Why do you love to write?
For me, it’s just pure fun. As a kid, I was constantly in my own head, and I loved obsessing over the details of a story. I’m sure all of my teachers could tell you they caught me writing when I was supposed to be taking notes or paying attention to something else—whether or not they let me know I was caught at the time.
But when we’re adults and pushed to get serious about things, the pursuit of finished projects on top of everyday demands can suck the fun out of writing. That can lead to us avoiding our writing altogether. Who hasn’t pushed off doing their words for the day because it just didn’t sound fun?
Well, what if you made writing fun again? Because that’s something I’m trying to do more of in 2024, and I can tell you that fun is an excellent motivator—possibly the best one. And when I’m having more fun, I write more, plain and simple.
You’ve no doubt heard these tips before, but we’re going to be approaching them from a different perspective. Don’t think about how each of these things might make you more productive. We—not just Writer’s Atelier, but our society as a whole—puts so much attention on getting more done that we forget that our limited time on this planet should also have some enjoyment thrown in whenever possible!
Remember Why You’re Excited
It has to be said: remembering why you’re excited to be writing the story you’re working on is important. It keeps your eye on the ball.
And why does it do that so well? Because it creates that fizzy, bubbly feeling that makes you absolutely giddy to get to work. And what’s more fun than letting your imagination run wild with an idea you love wholeheartedly?
If you made a note—physical or digital—when you first got the idea, keep it near where you work to remind you of that shiny new idea feeling. You might also try leaving yourself a voice memo talking about what makes the story so exciting the next time you feel that rush. Then you can listen to it later when you’re feeling less than jazzed.
Make Your Doc Spark Joy
When we think about writing, we picture the standard fonts on a white page, but I challenge you to think outside of the black and white box. While the only eyes on your document are your own, consider making it fun to look at! Spend five minutes or so adding inspiring images (within the doc itself or in comments), changing fonts and colors, and really giving your doc its own personality. Most word processors should let you do this, but you can always write in Canva Docs during your writing session and copy and paste to the “real draft” later.
Even better, when you’re moving through the different drafts, it’s actually helpful to have your words presented you looking differently than they did when you wrote them—it’ll help you look at them with fresh eyes, and you won’t be so prone to skimming and missing things.
Set Yourself Mini Challenges
You have big writing goals. You might even have a goal for each session every time you sit down. But what if you set yourself multiple, smaller goals to be completed within a single session?
You know of the Pomodoro technique—short timed work sessions with breaks between them. You might consider pushing yourself during a word session for a reward to keep things exciting. Remember that whatever you choose to do for a challenge should have an element of fun to it. I have a few examples:
- For every 100 words written, eat an M&M or some other small snack.
- If you beat the last session’s word count, you can add three minutes to your break.
- Set a word count goal for the session, and if you exceed it, complete a brain-teaser or a level of a mobile game.
- Write a sentence that takes place a little further in the story than where you currently are, then write your way up to it. If you make it before the end of the session, you can work on a “shiny” project during your next session instead of your current WIP.
- While making a meal, try to dictate or write as many words as you can while your food cooks. (I like to do this with cake mix cookies because the dough is dead simple and they bake fast, so I really feel the pressure!)
Engage the Senses and Your Imagination
Stay with me here. Yes, I’m going to repeat all of the usual things: light a scented candle, put on a playlist that evokes the setting you’re writing about, and try heading outside to add some novelty to your writing session.
But those aren’t the only things you can do to make writing feel a little more special. Consider taking things one step further. Is your protagonist a rebel? Maybe dust off the old leather jacket and wear it to a downtown café while you’re writing to get in the character’s head. Did your ensemble cast just arrive at the beach? Dig out your seashell collection to decorate your desk and wear your swimsuit and cover-up. Do whatever “dorky” thing you can to make the day feel like play.
Write With Friends
Even I, possibly the “introvertiest” introvert, have been known to join friends at cafés for writing sessions. Between paragraphs, we chat, comfort and encourage each other, brainstorm together, and offer advice.
Lately, I’ve been doing this with my partner! Even though they work on music or coding projects instead of fiction, we still have a blast getting out of the house, trying new drinks, and providing a listening ear. (Although, admittedly, I’m basically tone deaf, so I’m not sure how much help my listening ears actually are when music is involved.)
If that sounds like something you want to try, but you’re not local to any of your writing friends, we have a blog post that lists six ways you can write with friends old and new.
If you decide to try any of these tips, let us know by tagging @writersatelier in your post on social media! We’d love to see how you’re making writing fun!
