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Craft of Writing

  • : Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life -- Anne Lamott

    Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life -- Anne Lamott

  • : Steering the Craft: Exercises & Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew -- Ursula K. Le Guin

    Steering the Craft: Exercises & Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew -- Ursula K. Le Guin

  • : Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation -- Lynne Truss

    Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation -- Lynne Truss

  • : The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: A Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager and the Doomed -- Karen Elizabeth Gordon

    The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: A Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager and the Doomed -- Karen Elizabeth Gordon

  • : Keys to Great Writing -- Stephen Wilbers

    Keys to Great Writing -- Stephen Wilbers

  • : On Writing Well, 25th Anniversary: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction -- William Zinsser

    On Writing Well, 25th Anniversary: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction -- William Zinsser

  • : The Elements of Style, 4th Ed. -- Strunk & White

    The Elements of Style, 4th Ed. -- Strunk & White

  • Mark David Gerson: The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write

    Mark David Gerson: The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write

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The 15 Minute Writing Miracle!

15 Minute Writing RuleWriting Tip: Whatever your reason for not wanting to write when you've promised yourself you would--whether you feel too tired, busy, or blocked--write anyway for 15 minutes. There's magic in putting pen to paper (or fingers on keyboard). 




The 15 Minute Writing Rule


When you've promised yourself that you're going to write, then write--no matter what--for 15 minutes. 

  • If you're scheduled to write for an hour, it doesn't matter. Write for 15 minutes.

  • If you're exhausted and about to collapse, it doesn't matter. Write for 15 minutes.
  • If there's not one single thought in your head, it doesn't matter. Write for 15 minutes, even if all you can write about is being stuck.

Sometimes the desire to write sparks some inner resistance. That's why excuses are so easy to come by. The antidote is to grab hold of the idea of writing for ONLY 15 minutes.


That small amount of time isn't intimidating. And because it feels doable, it gets you to start writing, which is the key that unlocks writing's magic power.


You see, the act of writing frequently…

  • energizes you when you're tired

  • reconnects you with your material, or writing practice, when you're feeling disconnected
  • opens pathways for inspiration to flow through when you're blocked
  • clarifies your ideas and vision when you're confused

And often, once you start writing, you catch fire and simply write and write and write.


All of these good things happen because the things you think you need before you write, in order to write (inspiration, feeling connected to your project, energy, clarity, enthusiasm), all the things you're not willing to write without--are what you get FROM writing.

Even when writing doesn't give you all, or any, of these benefits, and you actually do end up writing for only 15 minutes, you feel good that you at least wrote something on a day you promised yourself you would, and rest easier knowing that you really were too (tired/busy/blocked/etc.) to write, and weren't just procrastinating. 


The idea of writing for only 15 minutes may be what lessens your resistance, draws you in, and gets you to start writing, but it's the act of writing, itself, that is the miracle.

Try it and see for yourself.  


Monday, May 04, 2009 at 01:25 AM in Tips, Tools & Techniques | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

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    • Julie Isaac is an award winning author and creativity coach. She is the founder of the WritingSpirit Book Writers Community, which focuses on helping authors and entrepreneurs get their books written-- from inspiration to income!
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