How to Write More in the New Year

Need accountability? This might be just the ticket

Mennonite Board of Missions photo collection, 1969-1983, from Ghana. IV-10-7.2 Box 3 Folders 44, Photo #97. Mennonite Church USA Archives-Elkhart, Indiana.

One of the many things that makes writing a curious practice is that the work stays so intangible for so long. A painter might show an early sketch; a songwriter might hum a developing tune. A writer? For so long, it’s all in your head. Well you see, my imaginary friends I’ve created haven’t started talking quite loudly enough for me to hear everything, but when they do, trust me this story is gonna be great!

It can thus be difficult to explain the writing process to the people who would prefer that you spend your time on them instead. There’s always something else more immediate to do, something that will net more obvious results (as I noted in last month’s newsletter). But if you never devote any time to writing, how can it ever get done? What, have you enchanted your pens to do it themselves, like Mickey’s mops? Okay that’s pretty cool actually, congratulations and please tell us in the comments how you did it.

Anyway, in part because writing’s rewards are so intangible and, often, so slow in arriving, it’s easy to fall prey to One More Thing-ism. You know how it goes. When you’re infected with One More Thing-ism, you tell yourself, I just have to get through this to-do list and do this one errand and THIS ONE MORE THING and THEN THIS OTHER ONE MORE THING and THEN it will be time to write… but by then it’s midnight and/or you’re dead. (What? You know it’s true.)

So even when — especially when — time is an issue, a set writing schedule can actually be very liberating. Maybe you’re saying to yourself, well but I’m not really inspired lately, so I’ll wait until I have a good idea. But you’re not giving said ideas have any time or space to appear. You wouldn’t keep a packet of seeds in your drawer and then wonder why they never sprout, would you? You have to actually plant them in the soil. And, um, okay, stay with me here… when you’re writing, the soil you need is time (?).

What I’m trying to say is, you don’t always have to wait for the idea/inspiration and then find time to write them down. Sometimes it works the other way around. Sometimes you need to create a gentle space in which to coax out the ideas (and/or show them who’s boss, depending on your ideas’ predilections). As someone once said, “I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”

So here’s my idea: Let’s commit to writing together.

No really, like you and me.

I used to host a weekly virtual Writing Hour for Medium, and people seemed to really love it. So many writers would tell us in the chat that they’d felt lonely in their writing practice, but that coming together on Zoom at a set time, and simply sitting and writing alongside other writers leant them a sense of community and accountability. People in your everyday life might not understand this weird writing thing you do, but the other writers in the Zoom sure get it. Plus, experts and studies have found that if you put something on your calendar, you’re more likely to actually do it.

So, with an eye towards fostering community, politely domming the muse, and engaging our old pal accountability, I’m launching a paid version of this newsletter. Although weirdly, the newsletter itself will still be free! Math?! But paying subscribers will have access to a members-only chat where I’ll post prompts designed to get you unstuck, and if you want to, you can share what you’ve written.

Additionally, I’ll host occasional writing hour Zooms, and I’ll post the link in the members-only chat. In these writing hours, you’re welcome to have your camera on or off, to type comments or questions in the chat, or simply focus on something you’re writing. I’ll provide an optional prompt in case you need one, and play some calm music, and we’ll write quietly together. I’m going to start off doing these every other Tuesday evening, 7pm ET, starting January 3rd. And we’ll see how it goes and take it from there! (That’s why the subscription price is a little higher than most, by the way— you’re getting little mini generative writing workshops. It’s actually a deal? Math??? Idk)

And of course if you want to stay unpaid, that’s totally okay! You’re welcome and beloved, dear readers, always. I personally read about a million newsletters and would go broke if I paid for them all, so I overstand this. Get Unstuck membership is more about community and resources to help you write.

IN SUMMARY, Get Unstuck membership includes:

• Writing prompts in the members-only chat threads

• Twice-monthly writing hour Zooms

Should we try it?? I think that together, we can stay unstuck in the new year.

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PS: If you want to become a member for the writing hours, but aren’t interested in downloading the Substack app (which is where the chat happens), just email me at unstickyourwriting@gmail.com and we shall sort it allllll out.

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Exercise: Write a letter you’d never, ever send.

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If you have a particular project you want support on, or a manuscript that needs an edit, or if you’re looking for a regular writing coach or accountability partner, head to my website and book some time to chat. 

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For those of you in New York City, I’ll be teaching a generative writing class in person starting Wednesday, January 11th, for Sackett Street Writers Workshops. Writing Sprints is an exercise-intensive course designed to “unstick” writers struggling to start or continue new projects, boosting writing productivity. It’ll be on Wednesday nights in Park Slope, Brooklyn. More information is here. There’s still a few spots available, so if you’re interested, apply today.