We are still in drought, but the past week we got a half inch of rain. With no more water than this on their thirsty leaves, the rain lilies managed to shoot up out of the ground and produce this beauty.
The past week I read several articles by writers offering their personal rules for writing. I decided to look at my own. I boiled them down to the following 5 practices that are essential to me, behaviors that ‘water’ me as a writer. I have to call them practices, because the word rules gives me the heebee-jeebees. And I have not perfected them; I’m still practicing.
- Commitment to my writing craft. Write every day, a scheduled focused time in the same place. This is sacred time, only a family crisis, or crisis in the garden, interferes with this schedule.
- Encourage myself. No criticism allowed, not only on first drafts, but also when revising and editing. Believe in my own process.
- Determine the theme of every piece, large or small. Write it down and refer to it often to keep on track, but change it when the writing reveals differently.
- Have weekly Creativity Time. This is a meeting with myself, informal and with refreshments, where I play with ideas and inventory work underway, and things I want to try.
- Read, read, read. Read only the highest quality to which I aspire, and that which sparks my imagination. Read some bit on the craft of writing weekly.
The above practices help me to do the work, and to enjoy it. After all, anything done without joy might as well not be done at all. Creativity, just like God, is found in the joy.
You will have your own personal needs for ‘watering’ your writer. Take time–have a meeting with yourself– and figure them out, and write them down.
Blessings,
CurtissAnn
Curtiss Ann Matlock 
Gosh these are practices that can be applied to any art form!! I actually am committed to all but the first one.
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Whatever you are doing, keep it up, it’s working. I love that old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
I love knowing how a writer goes about writing; it seems like such a magical process. It’s amazing how the ideas running through your mind end up on a written page to be enjoyed by readers like me!
Hugs!
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Yes! Read, read, read.
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What kind of refreshments???
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Oh, Cutie-pie! My favorite would be Darjeeling tea and cookies! Hugs, CurtissAnn
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I so appreciate your generous shares on writing, Curtiss Ann. I am not a real writer like you, but I enjoy the process and I appreciate your help in ways to improve.
L, dana
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Dana– I believe we are all ‘real’ writers. It is human nature. Some do it more than others, but we all are compelled to write in some vein. I’m glad to share, and thereby I’m speaking to myself, too! big hugs, CA
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This was very helpful and insightful. Thank you for sharing it.
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