Next month I’ll be testing something new on the blog – fiction.
What? I’ve decided to take on two writing challenges in August:
- Complete a daily Morning Pages practice(you can learn more about morning pages here, from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way).
- Write and post a complete short story (no more than 1,000 words) on the blog each night.
Why? Because:
- I’ve always wanted to try the Morning Pages method, and my current journaling practice is feeling stale. I’m also finally ready to admit that the post-coronavirus-stay-at-home-always way of being has got me feeling drained and boring, and I’m hoping that this practice will be the thing I need to get me out of bed each morning. Currently I’ve been snoozing for almost an hour (!!!) each morning, which I’ve never done before, and it’s not a habit that I want to stick.
- I need something to hold me accountable to actually finishing a piece of work and publishing it. I’m the kind of writer whose subconscious generates new writing ideas constantly, in order to keep me distracted from the difficult work of actually taking an idea, drafting it out, revising it, and then putting it out there for other people to see it. I’m hoping by posting this and keeping my daily word count small (1,000 words or less), I’ll build up some creative confidence to get back into working on longer projects. Ray Bradbury says to write a short story every week, because “it’s not possible to write 52 short stories in a row.” But honestly, even a week is enough time for me to start doubting myself and find something new and flashy to get started on, so I’m going with one a day instead.
How? Well, right now I’m thinking:
- I’ll keep my journal next to my bed each morning and write from there, which satisfies my intense desire to not physically get up while still getting my morning started, a win-win!
- Scheduling one hour every afternoon to write a first draft and another hour each night to edit and post. Also convincing myself that not many people read this blog and therefore won’t see these is helpful for (somewhat) getting over the fear of posting less-than-perfect works. For right now done is better than perfect.
When? Refer to title. August.
Who? Did you even read this post?
Where? Whoever you are, you are creepy and I don’t like these questions. Just kidding, please excuse my lame humor, I’ve only interacted with a handful of humans since March and I think I’ve lost a good amount of my social skills <laughs uncomfortably then runs away>