Focus On The Next Word
Sometimes, good ideas are like mansions; right away, you are able to sense that there are many rooms waiting to be unlocked. But this isn’t always the case, and good ideas don’t always feel like they’re packed with potential. Sometimes, a blank page or an incomplete manuscript feels daunting. And for those ideas that don't feel like mansions waiting to be explored, there is a solution: just focus on the next word. This is what playwright E.L. Doctorow advised: “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” Even when you can't see the full path or your destination, what you can see is enough for you to keep moving forward.
A novel is simply one word placed after another, then another, and another. Words become sentences, sentences become paragraphs, and paragraphs become stories — it’s that simple. Every click of the keyboard is just one more step in an essay. When you acknowledge that each tiny step carries weight and significance, you turn what seems like an overwhelming burden into a manageable challenge, making uncertainty a canvas rather than a roadblock. When you focus on the small changes, the blank page no longer looks daunting. Don’t focus on the empty space, focus on the word that will come after your blinking cursor. After all, every great feat is just the accumulation of small but powerful steps.
Writing is a practice of trusting your creative instincts; focusing on the next word tethers you to your immediate and instinctual creativity, alleviating pressure to craft a perfect manuscript from the get-go. Like driving in the dark, just trust your headlights and focus on what's in front of you. Instead of shoehorning your thoughts into the contours of an initial idea, let them evolve naturally and see where your creative intuition leads you. If writing feels like an overwhelming quest for perfection, release your need for a grand vision. Allow yourself to explore, experiment, and express freely. You don’t need to have it all figured out from the start because the next word contains a power to alter your ultimate destination.
Begin with one word, then another, and watch how your piece unfolds — perhaps, in ways you didn’t expect. The mystery of the route can make the journey more satisfying, and the uncertainty can make the destination unexpectedly rich and rewarding.
