I recently read a book recommended to me by a friend called God Never Blinks by Regina Brett. I've been struggling with my writing lately and this really struck a chord. This not only applies to writing, but anything that we want to do that for one reason or other we don't - either we never get to it, never have time, or simply just put it off...
How not to write?
· Let technology scare you. Postpone writing until you learn how to electronically number all the pages.
· Get your doctorate in creative writing.
· Start therapy.
· Find the right writer’s group.
· Wait until you get over your fear of rejection or fear of success.
· Tell yourself the odds of getting published are against you.
· Worry about how you’ll pay the bills
· Compare yourself to everyone else.
· Complain that it’s too hot, too cold, too muggy, or to nice to be able to write.
· Try hard to add significantly to the world of great literature.
· Analyze every idea before you write the first sentence.
· Strive for perfection.
· Declare yourself the next Shakespeare.
· Try to write like everyone except yourself.
· Use only big words to impress people.
How not to write?
· Sign up for a writers’ conference instead of actually writing.
· Constantly tell yourself you have nothing to say.
· Consult your horoscope.
· Make a list of all the people who think you won’t cut t as a writer.
· File your nails.
· Water the plants.
· Clean the basement.
· Open an office.
· Build a hermitage n the backyard or an entire wing on the house to write in.
· Look for affirmation from everyone around you.
· Ignore your own sorrows, passions and music.
· Whine about how nobody understands you.
· Demand an advance first.
· Talk to telemarketers.
· Play solitaire on the computer.
· Make a to-do list with writing as the top priority.
· Complain about the English teacher you had who scarred you.
· The professor who ignored you.
· The brother who stole your diary.
· The sister who read your journals.
· Waste time envying other writers who have it so easy.
· Edit as you go.
· Check the rules of grammar and punctuation before you finish every paragraph.
· Talk about your ideas so much that even you lose interest.
How not to write?
· Wait until you have children.
· Wait until your children stop teething, finish soccer and go off to college.
· Wait until you have two hours of uninterrupted time to write.
· Wait until you quit smoking, quit drinking, or find the right drink and are stone drunk.
· Wait until your siblings move and your parents die.
· Wait until you meet the love of your life.
· Wait until the divorce is final.
· Wait until you go on vacation.
· Wait until vacation is over. Wait until you retire.
· Wait until you find your music.
· Wait until you feel inspired.
· Wait until a doctor says you’ve got six months to live.
· Then die with your words still inside of you.