Get the Writing Habit

How do you know you're a writer? Because you write every day! Or do you? The authorities say the way to become a "real" and good writer is to write every day. So how about starting the habit? No hard, really.

Get a small notebook, the kind that can fit in a pocket, with 30 to 50 pages. Each day for a month write a description of something or someone. Give the description a little thought, make it true, use "writerly words". Maybe just one sentence, maybe two or three. That's all: person, place, animal, thing.

The psychologists say it takes 3 months to really firm up a habit, but 30 days is a very good start. Send your little notebook to a partner and in return you'll get 30 pieces of inspiration about how to look at everyday things from your partner.

So: one small notebook; one description a day; one partner.

PS: maybe you'll want to keep a parallel notebook for yourself. If you do, I suggest one with100 blank pages so you can continue writing each day and really become a writer who writes every day.