The Art of Writing

Writing used to terrify me. As an English major, I thought every sentence needed to be profound and every metaphor poetic. I agonized over each word choice, reading and rereading until the words blurred on the page. While my papers always earned top marks, the process was torturous.

After graduation, I wanted to keep writing but felt blocked by the inner critic hammering away in my head. Every time I tried to put pen to paper, my mind went blank. I had so much to say, but no idea how to say it.

Eventually, I realized my perfectionism was killing my creativity. Writing with freedom and authenticity requires silencing the inner critic. Here are some tips that have helped me get out of my own way:

Just Start Writing

When facing a blank page, our instinct is often to stall—to sharpen pencils, make tea, check email. Avoid the distractions and sit down to write. You can tidy up the words later. The important thing is to start.

Many great writers advocate for spewing out an ugly first draft. Anne Lamott calls this the “shitty first draft.” Get down all your ideas without judging them. You can craft and refine it later.

Don’t wait for inspiration. As Isabel Allende says, “Show up, show up, show up, and after a while, the muse shows up, too.”

The writer Julian Shapiro uses an apt metaphor - the Creativity Faucet. When you first turn on the faucet, you have to let the bad ideas drain out. But eventually, the strong ideas will start flowing. So keep flushing out those bad ideas onto the page until your creative wellspring opens up.

The good stuff will come if you persist.

Write How You Speak

Writing in a natural, conversational style often produces the best results. Try recording yourself speaking on a topic, then transcribe and refine it into an essay. The words will flow more freely than if you try to write in a formal, academic style.

Varying sentence structure also adds voice. Short punchy sentences have power. Draw out ideas through languid, descriptive sentences. Writing how you speak puts your unique stamp on the work.

Find Your Essence Before You Edit

It’s tempting to edit as you write, but this can interrupt the creative flow. Silence that inner critic in the early stages. Don’t worry about perfect grammar or phrasing until you get your ideas down.

Highlight strings of text you love. Leave the weaker bits for now. Keep going until you feel you’ve captured the essence of what you want to say.

Now put it away for a while. Give yourself time and space before you start reshaping.

Pare it Down

Once you are ready to revise, aim to tighten your work. As William Zinsser said, “Writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it.”

Check for repetitive or unnecessary words. Replace clichés with fresh imagery. See how sentences sound when stripped down to their essence.

Hemingway advised to “write drunk, edit sober." After mute the inner critic to write freely, call on its discernment to refine.

Find Your Tribe

Writing can feel lonely. Find a group that will understand and nourish you. Take a class, join a critique group, or find a writing partner.

Having a trusted reader who “gets” you can bolster confidence. Feel free to ignore suggestions that don’t ring true. Feedback helps us view work with fresh eyes, but know your vision best.

Above all, trust the process. Keep writing, reading, and exploring. Allow your voice to emerge in its own time. Be patient and kind to yourself. You have beautiful, important things to say. The more you share your authentic self, the more your writing will inspire others.