Salaam Reader,

This week’s email is a quick one, because as writers, reading about writing can make us feel like we’re writing. But I don’t need to tell you that it’s just another way we avoid writing 😂

Why then is sitting down to write one of the hardest parts of being a writer? Here are some thoughts to sit with:

Maybe you’re afraid of the blank page, and you’re not sure what to write about.

Maybe you’re afraid that nothing you write will be good.

Maybe you’re afraid to discover you’re not a writer after all.

All writers, no matter how successful they are, face these fears. Here’s the best way that I know to combat this feeling: freewriting to a simple writing prompt.

If you’re not familiar with the term, to freewrite is to, simply put, write freely. Just go where the writing is taking you. Don’t worry or think about what you’re going to write about, don’t worry about grammar or punctuation, whether your sentences are too long or too short, or even about word choice. Don’t pause to reread what you’ve written and don’t cross anything out. Just keep writing. Set a timer for yourself, whether it’s 2 minutes or 10 minutes or half an hour, start and keep writing until your timer goes off.

If you don’t know what to write about, use a simple writing prompt.

Here’s one that I used in my membership, Grounded Writers, a few weeks ago. One of the writers who hadn't written anything in a very long time, said she was surprised at how much she wrote. I’m confident you’ll have the same experience, InshaAllah.

Here’s the prompt: Start with “I don’t remember…”

If you use the prompt, let me know how your writing went!

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With best wishes for your writing,

Hajera Khaja Writer + Creative Writing Teacher & Coach

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