Berserker by Berserker
Launching any scribbling endeavor can be daunting. When I started my blog a year ago, I was looking for a way to hold myself accountable and put everything I knew about scribbling into a coherent and readable format. It seemed like an overwhelming task, but doing it as a series of blog posts let me focus on one chapter at a time. Over the year, I logged copious content and uncovered new insights along the way.
One piece of advice I gave my son when he was writing his first novel was to generate short stories with his characters and see where they led. This way, he could develop his characters and storylines without feeling overwhelmed by the idea of scribbling an entire novel from scratch. It made the task seem much more manageable, so eventually, he could weave the stories together into a cohesive book. This worked well. His first novel’s called “Bushido Berserker: The Saga of Sweyn Ironside,” check it out on Amazon. His success reminded me that breaking down a big task into smaller, digestible chunks is a great way to tackle it.
Whether compiling your thoughts on scribbling for a work of non-fiction, writing a novel or a screenplay, or embarking on any large creative project, here's a simple formula to make it more manageable:
Set Small Goals: Instead of aiming to scribble an entire book, focus on a chapter or short story at a time. This helps maintain momentum and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed. Set a daily or weekly word count goal, even just 500 words per day, or complete one scene per week.
Create a Schedule: Establish a routine where you work on your project regularly, whether it's daily, weekly, or at another interval that suits you. Consistency is key. Block out dedicated writing time in your calendar and treat it as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself and your pen or keyboard.
Create Accountability: Whether it's a blog that nobody will read, a writing group, or online community, accountability vibes can motivate you to keep going. Knowing that someone might read your work can be a powerful incentive. Consider joining a local writers' group, participating in online writing challenges, or my OG path to getting pages done - finding a scribbling pal to share your progress with.
Celebrate Progress: As you complete every chunk, take a beat to celebrate. Acknowledge your achievement or treat yourself to something special. A Twix? A bath? A walk outside? Recognizing progress helps maintain motivation, reinforcing the idea that you're doing the work, even if the finish line seems far away.
Embrace Imperfection: Your first draft will never be perfect. The goal is to get your ideas on paper so you can revise and refine them downstream. Allowing yourself to write freely without constant self-editing can help you maintain momentum and avoid getting stuck in the impossible pursuit of that perfect sentence.
Take Breaks: Yes, consistency is important. It's also essential to make time to recharge. Take breaks to avoid burnout and tune up a fresh perspective. Step away from your scribbles to engage in activities that inspire and energize you. I like reading, taking a walk, or painting my legions of mini-troops from Warhammer 40,000.
Whatever project you're tackling, breaking it into manageable pieces is a tried-and-true way to keep moving forward. It's not just about making progress—it's about savoring the process. If you set small goals, create a schedule, find accountability, celebrate progress, embrace imperfection, and paint expensive plastic soldiers, even you can turn a daunting scribbling endeavor into a sequence of achievable milestones. Every journey begins with a single step. Or in my son’s case, a single berserker!
