The one-sentence solution for when you hate a current writing project

Are you stuck on your current project? It’s very common to come to HATE a project when the first wild enthusiasm wears off. Professional writers expect this to happen — I’ve never yet worked on any project in which it hasn’t happened.

So, you dislike the project, and you think you’re not meant to be a writer, or maybe you are a writer, but this project was a sad mistake. You veer between two options: throw your computer or yourself out the window. While you’re deciding, if you’re anything like me, you eat lots of chocolate.

This article Writer’s Digest blog – MFA Confidential – 5 for Friday: How NOT to get discouraged with writing projects offers some advice:

“Allow yourself a shitty first draft. I’ve talked about this before–Anne Lamott coined the term in her book Bird by Bird. ‘All good writers write them,’ Lamott says of shitty first drafts. ‘This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.’”

I’d add this: sum up the project in ONE sentence. I’ve just written about the importance of the one-sentence summary on my book writing blog, but you should always reduce a project to a single sentence, preferably before you start it. That one sentence is your intention for the project.

When you have one sentence, you may still hate everything you’ve written at various times during a project, but at least you know where you’re headed. Your single sentence summary is the bright shining star which guides you.

When you hit the wall

Here’s what I do when I hit the wall in a project:

1. I swear a lot, and eat chocolate;

2. I leave my office, and go out;

3. In a coffee shop, or in the park, reread my one sentence;

4. I create a mind map for the project;

5. I think about the audience for the project, and add to the mind map.

Nine times out of ten, I’ll regain a sliver of enthusiasm. Then I get back to the project, and complete it.

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