Slog Until You Rock

"I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork." 
- Peter De Vries


"Easy reading is damn hard writing." 
- Nathaniel Hawthorne


Writing is the most difficult task I know. It is also the most enjoyable. But there will be days and maybe even months when all we do is slog through lines, chapters, whole novels. I am mostly talking about editing (in my case) and when we can't hit that inspiration button just right. As writers, we have accept that writing can be imaginably difficult. When we accept this, the writing process comes more into focus. 


Presently, I am working on editing the first novel I wrote. Though I enjoy the story, characters, its concept, I can't get over how tiresome it is to make every line to what I want - or at least what I can do with it. It is like swimming through the Dead Sea. But I know I have to do it if I have any chance of publishing it. Without this crucial edit, the novel would be no more than some frantic scribblings, with an occasional wonder.


So, for all you sloggers out there - remember this hint: "Those who slog, rock." I just made that up right now. But it is true. That has been the secret of all good writer's and anyone successful for that matter. 

Absolute Persistence

I like myself better when I'm writing regularly. 

- Willie Nelson

We all have heard of hard work and the daily practice of writing. But even if we put in our daily work and keep a tight focus on our writing (not being scattered-brain about how we write), how much production time do we actually invest in our practice? Sadly, becoming an accomplished writer takes more than putting pen to paper a little bit each day. It takes hours, many hours per day to achieve your goal.

Set a fixed amount of time to write every day. For me, it is four hours a day on weekdays and two hours a day on weekend days. It doesn't matter to me if it is two in the morning and I still have two hours to write. I will finish my writing time. But if I absolutely can't afford that, then I add the time I didn't complete on the next day. 

Each set time will be different for each writer, but make sure it fits your goals and you are not skimping on your potential. If you are an unbelievably awesome writer and think you only need two hours a day, go ahead. But then again, wouldn't you be even better on four hours a day? 

Being disciplined is not a choice for a writer - it is the difference between a habit and a career. So choose wisely.  

FYI: Here is a great blog post with a more in-depth view of this topic:

http://writerunboxed.com/2009/06/24/the-three-p%E2%80%99s-of-writing-persistence-passion-and-practice