I keep my list on my iPhone and it seems to be getting heavier lately!

I like the way you phrase that, Dave: “Write as if no one would ever read it.” Now that’s talking tough to your internal editor! So glad you’re such a fan of mindmapping. For me, it revolutionized my writing.

Thanks, I will add that to my (ever-expanding) list of craft books to read.

I adopted that practice in daily journal writing after an artist workshop (Visual Journal) in 1993. The reading list highlighted the diaries of Anais Nin, who gave that advice.

2. Write my manifesto into whatever I publish. In my final draft, what’s my point should be obvious. In a longer work, such as my current read, “Eat, Pray, Love”, by Elizabeth Gilbert, each of her three books has a manifesto statement. Don’t get carried away with it, as with the end of Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”.

3. Tell the story.

I am a firm believer in the mind map. On our recent 6,000+ mile road trip to San Diego, and back to the North Shore of Lake Superior via Chicago, I drew a mind map as my “morning pages” practice nearly every day. I had a trip report in mind, but more often, these brief maps became the substance of photo albums and status messages on Facebook. I tend to sit on the mind maps for months before writing trip reports as memoir stories.

I think morning pages are a good idea but shouldn’t be your ONLY writing effort. And, in fact, if you find they are getting in the way of your output then I suggest you spend your first morning time working on the work you want to get published.

By the way, if you are a Julia Cameron fan, I much prefer her book The Right to Write. If you’re not familiar with it, check it out!

Yes, I like to meditate and am trying to revive my regular practice once again! (I used to meditate 20-30 minutes daily. Then I became “too busy” which is EXACTLY when you can most benefit from meditation.)

I’m also a big fan of Write or Die and have even written about it before: See: http://bit.ly/JgARXS

I’m flattered (and a bit gobsmacked) that you’re using my letter for your retyping exercise! Thanks so much!

Thanks for your kind words! Yes, I agree: Write. No matter what it’s about. Just write!

Yes, I’ve seen this TED talk before and loved every minute of it. Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) is a very engaging speaker.

This is a TED talk about the source of genius/inspiration.
The advice comes down to “write every day”. I thought you’d enjoy the confirmation of your message, Daphne!