Timed Writings

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I saw this on Mary's blog, and decided to try it.

I have an aversion to timed writing (odd, because I do time for a living), but I learned during my first Barbara Samuel Voice class how effective timed writing can be for turning off the internal editor. There is no time to think, to worry, to fret, or to wonder. You just spit it out. And sometimes in the spitting-out process you connect with the core of what you want to say--or maybe magically with something else you didn't know was there. But none of that would have happened by eking it slowly out, word by painful word. (That, BTW, is also how I get into swimming pools, instead of just diving in. Maybe that's why I don't swim all that often.)

Lately, I've been trying different ways of faking myself into starting my writing day. It's not that I don't like to write. I do. What I don't like is getting into it. The beginning of the process is like adapting to being weightless (not that I've ever done it), but I imagine I wouldn't do it well or easily--probably gripping my stomach and staring at my feet that are suddenly floating instead of providing me with the stability I use them for.

I don't think timed writing would be effective for writing my actual manuscript, but it certainly gets me going--like a good walk can start the day off right. So, now that I'm pumped. I'm going to disappear in to make-believe-land. See you all later.