2021

 

2020’s building collapsed on our backs and we are pushing out of our way great weights to dig out and see the light. And we will.

It’s that time again for resolutions. I will offer one writerly one.

All habits are initially pleasurable whether they are good or bad. For instance smoking is pleasurable until cancer consumes those who smoke and there are some on their death bed who need a smoke. To form a habit the experts say you have to be at it for 21 days straight, at the end of which you will receive sufficient reinforcing pleasure to continue. To break a habit the same period applies and during the breaking you will feel pain (a longing for those time wasting habits you so enjoyed).

Some of us have used the trauma of 2020 to not write. Resolve to move on. But how can we, when we have established bad writing habits? And what are these habits? For one, not writing every day means there is insufficient pleasure in the craft and insufficient practice to become better. Pleasure is measured in many ways. Feedback is a big way for writers, whether it be from a critique group or writing partner or just knowing you are off your game. Try to find your way back. If you don’t serve the master of writing every day, you will not write your best. In order to do this you must establish the habit by going at it for 21 straight days or until you notice that you must write or you’ll feel wrong. Establish time limits for drafts. Tell Alexa to set an alarm. Make a routine and stick to it, no matter what other “oh, I have to do this or that" enters your mind. Susan Elizabeth Phillips sets 2 hours in the morning when she’s at her best for creating new scenes. The rest of the day is a mix of other writerly tasks and her personal life. If your characters jump into your mind at an infrequent interval, you won't get to know them with any intensity. If you don't know them, your readers won't either.

Look around, what do you do in place of writing to fill up the day. Other pleasurable habits. Squash them or relegate them to a harmless time of day if you are serious about your craft.

This advice only works if you consider yourself a full time or nearly full time writer, because other jobs are important if you want to eat.

2021 will be a year of liberation.