by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Writing is hard work.
1. Come up with a schedule—complete with breaks—and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be a to-the-minute sort of thing. I promise myself a break every hour to hour-and-a-half. But breaking things into small bites reduces the stress.
3. Reward yourself when you meet a goal. Goals give you something to shoot for and something to celebrate. It could be something as easy as 5 M&Ms when you write 500 words. But take time to give yourself positive feedback.
5. Take time to be a vegetable. For me, that’s mindless TV. I love Survivor, Castle and Big Bang Theory. For you, it may be time to thumb through a magazine or have a cup of coffee.
8. Join a writing community. Or if you already have one, take an active part in it.
Beyond the physical part, it’s emotionally taxing. We pour our hearts and souls into the words we arrange into stories, articles, even blog posts. We spend time and money learning how to write, constantly improving our skills.
Then, we take a deep breath and share our words with the world. So often that world can be less than kind. To face the tumultuous life of writing, we have to take time to nourish the writer within.
2. Set goals, some small, some large. The variety keeps it interesting— and doable!
 |
| Reward yourself when you meet a goal. |
4. Surround yourself with cheerleaders. Enlist your family and friends in your dream. Share your struggles, share your goals, share your success. You’ll be richer in the end.
 |
| Take time to be a vegetable. |
6. And on that note…eat right. I know, it’s become a cliché. But things are clichés for a reason—they’re usually true. Make sure your diet is well balanced. None of us can exist for days on end with nothing but junk food.
7. Don’t forget to exercise. I hate it like the plague (talk about a cliché). But I ALWAYS feel better when I take time for it. No only do I feel better physically, but I’m sharper mentally.
 |
| Join a writing community. |
9. Give yourself permission to write junk. Sometimes I just have to write bad before I can write good. Knowing it’s going to happen makes it more palatable.
10. Don’t neglect your spiritual life. None of us would be here without God. Make Him your priority and He’ll handle the rest.
These are my ten tips. What would you add to the list?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Great list, Edie. I need more cheerleaders. I have a few naysayer in my life who want to see money for my efforts. I turn the discouragement over to the Lord. Thank you for the permission to write junk first. My brain is like an old faucet, the junk build up needs to come out before the water flows clear. Have a great holiday weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for God to bring you cheerleaders! Blessings, E
DeleteThanks for the reminders. I think that, deep inside, we all know that the things you list are important, but we just get so busy--or bogged down--with life that we don't regard them as we should. You've underscored what Calvin Coolidge referred to as "the importance of the obvious."
ReplyDeleteDennis, I'd forgotten that quote! You're right though, we all need to be reminded about what's right in front of us! Blessings, E
DeleteI like your suggestion to write bad so you can write good. The important part is to let the words flow so they get onto the paper. Then, we can edit. I was afraid to put things on paper for years. There were consequences. I shouldn't fear any more. Now, its a bad habit. Thank you for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteSharon, it can become a habit - and a dangerous one. Thanks for stopping by, blessings, E
Delete#1 ouch just ouch! LOL
ReplyDeleteRobin, I feel that way about all of them! Blessings, E
DeleteI am in search of cheerleaders, actually someone to be a mentor.I know all about naysayers. I have had a problem getting back into a schedule since my accident and rehab time.The other tipsI am in sync wit, most of the time.
ReplyDeleteA prescription for what ails writers! All I'm missing are the "cheerleaders." Sadly, my family and friends don't care. Happily, I have my husband's encouragement and support--and, of course, my author pals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post, Edie. Pinned & shared.
There are at least 3 of you here who are missing cheerleaders. Why don't you form an online group or even a texting group? I have several text groups I'm part of. We share prayer requests, praises, frustrations, and we hold one another accountable. Blessings, E
ReplyDeleteThanks for the remainders Edie.
ReplyDeleteWriting is surely hard work. But if I had only to write, I would be the happiest guy in the world.
Cheerleaders are a problem for me too. But I'm afraid I might find them a bit distracting. Besides, my first and most important supporter, my fiancee, might decide to go to extreme measures to make sure I stay the course... =D
Great reminders! When I write I have to set a timer or I'll go all day. Also, I need to let others know when I'm struggling. I believe encouragement will solve most of life's problems. :)
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Edie, to have the 3 w/o cheerleaders form their own encourager group. As a supplement to that (for anyone), sign up for daily readings to turn your mind to God. I have readings from Oswald Chambers--utmost.org.
ReplyDeleteI don't have many cheerleaders either although thankfully I'm connected to quite a few fellow writers. I find exercising keeps me sane, not only through writing but through life in general. And I started meditating a couple of years back. Even if it's only a few minutes I think it does make a difference. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteSuch a good reminder. Writing can threaten to overtake everything and all my time if I don't have a plan. And I'm really bad about it sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to see the synergy that happens when writers get together. We all come away encouraged and motivated to work!
ReplyDelete