You might have heard of the movie Stuck in Love. When you see the movie for the first time, it will give you inspiration as a writer. It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen for people who want to be writers. Besides its cliché name, there’s lessons here.
Study the movie as if you were reading a book and see what you can take away from it yourself. Get a pen and paper because you’ll want to take notes. There are five takeaways that writers can use from Stuck in Love.
Keep Writing Every Day
It doesn’t matter how good you think you are. From Stephen King to Dorothea Brande, all writers must continue to work on their craft. Create a time and space for writing. If you are a writer, take your craft seriously.
You can start small, writing a few hundred words a day. Over time, you’ll be writing a couple thousand words per day. The words will fly on to the paper or your computer screen. Write without a structured goal in mind. The key is to keep writing. You will get stronger along the way.
If you need inspiration, write about what you did yesterday and what you plan on doing today.
It’s important that you pick the same time every day to write. I write in the morning. When you write in the morning, you need not concern yourself with the distractions that can arise later in the day. Have a goal for the number of words you want to write.
The days will switch. One day it’ll be easy to hit your goal. Another day, it will be grueling. This is part of the journey of becoming a successful writer.
Writing Will Never Leave You
In the movie, one of the main characters, Bill, goes through a divorce. He was an acclaimed writer, but he lost touch for his craft. The weeks turned into years. Three years had come and gone. He hadn’t written over those years. This didn’t mean that he’d never write again.
If you love writing, it’ll never go away. Sometimes you don’t want to write. You might take time away. Maybe you’re going through writer’s block. You’re not perfect. This happens to everyone.
It’s okay, you can come back to writing. When you don’t drive a car for a while, it doesn’t mean that you don’t know how to drive. You must shake the rust off, but after a month, you can write again.
When you find yourself in a rut, look for inspiration. There are events occurring every day that can spark you to write. You may not realize where it will appear. Trust in yourself that you’ll be able to take upon your craft. Remember the times that writing gave you joy; you were your best-self.
Experience Life
What will you write about if you stay inside every day? You need to experience the world firsthand. I guarantee this will spark inspiration in you. When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Travel somewhere new, somewhere you wouldn’t think of going. Take a class on a subject you know nothing about. You need to get out of your comfort zone. As a writer, you will need to write about events you don’t have direct experience of. If you stick to what you know best, you won’t grow.
I’m not saying you should go out every night. You should plan a few events every month that will get you out of your comfort zone. At first, it can be one event a month, then increase. Meet new people and see new sights.
You won’t be able to use the excuse that you have nothing to write. We live in a vast world with copious amounts of events. I recommend doing one action every week that scares you.
When you can sense yourself resisting a task, you need to do it.
This will strengthen you and you will become a better writer.
Keep a journal
How often do you carry a journal around for yourself? You can keep a small one that fits in your purse or pant pocket. When you’re experiencing life, you need to write what you are feeling. One idea could be the start of a best-seller.
Throughout the day, you can find inspiration everywhere for your next book. No matter how stupid it may sound, you need to write it. Your ideas will be plentiful. Your characters will form before your eyes. The setting will appear and the basis of your book comes alive.
It’s been said the sharpest mind is no match for the dullest pencil. Let yourself express your ideas in every form. No idea should be thrown aside. Treat your ideas well and safeguard them. Let them play out in your journal. When others ask what you are writing, say, “The next best-seller.”
You’ll have book and article ideas that can escape you in a moment’s notice. They appear in your mind, then your attention is gone. You’re next dashing piece of work never came to fruition. When you keep a journal of ideas, you’re bound to have to bottle your inspiration.
Not Everyone Will Be Happy for You
People might be envious of you when you succeed. There will be naysayers. You’ll tell someone you want to write a book. They’ll tell you that’s hard work, but have they ever written a book themselves?
When people can’t do something, they tell you that you can’t.It’s hard being successful, no matter what you do. You don’t need those who put you below them. In a world of negativity, find those who are positive.
Your friends and family could tell you how hard it is. They’re looking out for your safety. But no one has accomplished greatness by playing it safe. Boats rest in the harbor, but that’s not what they’re meant for. Set sail out of your comfort zone.
People come and go. As you grow as a person, your circle of influence will get smaller. Surround yourself with people who have the same dream. They’re out there, but you have to be searching.
As a writer, you’ll take encouragement from the movie Stuck in Love. Don’t take my word for it, you must see it yourself.
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