Reading, Writing, Reaching, part 3

A while back, I shared this wonderful plan of mine called the Three R’s for being a writer. Read, write, reach.  I told you what to read two weeks ago and last week I was busy having anxiety, so this week I finally present to you “writing”.

WRITING So what does one write? Everything!

Writing pracitice. Mary Pierce, whose workshop I attended twice at Green Lake Writers Conference, recommends that everyone write the first thing when they get up in the morning. Set a timer for whatever amount of time you have available, say ten minutes, and just write whatever comes to mind. Write either long hand or on your computer, whichever works best for you.

I love this idea, but unfortunately, the only time I practiced it was when I was at Green Lake. I use the excuse that I don’t have the time. Of course, if morning just doesn't work for you, you can pick a better time of the day. That still didn’t' work for me. And I really love doing this - just letting the mind wander. It's surprising what you can come up. So perhaps I should incorporate this into my goals. I doubt I can consistently do this, but I should try.

Writing what you want to write. This would be your Work in Progress. Hopefully, your WIP is something you want to write. If it is not maybe you should rethink some things.

Again set a timer and write until it goes off. This was another suggestion made by Mary Pierce. Set the timer in 20 minute increments and put it on the other side of the room so that you have to get up and stretch to turn it off. I am starting to think that writing is one of the worst things you can do to your body. All the hours I have spent on the keyboard over the last year has done a number on my neck, my shoulders, my elbows and my fingers.

Writing what you don't want to write. I really don't like doing this, but I think that our high school teachers had something right when they made us write long boring papers on long boring subjects. It is easy to make something interesting that you are interested in, but take something boring and make it interesting and then you know you are a writer.

Pick any old subject, maybe something you saw in the news, do a little research and write a one page paper on your findings. Who knows? Maybe it will be good enough to submit somewhere and will open up all kinds of new doors for you.

Writing what you have to write. Do you have a deadline? Luckily, so far most of my deadlines have been self-imposed. But it is still good to have that deadline, that timeframe in which your writing has to move from part 1 to part 2. It’s when you have to park your bottom in your chair and get done with this project. Tell yourself, “I have to finish this.”

Yeah, that sounds good, but is that me? Well, my goal is to make that me. If I was already there, these wouldn’t be goals, right? 

And as if I have nothing better to do, today I am moving my basement office to my daughter's room upstairs. Stay tuned for updated pictures.