Exercise Your Writing Muscle

Exercise Your Writing Muscle

“You can begin to bring writing into your life with small exercises that needn’t take more than ten minutes at a pop. And, again, there is no right or wrong here – just opportunities to use a muscle that has gone unused for too long.”

In his book, Seven Steps to Confident Writing, Alan Gelb gives us a few ideas on how to flex our muscle and start writing.

Cubing helps us look at a topic or idea from multiple points of view. Just like a cube has six sides, you can flip over an idea and write about it from different angles. Here are few Gelb suggests; describe it, compare it, associate it, analyze it, apply it, and argue for it.

Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts down on paper every day. Some people carry notebooks around to record their thoughts throughout the day. Other people sit down at the end of the day and write a entry.

Flash Fiction is another great tool you can use. Why not try writing a short story in less than 1,000 words?

There are plenty of ways to describe the elements of a narrative. Gelb breaks it down into these four elements; “The Once (specific point in time that it is set), The Ordinary vs the Extraordinary, Conflict and Tension, and The Point.”

So, write down your thoughts. Tell your story. I’m sure you have one, whether it is fictional or autobiographical. Write the narrative of your day with added commentary and thoughts. Look at a subject or issue from multiple points of view.

You don’t have to write a masterpiece. You don’t have to spend hours writing and polishing. Just find ten minutes and write. And then do it again tomorrow. You’ll grow your writing muscle, find your voice, and realize that you have something to say. It will help you in many aspects of your life.

“Let’s finally dispense with the idea of writing as the thing we had to do back in school that we weren’t very good at. Let’s instead think of it as something that we are motivated to learn and improve at.”

Write something daily and you will “be able to feel comfortable and empowered.”