PROGRAM: “IN A WORD”
EPISODE: WRITING PROGRAMS

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I’m Candace Hastings with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.

Novelist Henry Miller called it his “program.” It was his daily plan for writing a long novel. One of his “commandments” to himself reads: “Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!” Too often, Miller knew, life gets in the way of completing a big writing project.

Trying to write a long document—be it a novel, a scholarly article, a dissertation, or a business plan—can feel overwhelming, and many writers get lost and never finish. But having a program can make all the difference.

Start by understanding your end goal. It’s amazing how many people set out to write a dissertation or business plan without ever having read one. So start by reading an example of your document and noting its content and structure.

Then, break the project into smaller goals and give each a deadline. For example, if you need to write a 35-page article, you might plan to write seven pages a week for five weeks, then leave three weeks for getting feedback and two weeks for editing.

Next, plot out what you should accomplish in a month, a week, or a day. Few of us have the luxury of devoting whole days to nothing but writing, so we have to schedule it around other obligations.

Are you a morning person or a night person? Whichever, set aside your most productive time for writing. Make each session last no more than a few hours to avoid burnout. And be realistic. Leave time for leisure. Miller did.

He added to his list of instructions a reminder to: “Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it!” While scheduling time to “keep human” will help you stay productive, limit distractions during your actual writing time. Turn off your phone and unplug from the Internet.

Of course, there will be days you won’t be able to stick to your schedule, so include an emergency clause. For example, provide for a few sick days during the project. Just make sure your contingency plans don’t become a loophole for getting out of work.

Use sports psychology tenets to help you be successful. Visualize yourself writing. Tell yourself that you are a writer. And, while you’re working hard, try to enjoy the experience.

Some final words of inspiration from Miller: “Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.”

This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Hastings, helping you make every word count.
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