Image by Kelly Sims via Flickr
This post is inspired by a compilation of the best writing tips by John Roach of prowritingtips.com . I’ve read all 17 of them but what resonated most with me is @raimalarter ’s tip: My writing tip: seat time. As in “Put your seat in the chair and stay there!”
Raima is so spot on that if there’s only one advice I can share with you to transform yourself into a creative writer it is that common task. Very startling in its stark simplicity it’s a wonder it escapes our attention.
That’s all there is it to it. No magic bullet. No strange sounding mantra to set you in the mood. Just this: sit down and write.
Twitter after and not before (you may never extricate yourself). Certainly not during your writing time because you may never finish what you started. And close your browser tabs. All of them – email, IM, Facebook, Friendster, Friendfeed, LinkedIn. Better yet close down your internet connection.
After you’ve done you’re pre-writing rituals and unplugged yourself from the hive then you’re ready to -
* Sit down and search your notes (you keep a notebook of blogpost ideas, don’t you?) and pick one to write.
* Sit down even if you decide your cache of ideas is worthless.
* Sit down even if you have no idea what to write about. You’ll have better luck next time.
* Sit down because you’re rewiring your brain every time you keep your appointed time to write.
* Sit down until you have the guts to plunk your heart on the table and smudge your post with it.
Over time you’d be comfortable with the idea of your alone time. Every day that you keep to your schedule you’re becoming more attuned to the promptings of your inner voice. Listen to it. Acknowledge it. Capture what it has to say.
You have great friends in real life. You’re a power user in social media with a large following. But are you friends with your creative voice? Can you honestly say every time you sit down to write this untapped creative spirit has got your back covered?
Yes, consider it a date. Keep to your schedule every day. Until your ass muscles will have developed what athletes call muscle memory and drag you to your desk to write. Give in to its prompting. Your indecisive brain may falter but muscle memory will save your day.
Your ass knows best, after all.
This is just one idea. I know you’ve a useful tip or two to make blogging or creative writing less of a brain bleed. Over to you, dear readers. And out with it.