The Writing Life
If you want to get better at what you do, you have to have three qualities: love, attention, and consistency. If you want to meet the goals you’ve set, you need the same three things. If you want someone to know you care for them, you also need those three things. You have to give that person love and attention and do so with consistency.
While I believe in deadlines and writing regularly, I know that some writing is better done immediately while other is better done later. The latter is the moment “recollected in tranquility.” The former is in the moment and may or may not be emotionally charged.
Before you throw a tizzy fit, please listen: you are not going to become a better writer simply by continuing to write. It just isn’t going to happen. It’s like hoping you’re going to be chosen for the all-star basketball team even though your aim is all wrong and you refuse to listen to the coaches and other players who could help you improve your game. If you don’t listen to those people, it doesn’t matter how many times you shoot the basketball. You’re never going to make more than a few baskets.
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Some words aren’t ready to be published once they’re set on the page. They’re half-cocked, half-baked, half-***ed. They need a bit more sun, a little water, and a lot of weeding before they’re ready to be shared with the world.
“Good” is a subjective qualifier, but most people know when the work they produce is good or mediocre. Good work is doing one’s best. Mediocre is doing just enough to get by. Good work may receive criticism and need corrections. Mediocre work has to be completely redone.
The first word is hard. The second one is a little easier. The third? The third should be even easier, which is why I say to write it. Don’t worry about the first word too much. Just start. Let yourself reach the third word, then the fourth and fifth. Don’t spend a lot of time obsessing over the words. Just get them on the paper.