Essay #1: What Am I Writing About? or When Will I Write?
Since 2017,
I have attempted to write an essay a week. I have usually gotten through
January, and the first year I may even have gotten to early March. Then life
intervened, or something. Anyway, I never, repeat, NEVER wrote an essay every
week for even half of the entire year. So why will this year be any different?
It’s not
that I don’t have plenty to say, and many topics I would like to opine on. Part
of the problem is deciding which idea will get and keep my attention this week.
Part of the problem is a terminal lack of discipline. Dorothy Brande, in her
1934 guide “Becoming a Writer,” had two exercises:
one put you in touch with your imagination, the other trained discipline. Of
course, I failed totally on discipline. That exercise involved picking a time
EVERY DAY when you would stop whatever you were doing and devote 15 minutes
(only 15 minutes) to writing.
Okay,
maybe at the age of 77, I can attempt, one more time, to learn discipline. So
what time of the day will become my writing time? When can I know that I can
have 15 minutes without distraction to write? 8 p.m.? (But what if I go out in
the evening? There are many groups I am part of.) 10 a.m.? (After breakfast,
before I start my four-days-a-week freelance work? Followed by stretches and
exercises?)
Okay,
let’s say 10 a.m. Every morning. Right after breakfast, before brushing teeth,
before stretches and exercises. Write, brush teeth, stretches and exercises, whatever
comes next.
This
will be my first essay. I’m leaving the original title, and adding what the
essay became as a secondary title. I’m a week behind, but no punishing of self.
Wish me luck.
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Over on Facebook, there is a page
called #52Essays Next Wave, moderated by
the incomparable Stacie Evans. Join us there, to write, to read, to comment helpfully...
the incomparable Stacie Evans. Join us there, to write, to read, to comment helpfully...
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