The Wran's Day on the Dingle Peninsula
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The Secret of How to Start Writing
I've begun a series of occasional writing tips over on my Facebook Author Page. Here's the text of the latest, which I hope you'll enjoy.
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
This quote, variously attributed to Mark Twain, Agatha Christie and Anon,often appears as Number #1 in lists of Top Writers' Tips. It's true, of course, but for many of us it simply isn't helpful. Because getting started can be difficult, and emphasising what's difficult isn't always the the best way to get ahead.
When I was at drama school, I learned a wonderful lesson from a voice teacher. Don't try hard, try soft. Trying hard implies tension. You grit your teeth and square up to a challenge. You stick out your jaw and clench your fists and tell yourself that nothing and no one will keep you from reaching your goal. Trying hard may get your adrenaline flowing but, equally, it can impede your creative flow.
As always, different things work for …
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
This quote, variously attributed to Mark Twain, Agatha Christie and Anon,often appears as Number #1 in lists of Top Writers' Tips. It's true, of course, but for many of us it simply isn't helpful. Because getting started can be difficult, and emphasising what's difficult isn't always the the best way to get ahead.
When I was at drama school, I learned a wonderful lesson from a voice teacher. Don't try hard, try soft. Trying hard implies tension. You grit your teeth and square up to a challenge. You stick out your jaw and clench your fists and tell yourself that nothing and no one will keep you from reaching your goal. Trying hard may get your adrenaline flowing but, equally, it can impede your creative flow.
As always, different things work for …
