Below you'll find this week's Encouraging Words for Writers email. I wanted to post a sample for those of you who don't currently receive this free weekly email. If you like what you read and would like to subscribe just shoot me an email and let me know.
Programming Your Mind to Write
By Bonita Lillie
Copyright 2008
(Encouraging Words for Writers # 61)
I couldn’t understand it. This was not a writing day and yet the words weren’t just flowing, they were completely overtaking me. They weren’t just articles or small pieces. No, this was a full-fledged book spewing forth. I wrote with a pen in one hand and a dryer in the other. I scribbled an entire page as I ate breakfast. I wrote at stoplights and as I pushed a cart up and down grocery aisles. In fact, I couldn’t stop writing! But why was it happening on this particular day when I had so many other things to do and no plans to write?
As I pondered, it dawned on me. I had been setting aside certain hours, the same hours every day, to devote to writing. Even though I had no plans to write on this particular day, I’d formed a habit of writing during a certain time frame. Right on cue my brain kicked in, clueless to the fact that I had other plans for the day.
Up to that point I never realized that we can actually program our minds to write. If we habitually set aside certain times in our day to write, even if it’s only for a few minutes, it will eventually become a ritual that our brain expects. This can make life considerably easier for a writer.
Think about it. How many times have you sat down to write only to discover that you just couldn’t get started or couldn’t get in the swing of things? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you could just immediately get in the flow and start writing? You can. But you may have to train your mind to cooperate first.
I challenge you to set aside regular writing time and stick with it for 21 days. That’s the amount of time experts say it takes to develop a habit. Eventually, you’ll find that writing becomes much easier, at least during your specified time frame. Your brain will become much like your stomach at meal times. It will demand that you write.
3 comments:
amazing. very cool. you write beautifully.
This is a great encouragement! Thanks for the advice. Your name is beautiful:) It is my daughter's middle name!
Thank you for this post. This is good advice for me, since I get very frustrated when the words just won't come out, but then at other times I can hardly stop writing. I might need to develop and daily time to sit down and just write.
Thank you for these e-mails... I have been so encouraged.
Kaysie
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