Creative Writing - How Just 10 Minutes A Day Can Dramatically Improve Your Creative Writing

Creativity is like a muscle. If we want to improve our creative writing, the only way to do it is to give our creative writing muscles a regular thorough workout.

I don’t mean literally the muscles you use to write, the ones in your fingers and arms. What we’re looking at here are your creativity muscles.

Consider an athlete in training for a big event like the Olympics or World Championships.

They don’t turn up on the big day for their first race having not trained or exercised at all. If they did, however naturally gifted they may be, they simply wouldn’t perform anywhere near their true potential.

In reality the top athletes train vigorously for months and years leading up to their big event. They keep themselves in shape and keep pushing themselves to new levels.

An athlete competing even in their first big international event is likely to have been training in their discipline for a decade or more.

It’s the same with creative writing.

To perform at our best, to write the deepest, truest, most rewarding work we’re capable of, we must regularly workout and exercise our creative writing muscles.

It doesn’t mean you have to give up your whole life and write 12 hours a day. Though if that’s what you really want, then great, go for it.

In fact you can dramatically improve your creative writing beginning with investing just 10 minutes a day.

Here’s how to start with your first 2 weeks:

Day 1: Decide on what time of day you’re going to write. Make it a regular time, don’t just try to cram in 10 minutes where you can each day, because it’ll get pushed aside. Also decide where you’re going to write. Somewhere that’s as free from distractions as possible.

Day 2: Find or buy yourself a notebook or sketch book in which to write. Even if you usually type on a computer, writing by hand will help you get back in touch with the act of creating more strongly. You’ll also need a clock or timer that will alert you when 10 minutes are up.

Day 3: Your first day of writing. Set your timer for 10 minutes. Write the date at the top of the page, then just write whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new creative idea, a dream you had, a problem you’ve been turning over in your head, or even your shopping list. Just write, until the timer goes.

Day 4: Repeat Day 3.

Day 5: Repeat Day 3.

Day 6: Repeat Day 3. OK, you get the idea!

Day 7 – 13: Repeat Day 3

Day 14: Read back over what you’ve written the last 2 weeks. Notice any patterns and developments, in what you’ve written and how much. Think about any minor adjustments you can make to help you, in the time, place or form you write.

After the first 2 weeks you’ll start to have formed a good habit of writing. Now it’s up to you to continue as you wish.

You could carry on the same, or increase the time you spend each day. You could also have a more structured way in what you write and work for 10 minutes each day on the same ongoing piece of writing.

Whatever you do, the daily routine is what’s most important.

Very soon you’ll find that exercising your creative writing muscles each day is a great way to improve your creative writing.

Discover more about how you can improve your creative writing, and sign up for your FREE 5 part creative writing taster ecourse right away at http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not making the best of their unique creative abilities. See more at his website: www.CoachCreative.com