Writing exercises aren’t universal. They are circumstantial, strategic. In general, there are two categories of writing exercise: closed, and open-ended.
Closed Exercises:
Let’s say you are trying to write while waiting for an appointment to commence or while listening for a departure call. In these situations, you are dealing with finite time. A limit has been created. It may help to use a writing exercise that is closed. Perhaps, it’s timed.
Open-Ended Exercises:
Alternatively, let’s say it’s Sunday. You arrive at a cafe. Your plan is to write for as long as you can. Unstructured hours expand in front of you. Sometimes, that can be debilitating. You may want to break this time into intervals. Or, you may feel like exploring that space, writing with freedom into infinity.
It doesn’t matter what the nature of the exercise is; the more you practice, the more long-term sustained output you will get from it. This is particularly true for open-ended strategies. Like many great truths, this may seem self-evident. But it’s tempting to discard an exercise, after a less-than-stellar session, to say it’s outlived its function.
Remember: Not every meal we cook turns out delicious. Not every workout feels easy and great. Aberrations are normal. But don’t discard the tools.
No Comments