No, It's Not Easy, It's Your Job!

Even the most gifted writers have to work at it

Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

“Writing is hard, hard work; that's just the way it is.”
—Marissa Moss

Anyone who thinks writing is easy hasn’t done much of it. Either that, or they’re not very good.

It can be mentally, emotionally, and even physically exhaustive.

Pour your heart and soul into your writing and keep doing it.

Somethings aren’t easy to do well.

Writing is one of those things.

But, practice and treating it like a full-time job (if you’re not employed as a writer) will ensure that you keep progressing and getting better.

Stick with it.

It’s a wonderful way to spend your time and energy.

Keep at it.

You just might get good!

Write, write, write…

Here are 15 practical steps you can take to make writing each day easier:

1. Write One Line. Literally. Just One.

On the worst days, I tell myself: “One line.” Often, it turns into five, ten, a full page. But the pressure is off. John August talks about “lowering the bar”—because momentum is everything.

2. Build a Sacred Writing Window

Same time, same place. Even 30 minutes at lunch. I treat it like a non-negotiable meeting. I wouldn’t skip a pitch meeting with Warner Bros—so why skip one with myself?

3. End Mid-Scene

Ernest Hemingway did this with novels. I do it with screenplays. If I stop in the middle of a juicy bit of dialogue or an action sequence, I want to come back tomorrow to finish it.

4. Steal Shane Black’s ‘Voiceover’ Trick