The 7 Step Method to Find Focus for Writing

“I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am inspired at 9 o’clock every morning.” William Faulkner

Received an email this morning from http://zenhabits.net/resistance/ in which Leo Babauta discusses the 7 Step Method to Find Focus.

He says; 'Writers procrastinate on writing so much that the term “writer” is probably a misnomer. We should be called “putting things off-ists”.  Why is it so hard to focus on writing for most people? Or other creative work, for that matter?  It seems no matter our best intentions, it’s our lot in life to put off writing by checking email or Facebook or Twitter, doing other busy-work, chatting with someone, anything but the actual writing. I’ve figured out a few things that work. It’s my writer’s rehabilitation program, and I offer it here to all of you in hopes that it will help:

1. Set a writing block. It’s not enough to say, “I’m going to write a blog post or book chapter today”. You have to set a block of time. Even just 10-30 minutes. Let’s say 8-8:30 a.m. — this is blocked off on your calendar, and you make sure nothing gets in the way of that.

2. Create accountability. Tell someone else you’re going to start writing at 8am., and will do nothing else at that time but start writing. Promise to pay them $50 if you don’t.

3. Clear distractions. Just before your writing block, turn off the Internet. Use an Internet blocker. Close all programs.

4. Notice your resistance to starting. Let it go, and focus on just getting started. All you need to do is write the first few words — don’t worry about writing more than that.

5. Imagine you’re talking to a specific friend when you start writing — what would you say to that friend about this blog topic or book chapter?

6.Notice the tightness you feel as you start. It’s tension, not wanting to do this, wanting to do something else. Let it go, relax, enjoy the writing.

7.Watch the urge to go do something else. Watch, don’t act. Let it arise, then go away. Now go back to writing.

These are small steps, but they work. Now get to writing.'

“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”
Margaret Atwood

Modern Memoirs....

I dislike modern memoirs.  They are generally written by people who have entirely lost their memories, or have never done anything worth remembering.

I wish I had written that, but unfortunately it was Oscar Wilde, quoted in December's Writers' News www.writers-online.co.uk

Well Done Moon!!

Moonyeen Blakey www.MoonyeenBlakey.com
author of 'The Assassin's Wife' www.fireshippress.com




Photo taken at Moon's launch at Cleethorpes Library on May 9th 2012.   Author Karen Maitland came along from Lincoln to support, and the photo shows Karen and Moon chatting together about 'what to do next'.

Many years ago (it was 2003) myself and fellow Lindum Scribes member Marjory went on a Plotting and Coursing the Novel (weekend workshop) with Suzanne Ruthven; editor of The New Writer.  Here we met members of another local(ish) writers group called The Yarburgh Writers.  One of these writers was Moonyeen Blakey who has just had her first novel published; 'The Assassin's Wife'.  See Moon's website for details at www.MoonyeenBlakey.com.

 

If you like historical fiction with a supernatural twist then you'll like Moon's books.  If you like authors like Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir then you'll definately like her too!!

Lincoln Inspired

http://www.lincolninspired.co.uk/

Lincoln Inspired - arts, music, books, theatre, comedy and conversation come together in an exciting new festival for the city.

Lincoln Inspired will showcase the very best local and national talent in five days of fun and celebration in May 2013.

Lincoln Inspired has the community at its heart and is funded through public donations and sponsorship. Click here http://www.lincolninspired.co.uk/donate/ to find out how you can help make it happen by pledging as little as £5. Inspirational!

Be Inspired.. and be part of it

Check out their TEAM page and you'll find my name (no photo as yet) and the Lindum Scribes are listed on the SUPPORTERS page!!

Loved This!!

Reported in Writing Magazine (August 2012) was a piece from Telegraph columnist Oliver Pritchett who has coined a few words to describe the difficulties of everyday life, including:

Fatastrophe: Your new diet was going really well until you accidentally ate a doughnut.

Chatastrophe: Occurred when you made a horribly inappropriate remark at a party.

Fiascolour: That shade of blue looked great on the colour chart, but its awful now its on the wall of the living room.

Chaostrich: A mother with her head in the sand who carries on sipping coffee, chatting to a friend or texting while her children run amok in Starbucks.

Chavoc: Ugly scenes outside a dodgy nightclub late on Saturday night.

Fizzaster: The predictable result of drinking too many glasses of champagne at your best friend’s wedding reception. This could also lead to a Kisshap when, to your horror, you find yourself smooching with the wrong person.

www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9245329/Pritchett-Its-chavoc-out-there.html