Writing doesn't feel like action
Writing doesn’t feel like action as much as swiping and tapping at your phone does, as much as doing the laundry does.
Writing is silent, and most of the time you’re doing it nobody else will even notice. Sometimes writing is staring at the wall.
To create a rewarding writing habit—one that you stick to for the long-term—you're going to have to lean into the experience. It may feel distinctly slow. You'll come to thrive in the quiet and the long moments of contemplation, the flow state as your ideas start to coalesce. Once you do, you’ll find that when you tell people you’re a writer, it will feel more true.
Destroy your perfectionism and enjoy the chaos
Whitewater kayakers wouldn't consider it a good day on the river if they jumped in and had a nice smooth float. The churning water creates a chaos that encompasses all their senses and focus requires them to increase their focus, skill and effort. No two outings will be exactly the same. It's the chaos that makes it thrilling—that makes it worthwhile.
How are you leaning into the experience of being a writer this week?