Writer's Mind

Lessons learned in creating a writing habit

Hansen Writing Ball typewriter

In the sixth week of the writing course I attended a family event, and I felt guilty about not writing every day on this trip, but torn because it is only a few times a year my family is together and spending time with them seemed a natural priority. I did take one day off from my commitment to myself. But I had an intentionally different way of thinking during interactions and events, even if I was not meeting my daily writing goal. I had been in the habit and routine of writing, and I kept my mind engaged in thinking philosophically and critically examining the interactions around me. The next day, after sleeping on the thoughts that my mind conceived naturally, in the shower the ideas formed as texts that were begging to be put into words. Three new topics for my writing projects took shape and I held onto them until I could sit down and type them out. They flowed easily, as if already written, and typing them was merely a formality.

I see this shift from obligation to existential expression as a direct result of creating a habit of writing. The more I write routinely, the easier it gets. The more I write, the less it is a duty to myself, the more it is a need to express my ideas, more a part of my existence. Habit becomes essence.

See more reflections from my writing course here:

Writing Every Day: Reflection Notes

Perfectionism is the Enemy to Writers