I'm going to be honest, rather than just make up a number, and tell you I don't know how many times I've told other writers to "Just keep writing." I know it sounds like the advice from that delightful fish movie, but I guess that's OK. Couching life lessons in comedy is like coating vegetables in chocolate.
For me, I don't believe I ever find a problem with the doctrine of writing whenever possible. Always having some means of note-making close at hand is great because there are times when you're not actively seeking inspiration that it does strike. Personally, I like to have a couple of my favorite pens, some kind of notebook and something electronic (these days, my smartphone is the latest incarnation of portable electronic notepad). It may sound redundant or overprepared to some, but I like to be ready for the ideas that just come to me and I like to be able to chase down the others.
Writing doesn't just happen by itself. There comes a point when you need to put pen to paper and start writing something. Really, just write. If you've got an idea, great. If you don't, write anyway. I say that because whether you have something fresh and stimulating to fill your blank page or you're just stringing together words, you need to keep moving forward (not that you're unwriting). It's all progress. Even if what you're doing just ends up being the warm-up for something else entirely, that activity still had its part to play in getting you to the good stuff.
I never try to retain who first said it, or wrote it, but it still holds true that you shouldn't be concerned with the quality of a draft, whether first or second or fifth. You can rewrite anything you've written, but there's nothing much to be done with a blank page but to put a bunch of words on it.
You're still here?
Yes, I'm still here. Did my writing for the day.
ReplyDeleteWorking on a longer piece that was difficult and stalled, but kept writing.
And in the last two days, I suddenly remembered how to write!
Knew I could do it and couldn't understand why I wasn't.
The trick, the secret, the magic formula is... keep writing!
What you said.
:-)
Louise Sorensen
louise3anne twitter
If I helped, I'm very glad. If I just happen to be in agreement, occupying a little common ground we both happen to have found, that's cool, too. Either way, the world gets a little brighter when we can share a bit of productive wisdom.
DeleteWhether it's "just keep swimming" or "just keep writing", it reminds me to stay at it every day. We make time for a score of other things, so we can certainly make sure that writing stays on the list. At the very least, it should help keep any sprees of blinding violence at bay for just a little longer ;)
I get rid of a lot of stress by writing. If something's bothering me, I put it in a story. Theraputic. Plus, the worlds where I write are interesting places to be, so never boring.
ReplyDeleteAnd I find the more I write, the easier it gets. Accomplishment.
If more people spent their time writing, the world would be a better place! :-)
Louise Sorensen
louise3anne twitter
I won't argue with that. Not only does happiness come through achieving goals, but more people spending time writing would mean an increased probability that they're thinking before saying or doing something stupid. Even if they go on to do the stupid thing anyway, when they're asked afterward "What were you thinking?", it'll be written down and they'll have a prepared response :D
DeleteStill writing here. It's getting easier and flowing much, much faster. :-)
ReplyDeleteRT ing again.
Louise