4 Ways to Keep Writing Under Pressure

"If you make an honest transaction with your remembered experiences and emotions, you will reach the readers you want to reach."

- William Zinsser, Writing About Your Life

I am in full-time seminary, and I work part-time. My brain is packed and overloaded already. Finding any space to write, either in my mind or on my calendar, is a stretch. I have toyed with giving it all up. But then I remember what writing has given me. 

Why I Write

It all boils down to four things:

1. Writing is something I love.

2. Writing helps me do everything in my life better (and faster).

3. Writing makes me come fully alive.

4. In writing, I fulfill one purpose God had in designing me. 

Looking at it this way, why would I want to live without writing? I have often said that writing gave me a life I could not otherwise have. Do I really want to give that up? 

Now, I realize I don't need to. There are ways of being a writer in every situation, no matter how challenging. 

4 Ways I Keep Writing Under Pressure

Here's what I am doing right now. 

1. Fast 500: I write a fast 500 words first every morning. These words are about anything, and I craft them in my pajamas, if you must know. I link this to my Bible reading and prayer. I have an online Bible which is on my PC screen next to my journal. I do it all together.  

2. Fun 300: Next, I write 300 words on a manuscript. I am working on a psychological thriller right now. It's my second book. No, you do not want to read the first one I wrote. Trust me. 

When I write, I keep a playful attitude. I am playing, not working. I do not seriously expect to share my second book with anyone. If I do eventually share it, that will be wonderful. But no matter what happens, by the end of the year, I will have written another book. And that moves me forward as a writer. 

All of this writing takes 90 minutes. After that, I have the rest of the day for other tasks. I manage those much better if I've had some writing time. Alternately, I can write in chunks of 30 minutes at each meal, or  in the evening, since I don't watch TV. But those are back-up plans. 

Consistent writing works best for me at the earliest possible hour.  

3. Restful Reflection: On Sundays, when I am reflecting and relaxing, I draw from my diary for a weekly blog post which gives you a peek into my life. These are the types of posts my readers love most--ones that let them experience life with me and which offer a filtered perspective. Since I am providing only one post each week, I try to make sure it is one they want to read.

However, the weekly post is not just for my readers. I need to practice the art of reflection. It's too easy to write fast. Slowing down taps into a deeper creative level. Even though I'm only writing reflectively once a week, that's often enough to remember how. 

4. Time to Grow: In seminary, I'm learning much which will deepen and enrich my writing. Seminary also lets me build an on-the-ground network for later collaboration. Daily, I remind myself: I am taking time to grow. 

Writers want to put words on a page. Sometimes this driving desire creates tunnel vision. Writing is not just about word counts and page numbers. We don't write from a vacuum. Writing cannot do what a writer has not understood. Time given to training the mind is time well spent. 

This is Hard, But it's Worth my Time 

I'm not manufacturing some kind of positive spin to make myself feel better. What I'm doing is good work!  By these simple choices, I keep myself writing. I stay fully alive. I keep my brain "in practice" for the craft of my calling. Meanwhile, I learn things which will add insight, content, and depth to future manuscripts. 

If I continue this plan for three years, I will have a masters degree, a host of new relationships, and three books in my back pocket. That's a pretty good deal. 

How do you keep writing under pressure? How do you tap into creativity?