Things that help me write
Writing advice from a non-writer
There are a lot of writers on Substack giving (and selling) writing advice.
This is not that.
I didn’t take AP English. I have a BFA and that only required two English credits. My friend Jannah and I decided to take both of those with the hottest English teacher on campus. So, there was passion involved but not exactly for the written word.
Most of my professional career has been spent making visual decks and technical drawings. My email communication is decidedly simple because most of my recipients are non native English speakers. Ask my friends and family - my texts have always been hard to decipher (with the exception of the BlackBerry/BBM era RIP) and my most active group chat is sustained entirely through voice memos. I do have an honorary degree from a prestigious prep school in New England, but that is a bizarre side quest I plan to write about at a later date.
So, why would this convince you to take advice from me?
Because if I can do it, you can too.
In November, Together Journal reached out via our photographer with interview questions about our Brooklyn Wedding Celebration. Yes, I am that girl that never shuts up about her wedding but stick with me here! In that process, I realized I was basically writing the article myself through these answers. I took my time and I really enjoyed it. I realized nothing was stopping me from doing more of that, so that same month I posted my first Substack.
I made a goal: post a minimum of twice a month. Notice this is an action based goal not a result based goal. The first few posts were clunky and long. The links broke and the visuals were lacking. It didn’t matter — the first pancake always burns. Eventually the posts got better and I kept going because I found joy in it. With each post I was learning and exploring, which keep me consistent. My husband says I’m requiring fewer edits now. I’m finally learning the difference between it’s and its at thirty-five.
Now for the best part, I’ve found so much interesting writing on here. I’ve covered my (lack of a) writing career but I’ve always been a big reader.
As a kid I loved Fantasy and Survival Fiction. As a teen I loved Instructional/How-To books. As an adult, I love Murder Mysteries, Memoirs and Self Improvement. Throughout my life I have always devoured magazines and I will gladly start sharing recommendations for any of the above genres if anyone is interested.
When I get a new subscriber, I immediately go and see if they have any posts of their own. I started to realize something: a lot of you haven’t posted in months, if not years! I really want to read what you have to say. So, in a totally self-serving act of kindness, here are some writing tips from a non-writer Substack writer:
Setup & Focus Tips
Getting the environment right for your brain to get to work and stay on task.
Use a playlist to keep the energy up. One without lyrics that distract the internal monologue. It’s so cheesy but this Instrumental Classic Rock one is my go to.
I buy a 12 rack of seltzer (Polar Lime or Canada Dry Original are my favorites) and a pack of gum on my writing days. There is science behind this but it feels like it magically helps me focus.
When this isn’t enough, we bring in the heavy artillery: Diet Coke
Lighting a candle helps transport me to another mental state. Here are some of my favorites.
Stay in the flow state. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Some friends of mine swear by Brick, I don’t personally use it.
Sit down from a place of Gratitude. You are not a prisoner or being punished (though sometimes I do feel captive to my self imposed deadlines). Tell yourself “I’m doing this because I want to, not because I have to.” It reframes the whole process.
Sometimes I dissociate and pretend I’m on The Yearbook Committee. It’s not dissimilar to when I’m having a hard time falling asleep and I pretend I’m on a sleeper car of a train. There is fun in the cosplay-of-it-all and that ignites a spark.
Inspiration Tips
Capturing lighting in a bottle.