How to Start Writing Today

My daughter loves to play hide and seek. Buuut she’s not great at the hiding part. She’s 5. She throws a blanket over her head and starts giggling. Now if she’s on the hunt for someone she’ll find them. So look out hiders. She’s coming for ya!

As a writer I want you to be on the hunt for writing opportunities all over this website and in your real life, too. Turn yourself into a 5-year-old and start seeing your writing as a game, not a chore.

This website has 3 writing opportunities for you but it’ll soon have as many as I can stuff into it. I’ll be adding more writing Easter eggs every chance I get. I like calling them writing opportunities because that’s exactly how I see them. They’re opportunities for exploration. Plus, the word exercise makes me feel like I should be working out or casting out demons—I know it’s a different spelling, so don’t be sending me cranky emails, grammar police!

Maybe in your writing, you need to cast out demons. No judgment.

But wouldn’t it be nice if you could make the writing process less terrifying?

Right now I want you to start seeing writing simply as how you can capture ideas on a page. Think of this as play.

Your first writing opportunity: Challenge yourself to take down bits and pieces of story ideas throughout the day.

This is different from keeping a journal you have to write in religiously. We’re talking about grabbing a scrap of paper or your iPhone notes and getting those ideas down on the spot. Not poring over three longhand written pages every morning or some other intensive writing strategy you’ll give up in 2 weeks. This should be easy and fun.

Are you a mom who feels like she has no time to write? Go lock yourself in the bathroom right now. I’m not kidding. Take your iPhone with you. Turn on the shower. Are you in there? Good. Ignore the fingers under the door. They can’t stop your creative juices from flowing. Okay, take a seat. The toilet or side of the tub is fine. Now list out some great ideas that have been percolating in your head all day. Or all year. And stick them down like a grocery list. You can even use bullet points if you like.

Done? Okay, now take your shower.

No one in your family will ever know you just met one of your life goals!

Start Writing. Start Writing. Cross it off the list because you did it. You started the process.

Your immediate goal is to train yourself to write now. Write anywhere. Write often.

I understand how hard this can be.

I was so proud when I taught myself to write on airplanes and in airports as a flight attendant. I thought I had overcome some major writing hurdles and had increased my productivity. God laughed at me and said hold my beer. Soon, I gave birth to a beautiful, but incredibly busy daughter. Two years later, in walked COVID. Hi there, ruiner of dreams. I had written four books, but I still needed to edit them, which felt impossible with a no-napping 2-year-old at home.

Just remember as you’re creating these notes about your story ideas, you’re not editing anything yet.

Because that little voice that tells you it must be perfect will keep you from writing anything down. Don’t listen to it. Not yet. And you’ll be able to write from almost anywhere. Use technology, recipe cards, or a lip liner. It does not matter. If you’ve got ideas in your head, you need to get them out of there and into some physical form to make them real.

It’s time to prioritize your writing.

Do it now.