After about a year of contributing to The Write Practice, today’s post is my last one.
With a new baby due to arrive in the next couple of weeks, I’m wrapping up my time as a regular contributor—and as with any turning point, it feels like a good time to reflect on what I’ve learned.
Photo by Basheer Tome
Lesson Plan
Writing supplies a constant challenge, a never-ending opportunity for growth.
Can we ever truly master the craft of writing? And is it necessary to do so? I think what’s so appealing about writing is that it allows us an opportunity to constantly learn and improve. With all the forms of writing, all the subjects, all the techniques available to us, we have so many ways to play and grow in our writing. This site provides a place to do just that—to practice on a regular basis. We may take baby steps one day and giant leaps at another time, but little by little, we become stronger writers.
Writing in community makes us better.
Even though each of us has a different level of experience and a unique point of view, we can learn from one other. Because of The Write Practice's team of contributors, as well as this generous community of writer-readers and the daily collection of comments, new ideas are never in short supply. We all have something to share—knowledge, feedback, questions. And when we share our work, we not only open ourselves to constructive feedback, but we also inspire others with our creativity.
Sometimes you can’t wait for inspiration to strike.
It’s a rare time when everything falls into place and you have the perfect amount of time, space, and inspiration to write—when the words flow and come out just right, communicating exactly what you want to express. It’s absolutely rare. But writing with a deadline in mind, writing on a consistent basis, requires us to do the work even when we aren’t sure where our writing will go. We start somewhere, keep going, and see what happens. The result may not be perfect (after all, is perfection possible?), but put in the effort and you may be surprised by what you’re able to produce.
Many thanks to all of you for challenging me to keep growing; for sharing your ideas and feedback; and for committing to this crazy-wonderful craft, this communal love of ours—writing.
What have you learned from The Write Practice?
PRACTICE
Write for fifteen minutes: write a scene in which you or a character learns a lesson or tries something new.
When you’re finished, please share your practice in the comments section. And if you post, please respond to some of the other comments too!
