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Transcript

Writing is Not the Center · The Daily Writer

• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Writer, where we share a lesson each day to help you cultivate the habits for creative success.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: What's the core value of your life?
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: What would you describe as the quote-unquote center of your life?
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: What centers you?
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: For some writers, it's their writing, meaning everything else is kind of a support system for their writing.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Their family, their health, their social life, rest, and other important elements of their life always come second because they see their main task in life as answering their creative calling, as focusing on their writing.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: But Stephen King once said, it starts with this put a desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn't in the middle of the room.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Life isn't a support system for art, it's the other way around.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Well, those are great words, especially considering that Stephen King is one of the most successful authors of all time, yet he still has this perspective that your life is not necessarily all about your art.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: So my question to you is what sits in the center of the room for you?
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: If it is your writing, then other people's reactions, your book sales, or other factors will influence whether you feel successful in life or not.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: In other words, if writing is the center of your life, if everything you do is focused on your writing, then your success is always going to be determined by other people and what they do.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: But if other more important things lie at the center, such as your family or your faith or your health, then you can live a more balanced life.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: There's no need to become a quote unquote artist who achieves greatness in their craft while everything else in their life is crumbling to pieces.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: We've seen that too many times.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: So is writing important?
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, of course it's important.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: But don't let it consume your life.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Don't let it become the center.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening to today's episode.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: If you've been listening to this show for any length of time, you know that one of the four practices of a great writer is creativity.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: And in order to stay creative, you've got to have great input.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: And that's where writing prompts come in.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: A writing prompt is a sentence or two that helps you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Writing prompts are an awesome creative tool for journaling, storytelling, creative writing, stress relief, social media posts, and so much more.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: But the great news is that you don't have to create these yourself.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: We've put together an amazing package of 365 daily writing prompts.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: So every day for the next year, you can have a shot of inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: You can check it out at dailywriterlife.comslash writing prompts.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks, and I'll see you tomorrow.