Comments on: the secret to becoming a successful published writer: putting the ‘deliberate’ into ‘deliberate practice’ http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/ Because You're a Creative Badass Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:53:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The Happy Writer « Cheryl Reif Writes http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-2819 The Happy Writer « Cheryl Reif Writes Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:01:15 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-2819 [...] the long writing apprenticeship (check out Justine Lee Musk’s excellent post on the writer’s apprenticeship process), most of us have to work at other jobs. After all, those [...] [...] the long writing apprenticeship (check out Justine Lee Musk’s excellent post on the writer’s apprenticeship process), most of us have to work at other jobs. After all, those [...]

]]> By: Get tribal-get open « rainb0wlightning http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-634 Get tribal-get open « rainb0wlightning Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:34:49 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-634 [...] to make mistakes. The best and fastest way to get better at anything is through something called deliberate practice, which requires (among other things) that you work at the limit of your abilities. When you make [...] [...] to make mistakes. The best and fastest way to get better at anything is through something called deliberate practice, which requires (among other things) that you work at the limit of your abilities. When you make [...]

]]> By: Screw Inspiration. Do It Anyway. Every Day. | Cleavage by Kelly Diels. http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-631 Screw Inspiration. Do It Anyway. Every Day. | Cleavage by Kelly Diels. Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:41:28 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-631 [...] (Justine Musk, the most talented Tribal Writer EVER, is imbibing the elixir of Deliberate Practice, t....) [...] [...] (Justine Musk, the most talented Tribal Writer EVER, is imbibing the elixir of Deliberate Practice, t….) [...]

]]> By: Learn to draw using only your brain « Kapitar http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-629 Learn to draw using only your brain « Kapitar Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:34:28 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-629 [...] on this enormous undertaking. I’m assuming that I can develop all the skills I need through deliberate practice. A big basis for that assumption is the belief that skills such as drawing, cinematography, [...] [...] on this enormous undertaking. I’m assuming that I can develop all the skills I need through deliberate practice. A big basis for that assumption is the belief that skills such as drawing, cinematography, [...]

]]> By: What’s with this whole deliberate practice mumbo jumbo? « Lunaleo's Blog http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-630 What’s with this whole deliberate practice mumbo jumbo? « Lunaleo's Blog Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:18:30 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-630 [...] I did read a great post by Tribal Writer about deliberate practice in writing (check it out here), which is part depressing and part encouraging for me.  Depressing because I know I’m a [...] [...] I did read a great post by Tribal Writer about deliberate practice in writing (check it out here), which is part depressing and part encouraging for me.  Depressing because I know I’m a [...]

]]> By: Alice Anderson » 10,000 hours and counting http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-633 Alice Anderson » 10,000 hours and counting Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:25:41 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-633 [...] recently came across this interesting blog post by Justine Lee Musk that discusses what it really takes (according to some) to become a [...] [...] recently came across this interesting blog post by Justine Lee Musk that discusses what it really takes (according to some) to become a [...]

]]> By: Scott G http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-632 Scott G Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:23:11 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-632 I find the 10,000 hours of practice 'rule' to be both liberating and depressing. Liberating because it frees me from believing that I must be good at many things and, as Dan Owen mentions, helps in letting go of a lot of superficial interests and stuff that clutters my time, life and space. Depressing because I'm mid-forties and I am certain that I've spent most of my life *not* deliberately practicing anything but instead lived by reacting and responding to circumstances. Rather than defining and pursuing what I want to create (and putting in the deliberate 10,000+ hours), I have instead drifted and dabbled and diffused my attention and focus across many things. I'm sure there I have some strengths that make me useful to the organizations I work for (or maybe not; who knows). But I haven't applied deliberate practice to any of those, and I spend too much time working in areas that I'm weak. Now, I can decide to freak out, buy the hot sports car and date a blond chic half my age and try to blot out the missed opportunity to focus on a core thing, or I can get to work defining what I want to create 10-15 years from now and get started with the deliberate practice. /s. I find the 10,000 hours of practice ‘rule’ to be both liberating and depressing.

Liberating because it frees me from believing that I must be good at many things and, as Dan Owen mentions, helps in letting go of a lot of superficial interests and stuff that clutters my time, life and space.

Depressing because I’m mid-forties and I am certain that I’ve spent most of my life *not* deliberately practicing anything but instead lived by reacting and responding to circumstances. Rather than defining and pursuing what I want to create (and putting in the deliberate 10,000+ hours), I have instead drifted and dabbled and diffused my attention and focus across many things.

I’m sure there I have some strengths that make me useful to the organizations I work for (or maybe not; who knows). But I haven’t applied deliberate practice to any of those, and I spend too much time working in areas that I’m weak.

Now, I can decide to freak out, buy the hot sports car and date a blond chic half my age and try to blot out the missed opportunity to focus on a core thing, or I can get to work defining what I want to create 10-15 years from now and get started with the deliberate practice.

/s.

]]> By: Jenna http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-628 Jenna Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:34:16 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-628 Great post! I couldn't agree more! Question, though: I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that the 10,000 hours does NOT include the reading of books deliberately (or even watching films deliberately, as story and plot development lessons). What do you think of that? Honestly, I've selected many books lately that would not be on my first-choice list to read, and the goal has been to learn about genres and styles. I've been subsequently startled by my newfound love for the nonfiction method of plot and story. I've been irritated enough by some books to look up the genres they are listed in - and swear not to submit to those genres, as those are incompatible with my writing style and expectation. I've been intrigued to find that my loathing for first person POV is not as deep as I thought, and some of my writing has begun to reflect this. I've been surprised by excellent choices of tense and mood that I would have sworn would never work. I've been swept away by genres that I never thought I'd like, while old favorites are getting swept under the rug. By examining the myriad gestations of a particular trope (vampires, for instance), I have realized what to look for when trying to decide whether something works or not in one of my stories. I can see much better when something is forced. So this brings me back to the question: Does the reading count towards that 10,000 hours? Great post! I couldn’t agree more!

Question, though:

I’m assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that the 10,000 hours does NOT include the reading of books deliberately (or even watching films deliberately, as story and plot development lessons). What do you think of that?

Honestly, I’ve selected many books lately that would not be on my first-choice list to read, and the goal has been to learn about genres and styles.

I’ve been subsequently startled by my newfound love for the nonfiction method of plot and story.

I’ve been irritated enough by some books to look up the genres they are listed in – and swear not to submit to those genres, as those are incompatible with my writing style and expectation.

I’ve been intrigued to find that my loathing for first person POV is not as deep as I thought, and some of my writing has begun to reflect this.

I’ve been surprised by excellent choices of tense and mood that I would have sworn would never work.

I’ve been swept away by genres that I never thought I’d like, while old favorites are getting swept under the rug.

By examining the myriad gestations of a particular trope (vampires, for instance), I have realized what to look for when trying to decide whether something works or not in one of my stories. I can see much better when something is forced.

So this brings me back to the question: Does the reading count towards that 10,000 hours?

]]> By: benwhitehair http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-627 benwhitehair Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:13:30 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-627 Absolutely love this post. Absolutely love this post.

]]> By: Writing Success « Learning to Say Yes http://justinemusk.com/2010/01/21/the-secret-to-becoming-a-successful-published-writer-putting-the-deliberate-into-deliberate-practice/#comment-626 Writing Success « Learning to Say Yes Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:30:11 +0000 http://tribalwriter.com/?p=1672#comment-626 [...] read the other day that fiction has a 10 year apprenticeship. 10 years of serious writing, which I don’t think I had as a teenager. So I have a few years [...] [...] read the other day that fiction has a 10 year apprenticeship. 10 years of serious writing, which I don’t think I had as a teenager. So I have a few years [...]

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