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Writing Practice - Part 2
Practice Patterns for Writers
By Margaret Cook, M.Ed., Licensed Professional Counselor, Life Coach
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Writing is a discipline, a habit and a gift. Set aside a time and a purpose for your writing and then build your writing practice into your life.
You may also want to become aware of the ways that you become more engaged in writing or situations that stimulate your writing process.
Do you have a “best way” of writing? Some writers are the pen and pad “longhand” writers. They feel the satisfaction of scrolling their pen over the page. Others have become accustomed to the clicking of keys at a computer and there may even still be a few folks who hold sacred the pounding on typewriter keys, the old Underwood most notorious.
Once you have the feel of your preferred method, you will probably know where you will practice your habit of writing. The laptop owners will be flexible in taking their keyboard anywhere that a pad and pen writer can go almost. If you will be tied to your desktop, the options may narrow. Consider putting your desktop in a place that you feel will inspire you as a writer.
Select your space and customize it for efficiency and inspiration. Put a favorite photograph near, have a scented candle, put your books for writing at hand and anything else that will make the space work. The more senses you involve the more powerful the learning and creative process will be for a writer.
Now you have a time, a place and an intentional environment for writing. What will you write? If you need a starting place, look at the writing of your life you already do and incorporate it into your new routine. Do you regularly correspond with anyone? Are you usually writing cards for people? Maybe you have the excellent practice of keeping a journal and you can use your time and place for your daily journal writing. If you are sure you don’t already have any regular writing that you do, select something you would like to do for writing. Identify something high in interest or emotional value for you, especially if you tend to be a reluctant writer. Next month, we will explore some specific ways to build your writing skills through certain writing activities.
If you have questions about becoming a writer or comments about the article, send them to the Editor and we will respond and/or incorporate your needs in future articles. Remember that you will grow as a writer the more you write.
Suggested Reading for Writers Who are Developing Practice Patterns
Writing The Natural Way, by Gabriele Lusser Rico
Writing With Power : Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process , by Peter Elbow
Writing Under Pressure : The Quick Writing Process , by Sanford Kaye
Writing on Both Sides of the Brain : Breakthrough Techniques for People Who Write , by Henriette A. Klauser
Copyright © June 5, 2006 – Margaret Cook. All rights reserved.
Permission to use or duplicate this article is available by contacting the author at
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