When I graduated and left school in December, my life became a constant swirl of crazy. With tons to do to get ready for a wedding followed by a 12 hour move, my writing habits were voluntarily chucked out the proverbial window, and the most successful and fulfilling months of writing I’d had in a very long time were followed by some of the most wordless.
After nearly two months without writing anything at all, it’s been difficult to get myself back into the good habits that I’d developed during my last semester of school. I have to keep reminding myself of all of the “writer’s truths” that helped me get into those habits in the first place, as well as some newer ones I’ve discovered. The one I display on my desk most prominently is the following quote:
The secret of success is constancy of purpose. – Benjamin Disraeli
I have to remind myself what my purpose in writing is, and keep the end goal in mind while viewing the path to getting there realistically.
Speaking of that path, my first story was published in something (just slightly) bigger than my alma matter’s departmental English journal! (You can read it online at TWJ Magazine.) I’ve used this bit of success recently to tell myself, “See, I’m a writer!” But now I have to remind myself of another favorite bit of writing advice:
Don’t be a writer. Be writing. – William Faulkner
So I am.