Tuesday, April 27, 2010

10 Steps to Writing



1. Look for your favourite pen.

2. Discover the pen has inexplicably run dry. Go to the store to find new favourite pen.

3. Reward yourself for finding the new pen by buying yourself coffee.

4. Sit down at your desk and rearrange all the paper that has inexplicably covered it.

5. Read what is written on each piece of paper. Decide it's all worth keeping and you'll file it away. Tomorrow.

6. Reward yourself for coming to a decision about the paper by making a tasty sandwich.

7. Clear your head after all this work by taking a brisk walk around the block.

8. Sit down at your desk and stare at the keyboard. Torture yourself with the fact that all the keys are there to write a runaway bestseller, if you just type them in the correct order.

9. Get up from your desk and pace the room. Notice you're making a pathway in the carpet. Resolve to get hardwood floors. Next week.

10. Sit down. Write one sentence. Delete it. Write another sentence. Delete it. Get fed up and write whatever comes into your head. The last thing you write will be worth keeping.

23 comments:

  1. OMG! This is SO often me when I'm not in the "zone" ... trying without success to get my mule-headed muse to get going! lol, hystercial ... tweeting it.

    Marvin D Wilson

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  2. I love number 8. Such a simple thing, so it seems. Funny!

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  3. Old Silly; Thanks so much! Glad it gave you a laugh.

    Lauri; It's true, though, isn't it? It's all right there...

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  4. Ha! Too funny...I think that's me today! Am tweeting this one...

    Elizabeth

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  5. Elizabeth; Thanks so much for the tweet! This avoidance bug seems to be everywhere today.

    Karen; Yes. Be afraid.

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  6. LOL! So perfect. I'm doing #10 now.

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  7. Whenever I come across no 8, I am so happy I am a modern-day writer! I can visit blogs and Facebook instead :D

    Personally, I have made great progress these two days, though. I have removed 5-600 words. Eh?

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  8. Carol; Good for you. I wish you a maximum of words with a minimum of deletions.

    Dorte; Isn't the internet marvelous? Congratulations on your progress; any step ahead is a step ahead.

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  9. I'd get stuck on the pen -- you have no idea how long it took me to find a new disposable pen I liked so I could buy a whole box of them. I probably spend more time at Office Depot pen-shopping than most women spend shopping for shoes.

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  10. Patricia; Pens are tricky. The end has to be not to wide, not too skinny, but just right. Same with the body. Then there's the ink colour. You're right - this could take days.

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  11. Oh, I love your steps to writing. I would say 1 through 3 are my favorite.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  12. Mason; Thank you! Pens are vital - even if you don't use them.

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  13. Haha ... liked that item 10 on your list ... and number 3 of course; impossible to work without coffee >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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  14. Cold as Heaven; Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment - welcome! I agree with you - coffee is important.

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  15. So true! I've had the same type of day - often. I love number 8.

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  16. Jane; It is the stuff of which nightmares and ulcers are made.

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  17. Finally getting internet hooked up. Moving wreaks havoc on keeping up with blogs, much less writing. But this is so true.

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  18. Terry; I have been following your news about your move with interest. Also relief that it's not me. I hate moving. Although, if I could figure out a way to live in Europe I'd pack without complaining once.

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  19. That's a great list! Could be my life somedays :)

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  20. Love it, this is classic.
    A good pen makes a difference.

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  21. Jemi; It's my life more than I care to admit.

    Carolyn; I've written a classic? *throws confetti* Thanks!

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  22. Ohhh... Very helpful! ;)

    Can I reward myself with chocolate and red wine instead of a sandwich? Yes, I know it's not even noon, but whatever.

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  23. I often have to trick myself into writing. I'll tell myself I HAVE to write something else. I can NOT work on the novel yet....

    And suddenly I'm working on the novel (right after going off to Staples to buy pencil refills).

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