Act-Dream-Believe
When I stand at water’s edge and look out into the ocean, I feel tiny and insignificant. Then I think of Anatole France‘s quote and believe I can be or do anything, everything.
Don’t you?
When I stand at water’s edge and look out into the ocean, I feel tiny and insignificant. Then I think of Anatole France‘s quote and believe I can be or do anything, everything.
Don’t you?
In 1932-1933, while working on what would become his first published novel, Miller devised and adhered to a stringent daily routine to propel his writing.
While working on his first published novel, Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller devised a stringent daily routine to advance his writing. This is his 1930s blueprint for productivity.
If groggy, type notes and allocate, as stimulus. If in fine fettle, write.
(Now if you wondering what a fettle might be: according to the British Dictionary a fettle is state of health, spirits, etc We’d probably say mood today.)
Work of section in hand, following plan of section scrupulously. No intrusions, no diversions. Write to finish one section at a time, for good and all.
See friends. Read in cafés. Explore unfamiliar sections — on foot if wet, on bicycle if dry. Write, if in mood, but only on Minor program. Paint if empty or tired. Make Notes. Make Charts, Plans. Make corrections of MS.
I love his additional note for the evenings:
Allow sufficient time during daylight to make an occasional visit to museums or an occasional sketch or an occasional bike ride. Sketch in cafés and trains and streets. Cut the movies! Library for references once a week.
(In our 21st century vocabulary, we’d probably change Library to Internet or Social Media.)
His daily schedule points out to things:
Prolific writers write every day.
Prolific writers write most of the day.
I can only wish I had such discipline.
What do you think about Miller’s tight schedule?
Writers are always seeking tips on how to be more productive. I’m no exception.
A recent web search turned up this interesting list of commandments from Henry Miller (December 26, 1891–June 7, 1980). By the way, not only was Miller a prolific writer he was also a painter.
What do you think? Do these commandments work for you? Would they work if you’re not a writer?
Miller also has some daily schedule suggestions. Next Wednesday we’ll will look at those. For now, I’m off to focus on Commandment #10.
Today I spotted the leaves of a sunflower popping up through the dirt. Where did the summer go that fall sunflowers are coming up?
I have no answer for that, but seeing the green sprouts, I was reminded of Holly Gerth‘s quote. It’s the pushing through dirt that produces the beautiful fall sunflowers that I enjoy.
Gives me a whole new perspective on dirt. How about you?
The last two Wednesday we’ve talked about writers as artist. We can’t paint words if we don’t just WRITE as this quote from Sandra Jensen via WritersWrite points out.
Another poignant quote from Edie Melson to remind writers that we are indeed artists with our words. Thanks, Edie.
We celebrated our nation’s independence on Monday. An independence that allows us so many freedoms.
This graphic from Holly Gerth makes a wonderful suggestion about how we should use those freedoms. Hope you agree.
Thanks to Graham Swift and Writerswrite for reminding us.