Stephen Covey, a life teacher, coach, writer and a really cool guy, has been a positive example for me for years. I've read his first book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, several times, and as a writer, I can particularly see the relevance of habit 7, Sharpen the Saw.
What Covey asks is that we examine our hectic lives and make sure we are making time for renewal, learning, reading and exercise of the mind, body and spirit. When I was teaching the Covey concepts, I found that most people had trouble with this habit. Covey likens it to being "so busy mowing the lawn you forget to put gas in the mower."
In the writing community, we see this a lot. Writers who are so busy blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, networking and pounding out their 1,000 words per day--no matter how they tally it--that they forget to "put gas in the mower."
I try to incorporate different forms of art into my life in hopes it will nurture my creative writing. The Writer's Brush by Donald Friedman examines how writers practice the visual arts. It's an amazing book, and if you admire the writing of Vonnegut, Kipling, Bronte and the like, I predict you'll be spellbound by their visual art. Imagine developing your entire creative potential-- pumping gas into your creative engine-- by drawing, painting or sculpting.
What perspective would you gain about your story? About your writing? About your life?
6 comments:
Hi, Rebbie,
As the saying goes: all things in moderation. Some social networking is necessary so that as writers we reach readers and other authors. But it's a balancing act because we do need sufficient time to write. Also, as you point out, creativity needs cultivating and that's encouraged by living life fully, involving ourselves with people and other artistic activities.
Coincidentally, my blog topic today was time management. Thanks for the reminder abut keeping the mower filled. For me, it's about priorities. Right now, I find writing is the perfect creative outlet. After all, I have no more wall space for needlepoint.
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Thanks Jacqueline and Terry for commenting. Jacqueline, I try to live by the motto of all things in moderation. The problem for me is that I get hung up on the "it has to be perfect" thing--the kiss of death for moderation. :) Terry, I'm glad this post fits in with your thoughts on time management. Great post of yours and I hope other readers will check it out.
Thanks again.
Hi Rebbie: sometimes I have to force myself to get away from the manuscript. Amazingly, it will lead to points of light, or a moment of clarity, like discovering why a scene stalled, or coming up with a new angle, so you're right. The mower does need fuel. Thanks for the insightful post. Enjoying April in Florida?
Hello, Joyce and thank you for the comment! Yes, April is lovely! But now comes the heat and humidity!
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