Daring To Not Procrastinate
Daring to write is a challenge I face every day. Having the guts to write no matter the reaction to the finished product. There are taboo subjects aching to be put in stories, but then oh the shock! I long to write a book, but evil procrastination sneaks in to choke the life out of my creative enthusiasim. It takes telling my inner negative voice to be quiet. To ignore my desire to edit as I go, which squelches the flow of my writing.
To help me get out of this funk I need to just plain write. No more fretting over turning a beautiful journal into a scribble heap, but to look at it as a work in progress. No backwards pedaling, but to blaze on ahead.
I love to read how to write books, yet they aren’t adding up pages to my story. It’s great to read how to, but if there is no hands on result it’s pointless. What I truly need is a novel sargent who can be my accountability partner to keep my spirits up and hold me to getting x number of pages completed by a certain date. To have clear goals that are obtainable and to surround myself with like minded people.
I dare to write as myself. No candy coated covering, but laying myself bare. To be fully naked in my prose like the day I was born.
Add comment March 31, 2009
writejourney
Loosen Up Your Pen & Dance!
There are countless reasons we resist putting pen to paper. Here’s my fast list:
1. Professional procrastinator
2. Suck at grammar
3. Lazy
4. Fear of reaction from family on story topics
5. Get stuck in my story
6. Need to find an agent
7. Fear of commitment to the writing process
8. Other responsibilities
Getting ways to get your pen flowing with inspiration takes having fun. SARK provides some unique game ideas.
My personal favorite is the magical door game. You pick a door and the next page prompts you to do something with writing. Another favorite is the interviewing your future writer self. Egotistical yes, but how exciting to mull over how you want it to be x number of years from now. To me that’s a great encouragement booster. Another inspiring idea is to create a support journal where you put your story ideas, your writing support system, your progress in writing your story, your reasons you don’t want to write.
To let go of blank paper intimidation is not easy. Writing is joy. Like childbirth there will be some contractions to get to the outcome, but the end result is worth it.
Add comment April 2, 2009
writejourney
Tools And Inspiration Oh My!
Writing is part addiction and part slave driver. Waiting to be inspired to write will just amount to an excuse to actively procrastinate.
Through the years I’ve been torn to either write by hand or to type it out. My brain definately thinks swifter on a keyboard than scribbling with a pen. Technology vs old school. The jury is still out on this debate.
I do have a few friends (Krys, Jo, Ashley….) who are fellow writers who are excellant at asking for an update on my writing. Having accountability and a support system in place is great. I just have to write something and stick with it. That’s the glory of November and Nanowrimo.
I need to not worry whether I use a journal or my Mac to write my story. Character sketching is great and helpful, but adding body to my story is most important. I need to shake off my procrastination and make friends with do dillagence.
Add comment March 30, 2009
writejourney
Tags: SARK
The Beginning……
I discovered SARK via a used bookstore I used to work at. It started with her colorful calenders that we sold. They caught my eye and from there it progressed to her books. I waited a good number of years before I cracked open one. I really don’t know why I waited so incredibly long to read her books. They’re magical, blunt, creative and more fun than I could have imagined. It’s almost like having a personal little mirror held up to you. Through this mirror you can glimpse parts of yourself that you’re sure were lost when you entered high school where you were forced to act “cool” like the other kids.
Through cracking open SARK’s books feeling like a little kid again bloomed into my life. I felt giddy almost like I was drunk minus the alcohol of course. It was like receiving one on one therapy from a best friend you hadn’t known about until this very moment. SARK is a Kindred Spirit. She is gracious in her words and brutal in her honesty, but she says it all in love.
The first book I’ve decided to read and blog about is her newest one: Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper. I was excited beyond words when this one came out because I was glad she finally wrote about one of my favorite topics: WRITING FOR PLEASURE!
This book is fully colorful and makes me think of the excitement of opening a new coloring book that’s just waiting for color to give life to it. There are the neatest games and writing tips inside.
The start of the book of course is her overview of how she got started writing, her childhood and her addiction to reading. I grew up being read to early on. My mom read me the classics that weren’t tainted by the Disney feel good version. Pinocchio scared the snot out of me and I gained a big appetite for books. My grandparents who we lived with at the time had the classic Golden Books, Disney books and some picture books about kids in other countries.
When I was little I always envisioned myself becoming a teacher (which I practiced using my Cabbage Patch Kids, teddy bears and assorted dolls) or more importantly a writer, or maybe a singer ( I was a nerd and would record myself on my little Care Bare tape recorder). I loved listening to story records, cassettes and my grandmother or mom reading to me.
In grade school I liked to write little short stories on blank pieces of paper and draw pictures to go along with my story. Sadly they have not all survived my growing up years. In the fourth grade we had a writing story contest that was also a local district contest as well. I won for my class and got to go to the awards ceremony. My story which I of course drew the pictures for and my teacher typed up for me. We made the cardboard bound books in class. I still have it in my hope chest. I titled it The Day I Met a Great White Shark Face to Face. I was obsessed with sharks back then. The only reason I won was because my one story didn’t have the whole class in it, so it wasn’t a hugely big victory for me. The awards presentation was neat because they laid out all the kids books who won. We got to hear an author speak and get a signed copy of her one of hardcover Children’s books. It was an awe inspiring experience for me. By junior high I had moved on to writing more adult type themed stories much to the horror of my mom. One in particular I remember was about a girl and boy who were dating and go camping with one of their pet dogs. And yes they did sleep in the same tent. That was my theme as a sixth grader. In high school I took Creative Writing which was fun and an easy A, either that or my teacher was very lenient on my poetry I produced. I still have a bunch of it.
I’m looking forward to rereading this book and sharing my thoughts and reactions to it with you!
Add comment March 29, 2009
writejourney
Tags: Books, Childhood, Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper, Reading, SARK
