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Reading My Way Out of Writer’s Block

By On January 29, 2013 In Begin Again, Committed To Failure, community, Every Day, failure, present moment, sleep, Time Management, work, writing With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Reading My Way Out of Writer’s BlockPermalink

“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”

~ Mike Murdock ~

What happens when you don’t have a daily routine?

What happens if you do have one, but you give up on it or end up taking a job to pay the bills that leaves you with no time for a daily routine?

It all depends on whether you really want to succeed at freelancing as far as I can tell.

Lately, I’ve let ‘the fear’ take over. It’s stopped me in my tracks, AGAIN, and no words have been flowing from my fingers onto the page.

I know what the trouble is; I don’t have a daily routine. I can’t get up at 5am to write until it’s time to get ready for work. There’s this little thing called sleep that I love too much to give up.

Then there’s another little challenge I’ve set myself lately called the 60-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge. There’s not much time to write when you’re busy sweating, eating and sleeping your way around yoga and working (non-writing) hours.

So, I’ve been feeling like a hopeless failure, wondering where on earth I’m headed with my non-existent career.

Thankfully, I recently ordered a book called Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money by Kelly James-Enger. It arrived in the mail just last week and I decided this book would be my new daily writing routine.

Instead of pedaling nowhere with my dwindling query challenge, I’ve been reading about how to better get started with paid writing work.

I only read during the 20 minute lunch break I get at work, but that is enough to inspire me to get myself back in writing action again, whether I’m reading more at night or simply writing a new blog post.

In addition, the advice in James-Enger’s book is invaluable to me at this stage in my writing career and I have already discovered several reasons why I’ve been getting nowhere fast with my writing recently.

I also discovered a new resource that will enable me to keep working towards being the best freelancer I can be. It’s called:

The Library!

Why I didn’t think of it earlier, I have no idea, especially considering I go there every week, but I managed to find almost all the books James-Enger used as research for her book or suggested for extra reading. I’m already becoming a more productive writer from the few resources I have borrowed from the library so far.

I also discovered that through my library membership I can get a free subscription to Zinio Digital Magazines. Now all my worrying about how I can read all the magazines I need to read before I query is over. If I can’t buy a copy, I’ll read it through Zinio.

In the end everything points me back to the same issue I keep facing and yet find so hard to stick to:

Baby steps, day by day, never stopping, never giving up. Eventually they will have to lead me somewhere!

Is there any trusted and true place or person you turn to when you lose sight of your goal or your confidence? I’d love to hear your experience!

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Gobbling Up My Word Count

By On November 16, 2012 In co-workers, community, Every Day, nanowrimo, success, Time Management, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to Gobbling Up My Word CountPermalink

It’s been a tough day. We got our delivery of fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving at work this morning, sending everyone into a stressful holiday frenzy.

I stuck to my grocery order and did my best to stay away from the gobble-de-gook tense customers were throwing the staffs way. Thankfully I made it through.

Today was also the last day of my internship, which was kind of sad, but I’m thankful I can now move a step further along my writing path. I’m also hopeful about the freelance work I will now get thrown my way from the magazine over the next months.

However, the greatest news for me today was the 1,969 words I completed between work ending and me heading off to spend the evening with my family. I feel as if I’m on a writing roll again, and keep coming up with new twists and characters in a story I have often felt lost within.

In this build up to Thanksgiving, I therefore have a lot to be thankful for. And I’ll need that tomorrow as I spend the day weighing and dishing out way more dead turkey than a vegan should ever have to encounter in one day.

I’m definitely on the countdown till the 22nd is over, that’s for sure, and not only so I can finally catch up with NaNo either.

May you be having a successful day of writing too.

Gobble, gobble.

Total word count to date: 24,788 words

Playing Catch Up

By On November 14, 2012 In Begin Again, Committed To Failure, Every Day, insights, nanowrimo, new job, sleep, Time Management, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to Playing Catch UpPermalink

I wanted to use today, my day off, as a day to play catch up and cover some ground with my word count.

Life it seems had other plans.

I have, however, spent most of the day editing for a potential job opportunity and it could hardly be considered time spent unwisely.

I did manage to write about 500 words before I began the editing process so it is not as if I have written nothing. Nonetheless, it is now 11:34pm. I have to be up at 6am to get a ride to work at 7am. So, what do I do?

Do I stay up as long as it takes to at least get today’s word count of 1,667 completed?

I’d have to stay yes. Times aren’t always going to be easy and it’s during the days when you have no time to write that getting your word count done is proof you’re never giving up on your goal and passion.

Today is one of those days I need to prove that previous statement to myself. I know I’ll regret it tomorrow as I drag myself out of bed, but at the end of November, that morning tiredness will be long forgotten with 50,000 completed words in front of me.

I guess my plan to take Thanksgiving Day off of life to write may truly be the one and only chance I get to really play catch up in a life that’s constantly catching up to me.

Hope your writing day is going well!

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Total word count so far: 18,619

That positive streak…

By On November 12, 2012 In advice, Begin Again, Committed To Failure, Every Day, failure, nanowrimo, present moment, sleep, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to That positive streak…Permalink

So… my positive writing streak has lasted approximately two days (I guess that’s an achievement of sorts).

I felt motivated to write earlier in the day and even when I got home late this afternoon. Yet, I pushed writing aside, choosing to work on other things instead. It’s no wonder I’m tired and no longer up for more than the 108 words I’ve attempted so far. You can only push for so long before you push too far.

Interestingly, today I was talking to several co-workers about art and what dedication and commitment it takes to follow through on artistic dreams. The conclusion we came to was that you have to always have something prepared that allows you to just pick up the pen or the paintbrush and work. You also need to take advantage of every possible moment alone you have to do your art (at least in the case of writing), even if it’s just the 5 minutes you spend hiding from your family in the bathroom each morning.

I love to preach about how it’s possible to begin writing (and working) again everyday. Today is proof that it’s easier to talk about it than it is to do it.

Just know you are not alone in your writing struggles.

Will we let it beat us?

No way!

And so, I soldier on… don’t give up NaNoWriMos

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Total Word Count as of today: 14,500

Election 2012

By On November 7, 2012 In Begin Again, failure, nanowrimo, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to Election 2012Permalink

It never fails to amaze me the excuses I will use not to write.

Yesterday was no different. I was up at 6am to make sure I could have my vote counted before work. While standing in line, waiting for the clock to strike 7am, I was asked to cover a shift at work, which meant I was at work at 8am and wouldn’t finish until 7:30pm. I had an interview to conduct during my 1 hour lunch break and then would have to wait for an hour to get the bus home for 9:15pm.

Surely there was time to fit some writing in there somewhere…

There definitely was because my interview got cancelled, but I ended up clocking back into work early in order not to fall behind on my weekly tea and cookie order. Then there were road works taking place at my bus stop. Terrified I might miss the bus (as has happened on too many occasions) and would have to wait for the next one at 10:30pm, I walked to another stop 15 minutes away and proceeded to sit and freeze my bum off until the bus appeared 20 minutes later. I could have written during my wait, but my hands were like blocks of ice. Unfortunately, I can’t write on the bus due to a propensity for travel sickness so that was another journey pretty much wasted, especially considering I got dropped off at the wrong bus stop and had to walk farther than usual to get home. At that point it wasn’t just my hands that were freezing cold and I was completely pooped. The last thing I wanted to do was write, especially when there was so much excitement over the election.

So, I stayed up way past my bedtime to find out who won, with the determination to catch up on my writing today, on my day off.

Of course, I spent most of the day with family or napping and now it’s 9pm and I’m still no further forward. Checking out my NaNoWriMo mail, however, I realize I am not alone as everyone, including those affected by hurricane Sandy, struggle to keep up with our 1,666 words a day for November.

As of today, I’m sitting at 6,501 works, which I feel very proud about, although if I had written everyday I would now be sitting at approximately 11,000 words.

But then again, it’s not during every NaNoWriMo that you get to watch President Obama get re-elected. The plan now is to make sure I catch up.

Keep up the great work NaNoWriMo writers!

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Total word count to date: 6,501

The Conspiracy

By On November 5, 2012 In Begin Again, Committed To Failure, conspiracy, Every Day, nanowrimo, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to The ConspiracyPermalink

It must be something about setting intentions, but the moment I vocalized my pact to spend November burrowed up in my writing room writing, the universe decided to conspire against me.

Every available moment I have to write has become filled with extra hours of work, family commitments, job interviews, tea with friends, internship responsibilities, voting and housework, to name but a few.

I admit that some of these activities could be left to be dealt with at a moment when I have more time available, but in many cases they can’t and I’m left wondering not only when I’ll get my writing for the day done, but also IF I’ll get it done.

If I’d kept my intention to myself, would this have happened? Is it because it’s the end of the year that there’s such a sudden flurry of activity? Or is it simply that now I’ve made an intention to follow my dreams in a more focused manner, the universe has sent me a multitude of pathways on which to reach my goals?

It’s impossible to say. All I can do is do my best to stick to my plan all the while writing my little cotton socks off.

And that I shall do.

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Words written so far: 5237

It’s 10:26.

By On November 4, 2012 In Begin Again, failure, insights, nanowrimo, present moment, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to It’s 10:26.Permalink

It’s 10:26pm.

The number of words I’ve written today = 0.

The number of words I’ve written this weekend = 0.

What’s going on here? I’ve had the time. I’ve had the want, but my motivation to actually write seems to have disappeared out the window.

I know what the problem is. It’s simple. It’s fear.

The fear of what I’m writing. The fear of not being good. The fear of not being a novelist actually being proven in these 50,000 November words.

It’s also the fear of not knowing what to write next.

I’ve come so far and yet only have a tiny inkling of where to go next. At this point, I’m being shown once more how important it is to outline; to have a plan of where to take that next step.

I’ve spent most of my writing career poo-pooing outlines and then wondering why many of my ideas don’t get very far.

I didn’t want to outline this project because I had no idea where it was going. But if I had taken the time to jot down some ideas I probably wouldn’t be sitting here, with my 8am start at work looming over my head, wondering how I’m going to get my 3,200 words done for the weekend.

The one glimmer of hope? That tiny inkling of where I need to go next and the promise to myself that even if I only write 100 words tonight, I’m going to get it done.

#EveryDayBeginAgain #NaNoWriMo

Words written so far = 3496

Death and a Headache

By On November 3, 2012 In Begin Again, Every Day, health, insights, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to Death and a HeadachePermalink

Someone I didn’t know very well died today, but it affected me greatly. I also didn’t get any writing done in the morning, hoping to do it when I got back home today, but now I have a migraine and want to do nothing but go to sleep.

The lesson in all of this is to seize every moment. Don’t wait until later to get your writing done. You never know whether later will ever come and what you put off today you’ll have to do tomorrow.

The question I have now is whether I can write 3,200 words tomorrow considering I have to work and also have birthday plans with my family. Can I recover and write enough to catch up on the fourth day of this competition?

I guess only tomorrow knows.

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Words completed so far: 3496

It’s My Birthday And I’ll Write If I Want To

By On November 2, 2012 In advice, Begin Again, Every Day, insights, success, work, writing With No Comments Permanent Link to It’s My Birthday And I’ll Write If I Want ToPermalink

It’s been a long day. I pulled a double at work, which all in all wasn’t the worst way to spend my birthday. My birthday is usually lost in the furor of the Savannah Film Festival and the Rock and Roll Marathon, which takes place tomorrow. This year has been no different, with friends and family working their little socks off, unable to do much to celebrate, leaving me to do much of the same.

I did, however, take an hour long lunch break and got a good 500 words written, which is impressive for me. I’ve never been good about using little segments of time to write. I need the space of an open window and empty clock to get the little writing cogs moving.

Recently, though, I’ve been thinking a lot about an answer my professor Annette Haywood-Carter gave me when I asked her how she kept writing while working as a Script Supervisor and a mother. She told me that no matter how much she had going on any given day, she always found time to write, even if it meant locking herself in the bathroom to scribble down some ideas for five minutes.

I have never forgotten this advice although it has taken me until this NaNoWriMo challenge to put that advice into practice to this kind of degree.

And it is great advice. Not that it’s easy to write on demand, but when you force yourself into the practice of writing in the moments in between, knowing your limited time at the beginning and end of the day, it’s amazing what will come up. It’s also amazing what ideas will come up during the day while you’re not writing so that you can’t wait for that five minutes crammed in a bathroom stall when you can finally put them down on paper.

I’m beginning to think this NaNoWriMo challenge has been one of my best writing moves ever, even if it does mean I won’t be doing much but writing as a celebration of my birthday this year.

Not a shabby way to spend a birthday in my books, thank goodness!

Keep writing!

#EveryDayBeginAgain

Yesterdays total word count: 1727

I’ve been listening…

Ripe Wheat low POV
By On July 28, 2012 In advice, Begin Again, Committed To Failure, failure, present moment, work, writing With 4 Comments Permanent Link to I’ve been listening…Permalink

“To begin, we need only create a “listening” space, tune in to the world around us, and have faith that our own inner storytellers will guide us.” - Katrina Kenison

Quote taken from a blog post by incredible Pam at Walking On My Hands

I’ve been listening these last few days. It was essential.

After intense weeks of PA work on two different fashion shoots my writing fell by the wayside. Then in the days following these jobs I wanted to do nothing more than veg in order to recover.

I read a lot. I also slept. I did not, however, write.

I always find that these intense work interruptions create a break in my writing momentum and it’s difficult for me to get back into a daily writing rhythm. I know I need to work on this or I’m going to find it difficult to straddle the film and writing world as I work my way through the industry and try to make some money. I haven’t quite figured it out how yet. It’s gonna take some time and experimentation.

Thankfully (or not) at the moment I’m waiting. I’m applying. I’m hoping for a paid job in the near future and am writing in the meantime.

Right now, I’m listening to the space between thoughts of unemployment and job searches. I’m hearing the voices of my current screenplay as the characters fight it out in my subconscious.

I ended up two months behind in my screenwriting class, but I realized if I did four classes a day I could catch up and finish the course with a bang. And I have caught up. I have written my little fingers off, coming up with subtext, outlines, character and plot. And the not so crazy thing is that I have enjoyed it. It’s gotten me back in the swing of creating and writing.

I still have days when I get scared of that white page and find myself (like tonight) up past midnight sipping chai after chai, watching the stories as they dance before my eyes.

What gets me up and going every day; what allows me to begin again every day no matter how much I am struggling, is the faith I have in my own storyteller, like Katrina spoke of above.

I no longer doubt my inner writer, or push her around, or cover her mouth with my hands. I simply sit and listen, for she is always there telling me to create. However, in order to listen I need to create space; to open up my laptop, pull the cap off my pen and force myself to get something down on paper every day even if the words I write down are not exactly the words my inner storyteller whispers in my ear.

I’m lucky that I had the opportunity to write a daily blog for a year. This honed my faith in my writing ability and now I don’t have to listen to my inner critic telling me I should give up every time I find myself struggling to get the words down on the page. I push past that misery guts and listen out for the web of ideas my inner storyteller is constantly spinning. Knowing that she’s always around, working hard, gives me the faith I need to simply sit down, listen and write what comes.

What advice can I give you on creating space for your inner storyteller? Here are a few ideas:

  • Find a space where you can create your writing ritual. Make it a safe, sacred space where you can play creatively with your writing.
  • Before you start writing, ask your inner storyteller to come out and play.
  • Create a ritual around writing and listening. Start your writing day with a prayer, a writing exercise, a cup of tea that relaxes you and gets you listening, a yoga sequence that settles your worried mind. It’s up to you… whatever works! Just create the ritual and stick to it till you can’t stop yourself from sitting down to write.
  • Turn off your phone, the television, the radio. Close the door to your family. Block out the white noise. (I need complete quiet to write, personally.)
  • Locate your writing space in an inspirational place, e.g. in a room with a great view or a your favorite coffee shop in a busy neighborhood. (I need to stare out at nature and life taking place to find my listening space.)
  • Take a walk or exercise, let your mind wander. Many famous writers have used exercise as a means of connecting to their listening space where the ideas begin to flow.
  • MOST IMPORTANTLY – write every day. And if you forget… Begin Again

How do you create space in your life to listen to your inner storyteller?

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