Peace In The Margins

“I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately, I am inspired at 9 o’clock every morning.” 

William Faulkner

Stereotype: Writers are Procrastinators. Even now as I sit before my computer, I find myself distracted. It isn’t the allure of social media or the call of email that pulls my focus. Instead, it is research. Yep, that’s right – research. Okay, it’s Google. GOOGLE!

There is so much information available online. Wiki this and blogspot that. Information Overload is a real thing, folks – of which I am a victim! I’ll take a moment to look up the perfect quote (like Faulkner above) and then I’m off.

Personally, I would like nothing more than to spend every day reading a book or writing the next great American masterpiece. The reality is Reality. She shows no partiality. And while there are a plethora of tips and tricks out there encouraging writers to remain focused, there is no one-size-fits-all best practices list. We are left to our own devices and expected to figure it out on our own.

When writers are interviewed, the host usually asks the question: What is your writing routine? It is such a personal question, yet, I lean in to listen closely. Maybe I’ll be overcome with a euphoric chorus of “Ahhhs.” It never happens. What works for one writer doesn’t always work for another. I believe I am doomed to live in an unorganized office such as the like of Stephen King or Ray Bradbury (but hey, they are my hero authors).

Even so, I have gleaned one thing over the years of being an ardent writing procrastinator…all writers agree – JUST WRITE.

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

Jodi Picoult

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

Louis L’Amour

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

Sylvia Plath

Until Next Time – Happy Writing,

Alicia