In the Mood to Write
In previous articles, I discussed the source of my story ideas but have not addressed getting them out of my bonkers mind. While my methods are typical of most authors, there are some nuances. A big part of the process requires me to be in the right mood. To fully explain this concept, I need to rewind the clock back to the beginning of my writing adventure.
During a fun period of unemployment, I had a lot of time. I spent most days thinking up business ideas and trying to turn them into reality. It was not going well, and I decided to try the highly profitable publishing world. So, on 3/12/2016 at 4:29 PM, I leaped into pure profit.
At first, I treated the writing process like a job and wrote for precisely six hours every day. (This was all my meager brain could tolerate.) The words flowed because I already had the plot of my first book in my head. Yet, a few months into the process, I noticed a pattern. At times, my writing was not excellent. Understanding that writing is not like engineering, driven by math, economics, components, and specifications took time. It is a creative process driven by lofty ideas that do not fit into neat boxes. Eventually, I understood I needed the right mindset to write well. But how did I know I was in this mindset?
My process begins with firmly deciding, “Now is the time to write.” Then, I start testing the water by reading 1-2 pages before my last paragraph. At this stage, I do not do any editing. When I am confident that I am comfortable with the spirit of what I have created (usually one page in), I will make some edits. If I encounter any resistance, I stop. What is resistance? It feels like a physical barrier, different from the negative anticipation of going to the dentist, perhaps like being hungry when no food is available.
This lesson has been painful. I have done significant damage by writing or self-editing in the wrong mindset. One bad paragraph can lead the story in the wrong direction, taking months of self-editing to clean up the mess. Why? I forced myself to write or edit in a bad mood.
At this point in the editing process, my mood should be between neutral and enjoyable. Let me define neutral. Imagine watching a movie like Star Wars. You have seen this movie over ten times and enjoyed it. Remember that scene where Chewbacca was playing chess with R2D2? Watching that scene is not a surprise; your mood is to look at the characters and interact with detachment or fondly remember that scene. This is precisely how it feels when I edit. I know the material, and when I encounter something messed up, I fix it without negative emotions. There is no mental stress or apprehension when I uncover a big problem.
When I get to the last paragraph, I begin writing. The words should flow without stress, and my mood should switch to enjoyment. It is great to put one’s thoughts into words. And again, if there is any resistance, I stop.
However, it is not necessary to stop writing altogether. I tested the waters. Sometimes, I will switch to a different document or edit a different section. The important part is not to push through a mental block.
Writing is different from non-creative activities. For example, I do not need to be in the mood to pull weeds. I push through the negative emotion and begin a mindless, unpleasant task.
If I still cannot get into the mood to write, I find a distraction can help. YouTube videos provide a quick distraction. Another tip is to consume a single glass of red wine for over an hour. I have tried all other forms of libation and found they only hinder writing.
How do I know I am in the mood? Simple. I appreciate the moment. Writing is fun, exciting, challenging, and rewarding. The non-creative part of my mind is off, and I have become a magical author. This person has the freedom to create an imaginary world. I put myself into the story as the character. What are they thinking? Why did they do that? How should they react? What would upset them? As I self-edit, I concentrate on sentence structure and logic. I also think about the big picture and how each sentence relates to the story.
What about professional writers? Honestly, I have no idea how somebody could spend eight hours in front of a keyboard of fiction writing every day. If I tried, the results would be an angry mash-up of misspellings. So, my hat is off to those professional writers.
Writing is a privilege, and I am lucky to have the drive, talent, and means to enjoy this activity. I look forward to doing it, yet it is something I cannot always get into—a true enigma.
You’re the best -Bill
May 22 2019 Updated April 21, 2024
During a fun period of unemployment, I had a lot of time. I spent most days thinking up business ideas and trying to turn them into reality. It was not going well, and I decided to try the highly profitable publishing world. So, on 3/12/2016 at 4:29 PM, I leaped into pure profit.
At first, I treated the writing process like a job and wrote for precisely six hours every day. (This was all my meager brain could tolerate.) The words flowed because I already had the plot of my first book in my head. Yet, a few months into the process, I noticed a pattern. At times, my writing was not excellent. Understanding that writing is not like engineering, driven by math, economics, components, and specifications took time. It is a creative process driven by lofty ideas that do not fit into neat boxes. Eventually, I understood I needed the right mindset to write well. But how did I know I was in this mindset?
My process begins with firmly deciding, “Now is the time to write.” Then, I start testing the water by reading 1-2 pages before my last paragraph. At this stage, I do not do any editing. When I am confident that I am comfortable with the spirit of what I have created (usually one page in), I will make some edits. If I encounter any resistance, I stop. What is resistance? It feels like a physical barrier, different from the negative anticipation of going to the dentist, perhaps like being hungry when no food is available.
This lesson has been painful. I have done significant damage by writing or self-editing in the wrong mindset. One bad paragraph can lead the story in the wrong direction, taking months of self-editing to clean up the mess. Why? I forced myself to write or edit in a bad mood.
At this point in the editing process, my mood should be between neutral and enjoyable. Let me define neutral. Imagine watching a movie like Star Wars. You have seen this movie over ten times and enjoyed it. Remember that scene where Chewbacca was playing chess with R2D2? Watching that scene is not a surprise; your mood is to look at the characters and interact with detachment or fondly remember that scene. This is precisely how it feels when I edit. I know the material, and when I encounter something messed up, I fix it without negative emotions. There is no mental stress or apprehension when I uncover a big problem.
When I get to the last paragraph, I begin writing. The words should flow without stress, and my mood should switch to enjoyment. It is great to put one’s thoughts into words. And again, if there is any resistance, I stop.
However, it is not necessary to stop writing altogether. I tested the waters. Sometimes, I will switch to a different document or edit a different section. The important part is not to push through a mental block.
Writing is different from non-creative activities. For example, I do not need to be in the mood to pull weeds. I push through the negative emotion and begin a mindless, unpleasant task.
If I still cannot get into the mood to write, I find a distraction can help. YouTube videos provide a quick distraction. Another tip is to consume a single glass of red wine for over an hour. I have tried all other forms of libation and found they only hinder writing.
How do I know I am in the mood? Simple. I appreciate the moment. Writing is fun, exciting, challenging, and rewarding. The non-creative part of my mind is off, and I have become a magical author. This person has the freedom to create an imaginary world. I put myself into the story as the character. What are they thinking? Why did they do that? How should they react? What would upset them? As I self-edit, I concentrate on sentence structure and logic. I also think about the big picture and how each sentence relates to the story.
What about professional writers? Honestly, I have no idea how somebody could spend eight hours in front of a keyboard of fiction writing every day. If I tried, the results would be an angry mash-up of misspellings. So, my hat is off to those professional writers.
Writing is a privilege, and I am lucky to have the drive, talent, and means to enjoy this activity. I look forward to doing it, yet it is something I cannot always get into—a true enigma.
You’re the best -Bill
May 22 2019 Updated April 21, 2024
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