: Re: Does writing regular diary entries count as writing practice? One of the most common pieces of writing advice I hear is that you should write frequently and often. Writing regular entries in

@Carla500

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Let me make a parallel:

Question: Does walking inside my own home counts as exercise?
Answer: It depends on the mindset and the way it is performed.

For exercises, it depends on what metabolic rate you can achieve during your exertion. Keeping it steady and in the optimal zone makes it an (productive) exercise. Of course every single movement counts. They just don't count as much.
One could argue also that just speaking does not make you a better singer or a better news anchor. But certain patterns and techniques of speech do. What is the difference? I can idly strike a guitar's strings. Does it help me make better music?
Now let's port this to writing. Every word penned (or typed, in this XXI century of ours) counts. Even this post counts. However, are you striving to improve? Are you reflecting on your word choices, grammar and stylistic choices? Are you reviewing your work and honing your process?
That is the kind of writing that counts the most. Just as walking from my kitchen to my bedroom is a minimal exercise, mindlessly penning a diary entry is writing. However, you might not be making the most of it.
In one word: Mindfulness.

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