Nicholas Bate –

1. Clear the desk: totally. If necessary, put everything in a box and put it on the floor.
2. Sharpen four pencils.
3. Get a pad of paper.
4. Start writing.
5. Nothing will appear until you write.
6. You are not stuck-you need to put pencil to paper.
7. You are not blocked-you need to put pencil to paper.
8. You don’t know whether it will be any good until you write.
9. Start. The car drew up. A shot rang out. She collapsed on platform 4. He was staggered to find the notebook. Whatever. Start.
10. No: it’s not the weather. Nor your mother. You need to put pencil to paper.
11. Nor do you really need a new printer nor to clear your e-mail; you actually need to put pencil to paper.
12. He couldn’t believe his luck. They pulled at each as they strolled the beach; would they, could they ever re-create this day? Whatever. Start.
13. Write fast.
14. Write 500 words.
15. Edit.
16. Add. Subtract.
17. Put pencil to paper.
18. It’ll be OK
19. You can write. It’s what you are meant to do.
20. So: write. Right now.