Short answer – doing. More in-depth – practice is action. Understanding this can open you to some awesome things.
Many people live by the phrase “practice makes perfect.” The problem is, I think they tend to misunderstand both the intent and true meaning of that phrase.
To me, “practice” is the action. For example – in fencing, there is specific footwork, combined with bladework, that allows you to attack and defend with confidence and precision. The best way to get good at this, because frankly, it’s unnatural body movements, is to practice.
I have developed and learned drills for practicing fencing. The more you do them, the more you build up the muscle memory. The more muscle memory you build, the more readily and easily you perform the action in question.
While you gain the ability to better attack and defend, that doesn’t mean you will do it perfectly each and every time. But you will get better and more proficient – and that’s the point of it all.
Not practicing means not improving. It’s as simple as that. If I learn a new style for fencing but don’t put it into practice, I won’t be able to improve upon it, let alone make any real use of it.
The next issue is the word “perfect.” First, it’s imperative to acknowledge that perfect is utterly subjective. Like beauty, perfection is in the eye of the beholder. Perfect to me could easily be totally effed-up to you.
Then there is the actual meaning of perfect in this instance. It’s not about getting the practice to make the thing into that almost unfathomable idea of perfect – but more to make it familiar. Known. Reflexive.
This is why writing is a practice.
Practice is effort
Eight years ago, I wrote on occasion. I’d sit down and journal, maybe. Perhaps I would take a day or a night here or there to write some fiction. It was irregular and infrequent.
Then I took an action for the New Year and began to write once a week at a minimum.
That expanded to twice a week minimally. Then three times a week. Now I am writing at least 5 days a week, coming up with articles about mindfulness, conscious reality creation, positivity, the practice of writing, and fiction.
The more I write the better I get at it. Words flow more easily from my mind to the page or screen. I feel that what I write tends to be better thought-out, and I have become more efficient with my word choices and usage.
Is my writing perfect? Of course not. Will it ever be? No. Why? Because perfection is an unrealistic metric that I am not attempting to reach.
Why not be perfect? Because you can’t be. Plain and simple, perfect is not a true metric. Practice makes you better, but “perfect” is not utterly superb or flawless – but rather familiar. Easier. Even wiser.
In part, practice is what Yoda is referring to when he says,
“No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”
Practice is doing the thing. Trying is a consideration, thought, maybe feeling – but doing is the action itself. Effort. Practice.
Mindfulness and intent
There is a lot of focus on the idea of mindfulness today. It is approached now from really different angles. The more esoteric, Eastern Philosophy approach involving Yoga, meditation, and such. Then, scientific exploration in psychology and stillness.
Mindfulness, in practice, is simple. In the here-and-now, you are aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. The practice of mindfulness is the act of being aware of what you are thinking, what and how you are feeling, and the intent behind your actions.
Why does intent matter? Because intent is the reason behind the action. It’s why you take the given action in the first place.
When I write, which is my action, my intent is to inspire, educate, inform, entertain, share, motivate, and/or open your mind to do and be your most amazing, imaginative self. Practicing writing helps me get better at that, whatever format I am working in.
I have been going over the edits my editor sent back on my new, forthcoming sci-fi novel. I have been working on The Void Incursion story for several years, now. I am excited to get my first sci-fi novel, Opening Gambit, to you.
Also, I am scared. It’s my hope and desire that this story will really take off and be as interesting and exciting to you as it’s been to me. Book 2, Critical Position, is ready but awaiting edits. I have enough material for books 3 and 4. To be honest, I am not entirely sure how far this series is going to go – and that’s thrilling.
My writing practice is going to be different from yours. The important thing is seeing that practice is doing. It is action. Whatever art, skill, or ability you practice, understanding this can open you to some awesome things.
What do you practice/what do you desire to practice?
Thank you for taking part in my ongoing journey. Thank you for joining me, and for inspiring me and my words.
This is the forty-eighth article exploring the creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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