Start Moving by Valarie Budayr

Hello Creative Friends !!!

It’s January again. Our theme for this month is Start. So let’s begin shall we ?

Please take a moment to watch the video below. Truly it takes literally one
minute and is the inspiration for today’s post.
MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

How awesome was that??

Did you notice that the walking gent in the video is taking only a couple
of steps in each frame? And that these two little steps in each frame took
him to 11 countries, countless modes of transportation, and a myriad of
experiences…and all in 44 days?

So how exactly did this inspire me as a writer? Do I want to hit the road and
write about each destination?

 

Maybe..

…but that is something all together different than creating a writer’s life. It
doesn’t matter if you’re a writer or not, I’m just using that as my example to
creating the artistic life I love living. If you follow these easy steps and apply
them to your own artistic endeavors you’ll see wonderful movement in your
creative life.

Daily, I get hundreds of emails , as well as meeting people, who all share
with me that “one day they want to write a book”.

I don’t know when “one day “ is arriving, but I can promise you that “one
day” doesn’t arrive with a fan fare. It just sort of sneaks in. Before “one day”
sneaks in, there are a couple of things that need to happen.

First....

You need to begin writing.

We are all waiting for the day when everything will be “perfect.”  The day
that is pleasantly mild enough for us to be outside, is also the day that is
just cloudy enough to make us want to stay indoors.

On our Perfect Day we’ll wake-up inspired with a total book in our heads,
completed with plot, dialogs, and setting intact. Also on that Perfect Day
there won’t be any interruptions, we won’t be tired, and our stamina for our
writing endeavor will be endless. There is always the “one day” when the
“Perfect Day” will arrive.

BUT..if you wait for “perfect, it will never, ever, happen. The “perfect” story,
book, or magazine article coming out of you on the first go around will not
happen. Writing isn’t about being perfect, it’s about enjoying the creative
process. There is a lot of honing that goes on in that process as well. It’s
not judgement , it’s honing.  Writers need to show up daily to their writing
practice and it only takes 10 to 15 minutes a day.

Though I don’t have the specifics on when “one day” is , I do know that you
and I only have today. So today let’s start a writing practice.

1. Remove all distractions- It’s time to disconnect everything i.e. phones,
email notifications, and Skype or IM’s. Also when it’s your designated
writing time, this is not the moment to order a pizza delivery! Don’t answer
the door. Don’t answer the phone. This is your time. Your business, life,
and the world can go away for 15 whole minutes. I promise you , all will be
well.

2. Schedule It!- Take out your calendar or cell phone. Schedule your 15
minute writing practice, every single live long day on that calendar for the
next month. For me I’ve found it helpful to do the same time everyday. This
point doesn’t matter. The point that does matter is that every single day you
are going to write something.  iPhone apps like Evernote or even Cozi work
well for this process.

3. Sit Down!- At the appointed time, sit down in a chair at a table, or desk or
curled up on the sofa, but please have a seat.

4. Set Your Timer- Use your phone, oven timer, any type of timer. Set it for
10 or 15 minutes.

5. Take your Implement!-Put your pen or pencil in your hand if you’re
writing long hand. Or place your fingers on the keys.

6. Start writing!-Do not put down your pen or pencil. Make your little fingers
weary with typing. Do not stop for any reason. Even if the phone rings, the
UPS man comes, the pizza boy is delivering. Do not stop. In fact,..

7. Don’t Get Up Until You’ve Written Something!- Just jot down any
thoughts you have about any topic. It doesn’t have to be a novel, even a
simple paragraph is a great story starter.

From My Desk: There were a couple of things which led to my daily writing
practice. The first was that I started a journaling program created by Julia
Cameron called The Artist's Way.

Valarie Budayr is the founder of Audrey Press and author of the book The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden and The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She is passionate about making kid’s books come alive and you can find her doing that on her popular blog and website, Jump into a Book. When she isn’t being bookie, she is very happily the mother of three uber creative children, married to a wonderfully patient man who has come to love yarn, and caretaker of one adored cat. Other creative interests are music, travel, knitting (a bonafide yarn harlot), and gardening. She loves living a daily creative practice, where even a good cup of coffee is art.