What My Ancient Six-String Guitar Taught Me About Daily Writing Practice

By Candy Schulman

Writing is like music, I tell my students every semester—not only in its rhythm and dynamics but in its daily discipline. Writers and musicians must practice every day.

It’s easy for me to dole out this advice as I’m almost always eager to sit down to write. I don’t belong to the club of writers who bemoan that they’d rather do anything else—including housework. I’d much rather write than vacuum.

Yet, I am humbled when one day I dust off my guitar, which has been hi...