So, there's always a strong chance I'll revert to old habits. They say it takes 21 days to really set new behavior, but I guess I'll write this down so I don't forget -- the daily writing practice has improved my life in ways I didn't expect. I don't know if it's because I'm naturally ornery or what, but it's not like people haven't told me this before. "Morning pages" are a thing every writer is aware of. And I did do that for a time, but it didn't stick, largely (I think) because those pages weren't tied to anything else. They were a brain dump that were supposed to clear my mind or whatever, but they felt like a huge waste of time. They were a chore for me, and no one wants to do chores.
To be fair, it was a long time ago. I didn't know what I wanted to be writing, just that I wanted to do it. And so I soaked up the advice, and true to form, I soaked up all of it. And, like, it doesn't all go together. And we're all different. Sometimes, also, you're just not ready.
So I can't say throw out all the advice (that would be advice!) but I can say it has helped me to sit with my project each morning, no matter how little actually gets done. Just chipping away, a teeny bit at a time. Not pushing, not doing anything really besides showing up. And, as always, something gets written that wouldn't have been, which makes each day a personal success, and that's before I've even put on my shoes.
*See the proverbial frogs I mentioned in the last post.
Comments