New year, new goals

I have a specific writing project in mind, but I haven’t started it.

Well, January is going to be the month you start. Sound good? Here’s how to apply some structure to the situation.

Ask yourself: What’s stopping me from writing this? Fear? Is it not knowing where to start? Not knowing how to start?

If it’s fear: Look for ways to take pressure off of the situation. Try calling your draft-in-progress “Untitled Document 1.” Remind yourself that you’re new at this project – it’s OK to be a little concerned about how you’ll fare. But just like trying anything new, eventually it’s time to put that fear aside and dive in. If you’re afraid of publication, gently remind yourself that you have many steps to take and drafts to revise before you get even close to that step – and that you might never need to publish it at all, if what’s important to you is just getting your story on paper and perhaps sharing it with a close circle. Remember, the more time you spend with your story, the more comfortable you may feel putting it out into the world if and when the time is right.

First, know that none of us know the or way to begin a draft when we’re first starting out. You’ll need to try a few different processes in order to find the ones that work best for you. Here are some strategies