Techniques

This is part I in the series of “crazy things I do as an author.”

We all have habits, right? Things that get us through the day, like that first cup of coffee. So, too, do we have mnemonics and habits that we do to keep our work on track. I used to tug the locks of an enclosure or night den to make sure they were really locked, and as I walked away, I would replay the sensation in my mind over and over to make sure I really did it and didn’t just think I had.

Part I: Word Sprints!

My favorite thing to do when I can’t come up with something to write is a word sprint. I crank up the music, set a timer, and just let my brain go wild. Words come pouring out, and sometimes they don’t make a lot of sense. And that’s okay. One of the favorite things I’ve heard about writing of late is that a writer is like a sculptor, except that they have to create the stone. The first draft is rough stone, hewn out of the ground of our minds. Our edits are the sculptor’s tools: clearing away unnecessary filler, over dramatic language (a thing I am frequently guilty of), and incorrect grammar (one hopes).

What does this meandering thought have to do with word sprints? Word sprints are great for getting me out of my own head. I can close my eyes—or focus on the keys—and just let the words pour forth without the internal filter of the editor that I try to read my own work with. I embrace every thought and let it be heard. The downside is sometimes there’s a lot of editing. The upside is I stop controlling the words so tightly that I choke on them. It always a balancing act.

How does one do a writing sprint? It sounds easy, but it’s not. You start with a page. Handwritten or typed, I don’t judge. Then, you set a timer for as long or short as you like. Then, no editing, just words! The hard part is learning to make your brain let go of mistakes and just keep going. I find it incredibly difficult to get started, but once I do, it comes faster and faster.

It takes practice to be productive, and sometimes, many weird habits! This one wasn’t so weird, but it’s a start!