For those times when writing is a hassle, take Thoreau’s advice and simplify

"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" The quote website I found told me those words of Henry David Thoreau are from the chapter "Where I Lived and What I Lived For" in his delightful philosophical essay/book, "Walden."

I don't have my "Walden" handy to check the quote, but I do recall reading it years ago and remembering the quote as "Simplify, simplify, simplify!" Either version makes the point I have found very helpful when my writing life becomes too much and the joy seems to have died. I find I really just need to simplify things.

1. Get back to simpler writing. As a freelance writer hoping to make some money to pay the bills, there is always the temptation to take every bit of work that comes along. That's a mistake. It'll wear you down and wear you out.

2. Get back to simpler times and simpler tools to do your writing. With all the high-tech goodies and gadgets out there, even writers fall prey to the temptations faced by S.W.A.T. teams looking to load up all possible tactical gear for every possible situation. There's simply a limit to the gear S.W.A.T. members can handle, and likewise there are useful tools but they can become the object of your writing time and process instead of actually WRITING. By way of illustration: Two of the most successful writers I know got their start with pens and steno pads, and often return to that for doing their first drafts when life gets to be an over-complicated hassle.

3. Get back to the simple passions that got you started writing. I'm taking the summer to dig into Western writing, a genre I've loved since I first was old enough to read, go to movies, and later watch on television. Have you overloaded your writing tasks and interests and gotten away from your passion?

Take Thoreau's advice. You won't regret it, and your writing will benefit from it.

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