December 2, 2021
Reflections, Day 52
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
― Madeleine L’Engle
People ask me about writing,
“How do I learn to be a writer?”
“What are the simple tricks to writing for stand-up comedy?”
“Where do you get your subject matter?”
I have tried to answer these questions and more like them over the years. I at least try to answer them but, even though I may be able to come up with an answer that is satisfactory for the questioner, I cannot come up with answers that are satisfactory to me.
There are a lot of excellent creative writing teachers but I am not one of them.
But I have learned one thing over the past few years:
If you want to be a good writer, you should write something every day.
You don’t have to write a book.You can write poetry or prose.
You may publish it or discard it. (These days we can publish with a few clicks).
You may be writing for yourself—or for others—it doesn’t matter.
But you should write something each and every day.
It is a good idea to date, sign, and save the writings. The pieces may be long or short, but it doesn’t matter. It matters if you write—every day.
As I look back on my writing efforts over the past few years, I can see that with the daily exercise and practice, my writing has improved greatly.
I have a friend who began writing an original piece for social media on a daily basis about a year ago. His name is John Winn. I have been impressed by how much his writing has improved. It’s kind of like learning to play a musical instrument. You may not ever be any good—but practice always makes you better. And, who knows, one day you may find yourself good at it.
Oh, and it never hurts to marry a professional editor.
—john schulz
Power to the persistent.
johntheplantman--Gardening 