Writing is NOT a chore

Writing is NOT a chore. But unless Muse is riding on your shoulder, the words tumble out slowly, hitting jagged corners along the way, and may bounce right off into the deep end; they are so useless.

One way to remedy this is to find a quiet time to write. If that means getting up at five o’clock in the morning to jot down your thoughts or write an article, go to bed earlier to rise with the sun peeking over the horizon. The dawn of a new day can awaken those juices ready to burst out of the depths of your soul. Program your coffeemaker the night before so the smells of java come wafting through the house in the wee hours, and a cup with an egg and toast will bolster your body to start the day fresh.

Now sit down and get all quiet for a moment. Open your patio door and listen to the birds singing, leaves on the trees swaying, hum of bees or hummingbirds, and traffic rounding the bends in the road near your house. Walk outside with your coffee and smell the drifts of morning, the sun glowing in its corner and brightening God’s creation for all to see. Bask in this wonder for a few minutes, sipping your coffee slowly. Now go inside and write down whatever comes to your mind. This may or may not be what you just saw, but the moment of taking a whiff of daybreak awakened the Muse in you.

Some writers enjoy writing at night. For me, this is the time my senses start shutting down, and I do not feel the urge to caress words across the pages, but find it a chore instead. In any case, if you write at night, a few cups of java might keep those senses burning alive in your soul and the words tumble out with ease. Some people prefer writing in the sleep zone because their senses come alive from their nine to five grind. They are all wound up and writing releases the tension built up over the ten hours of commute and work.

If you ride the train to work, this is another place you may take your writing passion. Writing a novel while bumping along the tracks can prove to be either too distracting or a time-saver for your story. A writing pad, netbook or laptop is most handy for writing in this location. Look at the people around you. They are either reading a book, eating a breakfast bar, drinking a cup of coffee, chatting with friends, or writing on their laptop like you at this moment. People are very interesting to watch! Write down on a side note what you see and hear. There may be an unruly child and a mother either paying no attention or reprimanding the youngster. Describe what the people look like, what they’re wearing, the things they do. These can all be useful now or later in your project.

In any case, the goal here is to write at a regular time when Muse is most likely to appear. Don’t hesitate! Now in your life is the time to write.