It's a very true story. If you want to write a book, or anything, you have to sit down and do it. Canadian novelist Farley Mowat famously said (over his equally famous breakfast of vodka and OJ) “Well, there’s no secret to it. Just sit your arse down in the chair every day and go to work…” You should circle November on your calendar, Kate. The National Novel Writing Month competition always sounded a bit hokey to me but I've written four (now published) books this way. The competition is simply with yourself, but tracking your word count each day creates an out-loud commitment to it all. There are all sorts of forums that you can join and other tools (local NaNoWriMo writing circles and meet-ups) or you can opt to write your fool head off and come out with a manuscript at the end. November here is just dirty dishwater outside, so it's the perfect time to plow through a book. Check it out: https://nanowrimo.org/
Fun fact: I was laid off from my content writing job on April 1st and shifted my attention immediately. Now I had the freedom and time to write the book that I didn't in November (we were in Madagascar). In 17 days I've written 38,740 words. It works. And this comment is like, a thousand words long, so there's that!
Years ago I took a cheeseball course called "Write a Book in 30 Days." It's not a secret formula at all! Be sure to keep writing here too, Kate! I find that my weekly Substack posts are like recess in elementary school. I can run outside, get grass-stained, kick balls, sweat, scream and then calm down and return to my book.
I'm working through The Artist's Way and I really enjoy my morning pages. It feels like something you can pick up at different times of your life and it will give you something different each time. I'm a little gutted to hear that Floor Sample didn't ...erm...floor you... I'm sure you'll have come across Deborah Levy but if not here trilogy... oh my... it's really something special.
I'm glad you're enjoying your morning pages, it's such a useful device to get you started, or just work through things in your head, I love it, but do tend to go through phases of it rather than make it an unbreakable routine.
Interesting to read your take on Floor Sample as I had similar thoughts while reading, though did marvel at the tenacity to JUST. KEEP. ON. PUSHING.
And generally getting the back story of The Artist's Way felt like a bit of insider knowledge. I haven't read/done that yet, but contemplating making it a summer project this year...
I read two books by Madame Cameron and I did the morning pages thing, but I hated it! I produced terrible writing, it made me feel silly doing them! Like M. Torti and Farley
Mowat said, youhave to sit down and do it and for me it is a daily fight! Personnally, I am tired of biographies.
I don't think it matters if the writing is terrible for Morning Pages, it's more the act of doing them is meant to get you in the writing groove, any writing is better than none... if thats the only other option. 😉
I’ve been reading Julia Cameron’s book The Right to Write and finding it deeply helpful and mind-opening for my relationship to my writing. I hadn’t heard of Floor Sample yet; I’ll check it out! I love doing morning pages and find them powerful, though hard to make time for (being a working mom of three kids).
Oh wow, yes it must be hard with 3 kids to make any time for writing, or indeed anything that isn’t facilitating all your day to day lives. Keep going with the morning pages when you do get the chance tho, it’s a great place to vent as well as ponder. 😉
I woke up this morning and read your post first thing; it's more enjoyable than writing 1,000 words, I think. Maybe it doesn't generate more productivity for me, but it surely puts me in a better mood for the day. I love your posts and look forward to your thoughts after trying out Morning Pages. Just never stop your newsletter... deal?
Oh wow Cindy, thank you so so much for your feedback, it really means a lot. 🥰
My intention is to continue with Tangent until you are all sick to death of me... or I've gone so much off on a tangent that we've all forgotten what the original question was.
Thanks again so much for leaving this comment, it's really made my day. 👏 👏 👏
It's a very true story. If you want to write a book, or anything, you have to sit down and do it. Canadian novelist Farley Mowat famously said (over his equally famous breakfast of vodka and OJ) “Well, there’s no secret to it. Just sit your arse down in the chair every day and go to work…” You should circle November on your calendar, Kate. The National Novel Writing Month competition always sounded a bit hokey to me but I've written four (now published) books this way. The competition is simply with yourself, but tracking your word count each day creates an out-loud commitment to it all. There are all sorts of forums that you can join and other tools (local NaNoWriMo writing circles and meet-ups) or you can opt to write your fool head off and come out with a manuscript at the end. November here is just dirty dishwater outside, so it's the perfect time to plow through a book. Check it out: https://nanowrimo.org/
Fun fact: I was laid off from my content writing job on April 1st and shifted my attention immediately. Now I had the freedom and time to write the book that I didn't in November (we were in Madagascar). In 17 days I've written 38,740 words. It works. And this comment is like, a thousand words long, so there's that!
Wow well done, that's half a book already! 👏 👏
I do like the sound of some kind of accountability to keep me on track, so I will look into those, thank you for the recommendations.😘
Years ago I took a cheeseball course called "Write a Book in 30 Days." It's not a secret formula at all! Be sure to keep writing here too, Kate! I find that my weekly Substack posts are like recess in elementary school. I can run outside, get grass-stained, kick balls, sweat, scream and then calm down and return to my book.
I'm working through The Artist's Way and I really enjoy my morning pages. It feels like something you can pick up at different times of your life and it will give you something different each time. I'm a little gutted to hear that Floor Sample didn't ...erm...floor you... I'm sure you'll have come across Deborah Levy but if not here trilogy... oh my... it's really something special.
Hello Patsy! 😘
I'm glad you're enjoying your morning pages, it's such a useful device to get you started, or just work through things in your head, I love it, but do tend to go through phases of it rather than make it an unbreakable routine.
We shall see where this next phase leads! 🤓
Interesting to read your take on Floor Sample as I had similar thoughts while reading, though did marvel at the tenacity to JUST. KEEP. ON. PUSHING.
And generally getting the back story of The Artist's Way felt like a bit of insider knowledge. I haven't read/done that yet, but contemplating making it a summer project this year...
Go for it! 👏
Morning pages is a great way to kick start you into action, I tend to dip in and out of it.
Thanks for the encouragement! 😊
I read two books by Madame Cameron and I did the morning pages thing, but I hated it! I produced terrible writing, it made me feel silly doing them! Like M. Torti and Farley
Mowat said, youhave to sit down and do it and for me it is a daily fight! Personnally, I am tired of biographies.
I don't think it matters if the writing is terrible for Morning Pages, it's more the act of doing them is meant to get you in the writing groove, any writing is better than none... if thats the only other option. 😉
I’ve been reading Julia Cameron’s book The Right to Write and finding it deeply helpful and mind-opening for my relationship to my writing. I hadn’t heard of Floor Sample yet; I’ll check it out! I love doing morning pages and find them powerful, though hard to make time for (being a working mom of three kids).
Oh wow, yes it must be hard with 3 kids to make any time for writing, or indeed anything that isn’t facilitating all your day to day lives. Keep going with the morning pages when you do get the chance tho, it’s a great place to vent as well as ponder. 😉
I woke up this morning and read your post first thing; it's more enjoyable than writing 1,000 words, I think. Maybe it doesn't generate more productivity for me, but it surely puts me in a better mood for the day. I love your posts and look forward to your thoughts after trying out Morning Pages. Just never stop your newsletter... deal?
Oh wow Cindy, thank you so so much for your feedback, it really means a lot. 🥰
My intention is to continue with Tangent until you are all sick to death of me... or I've gone so much off on a tangent that we've all forgotten what the original question was.
Thanks again so much for leaving this comment, it's really made my day. 👏 👏 👏
Lol! Trust me, if years from now you get that far off on a tangent, I'll never know the difference. I'll happily be along for the ride... 🤗
We'll all go off together! 👏 😘