Last fall I joined a gym. Something I thought I’d never do. However, I had gotten hooked on Pilates last year and it wasn’t being offered again at that same location. So when I found out the gym near me had yoga classes, that was it. Two different people teach it: one is rather traditional, the other one isn’t. I like that too. Different styles work well. At the gym, I like the variety of equipment too. Although a stationary bike is my favorite, they have treadmills I like and other standard equipment. I like that I can walk without worrying about tripping over anything. I love my new knee and want to keep it in pristine condition, thank you. Additionally, they have a women’s area. No pumping rap/rock music and no big sweaty guys. I just go to get off my lazy backside and try to stay healthy. With my teacher mentality, a CLASS means you show up and do the work. It’s the eleventh commandment, I think.
This blog is like a class to me. I show up regularly. My most productive writing period ever was when I was teaching a college composition class back in the mid 1990s, before we moved into the new school. We met each day in a writing lab that was not much more than a glorified closet with a leaky roof. Any forecast of rain meant that we had to put sheets of plastic over the word processors before we left for the day. But I loved that class. I had almost all seniors. That year the class was full of responsible kids, very motivated. Instead of a bunch of daily writing assignments, which was a pain for them to do and me to grade, I gave them projects for each 6 week grading period. They had that time period to finish. They could revise as much as they liked. They could consult me as much as they wanted. As soon as they were ready, or at the end of the grading period, which ever came first, I read their work and gave it a numerical grade. Other that that, they could work/write on anything they wanted. To set a good example, I, too, sat at a word processor and worked. I’ve always believed in the “practice what you preach” philosophy. I never asked my students to do anything I couldn’t do myself. That’s why my students never had to do memorization work — I stunk at it. Stink. Stank. Stunk. Hated it as a kid. Hated it as an adult. Ironically, I’m good at extemporaneous speaking, but not at memory work. I’ve been known to flub up “The Lord’s Prayer”. How awful is that?
Anyway, writing begets writing, I discovered then, and am reminded of now. I know why people who write for a living have a regular place and regular hours for their craft. One idea leads to another. Just let them out. I’ve noticed that in my sons’ blogs. The more they wrote, the better they wrote. It stands to reason.
Another thing. Ever notice how many writers are shown in their pictures on the dust jackets of their books sitting in front of bookcases? Writers must read. If a student seemed to have writer’s block, I suggested two solutions. Sit down with pencil and paper and brainstorm with any and all thoughts that come jumping into the brain. Or, read, read, read on your topic. Pretty soon, ideas start sloshing over into the brain. They have to.
Some years ago I attended a writing conference and a local writer, Janelle Taylor, was the keynote speaker. She reiterated what I think I already knew at a gut level. It takes a lot of research to write historical fiction (my favorite genre). Isn’t writing just exercising the “muscles” of the brain? Sooo — what if I read while I exercise? Wow! I could come home and write like crazy! Or would I be too tired? I’ll research it.
