I read a post by Chris Brogan recently about cultivating a writing habit. Cultivating. What an interesting word choice. I've been thinking about this for days. To cultivate is to nurture, to develop, to shape. These are the things that come to mind when I hear the word. Does a writing habit need cultivaitng?
I write nearly every day. But, truthfully, I wouldn't say that I've developed a habit of writing. I still feel like I'm squeezing in my writing as an afterthought between taking care of the kids and handling the household duties. After nearly a year since starting my journey toward becoming a writer, I still don't feel that I've really incorporated writing into my life. I want to change that in 2009.
Brogan breaks down the steps of writing into a formula of "read, write, write". He recommends reading voraciously in order to get a feel for the writing styles of others and to improve your own writing skill. I love that. I also think that reading all that you can will help to generate ideas and fuel your creativity. When I'm stuck for ideas, I simply turn to one of the many interesting tidbits I've just read.
Interesting that Brogan lists the "write" step twice. The first stage of writing involves constantly thinking about writing, mulling ideas around in your head, considering how you'll eventually put them on the "page". I do this all the time. Sometimes I don't even realize it, but then I notice I'm actually framing the sentences in my head that will eventually end up in my finished work. It becomes second nature, a habit.
The final "write" is about developing structure and finding your groove. Brogan advocates thinking about the structure your writing will take. What kind of writing are you doing? Is it a blog post, marketing copy, or a feature article? Each requires a different approach or structure, but no matter what you're writing, the most important step is to just write. The more you do it, the more habitual it will become.
I suppose I'm on my way to cultivating this habit of writing. I think what I need to do most of all is just jump in. I usually find that once I've begun, the words eventually flow. And it doesn't have to be just right; that's what revisions are for. So thank you, Chris Brogan, for helping me to move closer toward nurturing and shaping my own writing habit.
Do you feel you've cultivated a writing habit? If so, what steps did you take to do so? Advice would be appreciated.
I have a book titled "Discovering the Writer Within" and it's claim is to make one a better writer in 40 days. It's an interesting book because it has 40 different exercises to help writers get started. I know sometimes I look down at the screen and the urge to write is overwhelming. Then my mind goes blank. This book, while set up for 40 days of 30 minute sessions, also has an alternate table of contents to address specific writing "problems'. Issues from writers block to making revisions to finding focus; it's all there.