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

Happy 5 Years

On the 22nd October 2007 I began this blog.  Then the aim was to write a novel while I wasn't working.  I never did finish that novel, but 5 years later and my life and priorities have changed beyond recognition from that day. 

My resolutions continue, see: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/new-years-resolutions-at-6-ish-months.html 

Now I have a son who is nearly 4 and I have continued to write my other blog regarding being a mother at: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/  I still wonder how women writers who are mothers get anything done, although I must admit to loving every minute of it!  

My son has just started pre-school which has given me a second morning to myself which is invaluable.  I often think I should start a children's novel.  Unfortunately he still continues to sleep in our bed which negates much writing in the evenings!  This time next year he will start school full time.   I have no idea what I will be doing in a year but I do feel that my writing has found its own place within the rest of my chaotic life and I have learnt to live with the fact that my time is no longer my own!!

Has much changed in a year? http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2011_10_01_archive.html
I have a different job now, which is less hours (and money) but I do have Wednesday morning to myself. Well, I am no longer a member of the book club mentioned as - although I would have loved to be a member - I just don't have that extra time.  I still continue to attend The Lindum Scribes but have recently made the decision to resign from the group I refer to as The Poison Pens.  The main reason being the time it takes to get there, and don't forget the fact that Saturdays are always full of other stuff that needs to be done!   I did attend one meeting of the Pimento poets, but due to time constraints and the issue of babysitting I have not been able to make another meeting.   

I am quite proud that I have managed to write a number of poems this year, enter a number of competitions, and of course I am hoping to have an article published in the next few months.  This has motivated me to think about writing non fiction more seriously.  Unfortunately the course I was hoping to attend had to be cancelled, but I have spoken to the tutor and she hopes to run another in the near future.  Hopefully, this workshop should help me decide where I should focus in the coming months.

This time next year Jamie will have started school.  What will I be doing?  Watch this space!!

John Cooper Clarke and Mike Garry

Last night was our evening with John Cooper Clarke, see: www.johncooperclarke.com/.  Although he is a legend and there were many people who had come to see him - The Drill Hall was a sell out - he seemed firstly very nervous, then very tired, and could even have been very drunk!  For me, he didn't read enough of his fantastic punk poetry and he told too many (though very funny) old jokes!   He finished on I've Fallen In Love With My Wife and did the classic Evidently Chicken Town (http://www.johncooperclarke.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:evidently-chickentown&catid=36:poems&Itemid=56) as his encore! 

We weren't expecting one, but his support was Mike Garry, see:  http://godisamanc.wordpress.com/ and  http://www.manchestersalon.org.uk/mancunian-meander-poetry-mike-garry.html  He was definitely scouting to be JCC's replacement!  A bit dark at times but very good.  I even bought one of his books which he signed for me for a small fee of £10.  It was worth that just for his poem St. Anthony (A Tribute to Tony Wilson) which took me back to my days in Leeds living with Caroline and her 'Madchester' scene music and clothes.  Not to mention the visits to Greater Manchester and our little shopping trips!