Training for Wanna Be Writers

Train Like an Athlete

Just Do It. Whatever it is you dream about, JUST DO IT.

There’s no magic. There’s no annoitment by some fairy godmother, or diety, or knock on the head.

Consider how an athlete trains. They don’t simply perform their event day after day. They train with intervals. They do strength training. They do power training. They work on technique.

Whatever it is you want to learn, it’s the same process:

1. You have to be interested in it
2. You have to be willing to suck at it
3. You have to put in the work - how much work is up to you

Training for Writers

What you CAN do is write everyday.

Play. Develop your skills, and most of all, learn to lose control and lose the constant editor that is running in your head.

Ideas for daily training

• Do writing prompts - there are tons online
• Story Cubes
• Take a writing workshop for guidance and accountability
• Take a workshop in poetry or playwriting or something outside you comfort zone
• Join a local writing group
• Read Writing Down the Bones the classic book on how to develop a writing practice

What’s your practice? What advice do you have to help unlock the fear of getting started? Are you looking for some accountablity?

• writing-process