Hey Writer,
I cheated. I told you last week that I would be writing a story this week but I didn’t. Actually, I wrote a couple hundred words last night so just so I feel like I didn’t fail you. It’s funny feeling guilt about letting you down when you can’t even read the story I’m writing yet. I can’t even tell you what I did this week, just that the days got away from me. I’m trying to tell myself that there are just rough weeks and that I’ll write next time but the self doubt is starting to get loud. I’m really happy to be covering a writer this week who is an absolute machine when it comes to getting words out.
Brandon Sanderson-Showing Up, Inspired or Not
When it comes to speed of publication, there are few authors who are on the level of Brandon Sanderson. He is a bestselling author of high fantasy, science fiction, and young adult books. His Mistborn series started in 2006 and is still running today.
Brandon Sanderson treats his writing like a full time job, writing 5-6 days a week and often 6-8 hours a day. He usually reviews any outlines or worldbuilding notes before he starts writing at around 10 a.m. When approaching his craft, Sanderson usually sets a goal of 3000 words a day which could grow to 5000+ words when he is fully engaged. He uses tracking tools to monitor his progress and often focuses on hitting these word counts rather than on perfection. He writes in a room with whiteboards with outlines, character sheets, and world building notes so that he can be as efficient as possible when he sits down to write. Sanderson also works on shorter, different genre projects as a form of creative deviation to avoid burnout on longer projects.
Sanderson’s output is extraordinary,but his principles are simple enough for anyone to borrow. He treats writing like a job and achieves this through consistency, structure, and tracking. Preparing the environment around you for work will help you achieve more with your writing. Outlines aren’t a crutch, they give you a solid ground to stand on.
Writing Prompt:
Spend 5-10 minutes outlining what you’re about to write. Next, set a small achievable goal and write until you hit it.
Writer’s Block Autopsy: Waiting for Inspiration
We all grew up thinking that art is this form of magic that only comes to certain people and that we have to wait for its call. We believe that the magic follows the inspiration when it reality it’s the other way around. The story won’t be told until you sit down to write it.
You can think about what you want to write until your head hurts but that won’t put words on the page. You need to set yourself up for success. Find a spot that can be dedicated to your writing; whether it be a desk, the dining room table, or even in bed before you go to sleep. No matter where it is, make sure you’re ready to receive the inspiration and it will come.
I’ve had this problem in the past for sure. I always felt that if I was meant to be a writer, I would feel inspired and that the story would just come to me. The reality is that I’ve written some of my best lines while feeling exhausted and not wanting to write at all. I’m making more of a point to carve out time for my writing, inspired or not.
What happened the last time you showed up to write without waiting for inspiration? Reply and tell me how it went.
The world has an endless supply of stories, the only one missing is yours.
See you next week.
-Mike