In the most recent issue of Shape magazine, Venus Williams, a tennis star and winner of numerous titles, talks about her seven ways to get motivated. And her first way involves practicing. She says:
“You have to practice to develop your talents–and learn to enjoy putting the effort in, otherwise you won’t succeed.”
She then explains that she does two hours of training per day in the gym and four hours per day on the court.
Procrastinating writers can learn a lot from Williams. She’s motivated, dedicated and, above all, reaches her goals.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have a hard time putting in the effort and writing, which is the main reason why I don’t write most of the time. But this is something I, and every other procrastinating writer, needs to move past. If we’re ever going to succeed in our writing goals, we need to practice, practice, practice…and love doing it.
The best way to get started with practicing is to write, and write often. No more skipping days, no more “I don’t feel like writing,” no more “but there’s a rerun of Seinfeld on that I’ve never seen before.”
And you don’t need to jump into this and make a huge commitment. As Bill O’Hanlon says in his book, Write is a Verb (which I will be discussing in a later post), write for just 15 minutes a day to start. That’s it. Just 15 minutes. Eventually you’ll start to fall in love with writing and want to write for longer.
So do you think you can write for 15 minutes a day? Let’s try it together…then come back to let me know how you’re doing.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jennifer!
I just ran into your blog, and it hit a strong chord with me. When my day’s writing is complete, my next task will be to return and read further, but not before. That would be, you know, procrastinating.
Can’t have that, can we?
Take care!
-Blair Peery,
Occasional Writer
Congrats for not procrastinating, Blair! You’re on your way to reaching all your writing dreams!
And thanks for reading.
jennifer
Hi Jen!
I like this post. btw I was up ’til 4a.m. last Saturday night working on my manuscript. but.. I was on vicodin, maybe that’s why
I got a call today about a job as a technical writer. Here’s hoping.
E
I’m so proud of you E! Good look, I knew you could do it!
Good LUCK I meant, haha…
I’v been writing for an hour or 2 a day, I love it! BUT not sure if it’s anygood! check out my writing on bookise! http://www.bookise.com/storiestotell
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENT AND THANK YOU! I LOVE THIS BLOG!
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