Monday, March 21, 2011

Just Write

This is my motto and my motivator: Just write

This is what I tell people when they ask me how to write a novel: Just write.

This is the greatest advice I can give about writing: Just write.

This is what I do when I hit the dreaded writer’s block: Just write.

This is what I do when I get discouraged:

I just keep writing.

Full steam ahead.

Do you have a motto or a motivational phrase?

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38 comments:

Jai Joshi said...

God Help Me.

That's the phrase that goes through my mind. Funnily enough, it works.

Jai

Lisa Gail Green said...

Great answer to just about anything!

Lori M. Lee said...

I love that. As simple as it is, it's very true. Just write. <3

Lisa Potts said...

Absolutely. Well said.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Well said!

Old Kitty said...

I think that phrase says it all!! Yay! Just write! Take care
x

MastaG said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Jai, I like that phrase even better :)

Lisa, Lori, Lisa, Alex and Old Kitty, thanks

Valerie Geary said...

Gah! I keep accidentally posting under my husband's profile! People are going to start getting confused...sigh. So Lynda...I love this phrase, that's all I'm trying to say. :) And I'm sorry if you were confused before....

DEZMOND said...

it's a simple but great advice, Lyndy! As someone who doesn't believe in plans before writing, I could totally relate to this motto!

Jess said...

I need to get a tattoo of that phrase :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That is the same motto I use. Somedays I don't have to remind myuself so often.

Zan Marie said...

That's much like my personal motto for everything that gets tough. "Read one note at a time." I sing and I like reminding myself to focus on the job at hand instead of trying to do too much too far ahead. It works for writing too. I can see myself chanting the Just Write, One Note (word) at a Time, and God Help Me in endless round. LOL!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I don't have a motto. Can I borrow yours?

Julie Musil said...

Your advice is excellent! May favorite motto that I borrowed from someone else is "first get it written, then get it right."

Natalie Murphy said...

Just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing writing writing =D

MorningAJ said...

Just write. Sounds just right!

Sarah said...

This is a great one to get you through the angsty, indecision-ridden moments of the first draft. I like Julie M's addition--then get it right! That's a good second draft mantra.

Unknown said...

That's a great motto! I should make it my screensaver.

Colene Murphy said...

Just Write. Simple, but totally effective. It's perfect! Might have to replace my old: "No one's doing it for you" motto. Though, that one is mostly for editing...hm...

Jessica A. Briones said...

That phrase is on a post-it on my computer screen, on bright pink so I am sure to read it when I sit down to write... Just write! I hope I don't lose steam though.

Carol Riggs said...

No kidding! And a lot of writers (ahem, me sometimes too) are busily doing other things...blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, etc. Even reading; it's good up to a point but it can be used to procrastinate doing what we're supposed to be doing as writers!

Talli Roland said...

Yup, pretty much the same thing! Seems to work no matter the context or obstacle.

Misha Gerrick said...

great tips. I actually don't have a motivational phrase. :-)

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

So succinct and so true! Thanks for the reminder. I don't really have a motto. But I like yours!

M Pax said...

Yes. Never give up. Never surrender. I like yours, too.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Valerie, aah, that explains it. lol.

Dezzy, hehehe, I do plan before I write now too(well, for novels, not so much short stories) but the motto still works.

Jess, haha

Susan, lol, same.

Zan, also good advice :)

KarenG, absolutely

Julie, I like that!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Natalie, yep, sometimes it's like an echo in my head

MorningAJ, hehe

Sarah, I like it too :)

Clarissa, and wallpaper the walls with it ;)

Colene, hhaa I like that too!

Jessica, I put post it notes everywhere. When you begin to lose steam...just write ;)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Carol, yes!! seriously! That's my main problem at the moment--I'm using social media as an excuse to procrastinate. Um-ah.

Talli, even works for dieting. Do I want that donut? No! Just write! see?

Misha, I'm impressed.

Elizabeth, thanks

M Pax, haha I LOVE your motto. It's brilliant.

LTM said...

just keep swimming...

it's similar. :D <3

Anonymous said...

Full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes! I love your attitude!

Adina West said...

I don't have a particular motto, but yeah, this one really says it all! Advice which sounds so simple, but it's still hard to follow...

Rachna Chhabria said...

Just Write and keep writing and ofcourse Be Positive.

Martina Boone said...

Love, love, love this advice!

Thanks for sharing it.

Martina

Shari said...

Excellent advice. What else can you do, really?

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

LTM, hehe yep :)

Stephen, lol! awesome!

Adina, yes indeed. Sometimes it sounds like a chant when it gets hard.

Rachna, yes! being positive is important.

Martina, :)

Shari, well... we could wallow and lament, doubt and stare into space... ;)

Creative A said...

Wise words. I've never thought about it before, but what I always end up telling myself when I'm blocked, or desperate, or discouraged, or I don't have time, or anything, is this: Write or die.

That sounds so dramatic! But this is basically me throwing my hands up in the air and going "I don't care about all those problems anymore. I'm going to write if it kills me." And then I mentally chant "write or die" to myself until I'm too caught up writing to remember.

-Mandy

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Hi Mandy, "write or die" might sound dramatic but if it works then it's brilliant! :)