For me, writing every day makes a big difference. I find that when I work on my project every day, the characters and plot stay fresh in my mind, and I am likely to start thinking about them when I’m waiting in a queue or sitting in traffic. My book becomes an integral part of my daily life, not in a preoccupied way but akin to a friend I know very well. There are days when I don’t have time to sit down for an hour or even half an hour, and when four or five non-writing days string together, it takes me longer to find that flow again.
The idea of writing every day can be a scary commitment for many people, so let me clarify what it means to me. Firstly, when I refer to ‘writing’, I am talking about every aspect of my current book. That includes typing new words, plotting and editing. Often when I finish a scene or chapter, I need to revisit my outline and consider if it needs tweaking. Before I begin a new chapter, I like to play out the scene in my mind and consider how the characters will react to the circumstances. Sometimes I find writing an interview with a character can reveal the answer, and I’ll spend an hour or so just ambling along wherever the conversation goes. All these activities are necessary for me to move my book on, and I consider all of them to be ‘writing’.
So I try to :
- work on my book every day in some way, even if that’s only half an hour plotting or reading the last completed chapter
- write some new words at least four times a week, even 150 words is enough, once I get close to my weekly target
In this way, I know my book is a priority and so it stays in my short term memory. My writing muscles are exercised regularly, and my subconscious works away even when I’m not in writing mode. This is a powerful resource that we can tap into – it’s like having a personal assistant but one that thinks we like do, one that speaks our language and understands what we are looking for. The key to employing this resource is telling it what we need, and for me, keeping my writing work ever present in my mind does just that. Kate Pennel’s recent article entitled ‘Making the Power of Your Subconscious Mind Work for You’ puts is very well when she says (referring to Max Maltz): ‘He explains that in the same way that a machine does not reason or judge, rather it just follows the task set it, so does the subconscious mind.’
Happy writing,
Harry
Useful Links
‘Making the Power of Your Subconscious Mind Work for You’ by Kate Pennel
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