One of the first posts I wrote was about what writing with wild abandon means to me. It boils down to four words: don’t think just write.

Like many things “simple” in this world though, those four words are not always as easy as they sound. For example, what if we said: don’t think just drive. But what happens if the car won’t move? What if you have a flat tire? What if you can’t find the keys? What if a million little things happen that you just can’t get the car rolling? (And even if you do get the car going, driving without thinking is not advisable... lol Just saying.)

Getting your writing engine running can be just as frustrating sometimes. That’s why so much of the advice out there is designed to help you get those first words down so that the other words – the good words – can start flowing.

That advice goes something along the lines of: start by writing any old words that come to mind even if they’re not sentences, or write about your day, or write the words to song lyrics you know and when you get to the point where you can’t remember them then make it up, or repeat a few lines over and over again until you just start writing new stuff.

All of these strategies help you to get some words on the page – at least they help some of the time. But there are mornings when it’s like the car chugging over whirRRR-whirRRR-whirRRR but never catching. You’re stuck in the cold never moving, frustrated and alone.

So, is there a sure-fire way to get the engine running EVERY SINGLE TIME?

The answer of course is… no. I wish! That would make our lives so much easier, wouldn’t it?

That’s why we need several different strategies so we can try different things to get the motor running and head out on the writing highway, looking for literary adventure. (All apologies to Steppenwolf…)

I came up with one more strategy. Simple. Deceptively simple. (For real this time.)

The To Write with Wild Abandon Quote Wall Postcard

The To Write with Wild Abandon “quote wall”, small enough to fit on a postcard so you can display anywhere.

Over your desk, on your bookshelf, on your Underwood typewriter, on your wall, on your monitor, on your fridge. Place it carefully on your computer keyboard every night so it’s there for you to read in the morning. Put it up anywhere you want where you can easily see and read it. It’s a handy reminder that writing really should be fun! It can be another tool for you to get motivated and start writing.

While quantities last, I will send subscribers an actual, physical postcard like the one pictured above. Through the mail. No matter where you are in the world. Postage is on me. I’ll even add a personalized message on the back for you.

Or, you can request a PDF and you can print it off yourself.

Visit my sister site, WriteWildly.com, to order your postcard.

BTW, if you’re not a subscriber but want a postcard anyway, no problem. I’ll send you one – I’m not very militant about these things… But if you like the postcard, you’ll probably like this newsletter, so why not subscribe anyway?

Until next time, have a great week – and keep writing with wild abandon!

~Graham

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