The first time I read “Bird by Bird”, by Anne Lamott, I didn’t really understand it. I had all the time in the world to write, and all the motivation – I had just signed up to a screenwriting class, and this was required reading. But it wasn’t until years later that I truly appreciated just how true the sentiments and advice really are. Writing every day is hard. It doesn’t matter how much you love it, there are distractions that are just somehow that much more interesting and important. Sometimes those distractions are real, but often they are just excuses.
So now, I have the picture above as my screensaver. It reminds me that it doesn’t matter how terrible your writing might be, or how little you might write every day. Just putting something down, maybe based on your day so far – a conversation you’ve overheard at school drop off, or the perspective of the barista who was either extremely relaxed, or a little bit stressed? Do that every day, and you will soon find inspiration for your novel. And when that happens, you’ll just write it.
For those of you who have not read “Bird by Bird”, I’m not going to spoil the punchline. If you’re interested, get yourself a copy, and have a read. It will change your writing journey for the better.
What are your tips for writing every day?