tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post7742712440839589634..comments2024-03-14T18:09:09.667-05:00Comments on Do Some Damage: Writing is a MuscleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-71609576880830613182009-08-24T09:08:32.098-05:002009-08-24T09:08:32.098-05:00Mike - Glad I'm not the only one who feels tha...Mike - Glad I'm not the only one who feels that summer is something special. I live in Texas and if someone defines 'summer' as days with heat, then our summer goes from April to October. I was born in December so I do like that month as well. "It's the most wonderful time of the year." But summer... ahhhh<br /><br />Jay - I agree that X words per day is probably counterproductive. I think I'm going to start X words per Week. That'll allow some flexibility.<br /><br />Ben - I have found it Extremely difficult to get back on the wagon. Like my running, I'm following the simple mantra: just do it. Easier said than done. Glad you stopped by and keep on reading (and writing!).Scott D. Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293540073601809197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-35415905454456168322009-08-22T23:17:14.229-05:002009-08-22T23:17:14.229-05:00Scott, excellent post, and great blog. Glad I was...Scott, excellent post, and great blog. Glad I was turned onto it.<br /><br />I too have fallen off of the writing wagon, and although I miss the feeling of "having written" it's damn hard to get back on track.<br /><br />I like you, write the stories in my mind, but they never make it to page.<br /><br />Thanks for the great post, hopefully it will motivate me to get things together.<br /><br />-BenPokerBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01861605814143830904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-8875978802112632912009-08-22T19:25:18.075-05:002009-08-22T19:25:18.075-05:00It's definatley a muscle, or at least a habit,...It's definatley a muscle, or at least a habit, that needs to be maintained.<br /><br />Not even necesarily by a set goal each day of x amount of hours. At least not for me. Some days that would be counterproductive. <br /><br />To quote the great screenwriter Chris McQuarrie;<br /><br />"...in those days i tried to write ten pages a day. Nowadays i just try to move the curser to the right of the page."<br /><br />I'm in no position to be giving advice for how other people should do things, but for me i need to take a look at what i'm working on every day. Somedays i'll take a look, and my brain will click, and i'll write a few thousand words. Other days, i'll read it then go do something else.Jay Stringerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08764183157841848163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-77885808142401531622009-08-22T16:31:02.246-05:002009-08-22T16:31:02.246-05:00Excellent post, Scott. Writing is indeed a muscle...Excellent post, Scott. Writing is indeed a muscle that needs to be worked on a regular basis.<br /><br />I also liked your passage on summer. Summer has always been my favorite season, even though I've lived in a warm-weather climate for over half my life. Nevertheless, there's just something in every summer that suggests unbridled freedom. Maybe it's our fondness for summer vacation from school. A high point for me is that it's as far away from winter as you can get.<br /><br />Winter, of course, in most areas of the country, is the pits. It's stamped with naked trees, the dreary cold, and long, dark nights, while we all struggle to stay warm. Spring is nothing more than winter trying desperately to hang on, while autumn is the hurried swan song to summer, as well as being winter's opening lines.<br /><br />Your post is an inspiration to everyone to get off his/her ass and resume writing.<br />--Mike Dennis<br /> Las VegasMike Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16851474841028579967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-13495964602112393632009-08-22T14:52:58.967-05:002009-08-22T14:52:58.967-05:00David - Question for you David: is your hour a sol...David - Question for you David: is your hour a solid block of time or spaced out throughout the day? When I wrote my first book, I wrote every night at 10pm.<br /><br />Debra - Glad I could inspire. I ran 2.5 miles this morning and, for the first time, barely got winded. Now, later, I'll be writing and, like you, will make it a good day to exercise both sets of muscles.<br /><br />Barbara - I have a whole other post on blogging but that'll be another day. Like you, I'm going back to my half-finished 2nd novel and looking at it with fresh eyes. In addition, I'm writing a novel featuring my cowboy detective, Calvin Carter. It's amazing what happens when you get things straight in your head.<br /><br />Neil - That's the one thing that hasn't left me: my curiosity. I'm constantly wondering how things work, how people do their jobs, and, of course, what would make a good story. I keep a Moleskine notebook with me that I've hacked to be a day planner. I also jot notes in it and have found it to be the perfect place to record my ideas.Scott D. Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293540073601809197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-47099952260061774942009-08-22T12:35:29.462-05:002009-08-22T12:35:29.462-05:00I also heard a teacher say that "Interest is ...I also heard a teacher say that "Interest is a muscle". So not just the physical writing, but the necessity of being curious constantly.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540129844427544282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-58154508960863767922009-08-22T11:34:16.558-05:002009-08-22T11:34:16.558-05:00A timely post, Scott, as I have returned to comple...A timely post, Scott, as I have returned to complete my second novel and outline the third. It was languishing while I blogged.Barbara Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610140328527165017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-30430799442600634522009-08-22T09:20:31.354-05:002009-08-22T09:20:31.354-05:00This post is so relevant for me, believe it or not...This post is so relevant for me, believe it or not, for the physical exercise part! I've gotten so mushy into the writer's life, that my physical body is going back to its pre-exercise formation. Not a pretty sight. I love the feeling of tight muscles and flat stomach. Thanks for the inspiration, Scott. I'll be both writing AND going to the gym today thanks to you.Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-29435112121967539442009-08-22T06:56:05.014-05:002009-08-22T06:56:05.014-05:00I write everyday. After a workday I make sure it&#...I write everyday. After a workday I make sure it's an hour or two in the evening. That can be tough and sometimes it turns into only a paragraph accomplished. If I'm really pooped then I spend that hour polishing up or reading an old story that needs tweaking. (Of course, as an Ed sometimes part of that time is devoted to my zine.) Anyway, you're right about it being a muscle.David Cranmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04749857752139212888noreply@blogger.com