Prearrangement

SOLS Challenge Day 16
(I've used up my 3 free days!)

Writing.  I teach writing workshop.  I am one of the "go-to" folks when teachers have questions in this arena.  Over the years, I have not met many teachers who love to teach it.   In fact, some folks will do anything not to teach it.

I get it.  These people are simply not comfortable with writing themselves.  Neither was I. When I was in school, nobody really taught us the craft of writing.  Sure, we were taught grammar.  We were good at diagramming sentences.  When we wrote, we received our papers back with red marks and a numerical grade.  Few teachers commented on the craft or content of our pieces.  This did not do much for our confidence as writers.

But as I have learned to teach writing, I have begun the journey of learning to write myself. 

In Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, her father tells her, "Do it every day for a while.  Do it as you would do scales on the piano.  Do it by prearrangement with yourself.  Do it as a debt of honor.  And make a commitment to finishing things."

I thank Stacey and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers for giving me a push to prearrange this time to write everyday for the month of March.  It has challenged me to write when I don't feel like it.  It has pushed me to write when I am tired, or when my proverbial plate is overflowing with other commitments.  I am becoming more observant every day.  I am becoming a better writer, and a better teacher.