Mandy Wallace

Write or Die

Too Scared To Write? The One-Two Punch Approach That Finally Got Me Writing

Writing Process ·

So there I was.

Feeling guilty that I’ve spent more time blogging about my story-writing goals than actually pursuing them. When I decide I’m going to sit down and write. I mean really, really write. Because it’s been forever, and that means I have a lot to catch up on. So I should write about 10 thousand words today to make up for it, right?

You laugh, but this is really how my brain works.

Of course, that just cranks up the panic. Because everything is riding on this, right? I mean, I said I’m a writer. I claimed the title. I launched an entire website around writing. I blog about writing. I read about writing. I dream up little scene snippets for my story. And jot down plans. And add to my outline.

And then I don’t write. Because scary. And skills.

So I lay down in bed. Because naps are better than panic attacks. But what’s better than naps? Scrolling through Pinterest and then napping!

That’s when I come across this crazy helpful writing tip snippet pinned to The Writer’s Sandbox. (Bear with me. This is important.) It was such a small insight. At first I didn’t take it seriously. Too easy. Just one tip among a thousand writing tips.

But, somehow, it got me writing.

Little did I know, I was onto something that would help me write every day for the rest of the week. While actually enjoying it.

The Anxiety-Busting Writing Combo: Write While Lying Down + Write Only 50 Words

You’ve heard of authors who wrote lying down. Truman Capote did it. So did Mark Twain.

Maybe it sounded like artsy-fartsy nonsense to you. It did to me. And when I didn’t think it was hooey, I thought it impractical. Because no way I don’t fall asleep if I lay down to write. You know? And how could I possibly write fast enough to keep up with the story while two-finger typing? And how could I hold my arms up that long without getting tired?

I thought of a million reasons why it couldn’t work. So I never tried it. Not on purpose.

Instead, fate took my resistant hand, forced me into bed, and said “There dummy. Get writing.”

I should have tried it sooner. Because, come on, where do my best ideas happen? Yep, in the shower. But after that, it’s definitely while lying in bed.

And all those problems I was worried about? Well, they totally happened. But the cool thing is, they ended up working in my favor.

You can find out more about those hiccups in the next installment of this mini-series, 5 Challenges of The One-Two Punch Writing Approach (And How To Overcome Them).

But first, why this method works in the first place.

Why It Works: The Psychology Behind This Two-Pronged Approach To Writing

Writers block is about fear. When it’s time to write, the record plays familiar fears on familiar ruts.

Will I measure up? Will my story be as good on the page as it is in my head? What if I’m disappointed? What if people think my story’s dumb? What if they think I’m dumb?

So this approach, lie down + write 50 words, reduces the pressure we put on ourselves and our stories to be epic. Here’s how.

#1 Sends Your Body The Signal To Relax

The reclining position tells your body that it’s time to relax. And that relaxed state is ideal for writing. Have you ever wondered why you think of your best ideas just before you fall asleep? That’s when we’re most free of expectations. Our minds are free to roam and come up with ideas.

We’re not sitting at a desk doing work. We’re just being.

#2 Eases You Through The Hardest Part

The write-50-words goal gets you focused while supporting relaxation. It’s this low-pressure approach that got me through the hardest part of writing: getting started. Once I was through the barrier, it was easy to keep going. And that was just a bonus.

#3 Keeps Your Focus On Accomplishable Mini-Goals

The other thing that helped?

You can’t tell your entire story in 50 words (unless we’re talking about flash fiction). So I thought more about each sentence. Because I had no choice but to focus in on one moment at a time. A hat brim buffeting on the breeze. Foam spilling over a beer glass. Wet fingertips fogging a polished bar.

50 words left no space to get lost in big concepts. It was about moving my story forward one sentence at a time.

#4 Slows The Process And Gives You Time To Think

Lying down helped focus my mind too. I composed my next sentence carefully each time I had to rest my arm. I couldn’t rush through a mad-dash of panic-stricken sentences on my way toward a finish line that felt too far away.

Instead, I had to enunciate each syllable for the talk-to-text software to understand.

It forced me to slow down. To consider where I was going. And the goal was small enough that I had plenty of time to do it right along the way.

You’ve Got The Key To Busting Your Writing Angst. So What Now?

Lie down in your cozy bed, and write 50 words. You can do it.

Because this is the moment you’ve been waiting for, writer. And you’re exactly where you need to be. Go.

Then read part two of this series: 5 Challenges of The One-Two Punch Writing Approach (And How To Overcome Them)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Woody Allen writes every screenplay lying in bed with a legal pad (yellow) and ball point pens. He edits by scratching through words, sentences, whatever, and when he’s finished he makes copies of the writing and gives them to the actors to read and ad-lib lines off of them.

    Reply

    • I love how he lets the actors ad-lib.

      Woody Allen and Rachel McAdams did this panel discussion to publicize Midnight in Paris where she said that, as a director, Allen hands his actors the script and then basically just gets out of the way. I get attached to the musicality of language, not just the content. So giving someone free reign to alter the words would ruin half of the fun, beauty, and effort for me.

      Then again, his way promotes character diversity. So maybe it’s better to just get out of the way.

      Reply

      • Mandy – Perhaps you should be writing a book – not a screenplay. Every screenplay gets shredded at some point — If you can’t take that, write something else.

        Although I’m not an enthusiastic fan, obviously Mr. Allen has had great success. Laying and writing works for him —-

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        • If I ever feel the urge to write a screenplay, I’ll give that some thought. And every piece of writing for public consumption is subject to criticism and editing, Gwen, not just screenplays.

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    • In interviews he’s said that he’s written all his works on an Olympia typewriter that he bought when he was 16. He edits with a scissors and stapler.

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    • What a good idea, Nicole.

      I like your idea to combine napping as a reward to further motivate your writing. I love this technique because it’s such an easy stepping stone into bigger word count goals. But it’s also a stress reliever because you know you’ll get at least a little work done on your story every day while also knowing that the goal is so achievable. All from a pre-nap warm up. Nice!

      Reply

  4. Well, that made me sit up straight and think. I’d have to adjust it a bit to my life. I’m a mom with four children and a small farm. I’m in bed between 11pm and 6am, and I can’t remember when I last napped. (Sometimes I haul out A Room Of One’s Own and think “I COULD do something if only I had a wife!” LOL)

    But I could keep a notepad handy and write snippets. As you said, not Sitting Down and Working, but just being. That happens when I’m cooking dinner, or rocking a baby. I used to find that I wrote best while sitting in church and listening to the sermon – bad thing to do, I know. But these days, I usually have an armful of baby during the sermon.

    Fifty words, hm?

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    • I’m rooting for you, Marie! Sounds like you have a full schedule. So this technique may be for you even more than most. Keep me updated, okay?

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    • Ah, Marie, I love this snippet of your life (it sounds a lot like mine, minus children). I also wonder, especially in the summer, how I’m going to be able to accomplish writing with all the gardening, canning, food preparation for winter, etc. that keeps me moving from dawn until dusk. Even that thought intimidates me now, in the middle of winter! “Why even try if summer is just going to ruin my plans of being a writer?” I think to myself. But with Mandy’s AWESOME blog and tips, it makes me feel anything is possible 🙂 Good luck!

      Reply

  5. this was very helpful. i follow a very similar pattern as you do. best ideas in the shower than in bed. but the desk is rather intimidating. i keep all my writing things next to my bed, but i normally sit up and just stare into space in thought or in writer’s block due to fear. so will try this method. thanks a lot cant wait to read more of your tips.

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  6. Totally done this before. Sometimes, sitting up at the computer is too stressful or uncomfortable, and laying down’s the only way to push past it and write.

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  7. do you know, without realising it, that is what I already do? But I take a lined journal and a pen with me and write out by hand. I got that it slows my brain down but I hadn’t thought about the message ‘to relax’. Neat!

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  8. I’ve heard of all the writers that write at standing desks – but I have to try this. Anything that moves us past fear is good. I’m not sure about speak-to-text but may try it again (more slowly). I sent an email that way for fun once and was told it sounded like Kerouac when he had too much “tea”.

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    • Lol, Jenny. I’d love to hear what a Kerouac text sounds like. Good luck with the new, relaxing writing methods. Let me know if they work out for you!

      Reply

  9. I’m struggling with a short story. This is an interesting approach to try. Now, if I can just keep the cat off of my laptop. LOL!

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  10. Loved every word of this blog- the ides in the shower, the fear of writing… All of it! Thank you for this and I will indeed try writing those 50 words in bed tonight. Thank you!

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    • Good luck with your writing, Heather. If it turns out half as great as that pooch painting on your site, it will be awesome.

      Reply

  11. Often my best inspiration has come while laying down to sleep. It’s why I keep a notebook, pen, and flashlight by my bed. I’d never really thought to try and make it a habit. But it makes sense. Not to mention, when you then go to type it into the computer you essentially can get in first round edits if you see something you want to tweak or add to. Once I get my outline in place I think I’ll start doing this every night. Thanks!

    Reply

  13. Very interesting and probably just what I needed to start writing again! It’s annoying how it tends to just slip in the background all the time…
    Thanks a lot! 🙂

    Reply

  14. Hi, Mandy, 50 words and laying bed is not daunting. Sometimes when I sit at my desk and write I am tense because everything I write down seems wrong. Being relaxed, while laying in bed, and just writing anything down that pops in my head sounds like a good idea. I saw this post on Pinterest. Thanks for the inspiration today.

    Reply

    • Glad to help out, Crystal.

      Sometimes it helps me too if I can remember that the story is mine and anything I want to happen in it can happen. There is no “right” answer. This is your sandbox. Play. And if you don’t love what you build, kick it over with wicked glee and build something else 🙂

      I’m rooting for you.

      Reply

      • Hi, this is true. There are no rules in writing. One can always change the rules to what will work four them. Have a power win Saturday!

        Sincerely, Crystal Ross

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  16. Hi Mandy,

    I’m reminded of how many creative people take cat naps to stir the muses of creation whether they be scientists or novelists. I do the same, but sometimes it just doesn’t work.

    I write articles for the internet. My writing is about stuff. So when I get writers block, I just pick the topic I’m writing about and begin to tell my potential reader what I’m going to write about. At first it may be gibberish but eventually order comes out of the chaos. Ideas and sentences pop in and out. I do admit that it calls for a lot of editing/rewriting, but it works for me.

    Nice article.
    Regards,
    Carlos Perez

    Reply

    • I like the idea to start with telling your reader what you want to tell them about. You can always edit. And you probably save a lot of time staring at the screen while you try to think of the perfect sentence. Nice!

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      • Yes, Mandy it does work and it does save a lot of time staring at the screen looking for that perfect sentence. That’s another sticker in my brain. Even after publishing an article, I find that upon re-reading the article that I could of/should of written a sentence or paragraph a better way.

        I suspect it’s the same for story tellers.

        Carlos

        Reply

  17. I’m not usually intimidated by the blank page on my computer. I write and edit scientific reports day in and day out. Fiction, on the other hand, requires some time to let the brain’s magical areas find the words to express the scenes and conversations that go on in a story. In the shower, on a walk, in bed, all good places to think. My only caveat: just be sure to have a means to record your words before they escape.

    Reply

    • Love this low pressure approach, Jolie. Maybe fiction writing does just take a little more time to come together and expecting it to be as easy and straightforward as technical or academic writing is the mistake.

      Reply

  18. Seems like some good tips will put them into action once I’m done with exams for third year, because i been finding so hard to continue writing my fan fiction so this really seems to help. Thank you for the advise.

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  19. What a great idea! Thank you!
    Writerly tip: It looks like everyone here (except for the writer of the Sandbox quote) needs to learn how to conjugate the verb “to lie”, meaning to recline.

    Reply

    • To lie is a tough one to conjugate, Jeanne! I had to look it up a dozen times to write this post, and I’m pretty sure I still got it wrong. Ah well. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply

  20. The bad thing is that I haven’t tried this before. I usually have ideas during the evening time, especially when I sit down and try to write as much as I can because most of my ideas keep popping up. I should try to write 50 words just to write because I think it is a good idea to do so.

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  21. I stumbled upon your website today, re-reading the first few paragraphs of the “One-Two Punch Approach” post numerous times because I wondered how you’d gotten into my brain! I’m beginning to believe we writers are all related. 😉 I always appreciate writing tips and authors who are real about the struggles of the trade. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  22. I just found your website through pinterest.

    Though I don’t write nearly often enough, I have been doing this for ages without realising why it worked so well. I have never set a word goal, though. I always just assumed it was the size of my phone that kept me from realising how much I had written. Either that, or the fact that I usually just woke up or originally planned to get some sleep when I write on my phone. It goes with the relaxed state of mind, I suppose.

    Especially #1 and #4 (minus the speak-to-text) were eye openers. They make a lot of sense and I wonder why I never thought of this before.

    Thank you, and good luck with writing!

    Reply

  23. “moving my story forward one sentence at a time”. Wow. Why didn’t I think of that? I find that’s really the hardest part of writing – it scares me to have to fill the space in between the big ideas. THANK YOU!!

    Reply

  24. omg this is so me, like literally right now, in my bed feeling exactly this way hahaha thanks so much for this post. I’m going to try it now

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  25. I love this. Going to try it next chance I get. Reading through your blog, I think your processes are pretty similar to mine, so I look forward to trying this method! 🙂

    Keep up the good work, and thank you for all the time, effort, and love you put into this blog. Know that it is appreciated! ^_^

    Reply

    • That’s wonderful to hear, Emily. Thank you! And I hope the one-two punch approach works for you. It’s definitely gotten me through some writing dry spells. It can take the pressure off. And coming to writing with a sense of relaxed playfulness does wonders.

      Reply

  26. Great article! I will most definitely have to try this. I actually wrote my first eBook on my phone, using the app Evernote on a train headed to work.

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  28. This is absolutely spot on, i would say I have writers block but i feel a lot of pressure, especially as I’ve never written before. Probably pressure from myself more than anyone. Anyway these are really good points and I’ll make sure to write tomorrow morning in bed. Thanks!

    Reply

  29. Dr. Wayne Dyer had handwritten every book he wrote. He said it felt different to hand write his books. Something took over and it would just flow. I am going to try this. I have been writing a novel (I’m too embarrassed to say how long) and I also have a lot of notes and small scenes as you mentioned in the article. J.K Rowling had a basket of her scenes written on pieces of paper, and she would just pick one out and start writing from there. I am going to take one of my note pads, a pen (one I love), and pick one scene that I have and go lay down and write until my hearts content. Thank you for such a wonderful article. This is the first article I’ve read where I feel the helpful tips suit me. I think I can do this. 🙂

    Reply

    • I’m so glad to hear it helped, Andrea! Have fun writing <3 Let me know if the handwriting really does get you into the zone better. I'd be interested to know.

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  30. I’m confused. Do you write 50 words, take a break, and write 50 more? Surely their not saying to only write 50 words a DAY.

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    • Yes, Elijah, just 50 words a DAY. Try not to faint.

      Sometimes writing is scary because we love it and build it up in our minds so much. So we need little baby steps like 50 words a day to get us over the hard part: getting started. Often we find that starting with 50 words lets us write more. But when it doesn’t, that’s okay too. As long as we write at least 50 words. A day.

      When you can do more, do it.

      Reply

  31. Thank you for this article, which I came across via Pinterest, where I was hanging around instead of typing up my notes. I started writing stories as a young girl, and back then the only computers available came in stationary form (big bulky monitors and processors that needed to stand on the floor because they were so big), so I always wrote on paper. My first complete stories (meaning they had a beginning, middle and end, not that they were complete in terms of character and story arc) were handwritten on drawing paper with little illustrations here and there. Later on, in my teens, I would go to bed at night and write, then the next morning I’d read what I’d written the night before and be so embarrassed. Some very creative writing would come out of that blurry zone between awake and asleep. Anyway, to this day I do my best writing in longhand, and then when I type up my notes, I edit as I go. Highly recommended.

    Reply

  32. Thank you for this article Mandy I’m going to give this a try. Less words a day is not so intimidating as a chapter a day. That’s scary. I’m just glad to know there are other people out there that have the same issue as I do about writing.

    Reply

  33. It is immensely motivating to read such posts and realize you’re not the only one who sometimes finds writing as a struggle. I know writers who write few lines immeadiately after waking up as interesting ideas come to their mind while they’re sleeping.

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  34. The key for me is taking those 50 words and making them the best you have to give. I needed to realize this is not a time challenge.
    Thank you for the post.

    Reply

  36. This makes so much sense.
    I’ve always talked about writing articles or maybe books but I’ve never really gotten down to it. Finding out about this awesome.I’m gonna give it a try.
    Thanks

    Reply

      • Hi,
        I get that this posted some time ago. And it seems like a good tip/process. But a pet peeve of mine is writers mis-spelling. It is not annunciate (as in the Holy Spirit and Mary). It is enunciate as in pronouncing clearly (as in your case for voice recognition). Please – get someone to proof your work before you post. And trust me, I am a nice person, as well as a writer, a champion speller and English teacher!
        All the best,
        Virginia

        Reply

  37. Excellent blog! I can definitely relate to your introduction about blogging rather than writing. I really want to get back into it so I’ll give this tactic a go tonight 🙂

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  38. I am excited to try this technique! Thank you for sharing. I do find that story ideas do come just before I fall asleep.

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  39. I’ve been trying almost everything, but it didn’t work, so… alright. Let’s do it. You’ll be my own hero if it works. And possibly sorry from my english, greetings from Poland. ;D

    Reply

  40. Very interesting! I recently (a few months ago) started my own blog, and it sounds like we have similar stories–I call myself a writer, but I wasn’t writing. I’ll have to give this method a try and see what happens. Thanks for the tip!

    Reply

  42. As person currently with writers block this post helped me. I did not realize my block came from fear (never crossed my mind) but now that I realized that I am relaxing more.

    Reply

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