![The Writer's [Inner] Journey](/wp-content/themes/thesis_151/custom/images/header2.png "The Writer's [Inner] Journey")
Alphabet Soup with Barbara Bietz
It is often said that “real” writers make time to write every day. In a perfect world with no distractions that would be true. But most of us have real lives that can interfere with living the ideal writerly existence. Instead of viewing your writer status as “less than,” consider yourself blessed to have a world of activity to provide inspiration. Always keep a pen and pad handy to jot down notes. Are you stuck in an office cubicle most of the day? Great! Keep your ears tuned in to conversations buzzing in the office. You may find a perfect gem to use in your writing. Do you volunteer in your child’s school? Watch how children interact. The vocabulary and social dynamics of kids can enrich your world and your writing. Even the supermarket is fertile ground for inspiration. Pick up an orange. It’s an edible writing prompt. How does it feel? What memories does the smell invoke? Look around – make up stories about other shoppers. Keep your mind in a creative mode.
You don’t need to sit at your computer to be a writer. Even if you can’t find time to write, you can think like a writer every day. Writing time: easier than you think to find.
Alphabet Soup is basic nourishment for the new or timid writer (or if you just feel like one).
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! I'm already looking around for inspiration. I too have trouble finding the time, but I try to allow an hour each day to let ideas come to me which are hopefully followed by words and meaningful sentences.
Thanks for the inspiring post!
Thanks so much, Barbara. for this encouragement. I often beat myself up for not writing every day, but it's true–I'm often thinking about an idea or a character or aq plot. I think I'm going to give myself a break from now on and not be so hard on myself when distractions keep me from my desk.
Peggy and Susan,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. You have inspired me!
Happy Writing!
I find that the more I write, the more attentive I am to the details of life around me. As you mentioned with the orange in the supermarket, I could pick up, say a kiwi, and be aware of its texture, in case I needed to describe it, its taste, memories it inspires, etc. This summer I have been blogging every day and find writing a daily blog is like good exercise. It allows the writer to stay in shape between projects.
I agree. I almost always have a journal with me and I write in the in between times (well, I write full time too. But I write the stuff I want to — that is not so remunerative — during all those stolen moments).
a freind of mine who writes music likens this approach to keeping your line in the water — if it's not there you'll not catch any fish!
So true that you need to have your writing time fit into your personal/professional schedule. Otherwise it just becomes one more woulda/shoulda to add to the list!