By Jayne Jennings Dunlap, DNP, APRN, CNE, EBP-C, FAANP
Writer’s Camp Senior Counselor
Seize the opportunity to write when inspiration strikes.
We often hear about a “teachable moment” as an event that presents an opportunity to teach or experience something new in real time. What about the “writable moment”? Too often, we wait to begin to write rather than engage in purposeful, in-the-moment writing, as soon as our creative energy is sparked. As nurses, we are busy people with many responsibilities. When we allow writable moments to pass unnoticed or unattended, we may lose valuable opportunities to share our voices meaningfully.
Nurse engagement in timely dissemination and writing for publication is a professional mainstay.1 We can use these primary mechanisms to ensure measurable impacts and improvements in healthcare and beyond.2 This article will introduce two anecdotal examples of writable moments that I have experienced. The first example is quite recent and the second occurred a few years ago, yet it is still relevant to this conversation. Following these examples, I will share some simple suggestions you might want to try for yourself. As you engage with these instances and consider their recency and relevancy, I hope you become inspired to take advantage of forthcoming writable moments of your own.
A Recent Writable Moment
The other day, I was responding to an email inquiry when I experienced a writable moment.3 Once I had spent about 10 minutes responding to this aspiring author who was seeking information about the upcoming International Academy of Nursing Editors (INANE) conference, I felt an indiscriminate creative idea begin to percolate in my mind. This spark started just as I completed the first paragraph of the email reply. A conviction that more people needed this message was occurring to me. At that moment, I was unsure what direction this idea could take. How could a message crafted specifically for one person really be shared more widely and effectively?
Somewhat unclear on my purpose, I simply continued to write. As I wrapped up the second paragraph and prepared to sign off the email, the point of what I was writing came to me. Once I clicked send on my email reply, I glanced at the clock. I had 15 free minutes until my next top-of-the-hour obligation. I considered waiting to write more, but knew this exchange and its purpose would not be as fresh in my mind later on. So, rather than waiting, I opened a new document and pasted the body of my email reply into the center and began to structure a mini-outline around it, adding a couple of key points that were coming to mind as a direct result of this reflective writing.
Once my meetings were finished, I returned to the article since writing it was fun. I had already received a favorable response to my initial email, and that also spurred me on. By the afternoon, I was highly motivated to continue building out this time-sensitive message for a broader audience. I added a few sentences and additional content and read it once more. The manuscript seemed short, but I knew adding more might dilute the message and obscure the point. The article felt strong and complete, and I knew it was ready for another set of eyes.
I sent it to an editor (our Writer’s Camp Director!) for her review. Leslie responded quickly, thanking me for my “short piece” and saying that she would think about how best to use this on the Writer’s Camp site. Given the timing, Leslie stated she would be back in touch soon–maybe a day or two. A few hours later, she replied again, saying, “I don’t need to sleep on this!” and attached her minor edits to my post. She proposed posting it the next morning, following my approval. I took a moment to pause and then realized that this “writable moment” article would reach its target international audience less than 24 hours after I had written the first word.
Inspiration on the River
I have written several pieces for publication while volunteering annually as the nurse practitioner at a summer family camp in the Colorado Rockies. Seizing writable moments can come more naturally to me (and perhaps to you) in serene atmospheres.
A few years ago, out of the blue one evening, the bustling, busy camp became peacefully quiet. My kids and husband were happily doing activities that I had opted out of. Earlier that day we had been white water rafting together and I had an idea for an article (which occurs commonly for me during adventurous experiences). Obviously, I had no paper or way to dictate into a device. Focusing on anything besides my paddle could endanger my group. So I made a mental note to go back and flesh the idea out at the first, safe opportunity. That time had unexpectedly arrived now. Could I recreate the writable moment? I was not sure but determined to try.
I found a comfortable rocking chair on the main lodge porch. I turned the radio volume all the way up in case of an emergency, unpacked the contents of my mobile (backpack) office and began to write. After some time had passed, I wondered how I had not been interrupted. Where was everyone? Just as I completed the first draft of what became a published manuscript, I paused to behold a striking sunset (see the image that introduces this article).
Capturing Your Writable Moments: Start Small
I had my laptop computer available to complete the writing products in both of the examples shared. What if a digital device is not needed, desired, or available in a writable moment? My father has carried index cards and a pen in his shirt pocket as far back as I can remember. Raising three daughters with my mom and running multiple business ventures, he figured out early that by writing things down immediately, they got done. He uses numbered bullet points to address what needs to happen with a current itemization, rarely delaying this writing. He simply pauses and writes, saying if he waits, he won’t remember. His writing is represented as a list and he ticks things off as they get done–even big projects like building a beautiful lakeside home started on an index card.
Anne Lamott4 uses index cards for writable moments, too. She reports having cards scattered throughout her home and in the glove box of her car to ensure she is prepared when inspiration strikes. She even carries one, folded lengthwise in her back pocket (so as not to appear bulky), while walking her dog and invites us to consider doing the same. Could you start working from a real-time written list like my Dad or freehand write all over index cards to jumpstart your success while embracing writable moments? Rather than setting your writing items or ideas aside for later, remember to start small and use your momentum to scale.
Capturing Your Writable Moments: Pursue Progress
Writable moments can be a powerful antidote for perfectionism. Don’t wait for the ideal moment and put off what can be done now to get your initial content written. Since the time we can engage in writable moments is limited, just like teachable moments, we are funneled toward progress rather than perfection. Writable moments can provide focus by necessity, as we generally don’t have time to pontificate. Instead, use clear, concise, jargon-free language as recommended and demonstrated by many famous and prolific writers.
Once you start writing something, it becomes much easier to go back later and play with the progress of that initial writer’s spark. For me, this progress is motivational, and I can begin editing my work more quickly. I have never met a successful writer who claims to write perfectly in the initial draft. My willingness to write before I am entirely ready and my tolerance for initial imperfection keeps me progressing and producing throughout my writing journey.
Like a teachable moment, a writable moment requires immediate attention or it may disappear completely. In my own limited experience, I have learned that If I let the idea go, it will likely dwindle or burn out. As I reflected on my recent post,3 I realized that if I had not written the message for a broader audience at the moment, it likely wouldn’t have been made public. Just this morning, another person emailed me that she is registering for the 2025 INANE conference after reading the post, ending her note with “Thank you again. This is perfect!” I am so glad she thinks so.
Conclusion
As I write this now, I am preparing to lead a webinar that begins in 30 minutes. However, I did not want to lose this writable moment. I am learning that effective writing is much more real-time than I have been consciously aware of before. If it can’t be real-time as in the case of my rafting experience, it can be recreated later. If we, as collective writers and aspiring authors in the nursing discipline, embrace widely writable moments, imagine the impact we could make individually and as a group!
References
- Oermann MH. Writing for Publication in Nursing. 5th ed. Springer Publishing; 2022.
- Dunlap JJ & Waldrop JB. (Eds.). Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement for Professional Nursing Practice: A Competency Based Approach (1st ed.). Cognella Academic Publishing; 2025.
- Dunlap JJ. The Writer’s Camp Bugle #2: INANE is an Innovative Investment. Writer’s Camp. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://writers-camp.org/?p=1293
- Lamott A. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. 25th anniversary ed. Anchor Books; 2019.
© 2025, Writer’s Camp and Jayne Jennings Dunlap. CC-BY-ND 4.0
Author: Jayne Jennings Dunlap
Editor: Leslie H. Nicoll
Citation: Dunlap JJ. The Writable Moment. The Writer’s Camp Journal, 1(1):11. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15564731