why blogging is probably the best habit ever
Tomorrow, with work, maybe I’ll be a better writer, I hope. God, I hope. Tomorrow, maybe you’ll be a better writer. Or you’ll be a better photographer. Or you’ll make a better recipe. The key is in the act itself, in the fact of showing up and doing today’s work.
What my blog does is force me to show up. That’s huge. A lot of writers and creative people have said things along the lines of, ‘Showing up is 90% of the work,’ and that’s certainly true for me. Sometimes, the last thing I want to do is sit down and write. But if I show up, time and time again, it’s worth it. Even if I think I don’t have anything to say, chances are, if I show up, and if I really put on a good show and act like I have something to say, I will. (My friend George is a poet, and he has a sweatshirt that he wears every single time he sits down to write. It’s his way of acting the part, until he feels the part.) Some of my favorite pieces of writing have come out of days when I thought I had nothing to write. There is no ideal condition for producing creative work. I have to remind myself of that every day. You make the conditions ideal by showing up, period. Blogs help us show up, and that’s priceless.
7 Comments
Stina KC
As someone who has been on the fence for a good long while about starting a blog, this is sage and oh-so-timely. Thanks for showing up in your space.
Susannah @ The EarlyBirdPress
I read this last week, too, when Molly posted the link on her blog. Orangette was the first blog I read, way back in 2007, and it was pure magic. I loved her speech, and I love that all of her writing is simple but artful. Inspiring!
Rachael Ringenberg
I know, what a treat for us to hear it, despite not being at the event. I think it was one of my first too…I don’t even remember how I found it originally. Even though I often think her blog is almost as good as, or better than her last book, I really can’t wait for her next one!
Susie
I like this. It is a good reminder to practice just showing up in all of my flawed glory in all of my spheres (blog, work, relationships, church, etc).
Laura Voisine
I am learning that the discipline of writing regularly ultimately gives me more creative freedom. It’s counterintuitive to make myself sit down and type prior to receiving a flash of inspiration, but the inspiration does come…eventually…through the working out and unraveling of my thoughts. Thanks for sharing this excerpt, Rachel.
Wren
This is brilliant. I must go read this post now.
Melanie Yarbrough
Ugh, love Molly Wizenberg. I currently have A Homemade Life and Delancey is on hold in my library queue for when I’m finished. She is so personal, even when she’s talking to an entire crowd.