November 2010

One of the few things I know about writing is this: Spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book, give it, give it all, give it now.

ANNIE DILLARD

Good <insert time of day where you are when you read this here>! Hope everything is going all right for you, Rhinos, this, the 4th day of NaPlWriMo! How are you feeling? How is your play going? Got any good quotes? Leave your answers in a comment! Break a leg.

It is easy to get lost along the way during the course of being a writer. This fact is true whether you write novels or write for the web, whether you write for fun or you write to put food on the table. Writer’s block will throw itself in your path. Self-doubt will creep into your writing world. And every day you will need to make the choice to continue writing despite the difficulty of it.

Here are 25 simple mantras that you can keep in mind to keep you writing when the writing gets tough to do:

1. I can write.
2. I will know more tonight than I did when I woke up this morning.
3. My own writing voice is good enough.
4. The right words are just around the corner.
5. Reading is research.
6. It’s okay if the draft isn’t terrific.
7. My opinion matters more than my critics’ opinion.
8. I can write something else tomorrow.
9. It’s okay to be friends with other writers.
10. I only need to sit and write – the rest will work itself out.
11. My writing is good enough to serve fair pay.
12. My perspective is unique; sharing it adds to the world.
13. I write because I enjoy writing.
14. Writing is the way that I understand the world around me.
15. Inspiration is a jewel to be treasured and carried within me each day.
16. It’s okay to feel like a mess.
17. The most well-known writers have felt bad about their work.
18. There is a way to do this writing thing that will work for me.
19. Creativity is a worthy use of my time.
20. I can say “no” if I don’t want to waste my time writing something.
21. My writing will change with time.
22. Putting my writing out into the world may affect others in ways I’ll never know.
23. It’s important to listen to my instincts about writing.
24. I deserve to take time out each day to write.
25. I will write.

It’s the simple things that matter each day. We need to walk into our experiences with the mindset that it’s perfectly okay to do what we are doing and that how we are doing it is good enough for today. The world is tough enough; don’t make it harder by being unkind to yourself or your writing. Remember that when you are sitting down at the desk to write something that’s not working for you. And then just sit and write.

Question of the Day: What mantra gets you to the next step in writing?

From your loving forums moderator: How are you doing on day 3?

My possible play title:

A Photograph of Long Shadow Autumn

Thoughts? Ideas? Please comment!

Nat, Fellow Rhino/Rhinito

Major Tom Bowman is a celebrity astronaut torn between the love of his family and his addiction to space travel.  Due to the speed of his rocket ship, it seems like he is only gone for a few days when three months elapse back home.  He returns home to realize that his baby boy has become a man and that time for them to spend together is rapidly coming to an end.  He must decide between commanding a mission of a lifetime or giving it all up for the love of his family.

Inspired by the works of Ray Bradbury, and the music of David Bowie, Elton John and Peter Schilling.