I’m currently working on the beginning of a new long form writing project. I’ve been working on it for about four months now and should be at the 30,000 word point. The 30,000 word point is the point at which I decided that the project will have taken its natural form, the point at which I can give it to my agent and have them appraise it, advise on it etc, the point at which it will be emerging from the strange, internal world of my brain and beginning to take on a life of its own. So far what I’ve actually done is research a lot and probably written around 50,000 words, but in six different structures, styles and perspectives and nothing actually decided. A few weeks ago I signed up for a daily writing thing (I will tell you all about this experience when I write a review of it at the end of the process) the idea being it would kick start the actual writing. My concern was that I was stuck getting past the idea stage because this is my second long form project and I feel a great deal of pressure to get it right, to make it good, to get a book deal, to move forward. I can’t get over my own block of worrying it won’t be any good. I know the answer to this problem, because it’s what I advise my mentees to do when they are stuck.
Don’t get it right, get it written.
The 50,000 words in all the wrong orders will be salvageable and reformed when I get the right model for what I’m writing, but I really need to actually do that now instead of fretting about it. I need to get something written. Or rather, I need to make a decision, and write within that decision, knowing that a draft can always be changed during the writing, but an empty page can’t be anything but an empty page. After getting behind with the daily inspiration thing I’ve signed up for, because my mum is very poorly and I’ve been on caring duty, I managed to get caught up last weekend and began doing the little writing exercises daily. One thing about working on a long form project is that you always have in your mind that even if you break the project down into bite size pieces, you are still working towards an overwhelming 120,000 word project. There’s a reason why authors are so angry about having their work stolen for AI training, and it’s this: all this hard won craft, years and years of anxiety and reworking. Writing a book takes skill, it takes determination, it is an accomplishment. Writing a book is hard work. Writing a poetry collection is hard work.
Completing a writing project from conception to publication is a mix of talent, determination and regular existential crises.
In my own current writing journey I am pleased to say I have made a small breakthrough: the daily exercises are helping. In short, I have allowed myself to play with the writing exercises, sometimes using them specifically on the project, sometimes just writing for fun. Reader, I should really take my own advice more often because I’m writing now. I’m writing well and writing with joy and not dreading my desk on a morning. I’m back in the writing flow that I enjoy and it’s because I stopped taking it too seriously and started enjoying it. A mix of less pressure, more joy.
This is the power that a daily external structure can bring to your work and while there is always a danger of becoming over reliant on prompts and exercises, a dedicated practice for a short amount of time is such a good way to boost your motivation and put the determination and JOY back into your work.
Now for the promotional bit…
The April Write-A-Thon is back. This is a regular writing challenge I run in April, to coincide with NaPoWriMo, but because I am a cross genre writer, I make the prompts adaptable to any genre.
The April Write-A-Thon is FREE to paid subscribers of Notes from the Margin.
Paid subscribers can also access the facebook group where they can share drafts, chat, and get some feedback from myself. Paid subscribers can access my full backlog of courses and paywalled essays.
If you are a paid subscriber you do not need to do anything to register, you are already subscribed automatically. There will be an opt out option if you still want to remain subscribed but don't want to receive the daily prompts. These details will be in the first prompt which will arrive on Tuesday 1st April 2025.
If you’d like to the part in the April Write-A-Thon but don't want to become a paid subscriber just yet, I’m offering this course, delivered direct to your email address, for just £25.
You can book your place here:
Please make sure the email address you book your place under is the email address you wish your prompts to be delivered to.
Who is the April Write-A-Thon for?
Anyone who wants to write. Anyone who wants to make a daily commitment to getting something, anything down. For people stuck on projects, for people new to creative writing, for people who want to explore poems and prose extracts, for people who want some fresh ideas and want to shake up their process. If you are feeling a slump in your writing practice after hitting the ground running in January, this might be a good way of getting back to it.
Will the work be marked?
No it will not. This is an entirely pressure free course in which you can do as little or as much as you want, with no deadlines, no assignments.
Worried about not keeping up?
Don’t be. You get to keep the prompts. You get to work at your own pace, you get out of this whatever you want to put in, whatever you have the time for.
I hope I’ll see you there.
Until next time.
x
Congratulations on finding your writing rhythm Wendy. It’s no mean feat. Really looking forward to the write-a-thon!
You’ve done a lot of the graft. The writing will be fine. They’re muscles that already know what to do.
Looking forward to the Write-A-Thon. Thank you.