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Show Up and Write Down the Flab
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

Do you know why when some writers write, the words come easily?

Why it doesn't seem to require any effort at all for the words to take shape on the page?

Why their prose is almost fluid?

Why, when other writers may take seven, eight or nine drafts, it only takes them two or three drafts to the final draft?

The answer is simple: These writers keep showing up and writing.

They have made it a habit to show up on the page regularly -- whether it be every day or every other day or some other schedule.

Showing up and then writing means most of the time, you end up writing mostly flab -- excess fat.

You do not tone muscles and get a shapely and perfect body right after an hour of aerobics or tae-bo. It requires months and months of religiously following a regimen -- a balanced diet and continuous work outs.

Writing is no exception. It follows the same principle: you follow a writing regimen. You face the page no matter what. And you keep on writing down the flab, the awful stuff, the icky drafts.

Eventually, they will give way to the good stuff -- your prose becomes more textured, your voice clearer and more true.

Write as much and as often as you can, and never allow bad writing to stop you from writing.

Copyright © 2004 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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