We all know it by heart.
Step 2. Set timer for 1 hour.
But why 1 hour? Why not half an hour? Or the famous Pomodoro* method of 25 minutes?
The answer is simple.
At the end of 30 or 25 minutes you might have some words written. They might even be good words. Best selling words.
But you will not have a hot potato.
At best you will have a warm spud, still disappointingly crunchy in the middle, with a sad and soggy skin. What kind of reward for your labour is this? Do you not deserve a piping hot potato?
I say you do.
1 hour not only gives your potato prize time to cook, but it gives your brain time to marinate as well. Time enough to get into a good writing flow, but not so long that the task of writing becomes daunting, and therefore gets pushed aside by other, less important tasks. Like speaking with friends and loved ones. Going outside. Paying that parking fine.
Next time in this series of lectures, we will consider Step 3: Write, or otherwise make art.
*The Pomodoro method should not be confused with our previously discussed pasta sauce Potato Time™ variation, also known as the Ragu wRiting Rhythm™ .
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