"所有好的写作都是在水下游泳并屏住呼吸。"

Writing well can feel like diving deep and holding your breath. It's a process that requires you to immerse yourself fully and push through the pressure. Think about it: when you're underwater, everything else fades away. The noise, the distractions—they're gone. You're in your own world, focused, and every stroke matters.

When F. Scott Fitzgerald said this, he was speaking to the intense concentration and effort good writing demands. Imagine the 1920s, the era of jazz and the Roaring Twenties. Fitzgerald, with his sharp prose and piercing insights into human nature, knew that writing wasn't a casual hobby. It was a deep dive into the human experience, requiring full commitment. You can't just skim the surface and expect to capture something profound.

Take J.K. Rowling, for example. Before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon, she was a single mom struggling to make ends meet. She'd write in cafes while her baby napped beside her. Those moments weren't just casual scribbles. They were intense, focused bursts of creativity, where she held her breath and dove deep into the wizarding world she was creating. It’s this kind of immersion that brings characters like Harry, Hermione, and Ron to life.

So, how do you apply this wisdom to your own writing? First, eliminate distractions. Find a quiet place where you can really focus. If you’re constantly checking your phone or getting interrupted, you’re just treading water. You need to dive deep. Next, set a timer. Give yourself 30 minutes to just write. No editing, no second-guessing. Just write. You might be surprised how much you can produce when you’re fully immersed.

Think about a student writing a college essay. It’s easy to procrastinate, to nibble around the edges without really diving in. But the night before it's due, something magical happens. The pressure mounts, and suddenly, you’re in the zone. You write with urgency, clarity, and depth. That’s what it feels like to swim under water and hold your breath. It’s intense, sometimes uncomfortable, but it’s where the magic happens.

Or picture a painter working on a masterpiece. They might start with some rough sketches, but at some point, they have to commit. They’ve got to dive in, applying brush to canvas with deliberate strokes. They lose track of time, fully absorbed in their work. That’s the kind of focus good writing demands.

Remember, writing isn’t about immediate perfection. It’s about getting deep into the heart of what you want to say and staying there until you’ve captured it. You might come up for air and realize you’ve got a mess on your hands, but that’s okay. You can refine and polish later. The key is to make that initial dive, holding your breath and committing to the depth of your ideas.

So next time you sit down to write, imagine yourself diving into a pool. Let go of the surface distractions. Immerse yourself fully. Hold your breath. And swim deep. You might be surprised at the treasures you find beneath the surface.