©
2004, 2008
The
Write Habit:
How
to Strengthen Your Writing Muscle
BY
KATEY COFFING, PH.D.
Writing
is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in shape.
I'm
not the first to say that, but I realized how true it
was when I took what I called "a well-earned break" after
I finished my first novel.
The
last days of writing the novel tasted as sweet as whipped
cream—I was in a writing groove, humming along.
I figured I'd take a little hiatus for a few days, then
start my second book.
Those
few days somehow morphed into a week. Soon two more weeks
slithered by, thumbing their noses at me. Guilt swarmed
me every time I passed my lonely PowerBook. I began to
avoid my computer altogether, a beautifully self-defeating
habit.
Finally,
twitching with dread after more than a month of avoidance,
I sat down at the screen to begin my next novel. Trying
to write after that time away was torture—my neglected
writing muscle had become flabby and whiny. It protested
my sudden demands and resented being drafted to work again.
For
many people, the key to productivity is making writing
a habit. Consistent writing breeds easier writing.
If
this is true for you, create a new habit. Make a commitment
to a certain amount of writing every day, whether your
goal is a length of time or a number of words or pages
drafted before you lift your butt off your writing chair.
If
your muscle has been out of practice and you're afraid
to begin, just start slow. Write at least one new paragraph
today, or even a sentence. Tomorrow, write two.
The following day, three. Keep rolling, bit by bit, until
you reach a daily goal that works well for you.
And
this is important: each day when you've reached your goal,
do something nice for yourself. Many people don't, feeling
they don't deserve the credit. They tell themselves, "My
goal was too small, I didn't write well enough, I didn't
'do it right'..." Sound familiar? Yep, I hear those nasty
Inner Critic tapes, too. But think about this: if you
don't reward yourself for writing, is it any wonder you
don't write?
One
of my published clients who loves her email has chosen
to write five pages each weekday before she can access
the Internet. Enjoying email has become her reward for
completing her writing goals, and every time she slows
down she remembers how much she wants to read her friends'
new messages or to surf YouTube and CuteOverload.com.
That spurs her to complete her pages, and she feels doubly
triumphant when she hears "you've got mail".
Is
the Web not a good enough carrot for you? Find something
that is, then earn it. Setting goals and rewards that
keep you writing creates a great habit that's win/win.
Katey
Coffing, Ph.D. is a life coach for women writers.
She helps women write, publish, and succeed! To discover
how to finish your books, entice the right agent, and
land great book contracts, visit Katey at www.Women-Ink.com.
To
get additional articles and tips for writers, visit the
Writing Articles page and visit
Katey's blog, The
Write Calling.
(I
care deeply about privacy and will
never share, rent or sell your contact info.
Period.)
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