Post by Gillian on Jan 21, 2009 14:42:59 GMT -5
One of the things I do to keep my muse nice and healthy is write in a journal. It ensures that I am writing every day (or every week) which, in the long run, really helps your style. The more you practice the better you will know your personal style. It will also help with penmanship (which, as Sarah knows, I really need to pay more attention to).
What I did was go to a book store ( I went to Barnes and Nobles-you can go to any other store or any office supply store) and bought the best looking journal I could find. I think the appealing factor is big. It makes sure your attention is kept. But, if your not willing to shell out the extra cash, then just buy as simple as you please. Go home, set up a place in your house where you can write, sit down and start writing your first entry. I, personally, wrote rules for myself. I wrote that I couldn't print, I had to write in cursive. I had to write outside once a week. In every entry, I have to comment on the weather (I stink at writing descriptions about scenery and I need the practice. So far, its really helped). You can give yourself rules or not but I've found that it motivates me a lot more then if I just wrote entires whenever I felt like it. Give yourself an amount of entries you need to write per day, week, or month. Then more you write, the better. I like to write freely through the week, but I must write at least one entry about the weather a week.
Having a journal with personal requirements will also help with keeping yourself dedicated to what your writing. If you have two chapters to write and you need it by the end of the month, having this practice under your belt with really push you along. There's more good then bad to come of this. I highly suggest anyone pursuing a career in literature take up this habit. I promise that you will not regret it.
What I did was go to a book store ( I went to Barnes and Nobles-you can go to any other store or any office supply store) and bought the best looking journal I could find. I think the appealing factor is big. It makes sure your attention is kept. But, if your not willing to shell out the extra cash, then just buy as simple as you please. Go home, set up a place in your house where you can write, sit down and start writing your first entry. I, personally, wrote rules for myself. I wrote that I couldn't print, I had to write in cursive. I had to write outside once a week. In every entry, I have to comment on the weather (I stink at writing descriptions about scenery and I need the practice. So far, its really helped). You can give yourself rules or not but I've found that it motivates me a lot more then if I just wrote entires whenever I felt like it. Give yourself an amount of entries you need to write per day, week, or month. Then more you write, the better. I like to write freely through the week, but I must write at least one entry about the weather a week.
Having a journal with personal requirements will also help with keeping yourself dedicated to what your writing. If you have two chapters to write and you need it by the end of the month, having this practice under your belt with really push you along. There's more good then bad to come of this. I highly suggest anyone pursuing a career in literature take up this habit. I promise that you will not regret it.