How do you like your writing?

by Terrie Leigh Relf

I like mine fresh-squeezed. You know, like orange juice.  I also like it in the morning—especially before the sun comes out and before I even get to sleep. 

After I get some sleep, I need to put pen to paper—or fingers to computer keyboard—in order to wake up again. Maybe it’s a lifetime of what my mother always termed “burning both ends of the candle,” but I’ve always had an inner-time clock that ran counter-clockwise.

No matter what time it is, beginning my day this way is one of my habitual patterns. It brings structure and routine to my life.  I don’t see it as a chore.  It’s a lifestyle, a way of being, a way of interacting with the world.

Okay, okay!  Maybe I am obsessed, but I’m still able to function in the proverbial outside world more or less.  Teaching English at a local community college gets me out of the house; otherwise, I would probably write the better part of every day.

I’ve spoken to several writer friends over the last few months who for one reason or another, have difficulty establishing—or re-establishing—a regular writing regimen. They’re writers.  They want to write, need to write, but can’t seem to “break” the habit of not writing regularly.

As the cliché goes, old habits are hard to break.  The process of attempting to break them may even work against us sometimes (e.g., all those internal dialogues with the good writer/editor versus the naughty writer/editor within). When dropped, old habits may even shatter into a thousand pieces, embed themselves beneath our skin, creep into the soles of our feet, and . . .

Not too pleasant, is it?

Here’s a solution:

Rather than focusing your vital energy on the breaking of old habits, why not make a quantum shift to creating new ones instead?

How long does it take to create a new habit?

Mere moments.  Decide to do it—and do it. (It’s the way of Kung Fu and Jedi Masters alike…)

Trying to do it doesn’t cut it.  But it is a start.  At some point, though, you may become  so frustrated at trying to develop a writing practice, that you’ll just do it instead.

This is where the simple becomes complex . . .

Since you’re already sitting down at your computer, why not open a document.  (I’ll wait why you do this…)

Done?

Ok, now DO the following:

1. Write about what’s in your mind right now.

2. Repeat.

3. Repeat, etc.

See!  You’re writing!

One of the great side-effects of a daily writing practice is that writing leads to more writing—but don’t forget to keep reading!  If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend Eats, Shoots &; Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, a rollicking good book (as well as “The Runaway #1 British Bestseller”) by our sister-in-writing on the other side of the pond, Lynne Truss.

Until Next Time,

Terrie Leigh Relf

Need some assistance getting your writing practice on track?  Check out Terrie Leigh Relf’s courses at the WOL University!  She is also available for writing coaching—both on-line and in San Diego, CA. You may contact her at tlrelf@cox.net.