#54 – Writing Hacks, Part 1: Starting

By Scott Berkun, Aug. 28 2006

Writing is easy, it’s quality that’s hard. Any idiot who knows 5 words can write a sentence (e.g. “Dufus big much Scott is”). It might be grammarless, broken, or inaccurate but it is writing. This means that when people can’t start they’re imagining the precision of the end, all polished and brilliant, a vision that makes the ugly clumsy junkyard that all beginnings are, impossible to accept. Good voice, tone, rhythm, ideas and grammar are essential to good writing, but they’re never introduced all at once. I promise you, the first draft of Strunk and White didn’t follow Strunk and White. The secret, if you can’t start, is to begin without constraints. Deliberately write badly, but write.

For this reason writer’s block is a sham. Anyone who wrote yesterday can write today, it’s just a question of if they can do it to their own satisfaction. It’s not the fear of writing that blocks people, it’s fear of not writing well; something quite different. Certainly every writer has moments of paralysis, but the way out is to properly frame what’s going on, and writer’s block, as commonly misunderstood, is a red herring.

Consider this: Have you ever been blocked while playing Frisbee? Eating doughnuts? Dancing naked in your living room? Those are joyful things and there’s nothing at stake: if you fail, who cares? Nobody. If there are no rules, and no judgment, psychological blocks are impossible. And remember writers like making names and overthinking things: there is no term for architect-block, painter-block, juggler-block or composer-block. Every creative pursuit faces similar pressures, but they don’t obsess about it the way writers seem to do.

So play. Loosen up. Smile. Break the framework that’s making it impossible to start. Forget the deadline and the assignment and just be an open mind with a pen. Remember that until you say you’re finished, you can break all the rules. If you can’t get started, your psychology is making the challenge bigger than you can handle. Thinking of the book, the chapter, the page, the paragraph, is all too big if while you’re thinking, the page remains blank. Like a weightlifter out of his class, a writer with a blank page needs to lighten the load.

Writing hacks for starting

In the grand tradition of lists and books of hacks, writing hacks are clever little actions that give you leverage and put the dynamics in your favor. Here in part 1 it’s all about how to start.

Start with a word. The first goal is to get one word on the page. It can be any word, but you have to choose it, and put it down. I’m partial to the ridiculous[1], so for me it’s often Papaya, Pomegranate or Throat-warbler-man-grove (If you’re thinking that’s not a word, go back two paragraphs). If one word was easy, go for two. Still feeling lucky? Go for a small sentence. It doesn’t matter what the words are, but get them down. Write the lyrics to the song on the radio, the names of people you’ve slept with, your favorite Dr. Seuss lines, it just doesn’t matter. Once all the magic muscles in your little fingers get going, you’ll soon find yourself, in between rounds of one fish blue fish, writing some intelligent things. If it peters out, repeat. Return to the unit of writing anyone can do, and build up again.

Write about how it feels not to be able to write. It’s sneaky, but damn, it works. The voice in our heads is always saying something, so get it down. Writer-weenies call this free writing, implying something unfortunate about other kinds of writing, but I find it easier to think of as listening. Imagine yourself as a recording device, writing down the radio broadcast of some other person who happens to live in your head. If you think this is weird, write about why it’s weird (See: you can’t win. There’s always a way). Eventually your mind will hit thoughts on the topic itself and, presto, you’re on your way.

Have a conversation. Since you can’t get “converse with a friend” block call up your buddy and talk. Get their opinions on whatever you’re writing, or throw them a bit of yours. Take notes about the conversation. Guess what? You’ve started writing. Friends are too busy? Go to a café or bar. I’ve found that if you tell bartenders you’re a writer, after they stop laughing, they’ll happily chat and occasionally give you free drinks. In a pinch, or if you’re a loner, talk with your dog. No dog? Create an imaginary friend (or three). Perhaps I’m insane, but I talk to myself all the time, and sometimes I even like the answers. If you know a writer friend, be writer buddies, available by phone to help each other get started.

Read something you hate. Opinions come easy to me, but some days I’m as indifferent as the wind. To get started I’ll read things that I can’t stand, express opinions in violent opposition to mine[2] and, when pressed, are written so poorly my eyes burn straight through the pages. A paragraph of outstanding tripe is intellectual smelling salts. It puts me on my feet, sticking and jabbing like Muhammad Ali, raving and ranting on the page. I can rarely use those first rant-laden riffs, but it puts me in the ring. Sometimes its love you need, so go to your masters: Emerson, Fitzgerald, Orwell, King, get your nose into whoever’s writing get you jazzed. Writers often write about writing[3], a trick few arts can follow; so reflective motivation from writers is easy to find.

Warm up. Do you imagine Olympic sprinters wake up and immediately sprint around the house? Of course not (unless they drank too much the night before). No one performs well without easing muscles and emotions into place. And everyone warms up differently. Sometimes responding to e-mail works because hey, that’s a kind of writing. Or type the alphabet forwards and backwards. Maybe revise something old and unfinished to get warm. My ritual is to type in quotes from good books I’ve read to get the fingers in rhythm and my mind thinking good writer thoughts. More exercises here and here.

Make lists. Nonfiction often starts for me as bulleted lists. I imagine what things the finished work would answer, how it would do it and I write it down. Not that I know how to fill them, but what might good section headings be? List making is never as threatening as “writing”, so go there first (There is no shopping list block, is there?). I kick the list around for awhile, changing, moving, shuffling, and then once it has critical mass, I put in a document and go. And I’m always ready to leave the list, and my plan behind, if I find a sweet spot: the list is a tool, not a contract. I have dozens of essay ideas in various states of list form, in a Moleskine, slowly growing until they’re ready.

Switch to something harder. My wife is an artist, and for years she’s worked on two paintings at the same time, switching between them. Why? When she’s hit a wall on one project, the second project is a godsend: it’s an escape that’s still productive. I use this hack as follows: when stuck on project A, including not being able to start, I’ll joyfully switch to project B, thinking I’m pulling one over (on myself of course, but even the idiocy of self-delusion is tolerable to the acid misery of returning to A). But 20 minutes later when I hit a wall on Project B, a wall that, by comparison, seems like the Maginot line, I’m more than happy to return to A, even if it’s a blank page. I’ve forgotten A’s particular horrors, and jump in, possibly over the hurdle that seemed impossible before.

Run like hell. I can’t write if my body isn’t happy and my body feels happy when it has been used: it likes to run or lift or almost anything. So think physical: let your body get out the stresses that block your mind. Go for a run, mow the lawn, chase your cat, do something to get your body moving, and your mind relaxed. If you move your body, your mind will follow. Maybe take a bath, get a massage, have sex, anything physical and positive. If you get into the activity enough I bet you’ll have a moment when your body is finally happy enough to let your mind do its work.

Whiskey. Yes, alcohol is writing’s seductive little mistress. A well timed shot of whiskey can work wonders for the jittery, neurotic mind. It’s the shock to the system that works for me, so when I can’t start, there are alcohol free alternatives to get things flowing: a cold shower, an underwear clad run up the driveway, a shot of espresso, a peek at my naked wife, the list goes on. Don’t depend on these (as the more you use, the less they work, except for the last one), but occasionally they’re the only way.

Rummage your scrap pile. In 1994 I started writing a novel[4]. By this I mean I created a word document named “My Novel”, hit save and then got drunk with friends. The next day, terrified as I was to return, I created a second document, called “My Novel – notes”. And in there I wrote down every idea that came to me about what might be in the novel. Only had one at first (“The narrator gets drunk. And then…well…hmmm”) but more came the next day. It was a hard core rule: If I had any idea at any time, I wrote it down immediately. No exceptions (Thus, the moleskine). I’d think of snippets of dialog, lines of narrative, names for characters, or bits of plot, and stick them in, rarely looking at the previous bits. Eventually I had enough material to psyche myself up for the dive back into “My novel” as it wasn’t a blank page anymore.

Smart writers have stockpiles of old ideas to arm themselves against the evils of the blank page. When stuck, rummage. Laugh at the goofy ideas. Groan at the pretentious ones (there will be many). Feel the occasional awe of not remembering writing something that shines or happens to fits your blank page. Like a flea market or garage sale, let ideas feel cheap, light and easy to throw around. If you can do that, new work will get off the ground almost on its own.

Notes
[1] I sometimes write “I have nothing to say” and repeat it on the page. I’ll go and go until I get so pissed off that I decide it’s less painful to write something real than it is to watch myself type this idiotic phrase forever. We always have something to say: we’re just not always brave enough to say it. A little self torture can sometimes bring it out.

[2] True story. This essay started when someone sent me a link to this essay on When you can’t get started, which you might like, but I had trouble with. Halfway through I had so many ideas I jumped into a blank page and didn’t stop until I had a draft of much of this essay. Mind you, as a writer I know this subject well, and had done plenty of thinking on this topic beforehand.

[3] By the act of writing “writers often write about writing” I’m writing about writers often writing about writing, which means you’re reading about writing about writers writing about writing. Say that ten times fast and I’ll give you a cookie.

[4] I wrote the novel on and off for 10 years, and finished in 2005 (with draft #5). Currently unpublished.

References
I thought for sure there would be many essays titled “writing hacks” but I only found one. Most links are to things about writing code hacks.

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199 thoughts on “#54 – Writing Hacks, Part 1: Starting”

  • The Hallway - May 4, 2012 at 10:31 am #

  • The article was great, accept for the misspelling of the late great Muhammad Ali’s name.

  • Reply
  • Rachel - April 20, 2012 at 1:14 pm #

  • Thoroughly enjoyed reading this; love your perpsective and attitude, great, inspiring, thanks!

  • Reply
  • joe - March 17, 2012 at 5:18 pm #

  • Just what I needed a good swift kick in the ass. I have written several how to guides,NO Success. Marketing is a must, but passion – real passion to write something is the key. write is because its got to get out of you, the rest will come. I have a 5 year opportunity to rite like hell.
    thank you
    joe

  • Reply
  • Ali iMAM - March 16, 2012 at 5:43 am #

  • Dear Sir,
    Incredable, I love the guidence. I am a tourism professional and at the end of my carrier, age 65, I have now a pile of experience, which I wanted to leave for the comming generation in shape of tourism books. I tried, but it seemed
    diffcult job, as to whom i discussed the ideas, they made more diffcult for me, instead of helping. I got a lead,through
    your this artical, and since now, as you advised, my ideas, needs me to protect them, and no body else can give me better advise, than my ownself.
    I will start with new zeal and sprit.
    Highest regards to ever body.

  • Reply
  • Austin Becht - March 13, 2012 at 6:56 pm #

  • Hey Mr. Berkun, your a great help. I have been debating for a while weather I would try to write a book or not. I have always had several Ideas, from Alien Invasions to just plane old “a day in the life of” books. After reading this I have decided to write a book based off of one of my ideas. I just hope for my sake I can start thinking of names for my characters, as that is about the only part I have problems on when making up ideas. Do you happen to have any pointers on making up character names? If so I would love to hear them!

  • Reply
    • Marisela - March 29, 2012 at 12:15 pm #

    • I have that problem sometimes,now I just name him based on his personality or think of a name I would of enjoyed having. Once I start names just pop up like spam mail, thats what helps me hope I helped.

    • Reply
  • Ed Freitas - March 8, 2012 at 5:39 am #

  • Hi there Mr Berkun. I just wanted to say thank you for all your advice. You are an inspiration for sure!
    I shall put my head down and get my skinny fingers ready to work…Let’s see what happens!
    Thank you again and oh, you owe me a cookie! :)

  • Reply
  • Cibele - March 7, 2012 at 7:54 pm #

  • Hello! I just want to thank you! I do want to write a book. I know the theme, I know why and I’m willing to work hard. But I sit down in my chair, look to my blank page in my computer and … no ideas.. everything seems weak, unnecessary, stupid. So, I loved the tips you gave and will come back to read more. I’m not a native english spoken person, so I might write in my own language, portuguese. This is just in the case you sense my way of writing weird…:-). Thanks again. I found you in the internet, but felt prompt to know more about you and your books. Congratulations!

  • Reply
  • Gary Stockwell - March 3, 2012 at 12:35 am #

  • Good reading. it has helped a lot.

  • Reply
  • Tyrone - February 25, 2012 at 9:12 pm #

  • I’ll be honest, the thought of being a writer never popped in my head…even as a childhood dream.

    I’m a reserved person by nature and I’ve never really grasped the idea of “talking about your problems”, so instead I decided to start writing. Whether my novel, book whatever the fuck you call it does well or not you’ll always be my inspiration.

    When I read what you said about the secrets of being an author I realized you knew what you’re talking about. Keep well and keep writing!

  • Reply
  • Rajus - February 19, 2012 at 10:48 am #

  • This is like one of the very few comment I have ever bothered to post on any website thats not facebook. But I felt like inserting my coin in that machine right now. So I all I wanted to say is that what you did right here is helpfull at it’s fullest. Thanks you.

    Best regards

  • Reply
  • Glenda - February 9, 2012 at 10:47 pm #

  • I though this site was very helpfully I really like it thank you

  • Reply
  • Arianne - February 2, 2012 at 2:55 am #

  • Thanks for this! I really needed it, I wanted to start writing a novel, because I want to illustrate it too.I found this hilarious and helpful.Thank again!

  • Reply
  • Hannahhoo - January 22, 2012 at 2:03 pm #

  • I really want to write a book but whenever I write down something I feel silly and stop at 3 lines. I have so many ideas but I can’t write even a decent story 3 pages long. It depresses me. =(

  • Reply
  • Danie - January 16, 2012 at 11:43 pm #

  • I really enjoyed your article and I will use your advice, I do have a great idea for a book and now that you have spanked the fire the five years of mental work will be set to test. I CAN do this I already did in my head.

  • Reply
  • santono - January 11, 2012 at 2:10 pm #

  • You owe me a cookie. (=

  • Reply
  • Chastity Bolar - January 4, 2012 at 8:46 pm #

  • Wow! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

  • Reply
  • Seiichi Yono - December 2, 2011 at 9:27 pm #

  • Thank you for the much needed insight to the writing world. Truth be told i stubleled apon your input while looking for advice that would help me write the story to my first video game. I completely agree with You that sex and a shot get the thinking juices flowing when you’re stressed.

    Motivation to pick back up where I left off has always been my biggest stress (amongst these economic times), but you have given me some insight to my own stupification and a way to combat it.

    Thanks

  • Reply
  • Jeff anderson - December 1, 2011 at 12:10 pm #

  • Dear scott,i have been studying,listening how and what people say,I iam a christian and I have been studying & meditating on how powerful&meaningful words are,death &life are on the power of the tongue,the title of my book is ..Watch your Mouth for you wiil have what yoi say.words can create or destroy.This book has bern on my heart &mind for about a year ,I think this book will change the direction of peoples ddestinations.

  • Reply
  • lynnie - October 29, 2011 at 2:40 pm #

  • Hi there.

    Funny great hands on stuff you can sink your teeth into.
    Tools essential for uplift and yes failure.

    Got me thinking. I like that. This is where I believe the best kept secrets are.

    ty

  • Reply
  • sk - October 28, 2011 at 2:44 pm #

  • this is good

  • Reply
  • Chelsea Rae - October 24, 2011 at 6:55 pm #

  • This whole website is fantastic! I’m 21 and I have NO idea how to start writing a book, although I’ve been blogging for about a year. This has been inspirational and helpful! Whenever you decide to get your book published I would love to read it, you’re pretty hysterical. =)

  • Reply
  • Melissa Boyse - October 21, 2011 at 1:12 pm #

  • Thanks so much, finally some help with all that i am thinking about in one site.com

  • Reply
  • blerina - October 18, 2011 at 11:45 pm #

  • this is so helpful thank you

  • Reply
  • Sereda - October 15, 2011 at 8:35 pm #

  • I enjoy your writing style. Thank you for sharing..I feel lighter now that i have laughed a bit about the process of writing:-)

  • Reply
  • Amy - October 7, 2011 at 5:01 am #

  • I absolutely loved this!!!! This just jazzed me up in so many ways! I actually grabbed a note book and as I was reading this just started writing down all kinds of ideas! LOVE the project “A” and project “B” thing! Oh, and your sarcasm is just so needed here! I am rushing to get ready for work but have bookmarked this page! I believe finding this may have been a godsend! HAVE AN AWESOME DAY! ……..Amy

  • Reply
  • Val - September 28, 2011 at 12:41 pm #

  • Uplifting, made me laugh….seriously contemplating a book dealing with my current situation, involving much seriousness. It is inner pain I need to let go and release, as well as allow the world to meet a very wonderful person. Thanks for this kick in the arse!

  • Reply
  • Sean - September 14, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

  • I would love to thank you so much :D I had no clue where to start with my writing but now I have quite a few different ideas!

  • Reply
  • Gral - September 6, 2011 at 9:46 pm #

  • A withdrawal from an adictive substance gives a powerful boost of energy to write.

    Jean Cocteau, for instance, wrote his most celebrated book, Les enfants terribles, when he was cold turkey from opium.

    Drink a few bottles of wine, enjoy yourself etc and wait 2-3 after. You will have an increased sensibility.

  • Reply
  • Cyndi - August 31, 2011 at 8:50 pm #

  • This article was great!!! Thank you!!!!

  • Reply
  • Getting there - August 29, 2011 at 7:58 pm #

  • Thank you Thank you Thank you

  • Reply
  • Tonya - August 17, 2011 at 6:29 am #

  • You owe me a cookie. Grin.
    I’ve had a story in my head for months. I luckily stumbled upon your site and appreciate your thoughts on writing.
    Best regards. TM

  • Reply
  • michelle - August 1, 2011 at 10:25 pm #

  • My biggest drawback is grammer; so stuck on incorrect punctuation. I tried borrowing books from the library to no avail. Should I just write like a junky and worry about the marks later? Ughhh frustrating, I am such a perfectionist. Also, I think too much and write a topic with one paragraph, save it, start another subject to write…so unfocused. Help!

  • Reply
  • Bill Epps - August 1, 2011 at 3:22 pm #

  • Hello There Scott!

    I truly enjoy your approach to handling the craft of writing, especially on the matter of getting started! I found your suggestions witty, funny, and most of all, stimulating! Thanks alot! I believe there’s “a book within me” dying to get out!
    Again, thanks for your strong (and funny) motivation!

    Bill Epps

  • Reply
  • Paul Phillips - July 27, 2011 at 4:40 pm #

  • i injoyed your comment about creative writing, but my problem relate to the setting out of the book, i have so many ideals and creative themes to add that beening a novice writer renders me unsure as to how to structure the thoughts into a cohesive format for incorporation into the book. What i want is basic book structuring and simple ideas as to keep lesser characters, ie background personel, ie known barman ect. their personality and actions from consuming the main characters and plot.

  • Reply
  • Terri - July 4, 2011 at 2:56 am #

  • Ok now I’m ready to finish my book. Thank you so much for the post. Oh, and when or if it gets published, I’ll send you a copy.
    xxx

  • Reply
  • roni - June 28, 2011 at 4:26 am #

  • thank you very very much. I’ve just started, in hebrew. alsow found that public places, like caffee’s, somehow help and let me ingage in amaginary arguments with…whuever.

  • Reply
  • Maila - June 22, 2011 at 11:44 pm #

  • This is truly the best article i have read on writer’s block. I have been going through this for some weeks now, and all that you wrote makes perfect sense. Thanks to you, I have finally thrown away all fear and I am once again experiencing the joy of writing. I am definitely subscribing to your blog! Hope to read more masterpieces from you :D

  • Reply
  • Quitting Weed - June 10, 2011 at 1:13 pm #

  • Hi there would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

  • Reply
  • SAmmara - June 5, 2011 at 8:21 pm #

  • I thought this site was very helpful

  • Reply
  • K.A. Pitts - June 1, 2011 at 10:29 pm #

  • “Deliberately write badly, but write.”

    Some of the best essays I have written started from the most horrid gobbily-guk jumbled messes I call notes…

  • Reply
  • Annie - May 17, 2011 at 12:08 am #

  • I laughed when I read the ‘have a conversation tip’. Not because I thought it was stupid, but because today I had a conversation with my bit of paper.

  • Reply
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