Energy Begets Energy

Energy begets energy.  –Dolly Parton

 

All I can say is, Dolly sure knew what she was talking about!

I don’t know about you, but there are days, when I spend much more time avoiding writing than actually writing.  I want to write, maybe even need to write, but somehow can’t seem to get myself off the couch.  The computer is sitting there ready and waiting while I decide to make (and eat) a batch of cookies, or return a book to the library, or clean off my desk

Where does this avoidance come from?

I don’t know.

But what I do know is that writing takes energy.  And beginning to write for some reason takes way more energy than continuing to write.  It is the beginning that is difficult.  The getting started.

Luckily, I have found that the more regularly I bring myself to the page, the easier it is to begin each day.

Energy begets energy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Genius is the power for lighting your own fire.”  And I’ve discovered a couple ways to keep my writing fire lit and stoked.

  1. Each week I set myself a writing goal that I want to complete that week.  One week it might be to spend time writing or editing a picture book, or a book proposal, and the next week my goal might be completing a certain amount of research.
  2. After I set my weekly goal, I break down that goal into smaller steps, and those are the daily jobs that I’ll be doing throughout the week.
  3. Each day, when I’m done with my writing for the day, I write down the two or three things I want to do the next day. Having a concrete plan and knowing exactly where I need to start goes a long way in helping me avoid my avoidance behavior!
  4. And finally, I have given myself a specific amount of time each day that I want to devote to writing.  When I’ve completed that amount of time, I can be continue writing if I want or be done for the day and walk away from my desk without feeling guilty.

So remember.  Energy begets energy.  Writing begets more writing.  If you write today, it will be easier to write tomorrow and if you write tomorrow it will be even easier to write the day after tomorrow.  I promise.  Try it.

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