Coasting Along: A Writer’s Journey is a blog I’ve been writing for many years now. This morning as I am busy going through old papers, files, cupboards, and notebooks, I’m finding as much inspiration as I am finding clutter to clear. As a writer, one of my favorite things is learning about how other writers work, what their process is, and what their daily writing habits look like.
As I was looking through an old journal I found a page from Dec. 26, 2016. At the top of the page I’d written, “Happy Birthday Mother”. My Mother passed away over 30 years ago, but remains one of the most inspirational people in my life. Her encouragement of me to explore life and ‘be myself’ have helped me take the risks, make the changes, and take the steps necessary for me to live the life I love.
As I paged through the journal, I found a few pages marked “HM” “Me” and two lists outlining a set of practices. I could tell they were lists of writing practices, but it took me a few minutes to figure out who HM was. And then it came to me. HM is Henry Miller, one of my favorite writers, and one whose life as a writer fascinated me. I also remembered that I had read his autobiography of being a young writer in Paris, and then I had also read later, about his daily writing practices. Evidently, on that day in late December, 2016, I had been reading something about his practice, and comparing it to mine.
For those of you who are aspiring writers, musicians, artists, or basically anyone who has aspirations to do and learn how to do or be something, this applies to you too. There is no one best way or right way to begin. There is no one best way to develop a practice, of any kind. What there are are different approaches to establishing habits and setting goals. And along with those approaches are the ways we personally adjust to the changing needs of our practices and our lives.
What this essay is about today is looking at how two writers approach their daily writing practice. The aim is to encourage you to think about what your basic daily practices are, and how you can weave a new practice of some kind into that daily life or yours. You may want to develop a journal writing practice, or a spiritual or exercise practice. You may want to approach your work in a new way, or start learning a new language or study for a new skill or degree. Whatever your goals are, you can use your daily practices to help you fit the needs and requirements of your life into the life you are living right now.
Too often we talk ourselves out of doing things before we even consider starting. “I don’t have time” or “I’ve already got too much on my plate”, or “I can’t afford it”. Believe me, when it comes to thinking up all the reasons not to do something, I have been an expert at that. However, those are just excuses and those excuses are usually based on our fears and our insecurities. We think we can’t do it.
For those raised in my generation, you might remember the story of the Little Train Who Could? The key line from the book, the one my Mother instilled in me as a child was, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” And of course, when we begin believing we can, we do. We might also fall back into doubt or self disparagement (I’m not good enough, or I’m not perfect or I’m too old or I’m not experienced enough). The excuses go on and on, however, you can’t if you don’t take some steps toward doing what it is you desire to do.
For today let’s consider two different approaches to writing. So much of what I call the writing process, depends on your own personality and normal ways of doing things. Notice which of the two styles appeals to you most, and then see if you can describe your own way of doing it. It most likely won’t be exactly like either one of these two, and that’s fine. The idea is to identify and affirm for yourself, your own way of getting tasks done.
H M CAM
Work on one thing until it’s finished. Work on several things, finishing
each in its own time
Start no new books, projects, or Keep adding, editing until
new material to what I’m working enough. Jot down notes to
on until I’m done with the current add later.
book/project.
Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, Work in spite of feelings.
recklessly on whatever is at hand Whatever the problem,
writing is probably the answer.
Work according to program, timeline, Make a plan; work accordingly.
Outline, not mood. Stop at appointed Don’t let mood stop or define a
time. Moment. Set regular breaks.
Write at appointed times; write
when you fancy. Writing is often
the cure.
When you can’t create, work. When you can’t create, work. Or
do something. Take a walk, nap,
Shower, or clean up the kitchen.
Swim or bake. Take your mind
off the writing for a while.
Cement a little every day instead Fingers to keyboard, pen to
of adding fertilizer. page. Develop a regular daily
writing practice no matter the
mood, weather, season, time.
You may need to adjust your
practice time due to needs,
but build the practice time in.
Keep human! See people Stay connected. Go to favorite
go places, drink if you feel spots. Talk to favorite people.
like it. Clean up after yourself. Have
Fun. Laugh, sing, dance.
Don’t be a draught horse. Work Agree completely. Work is life
with pleasure only. and pleasure.
Discard the program when you Concentrate. Narrow down.
feel like it, but go back the next Exclude. You cannot do it all
Day. Concentrate. Narrow down. at the same time. Discard the
Exclude. program when you like. Leave
guilt out of the deal, otherwise
your time will be wasted worry-
Ing about ‘what ifs’. On those
days stick with the plan at least long as it takes to assuage the
guilt.
Forget the books you want to Okay, as long as I’m writing. I do
write; think only of the one you’re think of other books when I’m
Writing. not in the middle of writing.
Write first and always.Painting, music, Agree, however sometimes life
friends, movies. All these come after- demands otherwise. My best
wards. writing days come when I’m on
daily writing schedule. Some
good writing days come out of
odd moments:responses to life,
dreams, off-the-wall
observations.
After comparing the two lists, think about your own style of writing, studying, or working on projects. I strongly advise you to ask answer the following questions.
How would you describe your daily routine right now?
What would you like to make more time for in your daily routine?
What steps could you take today, tomorrow, and next
week to create a daily practice for something you want to make a bigger part of your life?
Wishing you well as you create a routine for yourself that helps you find more time to be creative. I’ll leave you with a quote that I have hanging on my fridge…it’s been there for years, but it reminds me each morning when I wake to make my tea and feed the cat, that:
“To be a writer is to sit down at one’ desk in the chill portion of every day, and to write; not waiting for the little jet of the blue flame of genius to start from the breastbone—just plain going at it, in pain and delight. To be a writer is to throw away a great deal, not to be satisfied, to type again, and then again, and once more and over, and over.”
–John Hersey.
It’s what is necessary to do anything worthwhile. To do it, and do it again, and to keep on doing…Over time it becomes natural and you’ll improve, no matter what it is you're doing. Happy New Year to all. Get doing.
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