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635 words

Hey Reader,

My Cupboard of Doom (not a euphemism) has been an absolute disgrace for more than two years now.

I’ve been avoiding it like a champion because I knew it’d be a much bigger task than it seemed on the surface and I was RIGHT because this weekend I finally tackled it and there were horrors.

I pulled out everything and was baffled because there was far more stuff than could physically fit into the little room, so in good news I’ve discovered a new dimension of time and space.

In good news, I got rid of a load of mouldy old boxes.

And further good news, I discovered a lot of VERY expensive training courses I’d bought and half-finished or abandoned over the years and I’m gonna be giving some of these away so keep your eyes peeled.

In the best news of all, I now have a cupboard I can walk into, use to make packages and postage gubbins, AND I have a shiny new standing desk at which I am writing this as you read it (kind of) while standing up.

I did the thing!

But not because I wanted to.

I did it because I bought a fancy-pants new standing desk and decided that I couldn’t have my shiny new toy unless I also sorted out the cupboard-based shit-show.

(And also Joe helped me because he is the BEST husband in the entire universe.)

I knew I wasn’t gonna clear out the cupboard just because, so I sneaked up on it by making it part of something funner.

Which is how I also get myself writing sometimes.

And how I get my clients writing when they’re struggling to get started, too.

Next time you are absolutely, definitely, positively going to start writing your book but your brain has other ideas, try this:

Stop trying to start the thing you “have” to start, and play a game instead.

Here’s one of my favourites: The Pick A Word Game.

Write down these 3 words: sheep, banana, pyjamas.

I like this game because you can use the three words I’ve just given you here, or you can generate random words on the random word generator here: https://randomwordgenerator.com/

Or, you can take 3 keywords on the topic you want to write about.

Then you do this:

1. Set a timer for five minutes.
2. Write down your 3 words.
3. Pick one of those 3 words as the first word you write. It must be the first word of the first sentence you write.
4. Start your timer and begin writing. Write as fast as you can and don’t stop to edit. Write anything that comes into your head.
5. The other two words must appear at least once in your first paragraph.
6. Write for the whole five minutes. Don’t stop to think. Don’t stop to edit. Don’t stop, full stop!

Sit back, and look at what you’ve written. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised...

Here’s one I made earlier…

Give it a try, it might be the most fun you’ve had with words all day.

If you’d like more where that came from, get a copy of my book How the hell do you write a book which is everything you need to know to write your book. Hurrah!

TTFN,

Vicky 🫡

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