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So, you want to write? How to get into a writing habit (and stay in it)


The definition of writer is simple: it's someone who writes. 

So, by that definition if you are not writing (physical act) of writing, you are not a writer.  To be fair, if you don't write on a regular basis, you are not a writer. If you do, you are a writer. 

How do you feel about that? 
I've long since grappled with what it means to call myself a writer. I'd ask: 
  • Do I need to be paid for my writing? 
  • Do I need to be seen and referred to as a writer?  
  • Do I need to be listed as a writer somewhere, have "writer" as my bio, my credential? 
  • Be an author of some said book? 
(Have you been asked, what have you written? How silly do we feel when we say, well, we have a blog. We keep a journal.) 

But that's still writing, isn't it? 

Sometimes I think that writing is about how we think.


Benefits of Keeping a Journal 

I often catch myself saying this: "I will have to journal about that later on."

Journaling my writing has changed my life. If I have a situation in life that I'm struggling with, I'll journal about it. If I want to elaborate on something that I recently heard about or learned about I will work it out, or "flesh" it out in my journal. 

I will ask it questions. I will doodle words such as "Why?" I will complain, vent, taunt, and imagine scenarios among the pages of my journal. Sometimes story seeds are planted for my fiction. 
Often, I'll come up with a solution regarding whatever I'm facing. 
Journaling provides solutions for me.  

I find sometimes I'll even journal my prayers. 

And do you know if you're a writer? Sure, writers have a certain mentality, way of thinking and viewing life. if you prefer to write fiction, you may have a wild imagination and you might think that you see someone as an idea for a character in your novel.
We love to "people watch."

Or a story you read in a newspaper or magazine is a plot point for your story. Etc., Etc. relationship or family drama gives you a plot idea as well. 
You devour movies and novels and digest them... what made the writer want to 
How did this character/ that character evolve? What made them change? 

Sometimes being out in nature can inspire us to want to write. So, can being in a crowd of people. 

My goal, here at this blog, is to get you into writing. You want to explore the writing life. 

If you want to be a writer, if you want to write, here is what to avoid: 

Social media (Create, then consume.) 
Even reading books outside of your genre or research. 
Imposter syndrome (the only way to break this is to engage in the act of writing!


Best practices of writers: 

Read 
Commit to getting words down once/day. 
Try writing different places.
Try writing in the same place. 
Try writing at the same time each day. 
Hang out with other writers, join other writer's groups. 
Join writer's contests.
Follow writer's prompts. 
Read 
Keep a journal. 
Realize writing is a practice, and a muscle that needs strengthened.
Realize writing can become a habit. 

Want writing encouragement? Follow this blog for more and follow us on Instagram. 

Photo by Bookblock on Unsplash

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