Writing That One Good Page

Reviewing a writing tip from Shonda Rhimes.

Photo by Mike Tinnion on Unsplash

Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, published a TikTok video last month listing her three writing tips for viewers to get inside their writing zone. They consisted of the following abbreviated items:

1) Get some really good music that you can listen to on your headphones.

2) Make sure all of your excuses for writing are gone.

3) Clear your mind and promise yourself you only have to write one good page.

Shonda Rhimes shares 3 writing hacks for getting in the zone. #writinghelp #writingislife

Of the three tips, the one that stands out the most for me is the third.

Yes, music listening has inspired me before and during writing sessions, especially when there’s a particular song that’s associated with one of my fictional characters in a short story or chapter from a novel I’m working on. However, too much of engaging in this activity leads me to start dancing around my apartment and stop working.

I don’t have a problem eliminating excuses, but I sometimes still need to work on distractions that…