Everything I know about writing I learned from Tae Kwon Do

How to execute an awesome kick.

On a regular basis, spend time practicing exercises that will:

• develop an intuitive sense of balance
• strengthen the appropriate muscles
• teach the proper technique.

As you kick, you need to:

• stand on a solid sole
• keep your eyes on the target
• be intentional
• commit
• Yell!

How to write an awesome story:

On a regular basis, spend time to:

• develop an intuitive sense by reading tons
  
• strengthen the appropriate muscles by writing tons
  
• learn the proper technique by reading and writing and getting feedback from trusted sources

As you write, you need to:

• stand on a solid sole, rely on the foundation you've laid by reading, observing, writing, analyzing, absorbing;
• keep your eye on the target, remember why you're writing: whether to understand, to communicate, to express, to resolve, to entertain, to engage;
• be intentional, don't get sidetracked;
  
• commit your time, energy, effort;
  
• yell! um....
  

[photos found at Flikr Common, by kalbara and louveciennes]

My post comparing gardening to writing received some wonderful responses. Perhaps it's because many of us find that most things in life are related and similar: gardening, writing, playing. Observations we make in one area are very likely to be true in other areas of life. When I taught piano, I drove my students batty by constantly comparing playing the piano to brushing and flossing their teeth.

So, as much as I learn from gardening, I also learn from TKD, or making curries. or relating to my children...