I’ve mentioned that my old friend Ron and I volunteer at the US Open every year.
It’s a super fun time watching the greats play a game we both love.
Of course, the game THEY play scarcely resembles the game WE play.
Sadder still, Ron’s game these days definitely outshines mine. He consistently kicks my butt from the first tee to the 18th green. Once in a while I’ll win a hole, but those once’s are few and far between.
Wasn’t always so. I used to average at least 10 strokes better. But what happened was as the years passed, golf as a life priority faded away.
Where I used to play several times a week, now I’m lucky to get in a couple rounds a month. At best.
It’s hard to play well without consistent dedication to the effort.
And THAT is why I write so fast.
Because when it comes to WRITING, I do consistently dedicate myself to the effort.
It’s well-worn, albeit oft-ignored advice from writers of all genres – they don’t merely sit and wait for the muse to tap them on the shoulder and say, “hey bucko, I’m ready, start typing.”
No way. Instead, they say “put your butt in the chair and give them fingers a move on.”
The more you do this, the easier it becomes.
I don’t have any research or science to back this up, but my theory is it’s like muscle memory … which is key to a solid golf game.
To build a repeatable, reliable swing that delivers consistent results over and again, you have to train the muscles through constant practice.
When asked about the key to great golf, Ben Hogan replied, “The secret’s in the dirt.” And by that he meant hitting balls. Hundreds. For hours. Every day.
There’s a rough equivalence to writing.
You need to hit the practice tee and crank out lots of words. Every day.
Your writing muscles will get weak without it.
And you can’t write faster without ’em.
But when you do, you’ll find the words start to flow… a thing of beauty, like Slammin’ Sam Snead’s classic swing.
POW – right down the fairway.
Write faster. Write better. Right now.
– Jack