Some time ago I realised that I didn't always follow the urge to write when it struck me, and wrote a list of reasons why I'd ignore the urge:
- No time. I have to go out in an hour, so there's no point. When I come back, the urge will have gone.
- I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said more skillfully by somebody else.
- There's no point if nobody is ever going to read it. If I'm going to let people read it I open myself to rejection and criticism.
- If I was going to be a good author I'd have started honing my skills at a young age. I've left it too late.
- If I start writing, I'll carry on all day and nothing will get done.
- If someone comes in and catches me writing, they might ask what I'm writing and I'll have to try and explain it to them when I don't even understand it myself yet.
- What if it takes me where I don't want to go?
- If I don't write, I can tell myself that if I did, I would have written a best seller when realistically, I'd just be dissatisfied with whatever I write.
- I don't think I'll be able to get the pure idea down on paper without ruining it with clumsy style. I don't want to spoil the idea.
- I'm not in the mood, not really.
- My printer isn't working, so I can't print it off, anyway.
- I just have to have breakfast/check my emails/load the dishwasher first.
As soon as I put the pen down it occurred to me that it would be more productive to write a list of reasons why I should write when I got the urge, so here is that list, too.
- If I've got the urge, I am in the mood.
- Whatever I have to say is better out than in. It might be I need to get something off my chest or something inside me needs a voice. In the absence of anyone to talk to, writing is great therapy.
- Even if it is crap, when I look over it later I might find some gems which can be polished and developed.
- After I'm dead whoever gets lumbered with sorting out my stuff may realise what I had to say was worthwhile. I could end up helping someone from beyond the grave.
- If it's true that stories are out there in the ether meant for me and me alone to transcribe, who am I to deny them their voice?
- When I was younger, I enjoyed writing and creating. I shouldn't deny that side of me now.
- When I finish, there'll be a sense of achievement.
- So what if I only have ten minutes? What else useful am I likely to do in that time?
- The palest ink is stronger than the clearest memory, they say. Once it's written down the idea is there and I can pick up the threads later.
- I might learn something. I know what it's like to be writing away and suddenly get a thought that makes such perfect sense that I nearly laugh out loud (my husband would say that if it's common sense, it can't possibly have come from me) or the story starts telling itself.
- If fear is stopping me, then I should be trying to conquer my fears.
- If a bunch of monkeys on typewriters randomly would eventually come up with the works of Shakespeare then surely I'd come up with something good eventually too.
