The Snark | 17 Words

The “17 Words” Dilemma: When Writing Goes Right, but You’re Not Sure How

It was a regular day at the bar when James Joyce’s writer friend sat down, ordered a strong drink. Joyce turned to his friend and asked, “How’s it going?” The friend sighed and muttered something about writing so little that day—a veritable writing famine. 17 words to be exact.

17 words in one whole long, long day. Yup, you read that right.

Joyce, being the ever-encouraging writer’s guru, nodded approvingly. “Not so bad, friend,” he said. And to be honest, the “not so bad” is where this whole thing could have ended. But then the writer paused, stared down into his glass, and quietly added, “But I’m not sure they’re in the right order.”

The tragi-comedy of this moment lies not just in the absurdity of writing 17 words in a day (hey, we’ve all been there) but in the fact that even those 17 words, when not in the “right” order, could still have been something amazing in the future. It’s the uncertainty, the unpredictable nature of writing that we writers love to hate. But that uncertainty? It’s also what makes writing such a beautiful, maddening process.

When Writing Feels Like You’re Staring Into a Void (and It’s Okay)

Let’s face it: writing can be a grind. We’ve all had days when we’re not even sure what’s happening to the words on the page. You sit down with a coffee, armed with your best intentions, and then… nothing. Not even 17 words. The sentences don’t flow, your characters don’t feel alive, and you’re left questioning your existence. That’s the fun part of being a writer, right? The struggle, the frustration, the existential crises that come with each keystroke.

But then, sometimes—just sometimes—something magical happens. You write a sentence, and it feels like you didn’t even write it. It’s almost as if the words came from somewhere else. Somewhere beyond your control, beyond your expectations, and certainly beyond your initial coffee-fueled enthusiasm. It’s a little like those moments when you accidentally write something brilliant, and the only thing you can do is sit back, slack-jawed, and think, “Did I just do that?”

This, my friends, is the writer’s equivalent of hitting the lottery without even buying a ticket. You don’t know how you did it, but it’s there, shining on the page. And suddenly, for a fleeting moment, you forget about your failed 17-word days. Those moments of shock and delight are what keep us coming back for more. They keep us writing, even when we’re pretty sure we’re doing everything wrong.

The Gift of Accidental Genius (aka, Karma for Writers)

Here’s where it gets weird. When you write something truly great, it doesn’t feel like “you” wrote it. It feels more like a gift. A gift from something bigger than you, like karma or some cosmic force that just happened to stop by your desk that day. Maybe you were due for a little luck, or maybe it was just your time. Who knows?

But that moment, when the words come together with an elegance that surprises even you, is something writers live for. It’s not about effort—it’s about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right amount of coffee (or wine, depending on the day). And that, folks, is a rare and beautiful thing. It’s like getting a sneak peek into the magic of writing without all the messy work that comes with it. It’s almost too good to be true.

But here’s the catch: when you get that burst of brilliance, you also get the very real reminder that you didn’t do it yourself. You didn’t sweat and bleed over that perfect line for hours. It just... appeared. And as much as you might want to take credit for it, there’s a quiet part of you that knows it came from somewhere beyond your control. If you’re lucky enough to have one of these moments, you’ll understand what I mean. If not, don’t worry. We’ve all had to sweat through the 17-word days first.

How to Write Like a Genius (Without Actually Doing It)

Now, let’s talk about the real kicker: how do we make those moments of accidental brilliance happen more often? The truth is, there’s no real answer. You can’t will those perfect sentences into existence. Trust me, I’ve tried. You can try every writing hack, every piece of advice about outlining and plotting, but when it comes down to it, the genius doesn’t always show up on command. You just have to keep showing up at the page.

But here’s where the real magic happens: instead of overthinking it, allow yourself to write badly sometimes. Allow the mistakes, the missteps, the awkward sentences that might not be in the “right” order. Because—spoiler alert—the more you let yourself make mistakes, the more likely you are to stumble upon the moments of brilliance that make the struggle worth it. Even James Joyce’s friend only wrote 17 words, but there’s a chance one of those words could have been the start of something amazing.

Embrace the Chaos of Writing

Look, writing isn’t always glamorous. In fact, it’s often frustrating, confusing, and sometimes downright painful. But here’s the thing: those moments of accidental genius are the payoffs for all the days you spent writing 17 words (or less). The universe will throw you a bone, and when it does, you’ll remember that no matter how much chaos and uncertainty there is in your writing, it’s all part of the process.

And if you’re really lucky? You might even get to look at those accidental words and think, “How the hell did I do that?” But you’ll never quite know. And that’s what makes writing the most unpredictable, beautiful, and frustrating art form there is.

So, to all the writers out there: keep writing. And when you find that one perfect sentence that feels like a gift, don’t be afraid to wonder if it was actually you who wrote it. After all, the best moments in writing are the ones that come when you least expect them.

The Snark