You’ve got your idea…
You’ve been floating it around your head to make sure it plays…
And you’ve been figuring out how you’re going to express it in your copy.
Now you need to sit down and start writing.
Before you do…
Here’s my advice:
Take a run-up.
Huh?
I mean, literally.
Open the word document, then step back, walk around your space and get the first line in your mind…
Then literally charge at the machine, sit down (or even stand up like Elton John at the piano) and type it out.
It’ll seem weird the first time. But you should notice an added energy to the physical process of writing.
Rather than sitting there like an automaton, fixed in place and un-inspired – get your body moving. Get excited about the very act of creating something new and original. Because that’s exactly what you’re doing.
In turn, I believe this physical energy will show up in your copy too.
The bit no one talks about
I’m interested in the physical side of writing.
If you were to watch me typing this out, as well as seeing my hands move across the keys…
You’d also see my heading bobbing around as though I were listening to some strange jazz…
You’d see my foot tapping on the stool.
You’d see my whole upper body jittering around.
Sure, it’s weird.
And I didn’t always write in such an animated way.
I’ve definitely encouraged myself to be more physical.
It’s like the scene in Spaced where the cycle courier ‘Tyres’ starts dancing to the beeps of a level crossing…
Over time I’ve conditioned myself to hit the keys in such a way that I physically dance with the abstract syncopated rhythm it creates.
You might be reading this thinking I’ve gone mad.
Is it just me?
Or maybe you do relate and have a similar process. Let me know.
If not, I’m serious about trying it.
It’s especially helpful if you’re stuck on something, or if you’re feeling a bit washed-out and not in the mood to write.
Get up…
Walk around until you’ve got the seed of an idea in your head…
And then literally run at the computer to write it down and keep that energy going as you type.
P.S. This P.S. is here for the simple reason I want to say the word ‘filthy’ and it didn’t fit in the article. You know, like Redman does in the Christina Aguilera song. So there, I did it. Thanks for sticking around for it. I think we’re both better off for it featuring, right?