I think I have discovered a trait that all great (or even good) writers must have. Now I have NOT done any exhaustive studies or surveys to discover this thing. I am basing it solely on personal observation and experience. Now I know that this is a small study group, and the margin of error could be 100%! But I think once I reveal it and explain my reasoning you will all agree.
OK, are you ready? What I have discovered is Discipline. That's right discipline. Think about it, without discipline nothing would get done. What separates those that DO from those that DON’T? Its certainly not talent because there's a lot of crap produced in the world. And some of it is actually sold very successfully.
Discipline is a key ingredient to becoming both a better writer as well as a more successful writer. No matter how good your command of the English Language is you can always get better. “Practice makes perfect”, really is a proverb with a lot going for it. You can only get better if you practice your craft. Writing is a craft. Its not just having a command of the language. It includes the ability to be a Storyteller. Storytelling is both a Skill and an Art and like a muscle the more you use it the stronger it will get.
Having the discipline to sit down and spend X number of hours writing each week will make you improve both as a writer and as a storyteller. For me the development of discipline has been very difficult. Yeah, sure I can do it for a short time, 3-4 weeks and then it gets cast to the wayside as excuses come in. This needs to get done, this is more important, I will make up the time tomorrow, etc, etc, etc. After a while the excuses come easier and the guilty feelings vanish that much quicker.
Discipline, certainly not my strong point. And I am sure many of you have the same problems. There are some that are so regimented and disciplined that they can turn out tons of work. I really envy them! Well I have to end this now, I have to go take the garbage out……
Keep writing
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