The Writing Practice

Reading this post, it occurs to me that instead of dedicating a time slot to post writing, each minute is contributing to the development of stories, lessons, expostulations, etc. Those need to be captured real time and then developed in free moments. Rather than spinning the posts out of abstract thinking, they grow from life experiences and observations.

Very timely Chris, Doc, and other contributors to the idea sparking process, thank you! The resources and reading material are coming thick and fast for me but blending them with real-world ideas and getting everything down on paper/processor has been an almost overwhelming challenge.

I like the approach of free form notes, written from a base subject and allowing unfiltered thoughts to flow onto the page. Even if it doesn't lead to a specific piece on that subject, I find it an amazing way to get the creative juices flowing which then leads into more coherent writing. It also spins off new subject bases from which to repeat the process.

Thanks Chris! I really enjoyed your post. As I was half way through reading it I jumped onto my blog to jot down some ideas for my next post. I like your point “Sparks are everywhere. We just have to look for them.” I get excited when I am out at an event and realize that it has inspired me to write on my blog.

Jessica

Excellent guide and advise Chris. Thanks a lot for your visit

Chris,
I’m like you – I can’t write often enough or fast enough to cover all my ideas. I have a running list of at least 50 partially written blog articles. I add to this list constantly. I get ideas everywhere and now use Reqall http://www.reqall.com/ to record my ideas. It is the best thing since sliced bread and it’s free! You call a phone number and dictate your idea and it is transcribed to text and sent to you in an email. It saves me so much time! I used to call my own voice mail and leave myself messages that I then had to jot down and put somewhere. Now I can cut and paste from the email.

I think the “practice” is also about viewing the world from many perspectives, having great curiosity, a certain level of awareness and working the creative thinking muscles. Thanks for your thoughts!

I used to suffer from this when I listened to great guitar players. I put off practicing guitar for 15 years because I just knew I couldn't be like them.

Then, I stopped believing I couldn't, and started believing I could, and suddenly, all those great guitarists became an inspiration instead of frustration.

It clarifies your thinking to try to make a genuine case for something you don't believe. I wouldn't publish something I didn't believe, but there's another angle: you can always write 'but what if . . . ?'

If everyone's writing about Seth's new book, write (and maybe even publish) a post about, “But what if being a linchpin is a bad idea?” and explore possible alternatives. Again, it forces you to clarify your own perspective. Telling yourself a different story is a great way to move toward abundance thinking and openness toward new ideas.

I had another question, Elizabeth: “denial that I am a writer”

How did you do that? (I can't picture it.)

Chris,

I just recently stumbled upon (not to be confused with Stubleupon) your blog. I'm glad I did. You're good at what you do. Thanks for doing it.

I used to be a human being who is slowly evolving into a professional blogger machine. I enjoy writing, I've been building a blog for almost two years now, and only recently have I started to reap any of the extrinsic benefits (including a beautiful gf – really). I'm not sure if others will be able to use this advice, but my greatest practice for blogging has little to do with writing or reading (although they undoubtedly help). My greatest asset comes in the form of my lack of apprehension. I'm very opinionated and have trained my brain make sense of the world in my own fashion, not through society's norms. Obviously strong opinions without any knowledge basis makes for a bad situation (see: president US President #43), however a fear of standing out, or trying new things instantly terminates great ideas. Taking a chance, is often where people fail. So many blogs are simply too vanilla because they repackage other people's content. It's like eating at Taco Bell, you can order different shapes, but the ingredients are all the same. I challenge all aspiring Chris Brogan's to push themselves. I challenge all aspiring Chris Brogans to drop their guard. I challenge all aspiring Chris Brogans to do something new. I want a more eclectic blogosphere. I want the Bacon Explosion (google it if you don't know).

I am going to challenge myself to start using paragraphs correctly.

Zach

http://www.osmanoÄŸlunakliyat.com.tr

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http://www.osmanoglunakliyat.com.tr

I thought the article was good at exploring that idea of “these kids today!!” I hear it a lot over at Schoolcraft and it makes me nuts. I mean I would love it if all my students “got it” and were putting 100% into everything we did in class, but they have lives. I mean I know many of them that work 40 hours a week, have 4 or 5 classes, and some even have families to support. They are doing the best they can and some of them know they are being pulled in way too many directions. The younger ones who live in the dorms are just that, young. I know when I was that age I did the work but didn’t get how it would impact my life and why I needed to do it all. Yes there are those who don’t care, but that does not mean they are our students. Its like my parents would tell me “in my day” and I really try not to say that becuase it sends the message that somehow I’m not good enough or work hard enough. Each generation has their issues to deal with, as adults we can hear about what the younger ones are going through but never really know.

Thanks for your post, it is useful for me!

Thank you for your sound advice. I often use the time excuse when it comes to my writing practice – I say I’ll write before my son wakes up but then he wakes up early, or I plan to write after he goes to bed but then my brain is tired and fuzzy. I spend plenty of my work day wishing I was writing, so I love your idea of jotting down even one sentence, whenever I can. Many times I have written a few stanzas of poetry while standing at my work bench; those slips of paper are somewhere. I’ve never been published, though I’ve sent out a few pieces and received rejections, and your words are a nice encouragement to keep trying.
Since I started a master’s program last year, hoping to learn everything I could about writing and improving my craft, I’ve become more observant of the world around me. I pay attention to the light, the sounds, and the smells. I watch people, how they stand, what they say, and how they dress. I agree that ideas are everywhere, and slowly I am developing the habit of scribbling ideas when they come (unless my toddler is with me and issuing demands in rapid succession so that I forget not only what I was thinking but that I actually have the ability to think at all – and on that note – I’ve developed a game with my son where I get him engaged in looking around and pointing out what he sees so that he can be a keen observer as well – and maybe give me a moment to get that idea on paper).
But back to the topic at hand. I appreciate how you’ve drilled the idea of practice in this blog, I believe it is the most important step someone can take to becoming a better writer. Reading others’ work is a close second.
Your advice about publishing is something I definitely need to hear. I never shared my writing with anyone but family before starting the writing program at my local university, and sharing that first story with my class made me shake and sweat, and even get a little light-headed. But the more feedback I received the better my writing became, and the better my writing became, the more I wanted to practice.