#1 Best Writing Hack for Writers

There’s nothing that will wake you instantly like getting stung while sleeping. The devil showed up in our bed early that morning at 4:15 AM. A SCORPION. (If you stick with me to the end, I have a lesson or two for you.)

It was quiet mayhem while I quickly turned on the light, flinging clothes and bed sheets trying to determine at the time what bit me. We’ve been plagued by wasps outside, so my immediate thought one sneaked in with me when I took our dog, Denver, out to potty at 3:15.

But, then I saw it…a scorpion on the sheet. YIKES!

A scorpion in the bed..

When I said “scorpion” and it was the source of my pain my husband was up faster than lightning. At this point, I think he thought I had experienced a bad dream. Y’all know how hard it is to kill a scorpion on the bed with a shoe? Lol. Well. They won’t squish. I had to dash to the kitchen get a baggie and slide the little devil into the bag… which wasn’t an easy task either. I didn’t want to fling it to the floor because I feared it would get away from us. Of course, we did NOT go back to sleep. All the while #1 grandson visiting for a few days slept through it all. (( edit. The young cub woke up later to tell me he heard everything going on about the scorpion))

Needless to say, our morning started at a little faster pace than my usual day. Thankfully it didn’t sting me as bad as it could have. The swelling went down in about 2 hours with ice on my arm. I’ve had wasp stings last longer. But it was an unsettling event.

My poor, sweet husband decided to go to work since he was already awake.

I’ll tell you I didn’t need a cup of coffee to wake up and get motivated. Instead I drank one to try to calm my spirit (please don’t preach to me about caffeine… I know, I know.)

Over the course of the day, I pondered the event and it got me thinking about the power of fast action.

That fast action morning, we got to the root of our issue in less than a minute and eliminated the problem in less than a minute as well.

Fast action.

My first self-published book was a fast-action book – 90 days from idea to published. It was my first Draft to Done book!

I have a finished book (not published) that I wrote using my fast-action writing technique. In 21 days or so, I had my dirty rough draft, and a cleaned up copy I shared pieces of it last year with my Write More Write Now group.

I don’t do “fast action” with all the books or projects I write. Some books I write using my chocolate cake technique— mulling over it, like a big bite of chocolate cake while enjoying the creamy sweetness of thick icing. It’s how I’m writing the current children’s chapter book.

I find there are writing projects that need Fast Action, and there are writing projects that need the Chocolate Cake Technique.

Guess what…only you can decide.

But, here’s the deal. There’s no denying the power of fast action. We aren’t always in a season of fast action. In fact, we aren’t even always in a consistent season of writing. Our writing life consists of a lot of things — writing, brainstorming, marketing, productive action, tweaking our mindset, and more.

For many of us, it’s trial and error. Or it’s seasons of life. When I wrote my first book, I could sit at the desk 5 and 6 hours a day. It was a glorious time when I explored many different writing and publishing adventures.

I’ve had seasons where I could write 5 of 7 days of the week.

Now, I’m in a new season. While I may write something every day, it may not be THE focus project. These posts are writing, but it’s not writing my fiction book. I write emails, but those aren’t writing my book.

I guess I write all this to encourage you to write with your life, as it is now. Don’t wait for the perfect day.

Maybe you can fast write one day a week. Perhaps you write bits and pieces when you can. You may write slow and steady for 30 minutes one day a week. Maybe your writing life is a mash up. I’ve grown weary of the gurus who tell you there’s only way to write. Something I’ve noticed since I’ve been following these gurus for a decade… many of them have changed their ‘writing ways’ as well. Because. You know. Life changes.

I was watching an old episode of the painting master, Bob Ross. His “happy little trees’ and painting style was so laid back and restful.

It’s an approach I’m embracing in my writing life.

So, here’s to writing and having your ‘happy little trees’ moment.

Write More. Write Now.