Do you really need to write every day?

AlexGrama · 02-14-2012, 05:06 PM

I found a great article with one hell of a question. Enjoy.

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-...rite-every-day

teh603 · 02-14-2012, 08:15 PM

There's some days where I just can't write, and there's nothing I can do about it. The best I can do on those days is sit back and read. Now, I did push myself a bit during NaNo, and it showed, but I was so far ahead of par that I should've taken those days off and let some of the other days' writing cover for it.

frahse · 02-15-2012, 01:51 AM

Who (at least among the males) has not seen the fight scene being set up with a statement like:

"Ok, this is the one rule."
"There are no rules."

Word count, by day, by week?
Minutes or hours per day or per week?
Sessions each day or each week?

These will work or not. They are only superficial schedules or quotas set up to prod us, IF we need prodding.

The two questions I find most important for me is "do I have the time to write," and then "do I write?"

If the answer to any of these questions is "no" then the reasons need to found and given serious scrutiny.

Annie Seixas · 02-15-2012, 02:53 AM

I write every darn day unless I'm literally running around too much and don't have a single spare sec

AlexGrama · 02-15-2012, 05:21 AM

I guess that if you want to avoid the-crappy-writing-effect you should develop that feeling when you now you have to write. In any other days I believe that reading is the best alternative. If put yourself to milestones like "words per day" in the end the quality of your writing will be pretty poor.

dadioflex · 02-15-2012, 09:37 AM

I never understood the "write every day" thing. It neglects criticism as an essential part of improving a writer.

A writer can write a thousand words a day their whole life and achieve nothing but several million words of mediocrity. If they're lucky.

Nancy Fulda · 02-15-2012, 10:29 AM

I do find that there's a lot of benefit in 'keeping the engine warm', so to speak. It's easier to remember where the story was headed, plotwise, if I don't wait too long between writing sessions.

I tend to go through periods in which I write every day followed by periods in which I'm too busy with other things. Seems to work out ok.

mr ploppy · 02-15-2012, 11:49 AM

I've seen that one before, it is a good idea to get into a routine, that way you're less likely to find an excuse not to bother. Me, I don't always get time though, and when I do I often can't think of anything to type. At those times you're better off reading through something you've already written.

AlexGrama · 02-15-2012, 12:25 PM

I think that, besides of the most reasonable posts around here, I can say that writing every day has an advantage. To practice, you should plunge into a deep brainstorming and open up your text-editor or grab the nearest pen and paper and start writing completely but utterly personal and light-showing nonsense. Furthermore, in the end if you manage to extract the ideas and put them in order it is, as an overall, a good and rewarding practice.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-15-2012, 01:54 PM

I'd say No, you don't need to write every day, any more than you need to practice any art every day. You work on it when it's comfortable to do so, in order to devote your undivided attention and focus to it.

If you know of a section of a book (or any project) that will require your focus for an extended period of time (in order to not lose trains of thought from start to finish), you should plan to set aside that time, and attack the project then, when you know you can finish it. However, in many cases taking down notes will suffice to keep your ideas on track between sessions.

William F · 02-15-2012, 03:35 PM

I can't open the link for some reason, but I need to write everyday like I need to eat every day. If I don't express my self in some way shape of form I start to feel bad.
In my case writing is a pretty vague term, it might be some posts on a forum, work on my website, a story, a letter, or whatever, but I can't go very long without putting something on (virtual mostly) paper.
But I gather from the other reply's the article had a different defintion for the word "need".

AlexGrama · 02-16-2012, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William F

I can't open the link for some reason, but I need to write everyday like I need to eat every day. If I don't express my self in some way shape of form I start to feel bad.
In my case writing is a pretty vague term, it might be some posts on a forum, work on my website, a story, a letter, or whatever, but I can't go very long without putting something on (virtual mostly) paper.
But I gather from the other reply's the article had a different defintion for the word "need".

I guess you have enough time to spare, don't you?

VydorScope · 02-16-2012, 06:47 AM

I work 2 jobs, have a family, and am working on my second Masters degree... I WISH I could write every day... need? No... desire? YES.

AlexGrama · 02-16-2012, 09:56 AM

Why do you need 2 Master degrees?

VydorScope · 02-16-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexGrama

Why do you need 2 Master degrees?

Why do I need any?

But in this case, one was a stepping stone to the other.

02-14-2012, 05:06 PM	#1
AlexGrama Writer Posts: 275 Karma: 345042 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nexus 7	Do you really need to write every day? I found a great article with one hell of a question. Enjoy. http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-...rite-every-day

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02-14-2012, 08:15 PM	#2
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	There's some days where I just can't write, and there's nothing I can do about it. The best I can do on those days is sit back and read. Now, I did push myself a bit during NaNo, and it showed, but I was so far ahead of par that I should've taken those days off and let some of the other days' writing cover for it.

02-15-2012, 01:51 AM	#3
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,314 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	Who (at least among the males) has not seen the fight scene being set up with a statement like: "Ok, this is the one rule." "There are no rules." Word count, by day, by week? Minutes or hours per day or per week? Sessions each day or each week? These will work or not. They are only superficial schedules or quotas set up to prod us, IF we need prodding. The two questions I find most important for me is "do I have the time to write," and then "do I write?" If the answer to any of these questions is "no" then the reasons need to found and given serious scrutiny.

02-15-2012, 02:53 AM	#4
Annie Seixas Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 551434 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	I write every darn day unless I'm literally running around too much and don't have a single spare sec

02-15-2012, 05:21 AM	#5
AlexGrama Writer Posts: 275 Karma: 345042 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nexus 7	I guess that if you want to avoid the-crappy-writing-effect you should develop that feeling when you now you have to write. In any other days I believe that reading is the best alternative. If put yourself to milestones like "words per day" in the end the quality of your writing will be pretty poor.

02-15-2012, 09:37 AM	#6
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	I never understood the "write every day" thing. It neglects criticism as an essential part of improving a writer. A writer can write a thousand words a day their whole life and achieve nothing but several million words of mediocrity. If they're lucky.

02-15-2012, 10:29 AM	#7
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	I do find that there's a lot of benefit in 'keeping the engine warm', so to speak. It's easier to remember where the story was headed, plotwise, if I don't wait too long between writing sessions. I tend to go through periods in which I write every day followed by periods in which I'm too busy with other things. Seems to work out ok.

02-15-2012, 11:49 AM	#8
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I've seen that one before, it is a good idea to get into a routine, that way you're less likely to find an excuse not to bother. Me, I don't always get time though, and when I do I often can't think of anything to type. At those times you're better off reading through something you've already written.

02-15-2012, 12:25 PM	#9
AlexGrama Writer Posts: 275 Karma: 345042 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nexus 7	I think that, besides of the most reasonable posts around here, I can say that writing every day has an advantage. To practice, you should plunge into a deep brainstorming and open up your text-editor or grab the nearest pen and paper and start writing completely but utterly personal and light-showing nonsense. Furthermore, in the end if you manage to extract the ideas and put them in order it is, as an overall, a good and rewarding practice.

02-15-2012, 01:54 PM	#10
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I'd say No, you don't need to write every day, any more than you need to practice any art every day. You work on it when it's comfortable to do so, in order to devote your undivided attention and focus to it. If you know of a section of a book (or any project) that will require your focus for an extended period of time (in order to not lose trains of thought from start to finish), you should plan to set aside that time, and attack the project then, when you know you can finish it. However, in many cases taking down notes will suffice to keep your ideas on track between sessions.

02-15-2012, 03:35 PM	#11
William F Pirosopher Posts: 55 Karma: 166972 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kindle, pc	I can't open the link for some reason, but I need to write everyday like I need to eat every day. If I don't express my self in some way shape of form I start to feel bad. In my case writing is a pretty vague term, it might be some posts on a forum, work on my website, a story, a letter, or whatever, but I can't go very long without putting something on (virtual mostly) paper. But I gather from the other reply's the article had a different defintion for the word "need".

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02-16-2012, 06:47 AM	#13
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	I work 2 jobs, have a family, and am working on my second Masters degree... I WISH I could write every day... need? No... desire? YES.

02-16-2012, 09:56 AM	#14
AlexGrama Writer Posts: 275 Karma: 345042 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nexus 7	Why do you need 2 Master degrees?