose, but most days now I can see as far as I’ll have time to write the next day.
It definitely helps stay motivated for the next day when you know what’s on the agenda to write. Thanks for coming by, Carol!
Great tips! I often leave in the middle of a sentence or with notes about ‘what’s next’. Those definitely help!
I like the idea to skip the description and weave in later – description is not something that always comes naturally to me :)
Description is the hardest thing for me to write! I frequently skim it as a reader.
Hi Elizabeth – I seem to have been missing recently … even though I don’t write books/stories … I can understand exactly what you’re saying .. the main thing is to stay motivated, while I can see having the basic story plotted first makes sense … things can be added in, or changed later once the main aspects are in place. Looking forward to part 2 … all the best – Hilary
You’re so right, Hilary–motivation is key because it’s such a long slog and can be discouraging. Hope you’re doing well!
Thank you for the permission to leave descriptions for the revisions :-) I get hung up on that a lot, whether it’s the color of someone’s eyes or the way meadow looked in the spring. A lot of times I do move on, but it can feel like I’m “cheating”.
When I drafted my first few books, I used your notes technique backwards. I would come up with the barest outline — a short paragraph of incomplete sentences that listed the plot points I wanted to include — and each time I got to that point I would delete the note. It was both a good way to keep track, as well as on track, as well as motivating to see progress.
Oh, descriptions are my most un-favorite part of the whole thing! I have lots of different cheats to make it through the first draft, ha. I’ll put an asterix in any spot in the story I’m unsure of and then just keep going.
That backwards approach to plotting really can help! So glad it worked for you!
Love the tips. Adding setting details always slows me down. I usually do plan to add it in later, but will still find myself bogged down by details. I also fail to set a writing schedule, mostly because once I start, I hate to stop which makes me avoid opening a document unless I have a large chunk of time to work on it.
My husband is sort of like that for exercising…when he exercises, it’s for hours so it’s sort of unmotivating for him (plus, he’s sore the next day). I wish I could focus that long on exercising…or writing!