by Joan Inong

Created on: July 07, 2010

Writing is a lot like learning how to play an instrument. In both activities, the person has to learn the basics and then build upon that solid foundation. No foundation, however, is solid without self-discipline. Most serious writers cultivate this self-discipline through years of practice. These people write everyday in every way, whether they write 400-plus word articles for pay-to-write websites like Helium, or they are professional journalists for the New York Times. Whatever the case, writing might be considered a result of self-discipline.

Writers, for example, must be headstrong in completing what they set out to do. A writer who does not work on his or her novel should not expect that novel to become the "next big hit" if he or she is not working on it. The writer must set out a schedule or a list of tasks that he or she must complete, and these tasks help the writer develop a sense of self-discipline. It is a lot like waking up and asking one's self, "What will I do today?" For writers, the question should not be that, but rather the statement of, "I will accomplish this today..." For writers to expect that they will become great writers, they need to set goals and demand more from themselves. Without self-discipline, writers cannot accomplish their goals. In this way, writing is a consequence of self-discipline because some people must push themselves first and then set out to write.

Writing might also be considered a precursor to self-discipline. Some people will write and then develop or improve their self-discipline. Writers must continuously make use of their skills or talents or else they run the risk of getting them rusty. Just as musicians must practice their instruments everyday, writers must keep writing in order to maintain their self-discipline. Writing and self-discipline are inextricably connected, and for writers, this is a vital relationship for any of their works.

Writing also takes a toll on one's mental faculties. Although the actual physical labor of writing has been eased due to the rise of the use of computers, the mental labor of producing written works of art consistently still plays a major disciplining role in the lives of many writers. Self-discipline, therefore, evolves out of the need to continually create successful written works even though the experience or creative project of producing those written works may be mentally-intensive.

Anyone who considers himself or herself as writer must have some form of self-discipline, which acts like a fertilizer to the plant that is the written work of art.

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