Writing is a habit not an art

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I'm in the middle of an online writing course and I wanted to share some of the things I've learned so far.

The first thing I learned is that "writing is a habit not an art".

Secondly, 3 tips for overcoming writers block:

  1. Write with Purpose: You need to know before you start exactly what you need and want to achieve with your writing. A purpose gives you an end goal to work towards. (Figuring out that purpose is covered later on in the course, so I'll share it when I get to that part).
  2. Show up: It's been said that, "the art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair". That phrase is a writers version of that saying that "80% of success is showing up". Getting started is the hardest part of writing. It's a bit like excising, the idea of the gym is so much work than the reality of working out. So if you can get there, 75% of the battle is done. And it's the same with writing, 75% of the battle is getting something down on paper.
  3. Don't get it right, get it written: The real source of writers block is feeling like you have to find the right words right away; that you have to get it perfect. Get something down on paper and then go back and edit.

Source: Dr. Clare Lynch. Writing tutor, Cambridge University. https://www.udemy.com/user/clarelynch


That was the first lesson and it included an exercise. I'm excited to get started on lesson 2.


For now, I'll leave you with this quote:


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Recent Comments

76

Ernie cuts right to the chase. I might need a writing course that specializes in emotional content, since I come from a technical writing background. Thanks Gaylene.

You're welcome :-)

I agree and I look forward to reading your next post.

Thanks Julie

Totally agree.

Thanks for the comment Leonard

It can also be an art Gaylene. It is often encapsulated within a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree!

Sure, thanks for your input Mike :-)

Great tips to go by Gaylene. Thanks for sharing and I hope you enjoy your course.

Regards,
Jerome

Thanks Jerome, I'm looking forward to the next lesson, thanks for stopping by :-)

Gaylene,
Thanks for sharing the lesson thoughts. Makes me feel like making a few signs now that you've given me something to think about writing on them... and elsewhere.

I'm pleased it's helped you Al, all the best :-)

Maybe one day I'll tell you a very special story about Hemingway.

Look forward to that Stephen :-)

Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome, thanks for the comment Karin :-)

A good friend of mine from upstate NY relayed this story to me. He is a well to do artist and in the early part of the 20th century his father was the senator from NY. They traveling quite a bit to Key West, Fl of which you are aware of is one of Hemmingways haunts at Sloppy Joes bar. Well my friend (who at the time is 18) is arguing with his father about Hemingway saying what a hack he is. Well, they went back and forth and finally his dad says "Why don't you tell him yourself, he's right over there" After meeting Hemmingway they became great friends and spent a lot of time together in Spain and Portugal. Sometimes we just get lucky.

Wow, what a great story. Hemingway is someone I would've loved to be friends with, I love is quotes. Quotes say a lot about a person and he was very witty. I like that about people :-)

Thanks for sharing your writing lessons Gaylene.

You're welcome :-)

That is my main problem. Thanks for the insight.

Ever Forward,
Joe Maggio Jr

You're welcome :-)

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