Discipline: The Struggle to Put Pen to Paper

Discipline your inner writer: A book list

A friend of mine has a lot to say but struggles to put pen to paper. Writing is a discipline in the deepest sense of the word.

The Free Dictionary defines discipline as “training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.” A writer’s discipline consists in part of developing habits that unleash creativity and hand it a pen. The goal is to hone our abilities through practice and become better people (and writers) for the exercise. I think of writing as a spiritual discipline because good writers learn to confront their demons to discover truth.

I promised my friend I would send him a short list of books for writers that have inspired, motivated, or educated me. Second thoughts (I think that may be the name of my muse) told me to share my list on my blog.

10 books that formed my writing

I’ve read many fine books on the art and craft of writing–these are samplings that have formed me as a writer.

1. Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg, introduced me to flow writing.
2. The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron, opened my eyes to the creative process.
3. Classics such as Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, John Gardner’s On Moral Fiction and Roger Rosenblatt’s Unless it Moves the Human Heart  gave me context for what I am trying to achieve with my writing.
4. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King, and Writing 21st Century Fiction, by Donald Maass, educated me on current elements of craft.
5. Aspects of the Novel, by E. M. Forster delighted me with its lovely language and wicked wit, products of our literary past that I treasure.

In my search for book lists to share, I came across two lists that are not exhaustive but will get you started.
Essential Books for Writers
75 Books Every Writer Should Read

Every creative endeavor requires discipline

Perhaps you are not writer. I have friends who are stitchers, singers, artists, gardeners, crafters–all activities that are fired by creativity. Consider the discipline required to pick up your needle, music score, paint brush, gardening or crafting tools. What demons do you confront? Where do you find your courage? How have you become a better person because you practice your talents?

List the books that have inspired, motivated, or educated you over the years and you might see a revealing map of your quest, where it started and the second thoughts that made you the person you are today.

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