This is the thing. There’s really only one of us here when it comes to living. We all love, have our hearts broken, fear pain and bankruptcy and old age–at least until we get there and find out it’s a fine place to be. We want our kids to do better than we have. We all struggle, and do the best we know how at the present moment. If we knew better, we’d do better.

So why balk at sharing the intimate, tragic, funny, heartbreaking, embarrassing moments of our lives? As writers, we’re searching for that common thread that will make a stranger read our words and nod and say, “Yeah. I know that feeling. I’ve been there too.”

And for just a tiny moment, the loneliness that is intrinsic in the human condition is eased just a trifle.

Not a bad accomplishment with just words and a keyboard.

Writing is nudity at it’s best.

Writing has been described as gluing your ass to a chair and making blood come out your fingers.

Certainly it can feel that way when a deadline looms and inspiration has decided to take a holiday.

Writing when you have to is very different from writing when you want to—but as with all jobs, sometimes its fun and sometimes it just ain’t.  On the slow days, it helps to remind yourself that just getting started will usually prime the pump enough so that words begin to flow.

Writing is a right brain procedure, and the following ten minute exercise helps stimulate creativity.

Open a dictionary at random and write down three nouns or verbs.  Set a timer for ten minutes.

Without thinking , start to write, using one of the words to begin, and the other two in the first paragraph.  Don’t stop, don’t think, just write.

When the timer beeps after ten minutes, you’ll have about three quarters of a page of surprisingly good prose.  And the right brain will be stimulated, so getting back to what you have to write won’t be as painful.

Writing is best done by not thinking.

Thank you for subscribing to my website.  You will receive your free chapter of my new book ‘Blue Collar B&B, Adventures in Hospitality‘ by email very shortly.  If you don’t receive please contact me and I will email it to you.

Thank you.

Bobby Hutchinson