The page doesn’t have to be good or interesting or worthy of publication. What that page (250 words, one double-spaced piece of paper) does is to feed your habit as a writer. You want writing to become a habit, not a job, not a chore, not a responsibility; not something you do every month or so, but something you do every day.
If you exercise a half hour a day, you will be a very fit person. If you write every day (and forgive yourself those occasions when you don’t), you will become a very fit writer. Now get to writing!
— Roy Peter Clark
Painting: Pablo Picasso
See also: The Race, The Swift and the Finish Line
Absolutely right, a page a day makes one write well and keeps them in great writing shape :)
ReplyDeletehttp://sulekharawat.com/2012/04/09/how-do-i-define-magic/
I totally agree! A writing habit will sustain, where the muse does not always!
ReplyDeleteVery well said!
ReplyDeleteHi Sulekkha, Thanks for stopping by. I have to agree with you. I promise to visit your site and share some ideas.
ReplyDeleteLara, sometimes our muse may abandon us. We need a method to summon her. For me, if I keep reading, she keeps visiting.
ReplyDeleteHi Meena, I read your poem, "Sky Child." I can feel the moon's energy. Let the reign of the goddess begin!
ReplyDeleteHi Gary:
ReplyDeleteWhen I was writing fiction I'd lock myself in my office and write five pages a night. That gave me excellent discipline and now that I'm only writing my blog, it's a piece of cake to write a couple of pages a week.
You're correct. Writing shouldn't be a chore. Happily for me it never was.
--
Chris
Chris, We are often reminded to do what we love. It sounds like you and I both love to write.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder...going to go write :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit yesterday. Love the Picaso and if writing is a chore you are probably in the wrong profession.
ReplyDeletedreamweaver
Hi Beth! I'm glad I motivated you. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteDebra, you are too funny. But you are absolutely right. We have to love what we do.
Great post, Gary! Indeed, getting into the "habit" of writing every day is a fantastic step into becoming a better writer. Thanks for sharing, and for dropping by my blog earlier today. Loved your thoughtful comments :)
ReplyDeleteHi Guilie, always nice to see you.
DeleteYou're the first person I'm responding to with the new threaded post comments. Now the comments and replies will be a little more organized.
Oh, so true. Great post, Gary :) What is it they say? "Practice makes perfect", so the more you write the better you'll be at it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Maria. You certainly got the idea. Now, if I could just execute on my own advice!
DeleteThis is a nice reminder, Gary. I agree that regular practice gets results. I have to confess, I don't write every single day, but most days I do, and when I do, I can see the improvement and the progress. It's a mindset, really.
ReplyDeleteJust reread the info in your margin, where you ask for "snippet suggestions". How about something to do with Sherlock Holmes? I'd really love to see that!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, here is a direct quote from Sherlock Holmes. Here is a link a snippet from one of my favorite Holmes stories, A Study in Scarlet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the snippets on Holmes, Gary. I read A Study in Scarlet and enjoyed it so much. Doyle sure knew what he was doing.
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