About First 50 Words

I’ve used writing practice for many years to loosen up my creativity. The idea comes from Natalie Goldberg, who wrote several books explaining the concept of writing practice. Her books include Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind : Living the Writer’s Life.

To practice writing, pick a topic, any topic, and start writing. Don’t judge, don’t edit, just write. For normal practice, after a certain period of time, perhaps 10 minutes, stop writing. For this blog, you are invited to leave a comment with the first 50 words of your writing on the topic. I’ll pick the topics–you write 50 words.

As Natalie Goldberg says, sometimes you get junk doing this, sometimes you get something worth using or developing. It doesn’t matter what you get, it only matters that you write those 50 words. That’s the point: just write.

Another helpful book that will get you started writing every day is Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. This book encourages daily journaling.

I wrote some books about writing, too. My books help teachers of writing and also advocate the rule: just write. My books include Write!: Cooperative Learning and the Writing Process and Write! Mathematics: Multiple Intelligences & Cooperative Learning Writing Activities as well as two more specific to the school curriculum.

In Write!: Cooperative Learning and the Writing Process I provided 10 rules for writers. I’m still using the same rules:

1. Write.
2. Write.
3. Write often.
4. Write about anything.
5. Write about everything.
6. Write about what you see
7. Write about what you learn.
8. Write about what you think.
9. Write about what you read.
10. WRITE!