The Discipline of Being a Writer

Being a writer isn't about being perfect or being the best. It's about discipline. When I'm writing a book, I write everyday, except Sundays. That is unless I want to write on Sunday and in that case I write.

I don't have time to write, you say. How do you? Well I have limited time because I have two small children. I write around their nap schedules and bedtime. And believe me it's not easy because one child doesn't usually nap but the other does, so it's about being creative enough to keep one child quietly busy, while the other one sleeps.

How much should you write a day? I write 2,000 words no less. I can write more if the napping is going well. But I must hit 2,000 words. I believe one of the worst things you can do as a writer is to stare at a blank page. Write something, anything. Even if it is about the weather or what you had for dinner last night.

I think a writer needs drive. The drive to keep going even when you've written 2000 words that don't even make sense. Isn't your goal just to write? Don't worry about the quality, you can work on that later.