The Practice of Writing

Most of us write either because we’re under deadline or because we’ve been struck by a thunderbolt of inspiration.

For those of us who truly love to write, this pressure creates, at best, a stormy relationship with Writing. I thought about this a great deal during the worst writer’s block of my life. At last I came to the realization that the ability to write is a gift, and the decision to do it is a commitment that is as important as marriage. Writing needs nurturing, sustenance, and, I’ve discovered, daily practice. Deadlines and inspiration just don’t cut it, just as they don’t in a relationship. A pianist practices every day. A painter sketches every day. A lover pays tender attention to the beloved every day.

So I decided I would give Writing all the honor and tenderness it was due, and see if I could lift it into a daily practice that brought us both happiness.

In the years that followed this commitment I’ve discovered that Writing is not something to wrestle with, or long for, or something that makes me giddy with excitement, or throws me into the bleakest despair imaginable. It’s actually something that is always there for me, and I am always there for it. Since I began writing as a daily practice our bond has become indissoluble.

My hope is that the exercises, experiences, and encouragement I offer will nourish and revitalize others’ relationships with Writing.

You’re welcome to explore the practices I offer in my posts or contact me for more information about personal mentoring and consulting.