Getting started

New writers (as well as some experienced writers) will often say that the hardest part of writing is getting started.

And so for many people - myself included - the inertia around starting to write means that sometimes they don’t write at all.

If this sounds familiar to you the first step towards solving the problem is owning it. The idea of the accomplished academic or professional author sitting down and all their words coming out and landing in the right places on the page is much more an ideal than a reality.

So if more of us own our ‘writing procrastinator’ badge the more others can see how this is often a very normal part of the process.

Personally I can sometimes find the inertia around starting a project helpful because it gives my ideas more time to develop. But it is true that at some point you do just need to start.

And every writer needs to find what starting looks like for them.

Just because you’ve read a productivity tip recommending you write 1000 words (or whatever) each morning before opening your inbox doesn’t mean that approach will work for you.

Putting down a draft title or some headings into your document could be all you need to get traction. Or you might want to start with your conclusions or with a list of figures. You might want to put your tables together, or you might even want to start with your reference list. Whatever works!

And you’ll probably find that even the smallest amount of text on your page or in your document is enough to break that starting barrier.

So when it comes to writing, take time to notice how, when and where you work best and honour your own process.