Welcome to our weekly Five Minute Friday blog link-up!
If you’re new, we gather each week around a single word writing prompt and write for five minutes flat. The only “rule” is to visit the blog of the person you linked up before you to read their post and leave an encouraging comment.
Sound like fun?
Learn more about how to participate here.
This week’s writing prompt is: PRACTICE
Ready? Setting my timer for five minutes, and . . . go.
It’s almost the end of the school year here in West Michigan, which means the spring concerts and end-of-year performances are in full swing.
This past week, I attended the 7th-12th grade concert at my kids’ school. I should expect this by now, but I’m always pleasantly surprised by the vast improvement the student musicians have made between their very first concert in the fall and this most recent performance.
I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise, since my own kids spend at least 80 minutes a week practicing their own instruments at home so they can turn in their practice records to their teacher on Tuesday morning in class.
Sometimes they think the practice time is a drag, and I don’t blame them — I felt the same way when I was in band.
But it’s so worth it.
The practice makes them better musicians.
In the same way, I know as a writer that practice will only help me improve my craft — which is one of the reasons I love our weekly Five Minute Friday exercises so much. They force me to practice (at least a little bit) at least once a week.
But what about the seasons when I just don’t feel I have much (if anything) left to give?
As I sit in the audience and listen to the whole band and orchestra ensemble on stage, not everyone plays all at once. Some instruments have several measures of rest at a time. Some songs feature a soloist.
We don’t all have to be playing all the time. Rest is necessary, and sometimes it even makes the music sound better.
***
I posted an article this week on dry and dormant seasons in the writing life.
I can’t tell you how many people have commented on the post and sent private emails sharing how much they can relate. Apparently I’m not the only one who has felt guilty for not producing? 😉
If you can relate, this is for you:
Let the Land Lie Fallow:
Embracing a Dormant Season in the Writing Life
Join this week’s Five Minute Friday blog link-up with your own free writing below:
The one thing that I practice
is stayin’ positive and hard,
because it takes an active
effort to survive this, pard.
This cancer’s gone right through me
like crap right through a goose
and if I want the victory
I have got to choose.
Surrender is for the weak
and those who hardship broke,
but I have what brave men seek;
I have a heart of oak.
Positive thinkin’, that’s the way,
and ya gotta choose it, every day.
Andrew,
I SO hope you are saving your poems for your family.
Grateful for words,
Katie
I love this Kate, that we don’t all have to play all of the time!
I need to read that “dry season” post – I will later today. Thanks for your faithful encouragement.
Kate – your posts are always so practical…and encouraging! Thinking of the band/orchestra – isn’t it wonderful that every instrument doesn’t play every single note?? All together – at the same time. Reminds me of that warm-up session before the concert starts. Just noise!! How much nicer when we each simply play our part:)
Practice: My life I want to live wisely. I am to put God’s word into practice by writing everyday for 10 minutes everyday and 5 minutes every Friday. God gave me a voice to practice through my writing. God first touch me through and he still speaks through my writi ng and stories, I love Him passionately.May this be what I put into practice in my life everyday. Live as a woman of God. Love GOD.LOVE others