Unfiltered Millennial

Have you ever been challenged by the process you undertook on something? Been questioned about what you are doing and why you are doing it that way? Have you not had the answer before? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. In fact, I am just now realizing I have been doing writing all wrong.

The craziness of that last statement is that I started this blog thinking, “Oh, this will be where I can just jot stuff down and share my thoughts with the world.” Well, after listening to my thirty minutes of Roxane Gay’s MasterClass on Writing for Social Change, I have realized that I am doing this all wrong! So that’s it; I am closing the blog forever. Nice knowing ya!

Okay, that last piece wasn’t true. But I realized, and was challenged by Roxane, that I have not challenged myself as a writer to think of the very basic things you must have in place for yourself as a writer. It even goes back to before you put pen to paper, or fingertips to keys on your keyboard. It goes back to what makes you comfortable to write and what factors help you get into the writing zone.

Have you ever struggled with this question: What gets you into the writing zone? I haven’t. So, while this may be a bit of a detour from the usual content I present to you, I want to take some time to write about my ideal writing scenario. I thank you for your indulgence, and maybe some of my thoughts will help you do the same.

The Needs

So I am going to start this off very literally. Not because I think that is the most entertaining (bad blogging, I know). But it will help me ground myself in the reality of what it takes for me to write.

My Laptop

I am not going to write with a pen and paper, and you cannot make me. I just feel no enjoyment from the scratch of a pen on paper. Therefore, I need my trusty laptop.

My Tablet

Once again, no pen and paper (though I think this restriction is a lot less firm). So how will I take notes from what I am reading? I will utilize the notebook app on my Galaxy Samsung Tab S7 FE. Honestly, the Noteshelf app has worked really well for me in my note-taking. I like the ability to create new notebooks to shelve things together by category or by the piece of content I am taking notes on.

My Phone

Ever have an idea smack you in the figurative face, and you have no way to just jot down a few quick notes? Well, in today’s day and age, you need not worry. The great overlords of Apple, Samsung, Google, etc., have you covered with the device in your pocket. This is how I jot things down as I listen to something, but I am away from my tablet, or maybe I have an epiphany and decide I need to jot that idea down for later so I can expand upon it.

I also use my phone as a timer to both track how I am doing and ensure I take the time to step away if I am in a deep writing zone. Writing is a muscle that we have to work out on a regular basis. If we don’t, it atrophies and we lose all the progress we may have made. A marathon runner doesn’t just go out and start running marathons immediately and keep doing marathons every day until the big race. They create and plan a regimen to ensure that by the time of their big race, they are in tip-top shape and ready to run for that personal record. I need to do the same with my writing.

A Drink

Whenever I am writing and I get into the zone, I want to make sure I have some kind of beverage to keep me hydrated or awake… haha. Be that a cup of coffee, water, or a bottle of soda, I think it just keeps me at my desk longer or in front of my computer, and then I don’t get out of the zone just because I am feeling a little parched.

A Schedule

This one has been a struggle for me, to be honest. But I think I have figured out that the best way for me to make progress on my goals is to actually schedule my time, similar to what I do in my professional life. Sounds kind of lame. Why would anyone want their “hobby” to imitate their work?

“The cultivation of a hobby and new forms of interest is a policy of first importance to a public man.” – Winston Churchill

But it is the cultivation of those hobbies and interests that should be of first importance. When we schedule things, it is our priority. That is why work and other responsibilities usually require meetings. It is also why, when you are at work and realize you didn’t get anything done that you wanted to, maybe it was because you didn’t INTENTIONALLY schedule that time.

So going forward, I am going to make it a priority that after I get home from work, I am going to spend the first half hour to an hour working on my topics for this blog. Thinking about what I want to write, researching those topics, and then finally writing.

All of these are just pieces of the puzzle to help me get into my zone. Will I be perfect at it? Probably not. But I am committing to be better to ensure that I can start to not only be a better writer but also get to enjoy the reason I started this project.

What steps do you need in your unique writing experience? What easy pieces (technology and tools) do you need? What not-so-easy (time, topics, etc.) things do you need? Taking that time can help you realize when you actually find those aha moments in your writing.