Ever wonder how some people manage to be models of production, tapping out story after story without flagging or stopping? How do they do it? Well, I can tell you and when you hear the answer, you’re going to say, “Well, duh!” but it’s actually a difficult task that not everyone can seem to accomplish without a little push.
The answer is this: BICHOK (Butt In Chair Hands On Keyboard).
Yep, simple and yet, oh so complicated.
How many times have you sat at the computer with good, solid intentions but after staring at the blank screen for a few minutes, wandered off to do something else that seemed far more pressing than your awaiting WIP? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Procrastination is a writer’s bane and the antithesis of success but if you can manage to keep yourself in that chair long enough to pound out a few words, you’re on your way to success.
I’m a prolific writer — but I know writers who make me feel as if I’m standing still. Truly prolific writers have learned how to master the BICHOK concept and have put it to good use.
All writers have tricks up their sleeves, some use aromatherapy by lighting the same candle each and every time they write, tricking the brain with olfactory senses to work hard while others play inspiring music or playlists. Truthfully, I’ve used both of these kinds of inspiration but what truly works for me is good ol’ competition. Huh? You say.
Let me explain. Writing is a solitary endeavor but with the advent of technology, we can feel surrounded by people via our computers. I started writing sprints with friends about two years ago using Yahoo Messenger. We would take 30 minutes and write like fiends, then share our word count. You might be surprised how that tiny elbow nudge of friendly competition can kick the muse in the behind. I’ve since encouraged a few more writing buddies to sprint with me and a revolution has begun of furiously typing writers and collectively we’ve managed to master the BICHOK concept.
Another great aspect of the 30 minute writing sprint is it doesn’t feel like a terribly long while but when you’re finished and you have all those lovely words to account for your time, it feels like quite an accomplishment — far better than your best score at Solitaire or Angry Birds (or whatever your favorite game happens to be).
So, if you need help getting your butt in the chair, why not try one of the ideas I mentioned. You might be surprised how inspired you can be!
Warmly,
Alexx Andria
