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For example: Give yourselves one hour to write a short story.
That's what my pal and I have been doing since 2020. For awhile, we did it every Wednesday. There were periods of burnout where we did it just once every few weeks/month. At other times, we've done challenges were we did it everyday for a month (that's our practice this month of Feb). We usually audio record what we've written and share it with each other via Whatsapp (he lives in the UK).
It's a beautiful, sometimes daunting, practice. I've amassed a google doc with 100,000+ words just by showing up to do this. It's never about quality, more just a method of working things out. :-)
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This might be obvious, but there are tons of writing prompts out there, and if you commit to doing them regularly, even if they're short, you'll start getting your flow back. (If anyone knows a good source, add it below!) It's nice to have the choice of topic made for you, so you don't end up feeling attached to much about it, although you might surprise yourself with what you come up with. I started a weekly virtual group a while back to do exercises as a communal accountability thing, and that really got me excited about writing again. Morning pages were also something mentioned here a while ago.
Basically anything that gets you into the technical habit of writing, so when you want to write about something specific, you'll be practiced and ready! I have found that inspiration has an easier time breaking through to the page when I'm not as rusty. Also, unless you want to submit a piece to a publication that fits a certain guideline, there are no rules. The fewer boxes you try to fit yourself into, the easier it flows!
Mar 18, 2024
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This!!! Lately I've been in a slump, I've found that setting a 30 minute timer where I put phone on do not disturb, only have my document up on the screen, and write — not editing it as I go just write for 30 minutes straight — has helped. By the end of those 30 minutes I'm usually in a flow and try again for another 30 and so on.
I also like collecting quotes or photos (I use Pinterest) that connect to my story. It's a way of grounding me back into the world and a source of inspiration.
I used to commute 1 hour back and forth to work everyday and that time in the car by myself is when a lot of the building for my novel took place. So now whenever I'm in the car, it's reflexive almost for me to work out plot lines, dialogue, etc.
Dec 28, 2024
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In university, I needed a really strict environmental setup to even think about starting an essay. I needed my water bottle, a good table in the library, enough sleep, and a full belly. The library had to be quiet, and in more extreme cases, I even brought earplugs.
Lately, during my lunch hour at my nine-to-five job, I've been using the time to write, often tucked away or sitting on the floor around the office. I tap away at whatever I can get down, to later return to and edit. I have to take these stolen moments. I'm too hazy in the morning to write, and too tired of looking at screens in the evening. Weekends are often sacred for friends and rest. I think, for many of us, the new habit of writing won’t be glorious, long-haul manic frenzies. It’ll be about taking sips here and there, getting down on the page whatever we can.
Sep 18, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024
Dude walked e-v-e-r-y street in NYC over the course of years. Did little increments each day. Wrote about all sorts of random things relating to the city as he went along.
There's a great segment about his obsession with barbershops/salons incorporating the letter "z" into the name of their shop eg Royal Cutz VIP
Mar 3, 2024
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I can't remember the last time I didn't have something checked out from the public library. I got books on books on books in rotation, all with their slips popping out. Damn if they don't have like every film in the Criterion Collection. The people watching off the charts too... Need i say more? Get ya sum!
Jan 26, 2024