My Three C’s of Writing
I need these three things in order to generate sufficient output. They just happen to be alliterative.
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Every writer has personal rules. These are three of my rules. They must be in place if I want to have any hope of producing in high volume.
The first thing I need is to be committed to the project. If I am not invested in the project’s outcome then why am I there? I do everything in my power to write with real purpose. I don’t write a single word I don’t intend to polish and publish. Flippant writing is why I have a journal. The source of my commitment may vary. Sometimes I’m determined to publish by a certain deadline and it eats at me if I’m not making consistent progress.
Other times, I’m committed to seeing whether I have what it takes to write a particular story. Perhaps I’ll play in a new genre or with a length I think will push me to new growth. Regardless, learning and honing the craft of writing can provide commitment enough, at times.
Next, I must be caught up in the story and the lives of the characters. I make no distinction here between fiction and nonfiction. The best of both string a cast of characters together into shared circumstance and struggle. But if I’m not carried away with what is going on in the story how can I expect that from my readers?
So I write what is important. What is exciting. It’s easy to become enmired by the minutiae of transitions and world-building. We all do it. I remind myself that what I want is what readers want. And then I get on to writing the juicy stuff.
Lastly, and most important, I must be comfortable in my writing space. Because I work from home and have a two-year-old, I find myself writing all over the place. I do have a dedicated workspace and I prefer to write there but I also write a lot on my laptop and on my phone. No matter what, my production will be hindered if I’m uncomfortable.
Today, I was lying on my couch, jamming away on my laptop, making the most of my kid’s nap. I was in a good flow when out of nowhere I got a righteous back spasm. Lesser evils have broken the spell, to be sure, but it took me nearly six hours to get back in front of a keyboard.
These are the first things I concern myself with as I begin writing each day. Without them, I know I may have to settle for less than my best.
