I started reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird last weekend. I got it from the library because I read the excerpt at Amazon and enjoyed it; because I read the Amazon review that says, "She has learned that writing is more rewarding than publication"; and because I know she's one of the writers my mother and her friends really respect as a writer and as a writer who gives writing advice.
I made it through the introduction and the first chapter, and then I stopped. I had the same resistance I have to the "write x number of words in y time period" philosophy of writing, and I'm finally able to articulate what that is.
Her premise, and the premise of the x number of words philosophy, seems to be that although writing can be rewarding, it is often or mostly or always a torturous, painful thing to do, and the only way to do it is to force yourself.
I totally reject this premise. I refuse to subscribe to any philosphy or belief system that rests on the premise that suffering is the natural condition. Furthermore, writing is not horrible. It's not torturous. If writing weren't something I do freely and joyfully, I wouldn't do it. It wouldn't mean anything to me. I wouldn't work so hard to avoid writing advice that threatens to rob my writing experiences of joy.
I don't write because I think I should or because other people have told me I'm good at it. I do it because I absolutely and completely love it. I do it because there's always a story in my head. I do it because it matters to me. I do it because I choose to. I do it because it brings me joy.
I made it through the introduction and the first chapter, and then I stopped. I had the same resistance I have to the "write x number of words in y time period" philosophy of writing, and I'm finally able to articulate what that is.
Her premise, and the premise of the x number of words philosophy, seems to be that although writing can be rewarding, it is often or mostly or always a torturous, painful thing to do, and the only way to do it is to force yourself.
I totally reject this premise. I refuse to subscribe to any philosphy or belief system that rests on the premise that suffering is the natural condition. Furthermore, writing is not horrible. It's not torturous. If writing weren't something I do freely and joyfully, I wouldn't do it. It wouldn't mean anything to me. I wouldn't work so hard to avoid writing advice that threatens to rob my writing experiences of joy.
I don't write because I think I should or because other people have told me I'm good at it. I do it because I absolutely and completely love it. I do it because there's always a story in my head. I do it because it matters to me. I do it because I choose to. I do it because it brings me joy.