43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Parking Downhill while Writing

I had read a post somewhere here talking about the "parking on a downhill slope" idea, or leaving yourself a good starting point when you quit a longer task so it's easy to pick up the next day, so I decided to try it out as I work on my master's thesis.

As I'm sure many other writers here will attest from their own procrastination battles, the hardest part about writing for me is actually sitting down at the keyboard and starting to type. Usually, once I get one or two sentences out, it picks up momentum and I have a pretty good session. So in order to park on that downhill slope, now when I quit for the day I stop in mid-sentence, sometimes leaving an open quotation mark or an ugly grammatical mistake on purpose. Before, I used to wrap up nice neat paragraphs or section breaks, then when I started the next time I'd stare at it and fumble around with how to begin. Now, I jump right on the little mess I left for myself, and before I know it I'm writing away.

I just wanted share this little trick because it's been so helpful. My page count has shot up since I've started doing it, relieving all kinds of stress over missing deadlines and guilt about not working enough. It's a cheap trick maybe, but I need every little advantage I can get.

TOPICS: Hacer
pooks's picture

I can see that it...

I can see that it would help a lot in that case. I almost drew the distinction between fiction and nonficion writing -- but then recalled that I've also heard fiction writers recommend the same technique, so clearly it varies between individuals!

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »