Comments on: Get In The Habit Of Writing Every Day

By: Nap Your Novel Into Existence

Nap Your Novel Into Existence — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:34:36 +0000

[...] Don’t forget your notebook. If you’re a new writer, you probably still call it a journal. Relax, it will become your goddamn notebook in a few months, once writing becomes a discipline. [...]

By: 5 Methods To Help You Write Every Day

5 Methods To Help You Write Every Day — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:53:05 +0000

[...] Why should you write every day? Nothing makes writing easier than turning it into a habit. [...]

By: Alanna Klapp

Alanna Klapp — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:10:11 +0000

I want to read Heather’s other books, too! I’d like to read every word she’s ever written! I agree with you about her completely!! I’m where you are, I’ve been writing every day but mostly non-fiction, and I’d like to get in some fiction time. I think I’m going to start getting back into it by writing flash fiction. Best of luck to you, I love your blog!

By: jblan

jblan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:26:21 +0000

@lapetus999 I’d say writing is writing. But that doesn’t mean revision isn’t an important part of the overall writing process. And I think, as long as you are always working on something–whether you’re writing, revising or planning–you’re doing pretty good. Just make sure you don’t spend more time revising then you do writing!

@Alanna Klapp I want to read a few of her other books! She has an amazing knack for hitting the nail on the head and telling you what it really takes to be a writer. Like I said above, I write every single day, no exceptions. But most of my writing time is spent on non-fiction writing. I’d really like to get fiction in the loop soon.

By: Dave Felton

Dave Felton — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:38:21 +0000

Hi Jennifer,

Great article and so true.

I thought that “[Successful] Writers are simply people who have figured out how to spend enough time in the writing room every day in order to create enough work so that some of it is good.” was pure gold.

IainBanks is a good example of a well known author proving this to be true. Apparently he writes “9 to 5 as all my friends have real jobs and I like to be like them” (I am probably horribly misquoting him, but I hope he forgives me!

Best wishes.

By: Alanna Klapp

Alanna Klapp — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:08:49 +0000

Jennifer, this is a great post, thank you! I love Heather Sellers, she’s one of my favorite writers and I think she’s a genius. I love her books Page After Page and Chapter After Chapter. Great stuff.

I try to write every day, even if it’s only a little. I find if I don’t write at least a little something every day, it’s much harder for me to get back into it the next day, and then the cycle perpetuates itself so it takes me a huge momentus effort (and a lot of forgiveness on my part for not writing like I’m supposed to be) to get back into the game. It’s easier for me to write than it is to deal with the consequences of not writing.

Lapetus999, I think revision counts! I count everything in my writing time, including reading, marketing, and networking. However, I also try to make sure I do a little new writing every day, but I definitely think revision counts. That’s where the real writing happens, for me, anyway. Just my two cents.

By: sefcug

sefcug — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:40:20 +0000

I am a hobby writer, as well as the editor of two computer user group newsletters, and a part time blogger.
Most days I write something, or am editing something to go into one of the newsletters.
At work, I am constantly writing and responding to emails as the major function of my job, though I have set up a lot of templates for the routine stuff.
Lately, I have been participating over at http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/, which has re-sparked my interest in creative writing (see http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/creative-copy-challenge-12/#comment-1043 for my latest submission) .
I am thinking about setting up a Posterous blog to post my submissions, and those from other creative writing prompt feeds, which will give me incentive to write creatively more often.
All in all, I know think that I write every day, just not all of it is creative writing.

By: Iapetus999

Iapetus999 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:03:30 +0000

Here’s the thing.
I read this kind of post all the time.
What about revision?
A lot of revision is note taking, conceptualizing, and evaluating, none of which involves actually writing fictional prose.
I do try to write small stories while I’m in revision mode, but still, revision isn’t writing but it’s a writing skill that I also need to work on. Does revision count?

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:04:08 +0000

This seems to be quite the topic today! A very similar sentiment to what you wrote about is something I heard from my creative writing teacher last year – but have since seen it in quite a few articles (most notably in Malcolm Gladwell’s Late Bloomers article in the New Yorker). She said, whenever I am struggling or am unhappy with a scene or ending or whatever, I need to just write more. That most people who want to write – and even those that do – often just don’t write enough.

By: jennifer blanchard

jennifer blanchard — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:34:14 +0000

@Eliza Thanks for sharing that awesome insight with us! I used to be in the “write when I feel like it” boat…but that stopped working for me (really, it never worked for me). So now I write every single day. I don’t write fiction every day, yet. But I do write non-fiction every single day. I’ve been doing this for the last 2 1/2 years and my non-fiction writing has improved tremendously. I’ve even started to develop my writing voice. My next goal is to start writing fiction every day. I’m going to attempt one writing exercise a day and see where it goes from there.