Patty Mayeux Blog

In my morning writing group, one writer encouraged another who was slogging through a dry patch by suggesting she just write one line. That’s all. One line. It loosens things, gets the gears going and sets more lines in motion. I don’t often get blocked when writing (too many words is more often the issue and as many writers know, writing short is so much harder than writing long). Occasionally, though, an upcoming scene has me stymied. I’ll write in all caps what should happen next, taking the pressure off. It’s quick and dirty, the oil needed to grease the wheels. 

            What of piddly diddly projects calling for your attention? During fifteen-minute breaks from writing time, I can tackle one step. Recently, I ripped the pockets off a too-big, one-size-fits-all Dashiki. I’d been neglecting the resizing project. That first step was all it took to spur me on after the writing was done. It was so simple, rip out the side seams, baste new ones, try it on and low and behold it fit perfectly. What was I so afraid of? That first step. I wrote one line when I took off the pockets. Don’t worry about the whole project. Write one line.