Writing Advice: If the Fish Are Biting, Don’t Stop Fishing

My friend Tyler once told a story about a fishing trip he went on with his dad. He said they didn’t catch a single fish for the first few days, but then — as they were about to pack up the last day — the fish started biting.

Tyler and his dad caught one fish after another as the sun went down. They didn’t plan to stay out so late, but they refused to stop as long as the fish were biting.

They remained on the lake for hours, reining in one fish after another. That one night ultimately redeemed their fishing weekend, and they went home sweaty and smiling with a surplus of fish.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized Tyler’s story is a useful analogy for writing. Some days the fish are biting and some days they’re not.

I’ve read hundreds of stories about writer’s block — the literary equivalent to a bad fishing day. We all know how those days feel.

Sometimes I can’t string together a coherent sentence. I sit at my computer for an hour revising the same paragraph. I feel frustrated, unproductive, and uninspired. On those days, I seek inspiration by reading or taking a walk. Then I keep “fishing,” but I know it may be difficult to hook a big one that day.

But few writers talk about the other side of the equation: the good fishing days. The occasional stories you’ll find about good writing days are so bogged down with references to “The Muse” and “flow states” that they lack any practical application.

So what can we do when we stumble across these rare writing days when inspiration strikes?

How to take advantage when the fish are biting

Every once in a while, writing feels easy. My fingers fly across the keys, birthing new concepts from somewhere deep within. My inner editor shuts up and caps his red pen as I catch one fish after another on my literary line.

I hope you know this feeling because it’s amazing. It’s one of the things that gives me the confidence to continue writing.

When these mythical moments occur, I continue writing as long as I can.
I stay up late, forgo my other hobbies, and stay at my computer.
I try to stay in the zone for as long as possible.

As Henry David Thoreau advised, “Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.”

Here are a few ideas to help you write while the heat is in you

As a writer, you’ll have a lot of days that you don’t catch any fish. You’re not alone. Every writer has felt the same way you do now. Your task is to not give up. Seek out inspiration. Take a walk. Listen to some music. Go for a run. Then keep fishing.

But on those lucky days when inspiration is on your side, take full advantage. Drop everything else and pick up a pen. Seize the moment — even if that means writing until 1 am.

Pause everything and sit down

If you’re lucky enough for inspiration to strike when you’re home and have a few minutes to spare, sit down at your desk and write, write, write. Sometimes 15 minutes of inspiration can yield more pages than 3 hours of standard writing time.

Keep a notebook on your person

Start a writing notebook (if you don’t already have one). When you think of ideas for articles, headlines, or interesting writing topics, write them down immediately. If you have the time to write the full story that’s on your mind, go for it. But if you don’t have time to flesh it out, at least write the key quotes that come to mind. Don’t just write the high-level theme; write the actual words you want to use. Doing so will help you bottle the technical details of the idea, which can help you bring the story to life later.

Use your phone

Dictate notes into your phone. Sometimes an idea hits me at an inconvenient time like when I’m driving. I’ve found it helpful to record voice notes to capture the essence of the idea while the concept is fresh.

Have a dream journal

Keep a notebook on your nightstand so you can jot down ideas that come to you in your dreams. Some of the best ideas strike when our brains are free-wheeling in dreamland.

Seize the moment

Even better, if you wake up with an idea in the middle of the night, get out of bed and write about it. Sleep can wait for a bit while you reel in the massive sturgeon on your line.

If the fish are biting, don’t stop fishing. You may be able to catch enough fish to compensate for all of those nights of bad fishing.