Draw Upon Your Muse
As I have mentioned previously, there isn't anything magical about becoming a writer. If you are a writer, call yourself a Writer (yup, capital W!). But once you've taken that step - once you have decided to be serious about your writing, what do you do? What's the next step? The next step is to learn your craft. Writing is a very personal experience, and for that reason many people make the mistake of thinking they just sit down and write. To an extent, that's true. But writing is a craft. It is an art. And to make your writing better, you must learn about writing, and you must practice. So . . . get your writing muscle flexed, because that is what you will be doing if you follow along with me. I know it's tough - the weather is nice, summer is here, the yard needs mowed, and the cool water of the pool is calling you. But, if you are serious about your craft, you need to discipline yourself. And the first step towards discipline is scheduling. Take time to write every day. I don't care if it is nothing more than journal writing. I skipped my Morning Pages last week, and found that it really screwed up my head. I just don't feel right. So, my personal project for this week is to write my Morning Pages. Three pages. Every day. No excuses. I want you to do the same. You will find the words flowing easier, and ideas will form and swirl that you didn't even know where germinating in your fertile mind. If you are already working on a project, take a moment to write about that project as you begin your pages. Is there a plot point you aren't sure about, or a character you feel you need to get to know better? Write about that. Write questions to your characters, then let the words flow from within. The answers you seek are in you - you just have to find a way to stimulate your muse so that she will move your pen. And the best way to stimulate your muse is to get the ink flowing. For this type of thing, I think longhand is best. Personally, I am even superstitious about the pen I use. I have a Waterman fountain pen with a 24k gold nib. It's beautiful, and I can't help but feel inspired when I use it. Your journal can be anything you want - a spiral bound notebook or a bound journal. But get in the habit of writing every day. For those of you who want a hint of what is next: Drawing Upon the Experiences of Other Writers will be touched on soon.
Fountain pens! Finally, someone else who understands not just the quality of such pens, but also the writing experience they provide. I wouldn’t be caught dead without my Waterman “Expert” pen. Actually, I have two Waterman fountain pens, but the first one is a cheap plastic variety that I hold onto for the sake of nostalgia (it was my first fountain pen). I also have a Lamy pen that I picked up on sale at Levenger.com.
Admittedly, I sometimes fall back on the old Ticonderoga #2 pencils too, while I also keep a Fisher Space Pen clipped on my pants pocket at all times. Never know when the need to write may hit, so why not use something that’s designed to write on any surface, in zero gravity, and at -30F? Yep, I’m a pen & stationary junky. What can I say?
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