For the last couple of months, I’ve been building a daily writing habit. It was a habit I formed last year in a community as I couldn’t do it independently. It led to publishing a weekly long-form blog post, not missing a week, and publishing a book!
The habit fell away this year as I was focused on a new role that has been demanding. I missed the clarity of thinking and the benefits of organizing my thoughts when I have daily time to write them down and sort through them all.
I signed up for the site 750words.com on August 19 to simplify things and hold myself accountable for the commitment. The idea of the site comes from Morning Pages, a practice I learned from Julia Cameron’s book Artists Way.
Morning Pages is three pages of handwritten stream of conscious writing done in the morning. It is a way to process and even play around with words without worrying what others will think. It is a good place for first draft type messy writing and where I am writing this piece right now, before editing and posting in WordPress.
While it is not handwritten, 750words.com has the benefit of searching and tracking frequently used words or phrases. It shows your streak and the progress you are making.
Since starting on August 19, I missed a day and then strung together a streak of 56 days. But now it is ended because I missed the vow of “Don’t Break the Chain.”
It actually happened yesterday. I did write yesterday but didn’t make it all the way to 750 words as I got distracted and forgot to come back and finish it off.
I was mad at myself for forgetting to finish and getting distracted. Writing this out now is helping me to see what I am learning.
Streaks are important, but beating myself up about it isn’t.
Distractions are the fuel of the Resistance, don’t entertain them.
Good job for hitting every day in September! It was a tough month. Pat yourself on the back. You deserve it.
A better motto is never to miss two days in a row.
So I am back at it and glad to be writing. Day 1 is not so bad after all!
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