I’m reminded of this every day when I walk home from work. \u00a0At first I’m preoccupied with my phone and too busy avoiding awkward eye contact with that random guy\u00a0across the sidewalk to notice my own walking. \u00a0But I soon sink into a rhythm of movement that is pretty cool when you slow it down and analyze it.<\/p>\n
In order to avoid\u00a0betraying my utter ignorance, I’ll speak in vague generalities:\u00a0if you’re walking or running efficiently, your body works a bit like a pendulum, swinging (not forcing) itself forward. \u00a0I feel that I could run or walk for hours and never get tired\u00a0when I’m running or walking in that ‘groove’. \u00a0One long hill later and I have a different idea, but let’s not focus on that right now.<\/p>\n
Writing works in the same way. \u00a0Putting the first word down is like taking the first step. \u00a0You don’t have momentum, you’re not in your stride. \u00a0It’s easy to give up, to be uncomfortable, to want to stop. \u00a0But one word begets another (such is the nature of sentences, right?) and soon you have a paragraph! \u00a0Pat yourself on the back (go on, do it), but hold up cowboy, we’re not done yet!<\/p>\n
If you’re anything like me, writing gets considerably easier once I’m about 15 minutes in. \u00a0Those first minutes are full of me being\u00a0too busy tying and re-tying my shoes, checking my watch, adjusting my socks, stretching, checking my watch again. \u00a0It’s good to have your shoes tied before running\/writing, but you also need to realize when you’re tying your shoes just to put off the run, or, in this case, the writing session. \u00a0Sooner or later I inevitably realize that I have to leave my door if I ever want to get into that ‘groove’.<\/p>\n
Moan and groan all you want, but do realize that this is why daily writing is important. \u00a0You minimize the stretching process and get into the ‘groove’ quicker. \u00a0Like running, walking (or most anything, really)\u00a0you can have days when you could conquer the world, and days where you could barely conquer taking the first step. \u00a0This is the nature of being human. \u00a0We’re beautifully inconsistent.<\/p>\n
I know some writers who would prefer to be more like machines, to crank out a certain word count consistently every day. \u00a0Don’t be like them: embrace your humanity and take the terrible days in stride. \u00a0(Time for an inspirational closer!)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n After all, tomorrow might not be total shit.<\/p>\n![\"Is](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/zachbarnesonwriting.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/04\/peak-wallpaper-1680x1050.jpg?ssl=1\")
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