Keeping Up by Christine Duncan

I am late–not because of the Memorial Day Holiday here in the US (Happy Memorial Day everyone and I especially want to say thank you to all you Vets. You are truly my heroes each and every one of you.) but because I am feeling a little overwhelmed. But I’m working on it.

My daughter has recently taken to quoting that old chestnut “if you want something done, give it to a busy person.” As a chronically busy person right now, I have to tell you–it ain’t working.

So I was feeling a bit sorry for myself today, as I was in my husband’s office working while the rest of the world was relaxing on their decks doing beginning of summer stuff, when I realized, yet again, it’s all in your head.

Most things we accomplish, we do because we have won that the argument with the voice inside that says, “I’m tired. I don’t know how to do this. I’m not smart enough or talented enough or….”

I know you know that voice.

I have a constant battle with that freakin’ voice.

But today’s battle was won courtesy of an on-line friend who is the Energizer bunny of writing. She is always posting about her word count, what she is submitting and to whom. It is the internet version of what has always worked for me. She is being accountable. It is the reason I love critique groups and writing buddies who all feel free to tell you when you’re slumping. (Where is your manuscript? You really didn’t write this week?)

In the case of this particular internet buddy, she didn’t say a word about my writing or lack there of. She merely posted, yet again, about hers. And yet, I know her mother has not been well, and she has a job and other responsibilities. And she’s getting it done anyway.

And today, because of her, and despite that miserable, rotten, **#*, voice, so am I.
Keep on writing, folks. We can do this.

Am I good enough? By Karen Fainges

Reading over the posts of my fellow bloggers, I am noticing a trend in all our posts, “are we good enough”? I am a complete sucker when it comes to anything with the word improve in it, so I guess that suggests I don’t think I am good enough.

Well, I am going to try to change all that by repeating a name to myself – Keenan Cahill. He lip syncs to music videos on the internet. That’s it really. He has a wonderfully expressive face and he obviously enjoys what he is doing but that’s it, he lip syncs.

So why has he gone viral? Why are so many people talking about him? Well maybe it is because he makes these videos while he recovers from the multiple surgeries his condition forced him to endure? I don’t think so, I think it is just because he makes you smile. It’s not earth shattering, it’s nothing perfect, it is just what he wants to do and he loves it.

So I am going to ask myself – is it want I want to do? If the answer is yes, then I am going for it – just like Keenan.

Self Discipline by Christine Duncan

In my continual search for some sort of self discipline (and because a writing buddy is threatening to have lunch with me and wants to exchange manuscripts,) I have been trying to make myself sit down to write more.

Lately, I feel as though I am running a continual marathon throughout the day and then I collapse at night. Anyone else ever feel like that? You know, you hit the bank on the way to work, and you pay bills on your lunch hour and you get home and throw dinner on the table before you run out to some meeting and…yeah. That’s how it’s going lately.

So okay, I’m not sure that self discipline is the problem. The problem is there aren’t two of me. But I still want to write–more than one sentence that I’ve managed to compose in my mind on the way home from work while traffic was snarled.

I know the solution isn’t in writing shorter–that, as Pascal observed, just takes longer. I don’t watch all that much TV TV –except for Biggest Loser, V and hmm, Supernatural, I don’t watch any at all. I get my news from the radio while I run, or drive.

I can’t give up church, work, eating, sleeping, reading or running. Actually I tried to give up running this winter, but it just made me cranky and I never did figure out where that extra hour a day went anyway. So it was pointless–and hazardous to my marriage.

I’ve almost given up talking on the phone–well except for my kids. And my sisters. And my best friend.

I’m only on Facebook on the weekend while I wait at the table for my husband to bring back coffee and a shared sweetroll in the local coffee house. NO, I’m not giving up the coffee house. I need that time with my husband.

So what is left?

Most of my house cleaning bit the dust a while back. My dustbunnies have multiplied.

I could stop blogging, I suppose, in favor of “real” writing.
What to do? What to do?

My guess is I’m going to have to give up whining and just do it. Dang. And I was hoping for a shortcut.

Anybody who has one–you know where to find me. Yeah, in my car, figuring out the next line for my book, as I’m stuck in traffic.

Whatever works.

Oh Well – By Karen Fainges

It’s been a bit good news, bad news this week. My books have been re-released with gorgeous covers and a major new prologue section for the first book that helps introduce everyone to the world of the Chronicles. I also managed to complete the book of all my family tales.

Bad news, I did not complete my fourth in the Chronicles series in 2010. I got about half way life whacked me upside the head. Still, I got a good start on the fourth book, so hopefully it maybe out there soon.

I am convinced the idea of deadlines is the main thing that gets me writing. I agree with Christine, it just seems to get the motivation going. So how am I going to impose my deadlines? Well, my daughter started writing again and I could make sure I keep up with her.

She is on page thirteen of her book and it is growing every day. To be fair, I was thinking maybe I should go five to one on her word count just so I can feel like I can achieve more than a thirteen year old – but what if she beats me? I would never live it down. Still, it is hard to be concerned about that when you are bursting with pride. Her ideas are fantastic and if we can drag her grammar into the 21st century, it should make millions. Unbiased as I am.

Actually, sitting here and thinking about it, I could buy off housework for words written. 2,000 words and someone else has to put the washing into the machine. Hmmm, this could work, because that could slow my daughter down as well. I might try it.

Do Writers Thrive on Guilt? by Christine Duncan

I have been looking back at some of our posts recently. Okay, I was supposed to be organizing them somehow, but you know how that works. You have to read them again to organize and pretty soon, you’re caught up reading them and forgetting to organize. I’m working on this.

Anyway, it struck me that a large portion of our posts seem to be on writer’s block or motivation. Sometimes on both. And that led me to this theory. We writers like to feel guilty.

Now as someone who was raised Catholic, this is a familiar sensation. I even postulated a corollary that many or even most writers are Catholic but a Jewish writing friend objected. Apparently, Catholics didn’t corner the market on guilt.

So what, you say? Here’s the interesting thing about this. When I look through things I’ve written, I can’t for the life of me tell what I wrote just because I felt guilty (such as when I’ve been to critique for 3 weeks in a row and never brought anything so all my critique buddies are going to kill me) or because I had thought up something really cool that I really needed to add. So, maybe guilt is not such a bad thing.

Carrying the whole thing just a step farther though, writing about not writing does not trigger my guilt. I can always think of a thousand reasons why I haven’t written lately. For proof of this, check out my comment to Georgie B’s thought-provoking recent post,

Routineous Interruptus

. Can I whine or what?

What I need then is more person to person real world stuff to trigger the guilt which in turn, triggers the writing. Nothing like a couple of friends to make you feel crappy for not doing what you should be doing. Only if they are good friends, they don’t say they’re guilting you out. They say they’re keeping you accountable.

Hmm, so do writers thrive on accountablity? I may need to join another critique group or two.

Moving forward

For me, if I open my laptop to find a wrapped up scene or chapter, I can flounder around for a little while unit I get back onto my train of thought (pardon the train pun).  So, I like to finish mid scene (I did that this morning as my train pulled into my destination) so that when I start again this afternoon my brain has a “oh, that’s right….” moment and I’ll be up and running again.

I also have a list of highlighted dot points at the bottom of my manuscript which are a combination of ideas and reminders.  The reminders are there to prompt me about what needs to happen in the story -  loose ends if you like.   I add to these reminders and ideas all the time when I’m writing and I review and update them regularly.   If I’m on a roll I get an idea about a previous chapter, I’ll do a quick key word search, highlight the chunk of text I want to revisit and then pop back down to where I was.  That way I don’t lose the flow but I’ve made a note of what I want to revisit.

When I’m not in front of my computer, I’ll make a note in my mobile phone, write something on a piece of paper (although these tend to get lost) or, in the case of last night when I was in bed, I promise myself that I’ll remember in the morning (this is the most risky of my methods but it worked today).

All in all though, I try to keep (or at least transfer) all my notes into my manuscript and leave myself halfway through a scene.   That seems to work well for me.

Wicked

I can’t believe how much I’m loving my manuscript right now.   My editing remains consistent so I’m steadily working my way through the book – I’m in the last quarter. 

Before I began editing, I had this mental image of my manuscript as being almost salvageable.  I now realise that not only was that my procrastination talking, I was completely wrong.

The upside of my procrastination (I can only see an upside now that i’ve overcome it…..) is that I’d rested the MS for so long I’d forgotten a lot of the detail.   So this morning as i tapped away on the train, i actually burst out laughing.  That’s gotta be a good thing huh?

I guess what i’m trying to say is….my best tip for overcoming writers block is to schedule writing into your day.  Pick a time that suits you and work at that time – for a designated period.  Then put your work away and come back the next day and chip away a bit more.  It’s amazing how much those little sessions add up.

I’ve fallen back in love with writing.  It’s wicked!

Editing Update

I’m going to keep my post brief this week – mainly because I don’t have an awful lot to share.

I’m still editing my manuscript on the train each day.  That is working out unbelievably well.  I’ve found that even when I’m really tired – like on a Friday afternoon - I jump onboard the train, open  my laptop and start work.  It’s really not negotiable.

This method of editing is working out so well I’m considering booking a ticket on a country train and taking a longer journey one weekend.   

An unexpected bonus to all this train editing is that working on my book me an emotional and spiritual boost.  That means twice a day I receive an injection of creative satisfaction and a feeling of being centred.  Bonus indeed. 

Oh, and I’ve finally come up with two new titles for the book.   I’d be happy with either and am just weighing up the pros and cons now. 

Yes, it’s been another productive week here in Narelle-ville.  I hope the same is true for you.

Keep going

I’ve recently taken to doing 10 minute meditations first thing in the morning before work.  (Yes, even before I pour myself a coffee.)  My inner voice has been whispering to me for a while (*ahem* years) to sit down and listen.  

All the meditations I’m doing at the moment are based on the Chakras and they’re all from Youtube (because I get bored doing the same ones over and over).   

Like most meditation novices, my unruley mind wanders off a lot but that’s ok, I know this will improve with practice.  This morning, I tried a new guided Chakra Flower meditation.  It was lovely all the way through and I was able to focus better than usual.  At the end, the narrator said it was time to  receive a gift from a higher power.  The gift could be an image, an idea, a feeling – anything at all.   

My gift was two words “keep going”.  Timely really because I feel like I’m not getting anywhere with my writing and I’ve had another setback with my health this week. 

But the message was clear so I’m going to keep going.  I’m going to keep putting one foot in front of the other and do the next indicated thing…which right now is to get this post loaded up on-time.

Long time no see

It’s been a few months since I’ve posted and it’s great to be back.  Karen Fainges very kindly agreed to step in for me while I underwent a few surgeries.    Thank you Karen for doing a wonderful job. For everyone following her posts, please don’t despair – I’m sure she will make guest appearances.

So, with the surgeries behind me it’s time to get back to business. 

In the last week or so I’ve sent out some queries on Child’s Play – the nanny guide book.  I immediately received the generic “truth be told” rejection from Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger (funny!).  The next day, I received a proposal request from Amberly Finarelli at Andrea Hurst (thank you Amberly).  

While Amberly ended up passing on the project, she did give me some valuable feedback.  She said, It sounds like a good premise, but I’m afraid that, with the existing literature in this genre out there already, I don’t see how this stands out enough from them–particularly in this belt-tightened publishing economy.  And she’s right.  From the very beginning I was toying with a somewhat risky idea in relation to the tone of the book.  I decided to be cautious and go with a fairly conventional approach.  I don’t think that’s going to be enough in this market.  Amberly’s feedback has given me the shot in the arm I need to go back to the manuscript and give it a make-over…this time I’m throwing caution to the wind.  Absolutely nothing to lose.

I ask you all, do you have a project that hasn’t been picked up (who doesn’t, right??).   Maybe your work needs a make-over.  How could you rev it up?  What could you do to make it stand out?  I challenge you to go back and take a risk.