What the world's top inventor teaches us about writing
It's not about the grammar
What do you do when you’re stuck on your next writing idea?
When your well has run dry.
Do you scour the internet for inspiration?
Do you call a fellow writer to commiserate?
Do you doubt why you got into this writing jam in the first place?
Do you turn to ChatGPT?
Knowing that everyone gets beached sometimes and that you’re in the company of your writing heroes doesn’t help.
You're still stuck there, alone, with the scary blank page.
So, what can you do?
Benjamin Franklin, master of ideas and action
Listen in on one of history’s most fertile minds—Benjamin Franklin.
His advice applies almost 300 years later.
Who was he?
Memory jog (thanks Google):
This is the man who invented:
• swim fins
• lightning rods
• bifocals
• flexible catheters
• daylight savings time.
He was a:
scientist
inventor
politician
philanthropist
businessman
founding father of the USA.
A master of accessing ideas and taking action on them. The edge belonging to a great inventor.
His bias toward curiosity and action leaves clues for us writers. Especially when we want to write words worth sharing.
How writers can up their game
What did he say on the topic of writing?
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
In other words, when feeling flat, we must take breaks, leave our screens, and explore the world.
Welcome new experiences so that we write engaging words.
To do something worth writing.
Some ideas on how we do this?
Let our interests lead us.
We can put ourselves in new places. It could be as simple as trying out a new cafe.
Or walking without our headphones.
Finding the name of the native bird who comes to visit.
Taking risks. Messaging a writer we admire.
Writing a poem.
We can take notes.
We can take action.
We can connect.
We can contribute.
We can ask questions.
We can answer questions.
We can offer our time.
We can take more time.
As writers, whatever we do, we amplify the experience of living. We’re blessed to live life and also process, record, and share the experience. So the richer our experience of life, the more we have to say.
As the writer Anais Nin said,
We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.
So next time you're out of ideas, rather than wrestle your mind down at the keyboard, get up, look around, and have some fun.
Find something you can engage with and tell us about it.
“Do something worth writing.”
Let's make Benjamin proud.
Inward, onward, upward!
with love,
Jeanette
I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful time of curiosity, creativity, and connection over the holiday season.
Over these next weeks, I’ll be posting less frequently. But I’ll be back soon on a regular schedule with WordsWorthSharing. I look forward to a fabulous 2024 of learning together and exchanging ideas, inspiration, and insights.
Join my new community on Substack Chat.