Embracing Creative Chaos
Greetings and salutations Scribblers!
What if I told you to forget everything you know about productive writing and to embrace the chaos and unpredictability of your own creativity? You might give me the side eye because that’s batty right? Because the only way to find success is to follow the formula and do all the steps in order.
Wrong!
In today’s video I want to pull the curtain back on the idea of a “perfect” writing routine, give you some tips to find what works for you, and challenge you to embrace the unique chaos of your own creativity.
So, first off, there is no such thing as an ideal or perfect writing routine. That’s right. Nobody has it figured out. What people have figured out is how to go with the flow and make adjustments as they work through each manuscript or from writing session to writing session. I have never used the same process twice when I draft and revise a book. Ever. I try to because my brain tells me it worked so good last time, I just have to rinse and repeat.
But within days I tend to feel stuck as I try to recreate the steps to my previous manuscript. This doesn’t mean I throw out everything and start from scratch, but I do have to give myself the space to rearrange things, do things out of order, and try brand new methods for brainstorming, world building, or writing. And learning to let myself have that freedom and embrace the chaos of my own creativity continues to be a work in progress.
In other videos I’ve chatted about building good habits and this idea of embracing your creativity and giving it room to shift and change needs to be balanced with that. And just like I mention in that video, only keep a habit as long as it serves you. You and your writing habits and every other part of your life are constantly changing and evolving. Who you are today isn’t the same as who you were yesterday. So finding that balance between building good habits and giving yourself the space you need to experiment and grow is essential.
It means we’ve opened the door for more opportunities to grow creativity because we’re inviting possibilities we might not even know exist into our routine. There isn’t one prescriptive method that is going to work and the more you seek out and welcome the uniqueness of your own process, the better you’ll become at your craft. And the more fun it’ll be.
And I realize that sometimes this just isn’t possible.There are deadlines that have to be met–but I will argue that by being open to your own chaos, you’ve taken away the pressure of meeting that deadline and you’re likely to not only get done on time, but to produce something you’re happier with because your heart and head were in a better place.
So how do we embrace the idea of letting go of having a perfect writing routine or the perfect method?The way to accomplish this isn’t fast–this is going to be a life-long journey. There will be times when you make tremendous progress and others where it seems like you’re crawling along. Both are okay! If you feel more aligned with the chaos of creation than with having a linear method where you move logically from step A to Step B, I suggest leaning into that. Maybe you like to sketch and draw your characters or scenes before you write. Or maybe you need to develop a perfect playlist first. In a world that prioritizes profit over everything, these activities may make you feel as though you’re wasting time.
But you’re not. This is what works for you and this is what fuels your creativity. If you ignore this you’re going to struggle to create, so don’t ignore it!
Where are my procrastinators? Yes, the people who wait until the last minute to do the thing. There have been studies about how people who procrastinate are often more creative and ultimately successful than those who don’t. Now, this doesn’t cover procrastinating for emotional or mental reasons, but if you put a task off for a reasonable amount of time, you’re giving your subconscious the chance it needs to sort through things and come up with the best option.
So if you need permission to procrastinate, here it is. Take the time you need. Rushing into creativity can harm our process and prevent us from tapping into the possibility of what we have to offer.
This is why taking time away from a manuscript can be so important. Learning to listen to your creative intuition is a skill worth developing. Maybe you’re trying to write every day, but now you’ve hit a snag in your story and you’re just not sure where to go next. If you give yourself permission to not write and to not focus on it, your brain will still do that work in the background and then 2 or 3 days later, you might be hit with your eureka moment at 9pm. Don’t wait to write the next day, grab your laptop or notebook and get to it.
I’ve had many experiences with this and I still struggle to get out of my own way at times. I’ll have a plot tangle and sometimes I just keep staring it because I WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL THIS IS FIXED and then other times I’ll be hit with that spark of creativity and I’m like but what if I waited until tomorrow because I’ve decided that my writing time is between 10 am and 1 and it’s 12:30 so I would only have 30 minutes of writing time.
That’s when I need to give my logic brain the side eye and say, well today, writing time is 12:30 until I’m done” and just go for it. Like I said, it’s a work in progress for me and I’m more aware that I need to be more flexible when it comes to my writing habits.
So, I challenge you to say no to one-size fits all writing advice to take the time you need to find what works for you. But don’t stop there. Keep evolving, like a pokemon right? Our final form doesn’t exist, we’ll just keep leveling up and becoming a better version of ourselves.
As always, your mileage may vary! Okay, I want to hear about your unconventional writing methods! Drop a comment below and let me know!
Consisting of five sections, this course will include strategies for revising characters, plot, pacing, and worlding building. It also includes resources for copyediting and for gaining insight into your manuscripts theme and purpose
