The power of semantics

Emily Winslow · May 18, 2009

I've been struggling with a chapter recently. I knew exactly what new scenes it needed, but every time I sat down to write, I froze. Classic second book paralysis. I gave myself permission to write crap. Still, nothing came out. For two weeks I stalled, intimidated and questioning myself.

Last night I changed the wording on my "to do" list. Instead of listing what I needed to "write" (with all the implications that "writing" is a profound act with certain standards), I listed what I needed to merely "type".

And hey! Two thousand words came tumbling out. (And I think they're pretty good, too...)

Semantics are weird.

Words are powerful.

Just wanted to share that....anyone else have an experience of how the wording of their expectations had an effect?

Becky · May 18, 2009

Half a month 'til a deadline always sounds so much more achievable than two weeks or fourteen days!!

kej5009 · May 18, 2009

Agreed! When I wrote for a monthly magazine, my deadlines always seemed so far away after we finished an issue, until I realized it was only two weeks away!

NeuroFizz · May 18, 2009

Finishing a novel is an incredibly daunting and difficult endeavor. But finishing the next scene isn't.

Stunted · May 18, 2009

Oh! Thank you for sharing this!

peachiemkey · May 18, 2009

1st draft --> 0th draft (no pressure!)

To extend on the write/type thing, stop thinking of yourself as a "writer who writes fabulous artistic writings" - just a "lowly typist who types what the people in her head tell her to."

novel --> book --> story (you're just writing a story vs. trying to write a great literary masterpiece of a novel!)

Matera the Mad · May 18, 2009

I don't write "drafts"

Manix · May 18, 2009

Emily Winslow said:
Semantics are weird.

Words are powerful.

Just wanted to share that....anyone else have an experience of how the wording of their expectations had an effect?

Yeah, I told someone they could really write and they believed me. I hope they still do.

starrykitten · May 19, 2009

Emily Winslow said:
Just wanted to share that....anyone else have an experience of how the wording of their expectations had an effect?

This is a great story. Thanks for sharing.

A friend of mine was going to start jogging and he didn't want to. He'd just seen Donnie Darko with the dance troupe called Sparkle Motion, so instead of putting "jogging" on his list, he called it "sparkle motion." And it worked pretty well for him.

I've tried this a few times, not always with sparkle motion, and it's helped.

One other thing is that putting "write" on a to-do list isn't very specific. How do I know when I've accomplished it? If you can find a specific goal or endpoint, that makes it easier.

ccarver30 · May 19, 2009

I am having the same problem... I hope to have the same solution. :\

Emily Winslow · May 20, 2009

The nicest part of this experience went beyond just getting productive again, which is no small thing.

It was a timely reminder that words are powerful. Not just the words we tell ourselves, but also the words we tell our readers.

Writing is important. It's so lucky to have a job that is this much fun AND makes a darn difference in the world.

caitysdad · May 27, 2009

whenever I get stuck, I jump to something else. I ususally like to print out what I have and keep it in folder. I'll then make notes which are just pages of notebook paper jammed into the file. By the time I am ready to get back to it, my problem is solved. The only drawback is that usually my notes and idea take me in a different direction.

The power of semantics

Emily Winslow

Do Not Walk on the Grass

Becky

kej5009

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

peachiemkey

circuits in the sea

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Manix

Mutatis mutandis

starrykitten

practical experience, FTW

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

Emily Winslow

Do Not Walk on the Grass

caitysdad