There's an interesting challenge today on Day 8 of the 15 Habits of Great Writers series. It's something that I never really thought about before.
A few years ago I started this blog, but not until recently did I begin to build it. There's a difference.
Here's an excerpt from today's challenge - " 'Building' something creatively happens the same way it does in the “real” world - with a lot of sweat and pain and grunting. It’s not easy; if it is, you’re doing it wrong. So what does this look like when it comes to writing? It means showing up and doing the work, day-in and day-out. If you’re not doing this already, you need to be."
I can honestly say I wasn't building. I wasn't doing the daily gritty work.
But you can bet I will be now.
My father built our house one cinder block and stone at a time. He bought the land, but didn't stop there. He knew he had to continue on; he knew he had to build. He needed to roll up his sleeves and do the daily, difficult work of building something out of nothing.
I sit in that same home today where I came back to live with my own family. I often thank my dad for going beyond starting - for building this house. For it's in the building that he's reflected; where I can touch stones that he put into place, see the nails he hammered, sit on the wood floors that he laid. His handiwork is all over this home, and that to me is a precious memory.
When you build what you've started, no matter what it is, you put your unique imprint on it. That's what makes it stand out from the others, because it speaks of you. If you've started, great. Now go the next step. Roll up your sleeves and build something out of it.
P.S. - I'd love to hear about what you're building, so leave a comment and let me know!
It didn't take me but a moment to know know exactly what it is that I'm "building." I'll be happy to tell you about it.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's a significant and unique expression of who I am that I invest in every day. Multiple times per day, in fact.
Regardless of what else I may have planned, I will stop what I'm doing to make sure that I do not let a day go by without at least some personal investment in this part of my life.
It's paying off, too. When people see me, I can tell by the look in their eyes that they *know*. They may not see the hours that I spend building, but there's simply no denying the cumulative impact of consistent habits.
Occasionally, someone will even comment about the changes that they are observing in me (I'm a little surprised that more do not, actually).
And those changes go with me wherever I go, too, for it is literally transforming the person that I am. It influences where I go; determines how I spend my money; compels me to eagerly anticipate the next occasion of personally expanding my horizons (it's never far from my thoughts!).
It is a clear testament to the long-term difference that it makes whenever we choose to invest ourselves, our time, our resources, and our passions... in *one thing.*
What is this one thing that I'm "building"? My waistline, of course.
May you not build too high, too deep, or too WIDE.
DeleteGood luck with that.
By the way...
DeleteThis was my effort at a Paraprosdokian... ever heard of that?
I hadn't until just a few weeks ago. It's a phrase (or in my case, an entire post) that is constructed in such a way that the reader/hearer begins to interpret one way, but when they read or hear the very end of it, they are forced to reinterpret everything that came before. It is generally employed for the humorous effect.
A couple of sites to illustrate it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian
http://www.englishforums.com/content/humour/paraprosdokians.htm
Cheers!
David
I've never heard of it, but now I have. That's a great writing style. I'll have to try it sometime. Of course I can't pronounce it, but I can try to write that way!
Delete