2.3 From repetition compulsion to strategic practice to primal play
We’re developmental beings and writing is developmental, which means if you practice, you get better at it.
But…
It matters what kind of practice you do.
I’ve heard famous authors and writing teachers say the only way to get better at writing is to…
Write, write, write, write, and keep on writing.
This is not necessarily good advice, because if you’re doing the same thing over and over in your writing day after day that’s not progress, that’s a…
Repetition compulsion.
You’re going to stay stuck not making progress and you won’t get out of struggle mode which will start to feel like a punishment and you might well slip into despair about yourself as a writer.
By contrast the best experts on skill development, including writing, recommend what they call…
Deliberate practice.
You follow a plan designed to build on your strengths and upgrade your weaknesses. This is not easy, it requires commitment, it asks a lot of you, but it puts you on the path of progress. You’re choosing to be strategic, and that’s why I like to call it…
Strategic practice.
It’s way more challenging than mindlessly running in place on the hamster wheel of repetition, but…
It’s infinitely more rewarding.
Slowly but surely, you keep getting better and better until one day you feel yourself crossing over…
Into flow.
What does this mean? Repetition is a grind. Strategic practice takes serious discipline, but…
Flow is play.
It’s not that you’re coasting, or just messing around. Flow takes total engagement of mind, body, heart, and soul.
In terms of primal–play writing, it’s play but it’s serious play.
And now you get to work in the Goldilocks zone. What does that mean?
When you don’t have enough challenge in your writing, it goes to sleep on you.
When you have too much challenge in your writing, it paralyzes you.
Finding flow means you’re working in your sweet spot, which for you is not too little and not too much but…
Just right.
Where you can…
Just write.
And find deep pleasure in your work.