When I decide to write, I have one key phrase that I keep in the back of my head: “Just Keep Writing.” It’s a phrase that I mostly felt inspired by through wrestling, specifically a wrestler named Kevin Owens who is a prizefighter who loves to bet on himself while wearing a shirt with the key words, “Just Keep Fighting” bolded to the back. Kevin Owens is a wrestler who keeps going and keeps fighting even when he knows he’s in a losing situation. Imagine: Kevin Owens being dragged out in front of a crowd of people by his rival Tama Tonga, his face caked in blood, his body collapsing as Tama Tonga keeps attacking him with punches before officials come down to break it up. But just as Kevin is taken away by referees and doctors, he pushes away from them and bolts down to the ring to continue fighting Tama Tonga and Solo Sikoa. It’s a very moving moment for me because writing also takes this kind of determination.
The thing that I find both exciting and difficult about writing is how it is essentially a never-ending battle. It is something that one can’t dictate or control. Just as I finish one story, another one comes into my head. The phrase “Just Keep Writing” keeps me motivated to write more and more. With that mindset, when I am done with a piece, it doesn’t have to be perfect; I just wrote something that makes me proud.
Another technique that helps me keep writing is using my own set word count. Every day, I think, “How many words did I write? Did I write anything at all?” Even the smallest of sentences means I’m progressing little by little. Whenever I get more comfortable with a word count, I’ll increase it slowly but surely, so I know what my limit is and to keep myself going.
Looking at the blog archive, I can see I’m not the only one who has said the phrase, “Just Keep Writing,” or at least used it. It’s comforting to see writers have some similar thoughts about the way of writing. Even if we have our own way back to the ring, we all find the path to “Just Keep Writing”.
