Fierceness of Intent: The Writer’s Oath #4

I’ve decided to syndicate my ebook Overcome Writer’s Block: 10 Writing Sparks to Jumpstart Your Creativity on my blog, Writer’s Fun Zone, over the next 10 weeks. You can read the whole book here over the next 10 weeks, or buy the entire ebook at Kindle, Smashwords, and other ebook vendors.

** Enjoy Spark Four! And Happy Writing!**

Spark Four: Fierceness of Intent: The Writer’s Oath

“The sky is filled by stars, invisible by day.”
— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

How Fierce is Your Intent?

When you want something badly enough, you can have it, provided you are willing to do what it takes.

What does it take? It takes time and focus, desire and a dream. Specifically for writing and all art, it takes a sacrifice, specifically sacrificing inaction and excuses. This is the reality. To live your dream, liberate yourself from the burden of excuses.

How?

How do you bring something into being if you don’t know how? This is the all-important question, though often we start with, “I don’t know how to do X,” and leave it at that.

At that point, learn to shift your thinking and ask, “Well, then, how do I do X?”

This does apply to writing, so bear with me. And yes, of course, this does apply to life, too. Because we write within the context of our lives, of living, not outside it. Art and life are intertwined.

The how I’m talking about is the inner steps you can take to make space in your mind and in your life for writing. I can talk your ear off about the how and why of plot, characterization, structure, voice, etc., but in the end what really matters is the inner you, not all that technique.

Don’t get me wrong. All that technique is what shapes good writing, good storytelling. What I’m trying to get at here is that to become a good writer — because if you’re writing even a few lines a day, you are a writer — we need to cultivate our intent.

How? By showing up for your writing daily.

Here’s a Writer Oath to help you do that. I wrote this one for myself and carry it around with me in my journal.

The Writer’s Oath
By Beth Barany, c. 2007-2015

I will show up.
I will write.
I will let myself shine.
I will honor the story and allow the words to serve the story.
I write in the present because writing happens now. 

We reinforce our intent by our actions. Showing up for ourselves reinforces our commitment. By our very actions, we are stronger. It is not for us to critique our art at this point. That time will come later. We nurture our creative inner life by doing our art. And we affirm our creative soul. We are artists.

Congratulations for showing up for yourself today.

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You can buy the whole 10 Sparks of Overcome Writer’s Block at Kindle, Smashwords, and other ebook vendors.

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Bestselling Author’s Coach, Beth Barany is dedicated to the notion that all is better with play.

An author too, she’s the author of the 2011 award-winning young adult fantasy novel Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, as well as of the best selling nonfiction books for authors and aspiring authors.

Beth gives away 10 spots per month for a 60-Minute Complimentary Coaching Session. First Come First Serve! Schedule yours today! Click here now to schedule yours: Beth’s Online Scheduler