Be Willing to Write Badly

I’ve been reading Julia Cameron’s Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer, a six-week course full of tips and insight from which every writer can glean something. 

The chapter written for Week Five is about “Hitting the Wall.”  

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“Put simply, the Wall is doubt. ….

The moment we are willing to write badly, we begin to have freedom. The Wall no longer dominates our emotional landscape….

…We are not really willing to write badly, and yet, when we give ourselves permission, we find that by being willing to write badly, we may write very well indeed.

 We certainly write well enough to finish our project.”

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The idea of being willing to write badly to finish got my attention. 

I have been mulling over a proper premise for my non-fiction book about leaving a legacy for nearly a year. I have several stories, but how do I tie all my memories together? What is the common thread? How do I talk about what I will leave behind without it all being too depressing? How do I add humor to a book with serious undertones? How do I inspire others to think about and act on what legacy they are leaving for their families? How do I document stories that will otherwise die with me? 

I have already written snippets of stories from the past, but they are just that—memories without a theme to bind them together.  

I recall my Substack post from last November, Rabbit Holes, Persistence, Patience, and Faith, which recounts the many courses and projects I’ve started and have yet to finish. 

I am determined not to let my memoir be one of them.  

Recent events have given me the proverbial “swift kick” to get back on a regular writing schedule with my book. Life happens, and distractions will continue, but I must keep writing to finish my book despite the challenges.  

My writing group has changed its format, so I now have the opportunity to turn in pages or small chapters for the group to read and offer feedback. I have my own “beta testers” to help me author my book. They will ensure my words make sense outside my head and for future readers.  

(By the way, If you are interested in joining a non-fiction writers group that allows you to learn from fellow writers and have portions of your writing critiqued before publication, please consider joining the Unsettling Writers Group. You can join us via Zoom for only $50 a month. The motivation to continue your writing practice alone is worth every penny. Our leader, Maggie McReynolds, is an award-winning author, editor, speaker, and writing coach. We would love to have you as part of our group!) 

Last week, Maggie introduced us to Pacemaker Press, a handy app that offers accountability for writing projects. This tool lets you plan when you want to finish your project (in my case, my book) and how many days and pages per week you need to write to accomplish that goal.  

You can adjust the days so that you are writing more on the weekends than during the week, for instance, and share your goals with other writers if you choose to. In other words, it helps you to stay on track. The premium service allows you to keep your projects private and has additional perks, for $8 monthly or $6 monthly if paid annually for $72 a year. 

I need accountability and a tool that keeps track of how much progress I have made, so I’m all in.  

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Allow me to tell you a little story:  

Several years ago, after my Dad’s stroke, nursing aides came to the house a couple of times a week to show him how to perform exercises to regain strength and improve. He did a great job of accomplishing what was requested as long as the nurse or other family members were there to cheer him on. Once the applause and encouragement stopped, so did his exercise. He only excelled when he had an attentive audience.  

You may be thinking, what does this have to do with writing?  

When I write weekly for Substack, I am motivated to finish what I’ve started because I know at least a few people will give me feedback on what I have written. I also don’t want to break my streak of posting every Friday, which I have done for almost 40 weeks. 

These two factors alone allow me to generate my own applause and encouragement and continue writing articles weekly. Some weeks, the posts are better than others, but they are finished and out into the world. 

 I keep learning and moving forward.   

When writing for my book, there is zero feedback and encouragement to keep going (at least until now). 

 I am writing into a void with an open ending for many weeks.

 It will only be when I have completed 300 pages and told a story that matters to me (and hopefully to others!) that I will feel that sense of accomplishment.

There will be no applause along the way, no one cheering me on, and no one cares if I write the book or not.

  But I do. 

 The desire to publish this book comes from deep in my soul.     

I don’t want to find myself this time next year staring at my computer without at least a dirty first draft in hand.

 I am determined to use the tools of being an active member of my writer’s group and giving myself writing goals that I can achieve week after week. 

 I want to be willing to keep writing, even if the writing appears terrible or doesn’t seem to go anywhere.

I’m determined to get where I want to be, and know I will if I keep at it.

  People write and publish books every single day. 

That is why I am setting up systems to prod myself along the way. Heck, I’ll be my own cheerleader. I will celebrate the small wins and the number of words each day. Maybe I’ll get one of those applause gadgets when I need extra motivation and a laugh.  

Are there goals you want to accomplish but feel as if you need outside encouragement to get done? Do you finish more tasks when you know others are watching or counting on you? How do you find inspiration to get long-term projects completed?  

I’d love to hear your ideas or experiences in the comment section. 

Thank you for reading!

Keep smiling!

xx