Today I talked with my writing classes about the importance of daily writing – I shared the research, explained the reasoning, that sort of thing. I think I was better able to sell it because I’ve seen the benefits first hand by writing here everyday. I can sort my thoughts and feelings, I can figure out what I think from all the mess up in my head, I can destress by getting my thoughts out of my head, and I can learn new things about myself and the way I’m thinking.

It helps that I understand what it’s like to not know what to write, to have writer’s block, and to be too tired or unfocused to create something amazing every day. I understand what it’s like to feel like I have nothing to say. The point is, we just write anyway and generally something comes out. It’s practice. It’s play space. And if you’re writing every day, you will have the opportunity when something finally needs to come out.

I think the students were impressed that I care enough about this practice to do it myself. Maybe impressed isn’t the right word. More like, I think the buy-in was there. They didn’t like the idea of daily writing at first, but they seemed to like that I practiced what I preach. So that’s cool.