The Number 1 Secret to Being A Better Writer

Today I started my day by going outside on the back porch with my coffee and did a breathing exercise. I breathed in and thought about light and then breathed out slowly thinking about releasing dark. Very simple, but calming and effective.

As I sat in the sunshine of this beautiful June morning I thought about what it means to be a writer. It comes down to a simple truth:

Writers write.

It is really is that simple. There are different methods and processes, but that is the number 1 secret. You have to do the writing. Whether by pen or by keyboard, the words have to get on the page. You don’t even have to share the writing to be a writer, not really.

As humans and teachers, we sometimes over complicate ideas and get in our own way. I like a combo of writing by hand and typing. A spark starts and then fuel is added to the fire by my writing practice. The writing practice has to happen every day for me but is a minimum of 10 minutes. Depending on life, sometimes this means writing in the bathroom as one writer friend said to me the other day!

In addition to writing I do these other things to make me a better writer:

• Free write for 10 min every day with a daily prompt sent to my email: today’s is to write a scene with the words flake…