In the middle of the day’s mundane chores, a lightning bolt of inspiration strikes. Excitedly you reach for a pen, pencil, lip liner pencil, crayon—anything you can find to write it down. You can’t wait to get in front of your computer or notebook and elaborate on your brilliant ideas.
Discipline: Write Everyday
Hours, maybe days, later you are trying to set the mood to revisit the original thought. Some soft classical music in the background, a hot cup of coffee and a scented candle and you are ready to type away. You freeze. Nothing happens.
Must be that Mozart is lacking today, or you have accidentally brewed decaf, perhaps if you had a vanilla candle instead of lavender. Where’s that creativity that crept in out of nowhere the other day as you threw in a load of laundry? Was it the clean socks that inspired?
Many times, would-be writers wait for inspiration to strike, for the muse to show up and dictate, while rarely paying attention to the true employee of the labor of writing – discipline. Inspiration prompts writing, but it’s discipline that continually fuels inspiration.
Keep Writing
Hundreds of books on the subject of writing equal to thousands of pages of advice that basically boil down to two words: “Keep writing!” It’s not to say that all those books don’t offer a lot of other sage advice and probably insider tips but all the books on writing in the world – or on your shelf – will be of no help unless you put action into those words.
“But?!” – you want to argue – “Write what?” Anything. The foundation of writing is to keep the pen moving, the fingers typing. The old adage of practice makes perfect is not simply encouraging words to say to children who want to be good at sports, reading or art, but it also applies to grown-ups who want to become better at something as well, and that includes writing.
Read a Lot
Stay within the world of the written word as much as possible. Read often and especially the types of work you are interested in producing – want to be a kids’ book author? Read the classics plus what’s popular among the kids now. Science fiction more up your alley? Check out the themes and tone they set.
Silence Your Naysayers
Deciding to be a writer can be a daunting undertaking. One can easily become discouraged. A common fear may be running out of things to write about. The other side of the spectrum is the vast realm of subjects and narrowing it down; or the overwhelming strain of finding unique expression. Then there is the self-doubt that sabotages creativity, plus the pressure of coming up with fresh ways to attract readers and keep them reading.
Just contemplating all these obstacles is enough to want to throw away the pen. But don’t give up or give in! If writing is the path your heart keeps tugging toward, no matter how many times you start and stop or how often you try to avoid it because of the anxiety it produces, the important thing is to keep going back to it.
Keep a Journal
One popular recommendation is to journal. Yes, just like when you were little and kept a diary. Even if there’s nothing that you’ll spin off into a story, it helps to just unload your worries and fears about writing. Think of it as mental stretching before the work-out. The more you journal out your doubts, the easier it becomes to filter through your reservations and find that elusive writer’s voice.
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