“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.” – Octavia Butler, Bloodchild and Other Stories

Not Feeling Like It

This is it. When starting any new habit, the motivation will turn as sure as death. The critic’s voice becomes loud and threatens to drown all other voices.

Critic: “This adds no value to anyone’s life.”

Critic: “There is no acutal subject here but meandering thoughts with no coherent design or aim.”

Critic: “No one will ever read this.”

Fighting and arguing the critic only serves to validate and encourage her. The internal fighting only leads to more agitation and eventual resignation. But the critic is not I. She is separate from me, and to enforce that idea, I will give her a body and a name. She’s an annoyingly pink little monster that follows me around and finds fault with all I do. Her face is so adorable it is hard to get angry at. The key to calming her down is to acknowledge her without necessarily agreeing. Her name is Katinka.

Me: “Thank you Katinka for your input. These statements are true but they are irrelevant in this situation.”

Me: “I am establishing a writing habit. Content and value will come later.”

Me: “Do you have any suggestions about establishing this habit?”

Katinka: silence.