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Natural talent and all the breaks in the world notwithstanding, to become good at anything you've got to do the drills.







You received a letter







Things to do on a Tuesday







Write what you try to forget






Write about a time you changed your mind







Write about the best of intentions






Write about a time you wanted to leave but couldn't










Timed Writings


      When I first began doing writing-practice sessions with other writers, we set a time for our writing, probably to give structure to the session more than anything else. However over the years, I discovered that setting time limit has many other, more beneficial effects than simply creating structure.

    1. It becomes easier to actually do the writing ("anybody can write for ten or fifteen minutes").

    2. A tension is created that enables you to focus.

    3. The writer is allowed to forget himself and be present with the writing.

    4. It evokes spontaneity; there's not time to think or ponder. 5. It keeps the writing moving forward to the next word instead of rewriting, reconsidering, rethinking.

    6. With an end in sight, it's easier to begin.

    7. There's freedom in knowing you don't have to finish, you just stop when the time is up. Consequently, you can take more risks.

    8. Writing time can easily be fit into a too full schedule.

    9. Writing that doesn't work or isn't interesting can be abandoned when the time's up.

    10. On the other hand, that same writing can turn interesting if pursued for the full amount of time allotted.

      It's not necessary to use timed writing for every practice session, especially when you're writing alone. You may find yourself writing for an hour or more without looking up from the page, and who knows what you might lose if you stop just because of an arbitrary time.












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