by Jenna | Mar 3, 2016 | Writing Articles
I mentioned in a recent post that I've written "in the past" about choosing your "three big rocks" for the year. Turns out "the past" was 2007 (!), so I thought it was worth sharing again.
I believe this idea has tremendous validity in our overly busy world.
Turns out, when we focus our efforts on the important things we want to accomplish and create with our lives, we are more productive and we are happier.
The Three Big Rocks concept has been spread by Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
I've heard it told a number of different ways. Here's an abridged version:
A time management expert places a large wide-mouthed jar on the table, and then puts several large rocks carefully into the jar. When the jar is packed to the top, he asks, "Is this jar full?"
Everyone watching says, "Yes."
He says, "Really?" He adds pebbles into the jar and the group watches as they work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.
Then he asks again, "Is this jar full?"
By this time, the group is skeptical. "Maybe not," they say.
"Good!" he answers. He adds sand to the jar and it fills in the spaces left between the rocks and the pebbles.
Once more, he asks, "Is this jar full?"
"No!" they shout.
Once again, he says, "Good!"
Then he takes a pitcher of water and pours it in until the jar is full to the brim.
He then looks at the group and asks, "What do you think is the point of this Illustration?"
One eager beaver raises her hand and says, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit more things in."
"No," the speaker replies, "that’s not my point. The Truth is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you will never get them in at all."
We have to pick out what our "Big Rocks", organize our priorities around those, and only then look at what else we want to add into the remaining interstitial spaces of our lives.
No more of this "I have to take care of [8 million small things] before I can put my attention on my writing." Trust me, it doesn't work. Where you put your attention is what you get more of.
I've learned to put my focus on only three big rocks for any given day, and for the year as a whole as well.
Writing, of course, is always one of my big rocks. I manage to get MOST of the little things done as well. And the rest of them? Well, they aren't usually that important.
For this year, my three big rocks are my kids, my writing, and my business.
For today, my three big rocks are working on this blog post, working on my script, and writing two testimonials for my beloved coaches.
What are yours?
Powerful questions to ask yourself:
- What are the three most important things I want to accomplish today?
- What are the three big things I want to create or accomplish this year?
- What truly matters to me in terms of how I spend my time?
- How well are my choices matching up with what matters most to me?
You might also like this article I wrote for ScriptMag on the subject of being too busy to write.
Happy writing!
by Jenna | Feb 24, 2016 | Writing Articles
Does staring at a blank page paralyze you?
Here's how you can work around it.
It's a common vision of a writer's life. Sitting and staring at the blank page, waiting for inspiration to come. But in my opinion, it's a terrible strategy for a certain breed of writers.
From my experience working with so many other writers, the ominous blank page can be incredibly paralyzing. It usually triggers paroxysms of perfectionism, because we feel that we must come up with the perfect line, the perfect way to begin, or the perfect topic. And if you've been hanging around here for any length of time, you'll know the vicious cycle of perfectionism, paralysis, and procrastination is one of a writer's greatest enemies.
Oddly enough, I'm pretty sure I'd be paralyzed by a blank page myself, but I never allow myself to be confronted by one.
If you're someone who feels frozen in the face of all that white space, here are some strategies to help you get into the flow of writing, whether you're blogging, writing short pieces, articles, or stories, or working on full-length long-form masterpieces.
- Begin with an idea. Sounds super simple, right? It's not always so easy to do (we can talk about generating concepts another day), but once you're in the habit of writing, you'll find that coming up with ideas is less cumbersome that it might be now. When I'm starting a project, I'm walking around thinking about it for hours or days before I sit down to write. Because I blog on a weekly-ish basis, I have a constant stream of ideas coming into my head, so I pretty much always have an idea of what I'll be writing about when the time comes. If I don't have an idea for a blog post, I'll often ask the writers around me for ideas. There's always something up, somewhere!
Alternatively, if I'm starting a script, I'll be honing and crafting the concept in my head and on paper before I sit down as well.
- Immediately empty your brain onto the page. Once you've got your idea and it's time to sit down to write (you do have a time to write, yes?), do a "brain dump" onto the page. If I'm working on a blog post, this means kind of spewing out the ideas I've got on the subject onto the page, randomly or in order, it doesn't matter, as well as coming up with a working title (often temporary) that becomes the "container" for the piece. Usually I'm imagining myself talking to all of you, so that helps too -- it feels like I'm writing down the conversation we're having in my head.
If you're blogging and struggling at this point, you might even want to write down and answer a question, like, "Where do my readers struggle with this?" Or, "What would be most inspiring for my readers on this subject?" to get you going.
If I'm working on a script, I have a kind of formula that I complete, and it starts with capturing any ideas I have for the logline and story concept, so I begin with getting those onto the page along with anything else I "know" about the story as well.
- Turn to structure. From there, start organizing your project. With blog posts, since I've written down the ideas, I start organizing them into a natural order or flow that occurs to me. It doesn't have to be perfect, I think of it as a work in progress, just like my working title.
If I'm working on a script, this is where the heavier-lifting comes in. I have a set of parameters I "fill in" (that's the formula I'm talking about in step two). I detail my main characters' goals, motivations, and conflicts. I break out major plot points. I outline scenes.
- Fill in from there. Once you've got your structure, just start filling it in. If I'm writing a blog post, this means fleshing out and refining what I've started with. When I'm working on a script, I import my scene outline into my screenwriting software, and then fill that in.
This way, I'm always "filling in" and responding to what I've already set up for myself, rather than starting from a "blank" anything, so I never feel lost or paralyzed. Well, maybe not NEVER. :) But much more rarely.
So if staring at a blank page for you is difficult, use these ideas to get something (ANYTHING!) onto the page to get yourself jump-started, and go from there.
by Jenna | Feb 18, 2016 | Writing Articles
It has been nothing if not interesting to observe myself and all the machinations I’ve gone through as I’ve brought myself closer to claiming my dream of becoming a writer.
Here’s my update:
Challenges
Well, for starters, as soon as I made the public commitment to write 4 times per week, I found myself in the quandary of putting on a live event and heading out of town, both of which required an extra level of preparation and definitely disrupted my normal routine.
Then, when we came back from L.A., I promptly came down with the “cold of the decade” and found myself completely uninterested and unwilling to write (or work, for that matter) while taking care of myself and my son, who was also sick. I promised myself that this week, I’d get back on track. And I did. Well, sort of.
Really, though, I see the cold as a giant temper tantrum. Julia Cameron describes a kriya (Sanskrit) in The Artist’s Way as “spiritual emergencies or surrender,” something designed to get our attention and say, hey, “Get it?”
I feel like this is a similar situation — On some level, I’m resisting doing the Big Writing because it terrifies me, so I choose to get sick and busy as a way to avoid doing it. Pretty creative, right?
It’s also fascinating to watch my inner critic pester me with, “it’s not creative enough, it’s not good enough,” etc.
Which reminds me, my 3rd submission, “The Gospel According to Lucky,” for the NYC Midnight Short Screenplay Challenge did not get me through to the next round, but I got some great feedback and decided I like the story enough to want to rewrite it.
So I sent it off to some writing friends for feedback, and holy smokes, did my inner critic ever go into overdrive. He (yes, my inner critic is a he) was going all crazy about why they hadn’t gotten back to me yet, that they hated it, that they were writing each other about how bad it was and couldn’t figure out what to say to me, etc. etc.
Luckily I didn’t buy it and busted my I.C. by telling my husband about what he was saying so we could both laugh at him.
One more little temper tantrum: I’m writing this on Saturday instead of Friday like I’d planned. Jeez.
Progress & Celebrations
The good news is that I DID work on my big screenplay (the title is in flux so I can’t tell you what it is yet) and I was able to outline the story even more. It’s a fascinating project. It seems like every time I sort out one bit of the story, I find 10 more unanswered questions to address. I swear this thing will just write itself once I get all these questions answered.
I’m also thrilled that I made it to the 3rd round of the NYC Midnight Short Screenplay Challenge. That was my goal and I met it. Woo-hoo! I also received some extremely helpful feedback from my writing buddy so I’m planning to rewrite that script soon. (No, he didn’t hate it, he said, “I dig the script.”)
Another thing I’m super happy about is watching my creative process around writing unfold. Who knew it would be this way? I certainly have my ups and downs, but I’m finding that I like to toss around ideas and play with them until I feel solid about the “big ideas” and then I start writing. I like that. :)
Plus, joy of all joys, my husband and I are writing a short story, called “Angel of Misfortune” for the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge. It’s due today. Can I tell you that ever since I met this man I’ve dreamed of us writing together? It’s so fabulous! And I think the story is pretty good. Oh joy. :)
by Jenna | Feb 18, 2016 | Guest Posts
A while back I wrote a post called, "Today is the perfect day to clean your writing desk."
In that post, I mentioned one of my pals and an amazing organizer, Miriam Ortiz y Pino. Just thinking of her inspired me to ask her to write a guest post for us about organizing our writing spaces.
Miriam and I go way back. We met in a coaching program we were both participating in during 2009. I later hired Miriam to help me reorganize my office -- virtually! We did the work remotely, by phone, after I sent her digital photos of my messy space. I'm happy to say that even though there are moments where the surface clutter still happens, underneath my office has remained well-organized, thanks to my work with her.
Check out her wisdom in today's post about "defining" our physical space for writing in five, simple steps.
Defining Space for Writing
Guest post by Miriam Ortiz y Pino
Clarity boosts creativity.
Want to write more, or better? Clear some space.
We all need a little space and time to get things done. Around the web, there has been a lot written about how to find the time for doing the writing, and a bit of idea-sharing for decorating a writing space, but I want to talk about defining a space for the doing.
For anything to happen, whether it is work or play, creativity or drudgery, there must be a space to do it in.
You can’t turn cartwheels in a room full of things you haven’t found a place for. Room for doing and creating happens if everything is put away in the place it belongs, save the items necessary for the task at hand.
In other words, an area for the doing must be defined.
Once defined, a space has an identity and a purpose. Things are much more likely to happen in a space that has been given a purpose.
Here are five steps to help you define your writing space.
Step 1. To start with: WHERE do you write?
The actual location isn’t important, the naming and claiming of it is. It might be the kitchen counter, the home office, or the table at your favorite coffee shop.
Know where you will write.
This way, when the time comes every day, you won’t waste energy or decision juice deciding where to go to do the writing.
Step 2. What do you need to write?
Now that you know where, think about WHAT you need to write. The tools that make it easier for you to accomplish the writing.
Are you a pad-and-pencil kind of writer? Or do you work better with a pen?
If you work on the computer, do you really need 12 notebooks lingering around the space? Would one for notes to check on work?
Step 3. Reverse-engineer what to keep in your writing space.
Then, reverse-engineer what to keep in the general area.
A desk, chair, cup of coffee, computer can stay. Remove anything that is not directly related to your writing. Move these items out or to the periphery.
An important note about decorations: There is a fine line between inspiration and distraction when it comes to decoration in a creative space. Keep the inspiration on the desk to a minimum and rotate it frequently or else it becomes clutter. Hang the super inspirational stuff on the wall and honor it with a frame.
Starting with a clear writing area lets you get right to the writing. If you have to move a bunch of stuff around just to get started it can take you up to 40 minutes to regain your focus. That seems like a waste of time. You could have been spewing words onto the page!
Step 4. Keep your space clear enough to write.
To keep the area clear enough to write, have a place for ALL the things that pile up to go.
Taking the time to define the spots now saves lots of time later.
Here are some specific suggestions for the typical stuff that clutters up a workspace.
- Have a place for your writing-related things. Are there things that are related to writing that pile up on your desk? Make sure there is a place for them to go. All you need to do is say it out loud and set the thing there. “This top desk drawer will be where the sticky notes live. And this pencil cup will keep my pen and highlighter safe and handy.” Now you know.
- Have a defined space for your ideas. Jenna has written about how to decide what to work on next. She suggested some criteria for choosing the next best thing and mentioned the idea of having a safe place to keep your inklings and ideas until you are ready to flesh them out. And I like it. It's what I call a defined space for your ideas to reside. Clever, right? ;)
So create a space to house your ideas for future projects. A notebook, document, bin, folder, or drawer will work. I had one client that used a crystal punch bowl and put the ideas on index cards and dropped them in.
- And while you are at it, have a place for the other non-writing stuff that comes up too. This can be a separate notebook or document for all the things that require action and flutter through your brain as you work. It will become a parking space. Instead of the thought becoming a distraction, jot a quick note and get back to work. Distribute the thoughts to their proper place after your writing session.
- Have a place for the things that belong elsewhere. Are some of the extra things items that belong somewhere else? Create a holding spot, basket, bag, or box for redistributing these items at the end of the day.
Knowing what to keep in your space, now that it is defined, also becomes easier. There is no need to keep a bag of toiletries in your writing space -- or a computer in your bathroom for that matter!
- Make sure to have a giant recycle bin and a bunch of binder clips handy to keep your good ideas together and the decided-against pages out of the way. You don’t have to empty the recycling bin very often – so if you really needed to retrieve something you can for a while.
Step 5. Put your toys away when you're done.
At the end of the day, return all the items you pulled onto your desk to where they belong. If you are going to continue working with some of them tomorrow, just mark where you left off and stack them up neatly so they are handy when you restart.
It only takes a couple of minutes and that is a lot less than the 40 minutes to refocus. I’m thinking that’s worth it.
The added bonus of defining the space is that it helps keep the clutter pile to a minimum. It’s not clutter if you know what it is for and how you will use it.
Knowing where things go means fewer decisions and that means energy freed up for creativity.
Now, go write something. Then put your toys away.
Thanks, Miriam!
You might also be interested in checking out the Q&A I did with Miriam called Writers Get Organized.
About Miriam: Miriam Ortiz y Pino is a Certified Professional Organizer and Simplicity Expert. She helps her clients ensure that what needs doing gets done.
Miriam specializes in creating simple systems that are easy to implement and work FOR you, instead of you working a system.
Whether you're struggling to organize your life, declutter your home, manage your time, get control of your papers, or just feel overwhelmed and frustrated with all your stuff, Miriam will work with you to create the environment you need to live your best life.
Find Miriam online at http://morethanorganized.net.
by Jenna | Feb 11, 2016 | Writing Articles
I've been thinking a lot about happiness, enjoyment, appreciation, and gratitude lately.
As someone who tends to be prone to seeing "what's wrong with this picture", it isn't particularly easy for me to remember to see the positives in my life and enjoy them. I habitually look for the next thing to fix and improve upon. Then throw in some sleep deprivation and a fussy toddler, and the trip down the rabbit hole into the darkness and negativity can be a short one. ;)
However, I've been making some subtle shifts in this department that are adding up to be rather huge.
I've never been a fan of gratitude lists or journals. I mean, they SOUND like a great idea, and I BELIEVE in the idea of being grateful, but when I'm stuck in feeling overwhelmed, negative, or down about my life, it feels impossible to get into that space of gratitude and appreciation.
But what's oh-so-cool right now is that I'm noticing that by making these simple shifts in the way I'm approaching my life and what I'm doing, gratitude and appreciation have become by-products of my experience. I love that!
This all started when I decided to participate in Dr. Jessica Michaelson's online journaling program about minimizing online distractions. Just freeing myself from my small but pernicious online addictions has created a huge sense of relief and space in my life.
Then I went on and joined her Finding What You Didn't Lose program, which I'm also loving.
Here's what we're doing, on a very simple level, that I'm finding so very helpful.
- Setting an intention for how we want to approach the day ahead in a way that's connected to what's most important to us (like being present or being adventuresome).
- Getting clear on the three main things we're aiming to do in a given day (I've written in the past about "three big rocks" for the year -- this is about picking them for the day!).
- Noticing where we can build in connection, use our natural talents, and find sensory pleasure in our days.
This is all based in research about happiness,* which shows that we need to experience connection, meaning, pleasure, flow, and accomplishment in order to feel happy in our lives.
How to translate this into enjoying your writing
One of the biggest challenges in long-form writing (a novel, book, screenplay, for instance) is that it can feel endless, like we'll never reach the finish line of "done". Living immersed in that context can be disheartening at times and downright discouraging at others.
To keep ourselves feeling fresh -- and happy -- we need to stay connected to several things, like:
- WHY we're doing it. When we're clear about how important writing is to us and believe it is our calling, we stay connected to its meaning in our lives. Some days writing is hard, some days it's fun and easy. But in the big picture, we care deeply about it, otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. We can even go a little more deeply into the Big Why behind our writing. Perhaps we have a message or vision to share, or we're hoping to shape, change, and influence people's lives. When we give thought to our Why, it's easier to keep on writing.
- Small, short term goals. If a long-form writing project, with all its requisite rewrites, is a long-term deal, we need to make sure we create a short term feeling of accomplishment for ourselves right now in addition to our big picture aims. This is easy to do when you set attainable, daily goals. When you start the day with a plan, like "today I'm going to write (one new scene, 350 words, for 15 minutes, etc.)" then you KNOW when you have done it, or not. And when you keep the goal attainable, so you KNOW you can do it, it's easier to push through any resistance and make it happen. Then you'll get the satisfied feeling of accomplishment that's so important for your sense of happiness. As a bonus for this, doing the writing early in the day will only make the rest of what you get done that day a bonus. :)
- Other writers and other people. Hang out with other writers who 1) get what it's really like to write day in and day out, and 2) have generally positive and supportive attitudes about writing. Be mindful about hanging out in groups of writers who will only tell you how hard it is to break in. Instead, look for people who are finding ways to write and ways into the business that work for them, their lifestyles, and their temperaments. ALSO spend time with non-writers too: Your loved ones, family, and friends. Life is rich, and our writing is richer when we are connected to it.
- The rest of life. Writing doesn't happen in a vacuum. As writers, we tend to be hunched over desks and computers more than average. We need to get out and enjoy the world and take care of our bodies too. Turns out that sensory pleasure happens mostly in the real world, so give yourself some gifts in this regard. I've been savoring the simple things, like walks in the beautiful weather, delicious tea, snuggling with my littlest one while he goes to sleep and with my eldest one while I read to him at night, taking Pilates classes, and blowing bubbles for the kids in the sunshine.
- Our writing itself. Writing, by nature, can produce the wonderful state of flow that's part of the recipe for happiness. When we're writing, we're in the flow of using our innate talents. So if you're having trouble getting past the natural resistance that comes up around doing the writing, get support to get into the flow. A working writer is a happy writer.
Here are some power questions to help you put what I've written about today into practice:
- What's important to you about your writing?
- What short term writing goal can you set and achieve today?
- How can you connect with other writers today?
- What can you do to experience pleasure in the real world today in your life?
- What support do you need, if any, to get into the flow of your writing today?
Use these questions to make simple shifts and enjoy your writing (more!), and your life. You deserve it.
