I have finally reached that stage in my writing journey when daily habits are gelling.
I’ve been writing and interviewing writers for nearly four years. Why has it taken so long to form craft habits like so many of my guests talk about in our interviews?
Maybe it’s because I worked full time until a year and a half ago leaving little time to make writing my life’s pursuit or form habits other than the tired ones from my “day job” routine, which probably spilled over into my writing routine. Hmmm. Maybe I had habits I didn’t think of as habits. Anyhoo…
It could be because it has taken this long to absorb all those wonderful discussions, read enough blogs, exchange work with fellow writers, and apply the collective shared techniques subconsciously until the things that work for me stuck.
The daily habit I’m sharing today is reading articles about writing in an effort to pass on the benefits of such articles.
Devoting time each day to reading about writing.
Aside from my husband of 34 years, writing is the reason I get up in the morning. I can’t wait to grab my coffee (courtesy of said husband) and get to my keyboard to capture all the scenes that played through my mind during the night, flesh out the fascinating pod people planted in my dreams by aliens, or try out characters inspired by shows like PBS’s American Experience (who knew Lyndon B. Johnson was so multidimensional).
Before I get started these days, I take time out to go through my emails and click on my favorite blog sites when an article catches my eye.
Here are two favorites from this morning that I had to share because they resonated so well they inspired me to write a blog of my own. The articles themselves from two of my favorite daily email drops explain why I find this habit beneficial… and that’s it for today folks!
Cheryl Strayed’s Advice for Beginning Writers
Key Differences Between Active vs. Passive Voice
By D. L. Lewellyn 