Tip: Writing, Like Exercise, Is Cumulative

Writing really is quite analogous to cardio - you know how they say you don't have to do all your exercise in one big chunk? That what counts is the little bits that add up throughout the day? Like taking the stairs, a five-minute walk after and before lunch, etc. Well, writing is like that, too.

I know it can be hard to find a big chunk of time to write. But if you can squeeze in even a couple of ten-minute sessions every day or so, you will be amazed at what you can get done. Hey, you can write a paragraph in ten minutes, right? Well, try that twice a day. At then end of the week you'll have ten to fourteen paragraphs - two to three pages. And the end of a few weeks, you'll have a short story or chapter draft.

Yes, sometimes we need some time to "psych" ourselves into writing - but you can do some of that mental work as you get ready for your ten (or five!) minute session - like while you're paying your bills or signing the kids' permission slips or making dinner. And the more you do this, the more easily you will find that you slip into that writing mode. It will go quicker each time.

The thing about this is that you can almost always kick-start yourself into doing it. A two-hour session with a big goal can be intimidating. Saying, "Just ten minutes, one paragraph," doesn't frighten us. I've done this, especially the last few weeks when I was a bit sick, to good results. And you sometimes you even find you've managed to do a bit more than you planned (but remember, you don't have to).

It's like when you don't want to lift weights but don't feel like it and you fool yourself into it by saying, "Okay, just my biceps." And then you do your triceps and delts too. And before you know it, you've got a routine done, and some solid work to show.

So good luck!

Not finding anything particularly juicy, insightful, or amusing to post among publishing gossip just now, but then I've been a bit out of it - I'll keep looking!