In my first year of high school I was this scrawny kid who had a lot of trouble adapting. I might say that I was an introvert; I wasn’t the most sociable of creatures.
A friend of mine was taking some kickboxing classes and I said, “Why not?” I honestly don’t know why, but I do know that I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be such a big deal. The first training was awful – I thought I was going to die or something, but somehow I managed to go to the next one, and the next, and two weeks I found myself actually enjoying them.
You see, there was this routine. Two hours a day, five days a week I would be at the gym. Whether I liked it or not. Whether my head hurt or not. Whether I got a bad grade at school or not. Because when I entered the gym, there were other expectations, other dreams, and an entirely different world. The person I was outside of it ceased to exist, and this allowed me to concentrate on what I was doing then.
The same principle applies to writing. The most successful writers have this in common: they always show up at their desk. Daily. No questions asked. They have to show up, whether they feel like it or not. Because writing is never easy. And it never gets easy, but you can train your mind, you can find a routine, a time during the day in which you can know for sure that you’re free to put pen to paper without having to worry about the kids, making dinner, your job, or other stuff. But you have to show up, you have to at least try. I just have to stare at the white screen for half an hour. Then write. Good stuff or bad, it doesn’t matter.
The best analogy I can think of right now is that writing is like trying to pick up a girl; the guys who are really good at it are also the ones who fail a lot. But they just don’t care. You have to be willing to make a fool out of yourself, to fail lamentably. If you expect nothing out of any given situation, than odds are that the results are going to surprise you. In a good way. Also, I believe that you can’t write something good unless you’re willing to write something, anything.
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It's the same with creating art. You must go into the studio every day and try. And keep working even if you think you're getting nowhere. That's what makes success.
I'm always encouraged when good writers (like yourself) confirm that writing is difficult. It certainly is for me.
Very encouraging, thanks!
Reblogged this on youandmrsjones and commented:
inspiring
Incredibly true, I mean I'm not an artist I'm just some mediocre writer, but even I have to sit down everyday to get better and fight pen at hand to get better. I don't think I know of any naturally good writers, because all writers have to write and re-write everything they do. Practice becomes second nature to every one who dreams of writing a book or presenting poetry.
P.S. I find the martial arts analogy incredibly true. I used to practice Taekwondo and learned that the basic principals of being actually good at it, writing and math where the same. You have to get up everyday sometimes without strength or will and practice.
THANK YOU! I needed to hear this as I spent the last two hours trying to re-write the first six chapters of a fiction book I started back in September.
Yep. I can't even think of how many new writers I have tried to explain this to, over the years. Great post. :)
Some people think that writing is magic, that I sit down at my keyboard and awesome words just come pouring out. I wish. It's work, a lot of fucking work. I have to do a lot of polishing before that rock becomes a diamond.
It's the same with my orb photography. I find orbs because I go looking for them every evening.
I love your writing !
you molded a better you, that's what a man does.
This actually helped me a lot, I'm writing this dialogue story and I always get lazy when I should go through with it but I'm gonna try doing it in hot or cold water LOL .thanks.
I get what you mean; I'm usually a horror-obsessed, manga-reading goofball, but when I sit down at the computer and start writing, I'm the God of my worlds, creating stories of power, fear, strength, defiance, love, struggle, whatever I want. It's a powerful feeling.
Great analogies. I think I'll try to approach life, like a player approaches women. :p
You touched my heart. Your openness and dearness is the stuff of which we connect with others and learn and grow and weep and laugh. Together. And when we put that truth into our words, we transcend boundaries. Borders, countries, universes. It spirals out and we are all greater than before.
Apt analogy. (>^-')>
Funny analogies!
True…but I think that some people can't write…is like missing information in the D.N.A or something…no matter how hard they try.
Your last paragraph shows such great insight, and inspiration. Great post, thanks.
Loved this post. It was very encouraging — and so "right on"! Just what I needed to hear. It's so tempting to walk away from the screen, when words just won't come!
amen brother, this is kind of like that old saying "a man is only as strong as his coffee, and his coffee is only as strong as his wife"
Practice, practice, practice equals inspiration I think.
Totally agree with you. I can write with distractions around me, but I prefer the quiet, early morning. First I write my blog for the day, then I go on to the piece I'm working on. I usually spend about three to four hours writing everyday. And you're right, discipline is what gets me here. I am old enough to know that the only way to get better at something is to make it a habit and work at it everyday. And like your kick-boxing, when you think you'd rather just die, it's the effort that counts in the long run. Great post Cristian!
Some of my best stuff came out of nowhere, when I simply "did the discipline" of showing up every day.
Great stuff, so true, I just experienced it writing my last post. What a struggle tonight, but it's done! Thanks :)
Inspiring :)
Exactly!
This helped so much today. I find running is the same way. You have to show up–everyday. Most of what I have written is crap, but I have to realize everyone goes through this arduous process. Otherwise, we'd all call ourselves writers. LOL
So true, I do the same thing with practicing my flute. As long as it's coming out of the case and up to my face, I know I'll be learning something, and it's gotta happen every. day.
Thank you Cristian…once again.
I think most things in life have to do with discipline and persistence – thanks for putting the writing into perspective.
Woah! Imppresive post. Really touch me :) thank you so much totally worth following, so being discipline means going back whether you get the results you want or fail
I just posted something similar today about how there isn't much of a substitute for getting your hands dirty. Persistence!
What a great post. Thanks, I needed this one :).
So very true. The thoughts in the post can be related to a number of fields, for me its my lab life. The expectations of me inside and outside of lab are very different, but I turn up everyday for both. Enjoyed the read, you have a lovely style of writing.
Great advice! I'm gonna do a round of kick boxing classes to discipline myself and maybe everything else will become aligned.
Inspirational post. Thank you. I needed a reminder of just how much more I should be writing. =]
really inspiring :-)
So true. Creators – be it art or writing or music – have to keep creating in order to really make something worthy, something beautiful.
You make an excellent point when you say, "You have to show up." That is the main reason I enjoy participating in NaNoWriMo, I have to show up everyday or I fail.
Reblogged this on reverie slice.
Fantastic and so true!!
Thank you for kicking my a**. I haven't blogged in over a week and was just this second talking to my other half about nothing inspiring to blog about, gray skies today, most of my art Work in the last 10 days has been the business side….. I will find some inspiration in there by the end of the day.
This really motivated me to keep on writing on my essay from hell. Thanks man, you just saved my sorry ass.
Reblogged this on Miss Ingrid Hughes and commented:
This is so true. Everyone should read this.
Thanks for the reminder! I needed to read this. :)
Thank you for your excellent article on writing and discipline. It's a good reminder that successful writers don't give up.
How refreshing. As a writer who struggles with… pride… among other things I have yet to accept that the bad will inevitably come with the good. Thanks for the reality check.
true true. :) and inspiring at the same time. good post, Cris. ;)
Man, I wish more people knew this! I'm just maturing enough to learn it myself, but good job for being aware enough to notice it and share with others :)
Reblogged this on Making Sense Out Of The Chaos and commented:
This person has got it right. Check this out :)
Yeah, that's true! Writing a blog is something you want to do from the depths, must be something a bit 'instinctive' … And like for other matters, if you do not have such will, you are fated to the failure.
That's essentially what it takes to succeed at anything. The only reason people don't take those steps though is that they are afraid of failing, but they forget that without failing some they will not succeed.
I agree. Writing can be like going to work, you have to show up first, which is like sitting down before you start writing.
With respect to picking up a girl, I always finds 3 cups of alcohol helps. Not sure if that would help with writing though, or maybe it would…
Reblogged this on ScifiWriterMom and commented:
When you need inspiration, this is the post to read!
[...] Discipline (http://cristianmihai.net) [...]
Yes, seeing any project through takes discipline born of inspiration and vision. It can't come from drudgery; it has to be from passion, otherwise what you create reflect labor, not love.
Reblogged this on Journey of Joy and commented:
Precisely the push I've come to expect from your page. You would make a great "writing coach"–or perhaps you're already one. I am rebloging this because I want to see it often and be encouraged to keep doing what I love –writing. thanks
Hello.. the part about "almost die or something" was actually very true :D
I just learned krav maga. And it's very hard for someone who have weight issue like me. But i guess practice does make "things get better".. if it's not perfect :D LoL..
Thanks for the inspiring writing…
Absolutely agree. Just write. I sometimes write things that have no intended purpose. Often I end up liking the results better than my planned writing. Perhaps because I am less inhibited when I don't think there is a goal of an end product.
One of my bosses early in life told me, "No guts, No glory!" Whenever I get nervous about taking a risk, especially one that won't physically or financially hurt me, I dig out the guts. Sometimes, I even get the glory! Always, I learn from the experience!
beautiful. thank you for inspiring me today :)
I totally get and appreciate the serious message in this blog, but since I just tried a kick-boxing class on a DVD, i have to add that I am a great success at being the most awkward kick-boxer in the world. But, it was fun anyway.