On writing (1)

I am working on a writing project, and I have encountered a number of challenges which I would like to report.

a) For instance, the question arises of how one boosts and maintains:

• patience
• endurance
• confidence

b) What is an appropriate amount of writer to do each day? Some, I have read, write 8+ hours a day six (or seven) days a week. I find I am incapable of that. I write for an hour and feel that I have been writing for three. I begin to feel that I should be doing other things, like reading, or earning money. At a certain point writing feels worthless.

At the same time, when I am able to do so I am fairly surprised at how much actual work I can get done in an hour. Of course it is like a drop in the bucket, but I can finally see how, like a journey is a matter of taking one step and then another, then another, writing is a matter of working for one hour, and then another, then another. What seems to be necessary is a dedication, which for me comes and goes, is very inconsistent.

c) I have always written well under pressure (i.e., mainly, school assignments). Do I artificially induce pressure in order to produce, or do I train myself to work without the pressure?

d) Do I really want to do this, and why?