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Home » Archives for Bob Hostetler » Page 28

Bob Hostetler

Write Like You Brush Your Teeth

By Bob Hostetleron August 9, 2017
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I listen regularly to a half-dozen podcasts. One of them recently talked about how valuable “systems” are in making life run more smoothly. The podcast host said that making something a habit is the simplest but also one of the most effective “systems” a person can install in his or her life, because it eliminates the need for decision-making. For example, he said, did you decide to brush your teeth this morning? Most people would answer, No. Why? Because there’s no deciding involved; it is a habit, so we just do it. Thus, the more constructive behaviors we can turn into habits, the fewer decisions we have to make as we go about our daily lives, and the simpler (and better, perhaps) daily life becomes.

I thought that was a brilliant and helpful insight, and I think it applies to writing. That’s why I suggest, if you aspire to write well and to be published often, you should write like you brush your teeth: every day. Maybe twice a day. Maybe after every meal. But no less than daily.

I know, I know. You’re a busy person. You have a job, and a family. There are bills to be paid, dishes to be washed, lawns to be mowed. How in the world are you supposed to write like you brush your teeth?

I don’t know. I can’t answer that for you. But I can say this: If writing becomes a habit, you will never again have to decide whether to write or not. It will become as natural as brushing your teeth. And, eventually, it will feel strange if you go a day without writing. And you’ll get better at it. And better.

Ray Bradbury, in his book, Zen in the Art of Writing, said:

WORK.

You have been working, haven’t you?

Or do you plan some sort of schedule for yourself starting as soon as you put down this article?

What kind of schedule?

Something like this. One-thousand or two-thousand words every day for the next twenty years. At the start, you might shoot for one short story a week, fifty-two stories a year, for five years. You will have to write and put away or burn a lot of material before you are comfortable in this medium. You might as well start now and get the necessary work done.

For I believe that eventually quantity will make for quality… Quantity gives experience. From experience alone can quality come.

Can you imagine? If you had started a habit like that five years ago, you would have written 260 stories by now! And some of those would probably have been pretty good, right? Maybe even great.

I don’t think it matters much what you write, at least to start. You may begin a journal (I journal every evening before going to bed). You may launch a blog (I blog daily prayers at oneprayeraday.com, and weekly posts on this site, Guideposts.com, and BardandBible.com). You may do as Bradbury suggests and write a short story every week. You may start a memoir or novel. It’s up to you. The world is your oyster!

But stop deciding whether or not you will write on any given day. Make writing a habit, as natural and regular as brushing your teeth. You might as well start now and let habit—and quantity—combine to produce quality.

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Category: Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Encouragement, Get Published, The Writing Life

Write Like Jazz

By Bob Hostetleron August 2, 2017
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Years ago, I was helping a friend brainstorm and outline a book, and at some point in the course of our conversation about writing, I said, “Writing is like jazz.” Both of us were jazz aficionados, so the phrase was apt, and it stuck. He has reminded me of it repeatedly ever since. What did I mean? Three things, basically: Craft Duke Ellington was raised by pianist parents, started piano lessons …

Read moreWrite Like Jazz
Category: Art, Creativity, Inspiration

Write Like Baseball

By Bob Hostetleron July 26, 2017
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Did you know there are nine ways for a batter to reach first base in the game of baseball? A few are obvious, of course. The batter could get a hit. Or a walk. Or even be hit by a pitch. But those are not the only options. The batter could reach on a fielding error. Or hit into a fielder’s choice, a play in which the fielder could throw him out at first but instead chooses to throw to another …

Read moreWrite Like Baseball
Category: Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Get Published, The Writing Life

Glad to Join the Fun

By Bob Hostetleron July 12, 2017
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A Self-Interview with Bob Hostetler It is an honor and a joy to join Tamela Hancock Murray, Dan Balow, and my long-time agent and longer-time friend, Steve Laube, as a literary agent with The Steve Laube Agency. So, for my first SteveLaube.com blog post, I took the time to sit down with myself for an in-depth, hard-hitting interview. Why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself? …

Read moreGlad to Join the Fun
Category: Agency, AgentsTag: Agency, Bob Hostetler
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