Writing Niggles by Allison Symes

Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

What are your writing niggles? We all have them. I’ve found recognising the pests for what they are in itself is a good way to tackle them head on. Here I list some of mine and my ways for tackling them.

  1. Knowing my story or blog post (or both) isn’t quite right. But I don’t know why… arrgh! (I know enough to trust my gut instinct here though, there is something not right).
  2. Getting off to a slow start and by the time I must pack up for the night, my head is buzzing and I can’t jot notes fast enough for tomorrow’s writing session. This irritates. (I aim for a consistent writing pace but it isn’t always possible. A lot depends on what kind of day I’ve had. I also must have a certain amount of sleep so can’t stay up especially late. I don’t write better when I have tried that. If anything I slow further).
  3. Having loads of ideas at once, all with potential, and not knowing which to tackle first.
  4. Running out of reading time due to tiredness. Reading well is crucial to writing well.


 

Solutions

  1. Accepting I can correct the story or blog post (or both later). I just write something else. I can’t tell you how often I’ve resolved my earlier problem while working on something else. It is almost as if your brain needs something else to occupy it before it throws up an answer for you. Best of all, you have another piece to submit somewhere once you’ve rested, edited, and submitted that problematic one.
  2. Accepting slow starts will happen, especially after an exhausting day. I go with the flow and am kind to myself. What matters is getting something written. That makes me feel better. I’d far rather write 500 words than nothing. I try to make the most of those times when I don’t get off to a slow start and the ideas are flowing. It pays to have a notebook to hand even in our technological age. I cheer myself up knowing I can use this when I have got off to a slow start as I have ideas to refer to and usually one of those gives me the spark to get cracking with my next draft.
  3. Write all those ideas down! Never rely on your memory. As mentioned above, having a glut of ideas is something you can return to later when the flow of ideas has slowed. We all have ebbs and flows here.
  4. Reading anything helps. I now read at lunchtime (usually a magazine) so I know that, daily, I am reading something. Also I try to get to bed earlier the next night (a) to catch up with sleep and (b)  my reading.

So over to you then. What are your writing niggles and how do you overcome them or learn to live with them?






Comments

  1. This is so helpful. I really struggle with one of my clients - I have all the information but I just can't find the right way to start. I think you're right, walking away from it and writing something else is a good way to get your brain ticking over. So helpful, Allison.

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    1. You're welcome, Ruth. You are kind of tricking your brain into thinking you're not worried about a tricky story. Brain has hissy fit. Comes up with the very idea you're after while working on something else. It is how it seems to work for me!

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  2. Mine is the temptation to give up if the task seems too gargantuan. That's when I'm most at risk of procrastination. I try to tell myself, 'Write SOMEthing' even if it's only small progress. Or plan something. Or tweak something. But don't do nothing!

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    1. Agreed, Fran, and you can always write something short on something else - how about a piece of flash fiction?

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  3. I find if I make notes of my ideas (usually poetry ideas) when I go back to them I have no idea what my cryptic notes mean!

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    1. It's why I often use Evernote for this, Veronica. My handwriting has never been brilliant. Thankfully my career has always involved the use of a keyboard!

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  4. Lovely post. I am extremely very kind to myself. I usually write my ideas as they come. If I want to write or edit, I do so. If I don't feel like it, I lie fallow for months till I am in that mood! Will try to accept that 'slow happens'!

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    1. Thanks, Sophia. We need to enjoy our writing but also accept it is normal for there to be times when we don't. My fallow seasons are usually when I'm developing ideas.

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  5. My biggest niggle is getting compelled by others to do other tasks. For instance, having to attend some social or family event when I would much rather be writing. At such times I have found the only solution is to consider these things as research. But most of the time, when compelled to walk a mile under the occupying forces, I am simply thinking 'Let. Me. Write.' I don't go the extra mile. Even if, I do, in an attempt to shame them, they just say 'thank you', are not shamed and do it again. As soon as I can, I get back to writing, but sometimes it feels like some kind of micromanagement. Obviously I don't consider family and friends to be the occupying force, but sometimes, they do act like they are and compel me to do chores and tasks which I really don't want to do. Let me write.

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    1. I expect most of us would sympathise here, Nick. Yet ironically on the odd occasion when I get extra writing time, do I get more done? I mean to. I really do mean to. But somehow it doesn't happen. I guess I have got used to writing in "nooks and crannies", time wise, so my writing marries up with that. It is thrown when I've suddenly got four hours ahead of me. So I guess it is a question of making the most of what we do have!

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