Archive for December, 2006

Many people say they want to be a writer.

Many people dream about being a writer.

Many people read about being a writer.

Many people attend writers’ groups, seminars and conferences about writing.

Few people actually get to write.

Something happens to their dreams, their desires, their ideas and what they have been taught. There is no short cut to success in writing. It takes discipline, hard work, long hours and a few aches and pains. (As I write this my posterior is rather sore after over six hours at the computer, despite taking regular breaks.)

I recently read this quote in a newsletter I receive regularly. It makes the very point I am trying to get across.

“Back in the 60s, my undergraduate university days, I had a poet
professor who insisted that all serious writers were
self-disciplined, wrote something daily, and almost never were
plagued with writer’s block. It took me a decade to internalize
all that, but for about 30 years now I do write everyday. The
seasons come and go without slowing me down creatively. Whether
snow falls or rain pours or sun shines brightly, I continue
writing poems, stories, letters, and books. I love to write, so
why would I let even one day go by without doing what love?”

Dawn Copeman

Setting yourself the goal of writing everyday is an excellent one. Over the course of a year it will surprise you how much you have accomplished. Do this over five years and you will be astonished at the vast body of writing you have achieved.

Set small goals at first:

Set small goals to start with, especially if you have a busy schedule. If you wrote 500 words a day (this article is just over 400 words long) you will write a 5000 word short story every two weeks (allowing time for editing and revision) and 26 such stories a year. The same word count will write a 100,000 novel in about seven months. After a few months of practice 500 words should take no more than about an hour.

Set bigger goals:

As your confidence and skills grow, set more challenging goals. Plan to write a minimum of say, a 1000 words or two hours every day. Without fail. That’s discipline. That’s hard work. That’s being serious about your writing. If it is just a hobby, treat it like a hobby. If you want to taken seriously as a writer, treat it like a business.

Remember:

• Read every day.
• Write every day.
• Take time for yourself every day.

Last year I was much fitter than I am now. I was in training for a two week trek in the Everest region of Nepal. I was regularly going for two or three hour walks every morning. I lost weight and felt the best I’ve been for years. (Read about my trek on my Travel Blog).

This year I have spent a much greater amount of time sitting at my laptop writing. It was my choice because I wanted to really make progress with my writing. There is a downside, of course. I have lost fitness and put on a little weight. This is not good. I need to deal with both issues because of my diabetes.

A recent article in an email magazine made me think about my fitness. The writer listed ten ways to keep fit while working from home. I thought I’d make up my own list of ways to keep on top of keeping fit while being a writer.

Keeping Fit as a Writer:

1. Short Breaks: it is vital to take regular, short breaks from the computer. Your eyes, back and posterior will love you. A short stroll in the garden is all that it takes.
2. Short walks: you don’t need to go on a daily three hour trek like I did in preparation for Nepal; three ten-minute walks spaced through the day is sufficient.
3. Healthy Lunch: make a healthy lunch and then eat out – in the garden, in a local park or while visiting a neighbour – but don’t stay all afternoon chatting.
4. Get a Cordless Phone: if you get many phone calls during the day this one is for you. Unless you need to sit down to take notes, why not stand up and walk around the house while you are talking? This works with a mobile phone, too.
5. Stretching: stop what you are doing and do some stretching exercises. Pay attention to those muscles not used during typing. Again, your body will love you.
6. Exercise your mind: It is important that your mind stays healthy too. Stop for twenty minutes and do the crossword in the paper. This stimulates the brain cells in different ways and keeps you mentally on your toes. It also has the side effect of building your vocabulary. If you don’t like crosswords, do some other mind stimulating puzzle that you like.

Related articles:

• Walking and writing – on the important benefits of being a writer who walks.

• Getting a life – don’t let writing totally absorb every waking moment of your life.

Time for a short break I think.