Whip... whip... whip...

Via I Want To Write:

One thing that ALL successful writers - be it screen or prose - have in common is a very disciplined work ethic. At least ALL the ones I've spoken to, or heard speak. Every single one of them.*

Whatever your work/school schedule is, you MUST make a writing schedule. You have to do it the same time every day for the same amount of time every day. If you want to increase your odds of succeeding, that is. Maybe you don't. That's fine. Order me a vanilla latte while you're sitting there.

[...]

So, for 2006, make a commitment to yourself to start acting like the person you want to be - an employed writer. Get disciplined, get on a schedule, and stick to it. Write at the same time every day for the same amount of time every day. I would suggest NO LESS than 4 hours a day. More if you can handle it.

-- Posted at Reason To Believe

Yesterday I sat down and went 'I'm going to write music now' (as a break from the screencoding). I picked up some sketches I haven't touched since September (because I had writer's block) and have dived into it. After doing some freelance work tonight, I returned the track and it continued to roll well (hence the late posting)

There's something about shifting mediums and doing different creative things that makes all my work better. I think because it encourages lateral thinking - it makes sure my neural pathways aren't ossifying into familiar patterns. When I get "writer's" block, it affects *all* my output - regardless of medium. When I slow down, I slow -way- down and it requires a big push to get going again. Its an extremely depressing state. I just hope I can just keep rolling rolling rolling through much of this year.

Discipline* will be part of that but so will allowing myself freedom to play around without self-censorship. In many ways, they're related. By calling something 'practice', you don't create expectations for yourself - so you actually LIBERATE yourself from your own traps**.

* I'm disciplined in terms of process but not in terms of practice. There's a difference.... but I do need to try and do some practice, despite the fact that I've never been good at it. (Ask my Trumpet and Piano teachers)

** I actually should call it rehearsal. When I played instrument(s) [bass & trumpet mostly], I saw the value in rehearsing. As a director***, I love rehearsing with actors. It doesn't feel like practice. When I did law, I hated studying, but I loved getting into arguments and discussions. I was also good at research when I had a thesis I was trying to prove, but I couldn't just read an article without any framework. I guess all these things are 'rehearsal' rather than 'practice'. They're either playful, dynamic, or purposeful. Perhaps I should play to my strengths?*****

*** How the hell does one practice being a screen director?****

**** Stop with the endless footnotes already.*****

***** Talk about being self absorbed! No wonder you don't have a girlfriend. Loser.