I enjoy writing. I tell myself that in order to motivate me to write more, but it doesn't always work. The problem is, I don't really enjoy writing all that much. It is so much easier to pontificate on a subject over lunch with a friend than it is to sit down and force myself to clearly explain what I mean to say. I want to write more, and yet I consistently avoid the actual process of writing.
This blog has been hanging over my head for the last several weeks, calling out to me like an unused piece of exercise equipment sitting in the corner collecting dust. I keep thinking I need to sit down and just bang out some new and inspiring thoughts, but I never carve out the time to do anything about it.
Despite my perpetual act of avoidance, there are two basic ideas that have finally driven me back to my keyboard to write. First, I've found it helpful to realize that others, professional writers whom I trust and admire, also struggle with the process of writing. Michael Hyatt reposted a great quote on his website this morning from P.J. O'Rourke, about how "writers will do anything to avoid writing."
Donald Miller, author of the classic book, "Blue Like Jazz", has a great quote about writing in his most recent (and my new favorite) book, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years". His honesty about the process of writing, and his conclusion about "having written" really resonate with me: "I've never had fun writing a book. I've had fun promoting books, doing readings - that sort of thing - but the truth is I drag myself to the computer... I've wondered for a long time why it is that writers hate to write. William Zinsser says that writers 'love to have written,' and I agree with that."
The second idea driving me to write is the thought that if I never begin my journey, I'll never reach my destination. In Daniel Coyle's book, "The Talent Code", he discusses research suggesting it takes 10 years and 10,000 hours of practice to become world-class at anything. If I ever hope to write something truly meaningful and lasting, then I'd better start cranking out a few thousand hours of swill in order to get the bad stuff out of the way, right? I also recently picked up, "The Creative Habit", by Twila Tharp, and was encouraged by her views of the rigorous process of creativity.
These two ideas, that struggling with the process of writing is not unique to me, and that a disciplined approach to the process of writing is what it takes to succeed - these ideas have finally brought this frazzled guy back to the keyboard to simply write. We'll see how long this lasts, but for now, here I am.
Have you struggled with the process of writing? What secrets have you found to keep yourself motivated on this journey? I'd love to hear your story.
