10 Tips To Keep Writing - When Everything Feels A Bit Hard
We’re constantly being told that this is a tough time to be working in the Arts, so here are some tips to hopefully help you stay creative, proactive and excited about making work.
Article written by Lydia Marchant.
Make Writing Fit Around Your Life
Most people have loads going on in their lives - whether that’s a full time job, studying or caring responsibilities. It’s totally fine to not have the time for a week-long Writers Retreat or to write at your desk 9-5.
A tip another writer taught me is to find a small amount of time in your day (for me it’s early in the morning, for others it could be on a lunch break or last thing at night) and just write 5 pages. Some days you might write more, sometimes less, but I think 5 pages is a useful target.
You might even find having a short, limited window to write in makes you more productive.
Funding Is Out There (But You Might Need To Really Search For It)
We all know The Arts are strapped for cash but there are still pots of money out there.
If you’re imagining your work will have a ‘finished product’ like a work-in-progress sharing or even a production, take a look at the Arts Council Project Grants.
If you’re more looking for the time, space and support to write, an Arts Council Developing Your Creative Practice bid might suit you better.
The Arts Council application process can be difficult but, if you’ve got access needs, they can pay for a support worker to write your bid. Or if you contact your local theatre, someone there (usually a producer, artist development coordinator or associate director) might be able to look over your application and give you some tips.
Success rates are low at the moment, so don’t feel disheartened if your application isn’t successful first time round. You can reapply.
Another great funding source I’ve used is the Peggy Ramsay Foundation. They offer pots of money to cover your rent and bills etc while you’re writing, or even resources, like laptops.
Other funding is out there - BBC Writers, ArtsAdmin weekly round up or producer Linda Bloomfield’s Opportunity Tuesday newsletters are good places to find it.
London Isn’t Everything
Running out of money and having to leave London after drama school was the best thing that could have happened to me. I moved back to my hometown, developed meaningful relationships with theatre companies there (by doing writers groups, scratch nights, short plays and working with the Youth Theatre), and eventually wrote a full length play that my local theatre wanted to commission.
There are so many amazing opportunities in London but also loads of competition. So, even if you live in London, it’s worth keeping in touch with producing theatres or companies in areas of the country you feel connected to.
Look at the opportunities pages on their websites or ask for a coffee or Zoom. Find out what they can offer writers.
Apply Apply Apply…
Submit plays or applications to everything you possibly can. Commissions, schemes, writers groups. It can be time consuming, but you never know when one will come off. Again, BBC Writers’ opportunities page is a great resource.
…But (Try Your Best To) Block Out The Rejection
I know it’s not easy - and I don’t always follow this rule. But rejection really does mean nothing. I’ve had the same script be successful on one scheme and then get rejected at the first round of another.
Give yourself 10 minutes to be sad / annoyed. Then delete the email and move on. Absolutely every writer gets rejected, the successful ones keep going.
…And Relationships Are Even More Important
I’ve done one brilliant scheme which totally changed my life. But most other opportunities I’ve had have come from relationship building. That DOESN’T mean networking (thank God). It was more about applying for writers groups or scratch nights, meeting Artistic Directors in interviews (even when my application wasn’t successful), working with different people and having them see my work.
Relationships don’t turn into opportunities overnight. It might take years. But I promise you it’s worth it.
Go Out and Get Inspired
I find the best inspiration can come from listening to conversations on public transport (not in a creepy way), reading weird news articles or stories friends tell me in the pub.
Seeing and reading LOADS of plays is also really important. If you like the play, it could inspire you to try a different form or storytelling style - and it’s a great way of finding future collaborators. And if you don’t, it might help you think about what you want to write.
Tickets can be expensive, but lots of theatres have deals (like last minute tickets, artist discounts or Under 35 schemes). You could subscribe to ‘NT At Home,’ watch all the plays in a month and then cancel the subscription. And fringe / student / youth theatre / amateur shows are cheaper but just as valuable.
Learn How To Take Notes
(Almost) nobody writes a perfect first draft. Writing is about redrafting. And the key to redrafting is getting the right feedback or notes.
Be really open to notes. Ask questions but don’t argue with the note-giver. Sometimes the notes you agree with in the room don’t work when you sit down to write the next draft. And likewise the note you initially disagreed with might turn out to be really useful.
If you hate a note, dig into it. Maybe the problem the note giver is identifying is right, but the ‘fix’ they’re suggesting is wrong.
Find people you trust. I’ve come unstuck by showing a script to absolutely everyone and getting lots of contradictory notes. Find the people who give notes the way you like to receive them. This could be a writers group leader, someone at a theatre, a friend or family member. (My mum gives incredible notes).
No Writing Is Wasted
If you feel like you’ve got to the end of the line with a script or you can’t finish it, pop it in a drawer. (Physical or metaphorical). You might find a use for it later on. (My super naturalistic debut play MUMSY, about the cost of living crisis, started out as a dystopian sci fi!) A character or theme from it might appear in a future play. Or the reason why that play didn’t work might inspire your next one. Writing is all about learning and nothing is a waste.
It’s Fine Not To Write
The world is a weird place at the moment. If you’re struggling to find the time or motivation to write, that’s totally fine. Don’t beat yourself up. Your brain will be thinking up ideas and solving problems even when you’re not sat at your laptop. The inspiration will come back, believe it.
