Comments on: The Shocking Secret to Writing http://www.hownottowrite.com/others-not-writing/the-shocking-secret-to-writing/ If you're reading this, you're not writing. Obvious but true. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:55:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: editor http://www.hownottowrite.com/others-not-writing/the-shocking-secret-to-writing/#comment-29 editor Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:37:28 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/the-shocking-secret-to-writing/#comment-29 You're quite welcome, Chrissy! It was a great post! And you've certainly hit the nail on the head with journals as tools for avoidance. Originally, my journal was an easy way to get warmed up for a day's writing session. I'd peck about in there for thirty minutes or so until my fingers started naturally flowing back to the plot I was working on. Of course, that sort of thing has a way of stretching into 30,45, 90, 180 minutes. Ugh. Since then, I've had an on again off again relationship with my journal. Sometimes I just spend a few minutes in there each day, sometimes it seems like that's all I do (which is where I've been lately). But you have the right attitude: just do it! If you're looking for good kick-in-the-pants inspiration I can recommend the book "Courage to Write" by Ralph Keyes. Prof. Keyes is just awesome on the things writers must overcome to get their books written. I recommend this to everyone who is really serious about getting a novel done. Best of luck in 2008! You’re quite welcome, Chrissy! It was a great post!

And you’ve certainly hit the nail on the head with journals as tools for avoidance.

Originally, my journal was an easy way to get warmed up for a day’s writing session. I’d peck about in there for thirty minutes or so until my fingers started naturally flowing back to the plot I was working on. Of course, that sort of thing has a way of stretching into 30,45, 90, 180 minutes. Ugh.

Since then, I’ve had an on again off again relationship with my journal. Sometimes I just spend a few minutes in there each day, sometimes it seems like that’s all I do (which is where I’ve been lately). But you have the right attitude: just do it!

If you’re looking for good kick-in-the-pants inspiration I can recommend the book “Courage to Write” by Ralph Keyes. Prof. Keyes is just awesome on the things writers must overcome to get their books written. I recommend this to everyone who is really serious about getting a novel done.

Best of luck in 2008!

]]> By: Chrissy http://www.hownottowrite.com/others-not-writing/the-shocking-secret-to-writing/#comment-28 Chrissy Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:57:00 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/the-shocking-secret-to-writing/#comment-28 Hi there - thanks for linking to my post! I love it that you call your journal entries "not writing". I've recently realized that I've been using my journal to postpone doing real writing - it makes me me feel like I've done the work when really I haven't really accomplished anything towards my writing goals. It's a nice, comfortable means of avoidance! Excellent post and a wonderful site for me to have found for my approaching "year of the novel". Hi there - thanks for linking to my post! I love it that you call your journal entries “not writing”. I’ve recently realized that I’ve been using my journal to postpone doing real writing - it makes me me feel like I’ve done the work when really I haven’t really accomplished anything towards my writing goals. It’s a nice, comfortable means of avoidance!
Excellent post and a wonderful site for me to have found for my approaching “year of the novel”.

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