About the writing process
- Process > product. You don’t have to have an end product in mind. We’re practicing writing together.
- Genre doesn’t matter. Just write, however, for 10 minutes each day. Set a timer and use it.
- Don’t censor yourself. No backspace, no editing. When you’re writing, try to write as continuously as possible. You may have a thought in the middle, but try to keep the pen moving through it all.
- Caroline & Janet will email you a prompt every morning. We’ve created a special list of prompts just for this project, along with an inspirational note to get you started.
- Go with your first instinct when you see the prompt. The prompt is merely a jumping-off point, not a directive. It’s totally fine to change the pronouns or tense of the prompt (for instance, if it says, “You go to the store,” you can write a prompt about, “He was going to the store last week when…”)
- Pencil, iPhone, computer, typewriter, fountain pen? Doesn’t matter how you write. Switch it up. Or don’t.
- Go where there’s energy. Even (especially) if it scares you to write about that.
- Write for the full 10 minutes, or more if you want. Keep writing even if the end is just: I have nothing more to say about this. I have nothing more to say about this.
- This doesn’t need to turn into anything. On the other hand, maybe it will turn into something. We recommend putting your writings away and not revisiting them for a few months. They’ll look different to you three months from now and different again in a year.
- Go with your first instinct. It’s best to do the prompt as soon as you see it, or if you see the prompt at a time when you can’t write, try not to let your mind linger on it during the day. Thinking is not writing. Writing is writing.
- Try not to miss any days. If you happen to, it’s fine. Just get back on the horse and write two responses the next day.
- Be kind to yourself and have a fucking blast.
The 18 Somethings Project 