Exercise to Develop Writing Muscle

Someone recently asked me why a person with decades of experience as a horse riding instructor would need to take lessons. It's the same reason pro golfers constantly receive coaching and why pro athletes of all types continue to practice.

Even the most accomplished writers can continue to build their skills with practice. One writing exercise I use regularly is to write about something I see outside my window. Even better is to go someplace new and describe what you see, or write your impressions of it.

For example last weekend I went to a karate tournament for the first time. What follows, unedited is my actual exercise, done just before hitting the publish button. I hope that in the comments section, you will share exercises you use to sharpen your writing. Here goes.

Karate may be the most democratic thing I've ever encountered. If, like me, your mind's picture of karate has been shaped by television and film, then I don't think we know karate.


Entering the high school gym where the tournament was held was an assault on the senses. It was as loud -- and appeared as organized -- as a cattle stampede. I was a little put off at first. It seemed like chaos, which I'm not a fan of. But, after finding a seat on the bleachers and quieting my mind a bit, the mystery began to dissolve. The gym floor was carved into six rings and there were competitors doing either forms, handling weapons, or fighting, all of which was pretty darned interesting.


Back to democracy. The inclusive nature of karate really hit me hard when in the afternoon, the black belts took to the rings. There were black belts from teenagers to 60-somethings, men, women, black, white, Asian and latino. There were fat black belts and skinny black belts. There were as many, if not more, nerd black belts as jock black belts.


While I'm not likely to take up karate, or become a follower of it, I'm glad to see a healthy activity that is so inclusive and enjoyable for so many.

Now that was a first draft. I may be able to polish into something with a little work. How do you develop your writing muscle?

Read this story

Growing up I was only vaguely aware of University of Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's greatness. Since he died shortly after coaching his final game, I've read a bit more about him. This story by Wright Thompson, senior writer for ESPN is one of the best reads I've seen lately. Enjoy.


T
USCALOOSA, Ala. -- Something important is being lost. Each rising sun takes a little more from the couple who live in the small brick home southwest of downtown. Billy Varner has been married to Susie for 57 years, and as her life was once spent waiting on him to get home from a job that didn't know hours or days off, now it's spent managing his dementia. Each day brings its own reality. On the worst, Billy, who is 76, doesn't recognize Susie. He'll dress in the middle of the night and try to leave, his pajamas rolled up in his hand. Regularly, he refuses to believe that his old boss isn't at home waiting for a ride. Billy was Bear Bryant's driver, bodyguard and valet, one of the few remaining people who knew him as a human being. As Billy's memory fades, that knowledge disappears with it, widening the gulf between truth and imagination.
Billy tells Susie that he talks to the coach. Sometimes Bryant visits.
"Coach Bryant isn't dead," he'll say. "Don't tell me he's dead."
"Billy," Susie tells him, "yes, he is."