In
order to improve your writing, you have to practice just like any other
sport. But don't be dutiful and make it into a blind routine. "Yes, I
have written an hour today and I wrote an hour yesterday and an hour the
day before." Don't just put in your time. That is not enough. You have
to make great effort. Be willing to put your whole life on the line when
you sit down for writing practice. Otherwise you are just mechanically
pushing the pen across the page and intermittently looking at the clock
to see if your time is up. Some people hear the rule "Write every day" and do it and don't improve.
They are just being dutiful. That is the way of the Goody Two-shoes. It
is a waste of energy because it takes tremendous effort to just follow
the rules if your heart isn't into it. If you find that this is your
basic attitude, then stop writing. Stay away from it for a week or a
year. Wait until you are hungry to say something, until there is an
aching in you to speak. Then come back.
-- Natalie Goldberg
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