Happy New Year! I hope you’ve recovered from your hangover and are ready to step it up for 2014.
Every year people make out a list of goals. They want to drop a few extra pounds, save more money, exercise regularly, eat right, or finally get around to writing that novel. (I’m looking at you Mr. and Ms. I-Always-Wanted-to-Write-a-Novel-But-Just-Can’t-Seem-to-Get-Started.) In my case, I need to get around to revising all of the first drafts languishing on my hard drive. The situation is getting pretty ridiculous that’s for sure.
Since I’m a writer and this is kind of a writing blog, I’m assuming that most of you either actively write now or want to write eventually. It doesn’t matter if you want to write a novel, a book of poetry, or a non-fiction book about the viscosity of the slime trail left by leopard slugs, the only way you’re going to get that book done is if you start.
I’ve written about the importance of writing daily before, I know. I’m like your Aunt Louisa who tells you the exact same story every time she sees you. The only difference is Aunt Louisa tells you that story because she’s senile and I repeat myself because it’s so gosh darn important. You can’t call yourself a writer if you’re not writing. Reading about writing doesn’t count. Talking about writing doesn’t count. The only thing that really counts is writing.
You might not be a writer. That’s cool, man. I want this blog to be a space for all creatives to come for inspiration and a bit of a laugh. Whether you paint, sculpt, write songs, carve holy images into grains of rice, or choreograph interpretive dances to the sounds of factory machinery, you need to start doing it everyday. The only way to get better at your craft is to practice.
This year I’m asking you to find thirty minutes everyday to practice your craft. If you’re a writer write for at least thirty minutes. If you’re a painter paint.
Some of you may say, “But I don’t have time to do that.” I have no idea what you’re schedule is during the day, but if you have time to watch TV, you have time to do this. Stop watching one of the television shows you regularly veg out to and take that time to make yourself better. The Big Bang Theory really isn’t helping you achieve your goals in life, trust me.
I’m going to cut down on some of my You Tube viewing to free up more time to polish up my manuscripts. You Tube is like a black hole. One video of a Boston Terrier wearing shoes, suddenly turns in to five and before you know it, it’s midnight and you’ve done nothing.
So the challenge for 2014 is to spend at least thirty minutes a day working on your craft. That’s writing, painting, playing the spoons, or whatever. Try it out for the month of January. You know what they say, it takes thirty days to make a habit. We’ll call it Thirty Minutes for Thirty Days. Don’t you just love naming things?
I’ll check in with you at the end of the month to see how you did.
Photo by danielmoyle