Jayne.press

“There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.” – Agatha Christie

This. I haven’t felt this understood as a writer yet. I like writing. I love it so much I do it every day. At the same time, these are exactly the thoughts that linger. I accept them, but I try my best to keep writing as a positive experience that adds to my daily life.

“This is the magic of a writer’s routine. They automate decisions like when and where so that they become instinctual, saving that mental energy for the work. When they find the routine that works, they never break it.” -WritingRountines.com

I am not obsessed with my routine; I just use it to help me move forward one day at a time. I don’t prefer to take things one day at a time; I prefer to get it all done at once, but for the sake of my health and the lives around me, I’ve learned to take things at a nice pace. Even in writing, I had to learn to pace myself instead of just rushing to the ending. Developing my evening writing routine has literally been what got me from a blank page to 53k words. And that’s after deleting and rewriting two full-length screenplays I didn’t vibe with. Now I say this just to show I’ve progressed; it’s not about the number of words you write; it’s about telling the story. A writing routine give you the freedom to tell your story.

What’s your writing routine?

“Ink, a Drug.” – Vladimir Nabokov

The healthiest drug on earth! Well, if you let it. Sure, you can make the choice to stop writing, but as your life turns flat and without an ounce of mystery, I hope that writing calls you louder than giving up. I hope you answer that call with bells on.

How’s your writing going?

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect” — Anaïs Nin

This is such a magical perspective on writing. I like to appreciate the good side of writing. It’s not all good, I accept that, but this perspective is so beautiful. After writing the same thing over and over again, you’d think you’d get tired of it. But honestly, I don’t write my favorite moments down. I really should. I feel like elements of the moment can get lost in translation. Learning writing techniques helps. Grammar helps. But still, writing about an amazing moment just feels so wrong. But I should try it!

What do you think? Do you write down your favorite moments after they’re gone?