Habits and Discipline

What does a writer do when his daily routine shows a lack of discipline? First, panic. Second, read Don Watson's essay on The Character of Habits (Parts I&II) over at Anger Management. I'll comment more here when I have some time (say, after Christmas).

This seems like a good segue to post one of my favorite quotes on this subject. It comes from the sharp mind of Elizabeth George, a successful mystery author and Writing teacher extraordinaire:

     "Here's what I tell my students on the first day when I teach one of my creative writing courses: You will be published if you possess three qualities—talent, passion, and discipline.
     You will probably be published if you possess two of the three qualities in either combination—either talent and discipline, or passion and discipline.
     You will likely be published if you possess neither talent nor passion but still have discipline.
     But if all you possess is talent [and/or] passion, you will not be published."

Discipline is king—no, he's more like a dictator. Anyway, he should be. Mine is sometimes about as assertive as Winnie the Pooh.