FRIDAY FLICKS: You are Not so Smart

Thought this was perfect for today.

What is it, after 5?

I usually get my Friday Flick out in the morning.

Enjoy!

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Tuesday's are for Procrastinating?

I mean't to write today. Really.

But most of the day was spent in researching my upcoming trip and coming up with ideas for a forthcoming book.

So, I guess today was my research day.

Not all is lost, but I thought I'd write this quick post to tell you that I haven't forgotten about one of the most important things in my life.

Writing.

Here's to tomorrow!

Kathryn

STOP PROCRASTINATING! How to kick-boost your writing day

I don't know about you, but there are days I just want to turn the whole thing off; the insights, the research, the writing, the re-vision, the everything, and in it's place do nothing.

That's what I did last night in front of the television. Just soaked the television rays in and ate.

Now, you need to know that for the most part, I am a go-getter. I don't leave things until the last minute, and I don't spend my days avoiding what I should be doing anyway. But there are days when I've just had enough.

I had an individual tell me just today that she was already taking on too much and that she couldn't help me with a request I had given her. She said it was a smile.

And you know, I got it.

Better to speak your mind than to procrastinate, right?

Snow drifts in writing? You bet

When we procrastinate it may just be because we have too much on our plate. It may be that we don't want to do a particular thing, but that's not always the case. The trick is, is to look inside your own heart to see why you're in the avoidance mode.

Hate to edit? You may start a new project just because you don't want to tackle the one that needs editing, or you may just hate editing - period.

Hate to research? You may find yourself writing the book without doing it, guessing, if you will, instead of taking on the research head on.

Hate that first line? You may decide to start your book next week or next month because it's always so hard for you to get down.

Hate trying to find the time to write? You may have time to do the dishes, but may find yourself getting all moody about writing. Perhaps it's just a waste of time anyway; you'll never be published.

I'm sure you get my drift, no matter how high the snow drift is in your neck of the woods. But I also hope you take a look inside; decide today what you're going to change, and do it.

Just start. Hate to edit? Do it anyway. Reward yourself if need be; chocolate always works for me. Remind yourself that when it comes to research, you want your book to be as correct as possible, especially because there will come a day when someone reads it and sees the guess. Can't bring yourself to write that first line? Write chapter two first, then go back to chapter one. It works! And please, please find the time to write. No matter how many excuses we all make for not writing, we all have the same amount of hours in the day to do what we love.

Write.

3 Writing Excuses You Want to Avoid for the New Year

Since we, as writers, seem to have as many excuses for not writing as say someone who doesn't want to clean out their kitchen cabinets, I thought it would be fair to say that writers avoid writing too. And what we avoid and why we avoid it says a lot about us as a person, both on and off the job.

Photo by: Amy Loves Yah, courtesy of Flickr

Let's start with procrastination. It's easy to procrastinate something that may not be bringing in a regular paycheck. Unlike a regular job with a regular paycheck, our writing becomes a hobby where we get to it when we have the time. (See excuse #3).What is foremost in our mind is the job that pays us money.


Photo by Wonderlane, courtesy of Flickr

I'm not good enough anyway. Part of being a writer is getting critiques of what we do. These critiques come from the world, yes, but our hardest and biggest critic is ourselves. We just don't see ourselves as selling a book; getting anyone to buy it. We see our writing as less than. We have a hard time seeing ourselves as a success.




Photo by: NCinDC, courtesy of Flickr

I don't have the time. Really, I don't. But maybe we have time to watch our favorite show on television. Television eats up time. I know. I watch television too. I have my favorite shows and I often lounge in front of the television at night because I need some time just to veg. Take a look at your time. If you want to be a writer you'll make time to write.

I want you to know that I've used all of these three excuses at one time or another, and sometimes I have used them in concert. Why should I make the time to write when I'm not good enough anyway. I'll do it later.

Later rarely comes unless we plan to use our time wisely. And when we get those criticisms from ourselves and from others, we need to realize what's happening and take a giant leap in the direction of our computer.

10 Clues that You're a Writer

How do you know when you're a writer?

1. You may stay home to write instead of going out to dinner. Besides, you're on your last chapter!

2. You begin to see your characters as real people and may converse with them on a daily basis. You may even prefer them to the real people you know.

3. You notice the little things that most folks take for granted. The sway of the leaves. The smell of the newly budded flower, the look of a child's face as they gaze upon the splendid treasures within the Disney Store. Heck, you may even be in awe yourself.

Photo by: tnarik, courtesy of Flickr

4. You stay up too late or get up at the crack of dawn. This is the only time you have to write and you're going to make the best of it.

5. You hate it when others miss-spell things (Hummm, is that right?), but may be a bit uncomfortable when others notice that you have.

6. You carry a book with you at all times. It may be your book (to sell or give away to just the right person) or you carry a book written by someone else to read at your earliest convenience.

7.  You hate it when others don't think your job is anything more than a "hobby". You want to be respected for what you do.

Photo by: Sean MacEntee, courtesy of Flickr

8. You spend a good portion of the day dreaming up new characters for your next book, or dreaming of a new place for your next book's setting. You may even book a flight.

9. You may procrastinate because life always throws you things that at first glance appear to be more important than your writing.

10. You eat junk food at the computer because you don't want to lose your train of thought.

Have a favorite, or one I haven't thought of? I would love your feedback! (Now you know what I do! Well, except for #4).