This editor admits he is greatly confused by writers who hate writing. Dorothy Parker famously said, “I hate writing but I love having written.” It was cute when she said it, but for you guys, not so much. We love writing. Even when the output stinks, even when the plot is foggy. There is nothing this editorial-we would rather do than write. Nothing else comes close.
However, if you’re one of those strange cases who struggles to write or {{shudder}} actually hates it, Radhika Sanghani has some tips for bringing joy back to your creative process. “So many of us get so caught up in its very real challenges that we forget writing is something we love,” Sanghani writes. “And in my opinion, when we write a book with love—rather than stress, anxiety, and self-doubt—the book is so much better for it. It’s also just a lot more fun.” Her advice:
- Treat writing like a date. (ed. note: Love it!) “If you sit down to write at your laptop like you’re about to do a dreaded chore, it’s not going to feel fun,” Sanghani says. “I try and find a place I love to write, like a café with great snacks, and I wear an outfit I love. It means that when I sit down to write, I’m already feeling great—I’m eating delicious cake, I’m in a café I love, and so I start my writing from a place of excitement rather than drudgery.”
- Remind yourself that you love the idea for your story. “Take a moment to remind yourself that this is something you’ve chosen to write because you love it,” Sanghani writes.
- Feel grateful. “Not everyone gets to be a writer,” she says. “So, feel grateful for it. Appreciate that this is something you’re dedicating time to. Think of how your younger self would find what you’re doing so cool. Be proud of it!”
- Trust in the process. The hard parts are hard. Editing, cutting scenes, figuring out a plot point, strengthening tension and dialogue. But it feels great when you get it right. “So, when you’re struggling, just trust that it will eventually work out,” Sanghani advises. “It’s all part of the process, and if you accept that rather than resist it, then you can enjoy even the difficult bits.”
