Monday, April 6, 2009

Day 3: Writing "when your soul is thin as a playing card"

Now we come to the heart of the matter. Nulla dies sine linea. The Latin axiom "Not a day without lines" sounds simple--and it IS simple--once it becomes a habit. That's what 100 days of discipline is all about--building the habits that not only support your goal, they facilitate it. They make it easy.

Of course, the goal is to write more than a few lines. (We'll get to that later.) But the first step is to make writing a practice: habitual, necessary, a part of the rhythm that is your day.

It doesn't matter if it's Saturday and the world is taking a day off, if you're not "inspired," (highly overrated) if it's Christmas and you're cooking a six course meal for twelve, you're still going to have your coffee, right? And during the course of the day, you're going to perform at least a dozen other tasks--some good, some not- that your subconscious has been trained to perform without struggle.

Nulla dies sine linea.

We're talking one line here; excuses are not allowed. If you've just worked a sixteen hour shift (been there), or even if "your soul is as thin as a playing card" as Joyce Carol Oates memorably said (ditto), you can still open your notebook or your laptop and sit with your work for a few moments. You can still write your line.

Then, if possible, follow it with another one until you have a page or three pages or maybe even a chapter. But if all you have is a paragraph or a three word sentence, give it. Give it with all your heart. (More on that later, too.)

Then go to bed at 10 p.m. That's my cue...

8 comments:

  1. Patry, you are my muse/task master! Nulla dies sine linea...Nulla dies sine linea... Maybe I should look up how to pronounce it so I can actually chant it....

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  2. Oh my, look what I found:

    http://audiolatinproverbs.blogspot.com/2007/12/nulla-dies-sine-linea.html

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  3. R: I'm counting on you to check up on me.

    K: What a great link! Lots of interesting info, as well as the pronunciation. I've been singing it ever since--and LOUDLY. Fortunately, I'm alone in the house, though I must admit, the cats have scattered.

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  4. Oh, Patry, this is just what I need, a daily reminder to get with it! Wonderful new blog, so fabulous to have you as a muse.

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  5. Yay! Thanks for adjusting the comments so I could join in the conversation. (i feel so special!)

    I used to do a talk on writing for wanna-be writers where I'd try to break through the "there's not enough time" excuses. Being the brazen babe that I am, I always loved saying: "Hey, do you read magazines on the toilet? Well then ...?" (always found the men blushed and the women laughed ... totally busted ...) Perhaps 'Nulla dies sine linea' would go over a little better. I'll have to remember that. :)

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  6. I don't suppose this line counts ;)

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  7. marja-leena: So glad you found me! I've been meaning to put a note on Simply Wait (at Steve's suggestion) but haven't gotten around to it yet.


    deb: A funny but true reminder: there's ALWAYS time!

    Lisa: We're two of a kind! I was wondering if this blog post counted...

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