Hope Writes

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The bulimic writer appears to be a “healthy” writer, but in reality she is just as puny as the anorexic writer.

Rather than totally starving herself, the bulimic writer goes on writing binges. She has an incredible idea for a novel and sets into writing for weeks. Then, her writing well dries up and she becomes blocked, so she puts the novel aside. Several months later, she picks it up again, works on it for a few more weeks, then stops again.

This on again, off again relationship with writing is a volatile one. It’s a dangerous game to play. When you become a bulimic writer, you risk your self-esteem and self-confidence in your writing. This is a deadly game for any writer.

A struggling bulimic writer may display some of these symptoms:

• Intermittent binges of writing
• Going on a writing “fast”
• Preoccupied with acquiring all the “right” writing tools
• Writing in secret

What To Do If You’re A Bulimic Writer

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Someone once said that the first step to fixing a problem is to first admit you have one. Here are some easy steps to take if you think you’re a bulimic writer:

BE CONSISTENT. For many bulimic writers, a slow, steady diet of writing works well. Rather than going on binges of writing, set yourself at a steady writing pace. Plan for 30 minutes of writing time each day. No more, no less. Consistency will give you a much-needed structure to your daily routine.

NURTURE YOUR WRITER’S SOUL. One of the worst things for a writer to do is go on a writing fast and not write anything at all. You’ll feel miserable the entire time, and for good reason. You’re a writer–you’re meant to write. When you feel the urge to go on a fast from writing, remind yourself that writing needs you, as much as you need it.

KEEP IT SIMPLE. If you’re not careful, you can become so enamored with having all the right writing tools that you forget about writing. If you write on a computer, forget about trying to find and download the “best” writing software. Simply open up Word, Notepad, or whatever program is already installed on your computer and get busy. If you enjoy writing by hand, grab a notebook and pen and write. Stop worrying about having the perfect writing tools and just apply yourself to having written something.

MAKE YOUR WRITING PORTABLE. One symptom of a bulimic writer is feeling the need to write in private. This might be because you’re afraid of receiving negative feedback, or you are not confident enough in your writing to share it with others. Whatever the reason, you should learn to make your writing portable. A notebook and ink pen are two of my best friends. They can be slipped into a bag, or carried by hand just about anywhere, for when the writing bug bites. When you can become comfortable enough to make your writing portable, you’ll begin to notice a deeper relationship form with writing.

DON’T LABEL YOURSELF JUST YET. All too often, writers place labels on themselves: I’m a…

• freelance magazine writer
• copywriter
• ghostwriter
• novel writer
• blogger

This simple act of labeling yourself can sometimes have a tendency to make you feel blocked. You literally place yourself into a box because you still aren’t comfortable in your own writing skin. Instead, simply say, “I write.”

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 8:04 am and is filed under Writing tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.