In January, I made a decision to try to come up with a twelve step program for writers, primarily because I needed both something to blog about and a way to discipline my own writing. My first "step" was "Take your time, hear the voices." Then I went off to India and got distracted with my travel journal. Then I actually finished another draft of a work in progress (Invisible) and then in April I challenged myself. In April I was determined to walk every day, encouraged by fitbit and an April walkabout, and to write at least a thousand words on 750words.com. I got the words, but for the most part, they were just garbage, stuff you write when you are going for word count only. I didn't get all the walking in I wanted, but i did increase my activity level quite a bit. I'm sorry to say that the activity increase was as tied to repainting the entire house, supervising installation of new floors, moving and removing furniture, cleaning carpets... you get the picture. Whatever works.
Here it is half-way through May though, and all those good habits have gone by the wayside as I participated in "life." I've had time with my grown up children, which is the best. I've had time with my spouse, a rarity we are getting happily used to. I've even had time with the once woolly dogs, shorn now with summer cuts that reinforce their resemblance to lambs even more. (My youngest son's Australian shepherd drives them crazy with the herding "pokes."
And I've been going to weight watchers again, lost a few pounds, but that's what prompted me to do the 12 Step theory, renamed here Universal Platitudes. Because really, don't the same rules work for all the things we are trying to do?
Weight watcher's program centers on three tenants: accountability, group support, and environment. By "tracking" your food and activity, you become self aware of where your calories (or carbs or whatever you want to count) are coming from. You see how you spend your calories.
Applying that to writing, it is easy for me to see how 750 words a day can be written, yet no writing accomplished. It becomes about numbers, and not quality. Weight watchers will let me spend my points anyway I want, so long as i write it down and 'quit' when I reach my limit. (I'm oversimplifying, of course, and the weight watchers folks will be quick to point out their Healthy guidlines. Bear with me as I stretch this metaphor a bit.) While I can work the program by eating chocolate and taco chips all day, I will never be healthy on 26 points worth of m & m's. Likewise, if the only writing I "indulge" in is word count words, nothing fit to be read will be created. Better to slow down, worry about content, character and voice than to just type for words.
Group support is integral to twelve step programs. Missing the meeting is the first chink in the wall it seems, for those inclined to fall off the wagon/diet/self help whatever. I've found the same to be true with writing. The more time I spend in the company of writers, the more likely I am to want to have new material to share, discuss and compare. Writing is not lonely: my mind is filled with fictional characters who often just won't shut up... but it is important to shower, dress and talk to living people in the non fiction world.
Finally, environment plays a huge role in the Platitude Programs. If there is an open wine bottle on the counter, it's going to be tough for the alcoholic to leave it alone. If there is a dish of candy next to the computer, the dieter will have trouble not dipping in. If the computer is sluggish, there are no pens or paper available and the desk is a mess with bills and catalogs, it will be a bigger challenge to coax fiction to come out and play.
Can you think of more similarities?
Here it is half-way through May though, and all those good habits have gone by the wayside as I participated in "life." I've had time with my grown up children, which is the best. I've had time with my spouse, a rarity we are getting happily used to. I've even had time with the once woolly dogs, shorn now with summer cuts that reinforce their resemblance to lambs even more. (My youngest son's Australian shepherd drives them crazy with the herding "pokes."
And I've been going to weight watchers again, lost a few pounds, but that's what prompted me to do the 12 Step theory, renamed here Universal Platitudes. Because really, don't the same rules work for all the things we are trying to do?
Weight watcher's program centers on three tenants: accountability, group support, and environment. By "tracking" your food and activity, you become self aware of where your calories (or carbs or whatever you want to count) are coming from. You see how you spend your calories.
Applying that to writing, it is easy for me to see how 750 words a day can be written, yet no writing accomplished. It becomes about numbers, and not quality. Weight watchers will let me spend my points anyway I want, so long as i write it down and 'quit' when I reach my limit. (I'm oversimplifying, of course, and the weight watchers folks will be quick to point out their Healthy guidlines. Bear with me as I stretch this metaphor a bit.) While I can work the program by eating chocolate and taco chips all day, I will never be healthy on 26 points worth of m & m's. Likewise, if the only writing I "indulge" in is word count words, nothing fit to be read will be created. Better to slow down, worry about content, character and voice than to just type for words.
Group support is integral to twelve step programs. Missing the meeting is the first chink in the wall it seems, for those inclined to fall off the wagon/diet/self help whatever. I've found the same to be true with writing. The more time I spend in the company of writers, the more likely I am to want to have new material to share, discuss and compare. Writing is not lonely: my mind is filled with fictional characters who often just won't shut up... but it is important to shower, dress and talk to living people in the non fiction world.
Finally, environment plays a huge role in the Platitude Programs. If there is an open wine bottle on the counter, it's going to be tough for the alcoholic to leave it alone. If there is a dish of candy next to the computer, the dieter will have trouble not dipping in. If the computer is sluggish, there are no pens or paper available and the desk is a mess with bills and catalogs, it will be a bigger challenge to coax fiction to come out and play.
Can you think of more similarities?
