I’ve coached my daughter’s soccer team for the past four years.
No more.
This week she’s trying out for the middle school team. The teams will be based on skill. For years it’s been all about equal play and having fun.
No more.
For years kids are told in youth sports that it’s not about winning. (Yeah, right.) Then they get older and it’s all about winning and playing time. Some players advance with natural skill and some by hard work.
I encouraged my daughter to run over the summer. To get in shape. Before it really counts.
And she’s glad she did. (That’s what happens when you have a coach for a mom.)
So, between novels or while writing a first draft or while revising – what do you do to practice writing? Do you know your weaknesses?
If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I break down novels for structure. And I’ve learned a lot. I mean a lot. More than I could put in a blog post. All my Plot Busters posts? Well, sorry, they weren’t about me trying to share my expertise. That was me processing what I was learning.
Here are some ways to grow:
- Reading (a lot)
- Free writing in a journal
Help me fill out the list. What do you do to grow as a writer and bring new skills to each manuscript?