Writing Wednesday: Putting Handles on the Cups

[tryslora]

I just saw this on Kit Murphy's blog and I wanted to share, because it's great advice, and it's fairly similar to what I try to do with shorter sprints sometimes, and very simple goals.

Writing Wednesday: Putting Handles on the Cups

There’s a Writing Rule that says “Write every day, no matter what.” You hear people tout this rule, just like every other Writing Rule, and since I’m dragging myself back into the swing of things after what amounts to a five month hiatus, I thought I’d address it.

Obviously it’s terrible advice.

I mean, yes, if you can write every day, that’s awesome. That’s great! Go for it! Have fun! Write every day! God knows I do when I can. But the idea that you must is as crippling as any other Writing Rule, because reality interferes a great deal and people can rarely write every. single. day.

Comments

[khalulu]

Thanks for this!

[kitty_fic]

I do like the advice of writing every day. I think it has a lot of merit in general, but I also agree that it's not always feasible. If something comes up and you have to miss a day or you're having a rough patch in rl and you have to miss a day or more, then that's what you need to do.

I agree that if you stick to any rule in such a way that it cripples you, then it's no longer helpful.

Maybe the rule should be "TRY to write every day."

Because there always needs to be some room for life. It's so unpredictable!

<3

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

This is solid. When I make myself write every day my stories tend to suffer. I, and readers I bet, can always tell when my heart has flown the coop of my stories.