Cadence. Rhythm. Movement. Beat.
Cadence is the driving force of productivity, the undergirding beat of performance. Whether it is a beat of a drum line in a parade, the pressing of pedals by a professional cyclist in a grand tour or the unmistakable rhythm of a soccer team in the World Cup, a solid cadence is the means to success.
So, too, it is true in writing. Whether you type a hundred words a day or ten thousand, it matters more how often you regularly write than how much you write.
Finding cadence has frequently been an obstacle for me. I write every week for my day job, but establishing a regular rhythm for my personal work has always been something of a challenge for me. But to be a writer in the true sense of that word, creating that regular cadence is paramount.
It’s a major reason why I’ve begun to write these short blogs. Already, I’ve written over 150 words, not because I had anything truly too remarkable to say, but to establish the habit of writing regularly and with joy.
Before I have to finish this blog, there is one more thing to say about writing that inspires cadence. Ultimately, you have to love it. You have to love it even in the emptiness of January. You have to love seeing words appear on your screen, of that word count going up, of the sense of fluidity you get from composing something, anything that is your own.
It took me a while to arrive at the point where I really enjoy writing for its own sake. But now that I’ve gotten there, I would rather not leave.