When you go to the gym you either know what you’re doing or you don’t.
You’ve seen the people making full use of their gym time, making every minute count, even the down-time – they’ll lean forward, stretch out muscles, take a drink of water, chat to friends and then on to the next set.
Then the people that don’t really know how to use the equipment properly or don’t know what their goals are, what they need from the exercise and what exercises will work best for their body, fitness levels and preferences.
Some people like to do loads of cardio, some like weights, others prefer yoga and some like a mix of everything.
You also have another set of ‘muscles’ – the writing muscles. Your brain, stamina, imagination, research facility, tenacity and knowledge of your language all need work to keep them in tip-top shape.
You wouldn’t decide that you’re going to run 26 miles tomorrow – you’d plan ahead, give yourself a year or more to slowly get into shape for the gruelling task you’ve set. You’d start by jogging every day and build up to running – still keeping the every-day regime, however.
The same goes for writing. Although running a marathon is a little different, in that you know when it’s going to start and roughly when it’s going to finish (the film, Run Fat Boy, Run springs to mind) that can be similar with a book but there’s not a chance you’re going to start writing a full novel at 10am and finish writing it by 10pm the same day. A short story, perhaps even a novella, but not a full novel.
Set realistic aims, goals – and make sure you keep them realistic and ‘do-able’ because if you say, I’m going to write 3,000 words per day for the next six weeks, the first time you falter and only write 1500 words, you have 4500 to write tomorrow, or 3500 for the next 3 days… and suddenly you’re a maths expert rather than a writer.
Set realistic goals for a few days, perhaps a week – at least to start with.
If you can comfortably write 3000 words per day, set your goal at 2000 – a total of 14000 for the week. If you do three days at 3000 you’re going to feel mighty good about yourself and that will fuel the fire and help your motivation. Plus, you have 4 days in which to write another 5000 words so you can breeze that!
I'll do this much in a month if I work at it... I'll start tomorrow... just do twice as much...
Once you’ve hit your target for the day (and exceeded it if you feel like writing more) then you have your own permission to go and do something else. Read a book, do some chores and while you’re doing the weeding in the garden, maybe your Muse will come and chatter to you. If she does, listen well because she has tomorrow’s writing to tell you.
Set out a time for your writing.
Make sure you have enough time set aside for you to be able to complete your goal. Don’t sit down to write an hour before you need to be somewhere, because you’ll never concentrate enough to get your goal done. Then you’ll feel bad about it.
Instead, set out to write after you get back. Set yourself a timeframe and stick to it.
Do you find yourself fitting your writing in around other stuff?
Try turning that on its head for a week. Write first, do chores later. OK, I don’t mean leave the kids waiting for you at school, I mean the dishwasher – load that after you’ve written. If dirty dishes stacked in the kitchen bother you, write in the living room. Don’t look at them, they’ll not evolve and form a new government to overthrow you in the hour or so you leave them where they are.
Vacuum the living room after you’ve written for an hour. Train yourself that your writing comes first because if you really want to write but can never find the time, I have news for you - If you really want to write, you’ll write.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m writing, my brain is doing other things too. Usually thinking ahead of the story, but also, thinking of new ideas and plotlines. Here’s a tip: write these new ideas down too. Have another page open in docs or a notebook by the side of your computer. Write it down and get back to your manuscript/story/document. Don’t get side-tracked, your word count will suffer for it.
Write every day.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the same time and same place every day, but if that’s how you work best then do that, as long as you write every day, you are exercising that group of writing muscles.
If you travel by public transport or have a long time to wait for something, take a book – a notebook – and write down ideas, watch people and how they behave in public, write it all down. You never know where the inspiration for your next work will come from.
Don’t allow other writers to make you feel bad about what you’re doing. You know the type – I suppose we all do – he’s working on something and he’s got everything planned out, all in his head. Ask how many words he does a day and watch him stumble, mutter something about something… excuses etc but it’s gonna be great, it’s gonna be awesome.
When he asks you what you’re working on and you can’t tell him exactly and he smirks and nods knowingly, worry not. Your work can’t be explained because it’s happening as you write it – it’s evolving, taking shape and form only when you’re working on it. That guy’s work is so perfect because it’s not written down anywhere except in his own head, that’s where his imagination lies… and that's where his work will stay.
Just do your thing, write, worry about whether it’s good enough and worry about that other guy if you like, but when you see him next and you have a completed manuscript on your computer, ask him where his project is. It will still be that perfect, awesome idea and it will still be all in his head.
Most importantly - I mean VITAL - is the editing process.
Please do NOT do your book the immense disservice of finishing it and never looking at it again. To just throw it at an Editor with a pile of cash and the instructions: “Edit this,” is so wrong!
I’ve worked with people like that and yes, they do usually like what I’ve done, but if I’m given that amount of freedom, to almost re-write their book, then it’s no longer their book, it’s also partly mine and though I’ve been paid for my part and have no claim on the royalties or rights, it’s still going to have my influences embedded.
Edit your own work, go over it time after time after time. KNOW your writing, your plots, your characters and your locations. Then once you’ve finished editing for the fifth time if necessary, THEN send it to an editor.
Pictures from Google free to use images unless source cited
One day, I may sit down and draw out a plan to write something. When and if that day comes I will certainly remember this post and the many inspiring words you have given to aspiring writers here on steemit. I do not view you as a teacher, but more as a master craftsman passing their knowledge on to the apprentices. A craftsman is not bound by the constraints of a teacher, we need more craftsmen showing us how it is done, than teachers telling us how it is done.
Oh my word - what a massive compliment!
Thank you <3
I don't know how far widespread the saying is "those that can do, those that can't teach", well you certainly fall in the "those that can" category, and not so much in a teacher sense, you were not telling us how to edit, you were showing us, and that was how the old school apprentice learned by being shown a craft from a craftsman. You are more than welcome.
Speechless for once.
Excellent advice! I think the worst mistake I make is trying to edit while I write. I should get the story down and then edit. s I write more each day, I can see the improvement in my writing. I usually set a goal for the number of words and quite often I find myself on a roll so I just go with the flow that day.
The hardest part of my writing is editing while I write, so I understand this completely. I need to lock my inner critic in a closet, far away from me so I can't hear it yelling in my ear, lol.
Yes, you need to start listening to the people that love your work :)
You are so talented (as is @cecicastor) and I really do want you to post more :)
Yes, ma'am, I'll try, and thank you so much! Been sick as a dog the past few days, so trying to catch up on some reading this afternoon, lol. :) xox
I hope you're feeling better soon xxx
Oh I bog myself down by editing as I go too... it takes self-discipline not to do that.
Keep going! :)
@michelle.gent FANTASTIC post!
Thanks< Resteemed.. yesterday I did a post with a shout out to you. I appreciate all you do.
Thank you! <3
I'm allowing you to get the last word in by putting my 'OK' up here... OK? ;)
you are needed here .. :) hey let me get the last word in haha!
Yeah, but inspiration is everything. Unfortunately, I don't have it now 😕
While you wait for inspiration, write about what you can see from your window. I did that and it evolved into a short story.
Eight Days
Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Nothing is really easy to come by unless we exert that force of interest and control on it. points well taken @michelle.gent. Thanks for this
Nothing worthwhile is easy.
Thanks for reading and commenting :)
I disagree strongly with that statement - as I enter the 5th year with my girlfriend.....😂😂😂
Really relevant post, thank you so much! Resteemed. xox
Thank you!
True. The more you practice, the better you get. At anything. Including writing.
But one needs to read as well. Lots! And not just about their choice of subject, but across genres.
Absolutely.
You have upvote from me.
Because iam also learn something from it. Usually we want to do some havy works but we did not know that its have practice. As you say if 300 miles running target. Its not possbl in 1st time when we practice in regularrly.
for exmpl
1st day 100 miles and next day 200 miles and your stamina will be good . then one day you complte your target 3oo miles will complte.
it's a very help full share ..
thank you..
Please stay connect dear
I hope this wonderful post doesn't get flagged!
good post.. exercise is always good for the brains.... I hope you like my post what my kids did for me
https://steemit.com/photography/@rival/surprise-surprise-18-years-together-look-what-my-kids-made
im allways follow sandeep maheshwari for inspiration hes allways motivate and inspire people
michelle please upvote my this post..
https://steemit.com/cryptocruncy/@ansarikamran/future-bank-give-you-a-chance-to-win-amezing-big-price-see-how
and please dont be flages my this comment i just want to increase my blog rank you can c its on (6) now i need strong support from you i cant ask for help to another people
just last time im asking you after this i will never ask you for upvote ..im trying to post some pic
but steemit not allowing me to post ..just last time help me and please dont be flaged my comment its a request..
extraordinary
is really easy to come by unless we exert that force of interest and control on it
Excellent advice dear.
Wow @michelle.gent
That was really a nice read. Writing at times can be cumbersome especially when you experience the occasional disturbances and disturbance like I do. I totally buy the idea of writing first thing in the morning I'm gonna try that to see how it goes
Good Luck! And thank you :)