by Jenna | Mar 12, 2012 | Writing Articles
I recently read a wonderful article on ScriptMag.com by John Buchanan called, "Work Habits of the Pros," that inspired this post.
1. Write consistently.
A serious writer knows that writing regularly and consistently is key to their future success.
Buchanan's article cites screenwriter Craig Mazin (The Hangover II, Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4) as saying, “Work habits are as important as talent. You can’t really make it with just half of the equation. The basis for a long career is to be able to have some modicum of talent, but to have a good work ethic.”
From the same article, Pamela Gray (A Walk on the Moon, Music of the Heart, Conviction), says, “It’s more important for me to write for 15 minutes a day, six days a week, than to write for five hours on Monday and not work again until the following Monday.”
Surprisingly, it's much, much easier to write in short "sprints" on a day basis than it is to find big massive chunks of time to write. The principle here is consistent, regular writing in small bite-sized pieces.
Many writers believe that they require a lot of time to "gear up" into writing mode, but interestingly enough, when your work stays fresh in your mind with daily writing, it only takes moments to get back into it.
2. Know how to navigate the sticky waters of the inner side of writing.
Writing is a tricky business.
Also from Buchanan's article, Craig Mazin says, “...writing is a hard thing to do. It seems as simple as tapping on a keyboard, but it’s not. It’s difficult, both emotionally and physically,” and “[There’s] a whole other level of coping mechanisms you have to have, or quickly attain, just to keep yourself sane and writing.”
I recommend that writers objectively consider the negative messages they're telling themselves about their writing on a daily basis, and then positively reframe those messages.
Although it might seem a little daunting to confront those inner demons head on, there's a great deal of power in taking a clear look at what you're telling yourself. We don't often do so, and it's usually a bunch of malarkey. Pausing to truly pay attention takes the power away from those harsh thoughts that are ultimately getting you nowhere.
3. Realize you're in it for the long haul.
Not only is a serious writing project like a book, novel or screenplay a lengthy undertaking, it’s worth thinking of it as a marathon, as Erik Bork does (From the Earth to the Moon, Band of Brothers).
As such, pacing yourself is key. Don’t press yourself so hard or set such high and unrealistic goals that you burn yourself out.
And not only do you have your current big project on the hook, a serious writer usually has a library of projects she's working on. So it's not just NOW; it's about building a habit that works in the long term.
Look to find your natural stride and stick with it -- you might even get a second wind.
by Jenna | Mar 9, 2012 | Writing Articles
We write because we have stories to tell.
We write to entertain.
To explore.
To connect.
To teach.
We write because if we don’t, we can’t sleep.
We write to be paid.
We write for the joy of it.
We write because we said we would.
We write to document, explain, journal, create.
We write because we love it.
We write to expunge the terrible questions that captivate us.
To travel the neural pathways and find out where they go.
To see what happens.
Joss Whedon has said, “You either have to be writing or you shouldn’t be writing. That’s all.”
by Jenna | Mar 7, 2012 | Writing Articles
Being in the spotlight means having your creative work witnessed and responded to by an audience.
It means being read, seen, heard.
Being in the spotlight means having an audience.
Whenever our work is seen, we are seen.
- If you’re a novelist, you’re in the spotlight when you publish your work, whether you publish it online or in print. Writers are in the spotlight through their books, articles, on their websites, at public readings, and in interviews.
- If you’re a blogger, you’re in the spotlight every time you hit the publish button. People are reading your words, thinking about them, and responding to them.
- Artists are in the spotlight whenever you share your creative work, and receive feedback on it. Think of gallery showings, exhibits, and studio tours. Or website galleries online.
- Actors are in the spotlight when you are on stage, on the big screen, or on television. And celebrity actors are in the spotlight anytime they are in public.
- Screenwriters are in the spotlight when the movies you’ve written play on the big screen or when someone reviews your writing publicly.
- Poets, journalists, public speakers, radio broadcasters, and many more professions are seen, heard, and read.
I’m surprised to discover how many people feel drawn to the spotlight even while they (we) also have contradictory instincts toward strongly preferring peace, quiet, home, and solitude as a general rule.
Many artists, actors, introverts, sensitives, empaths, and writers much prefer the solitary life, but still feel some pull to sharing their work and being seen, read or heard in some way.
by Jenna | Feb 29, 2012 | Writing Articles
I’m a big fan of accountability.
Telling people you are going to do something is a great motivator for actually seeing it through.
It’s especially useful when it comes to doing something we care deeply about or holds great import in our lives but we have a lot of resistance around doing, like writing.
On some level, when we know we’re about to do something BIG, something that fulfills the calling or deeper purpose behind why we are here, we get scared.
We ask ourselves:
- What if it works?
- What if it doesn’t?
- What if I can’t pull it off?
It’s like looking at the sun
These are the typical fears of someone staring their Big Dream in the face.
And usually, it’s too much to look at for long — it’s too bright, like staring into the sun.
And when we do look at our Big Dreams, they can feel overwhelming.
We feel like we have to do the whole thing NOW. Today. Tomorrow.
No wonder we put them off.
Take one bite at a time
That’s where the deliciousness of accountability for small daily action makes such a beautiful difference. It helps us break things down into the smallest incremental bites and take consistent action on them.
That’s how you eat an elephant — one bite at a time.
What happens when you don’t?
But what happens when you don’t take the small daily actions? I see people commit to their dreams but then fail to take action on them.
I feel so sad when this happens, not because they have failed to do their work, but because they have failed to ask for help.
True accountability can and should occur in a safe, supportive space where people feel comfortable coming forward and saying, “I’m not taking action on this and I don’t know why. Can you help me?”
Then, your accountability partners can help you find out why, and what might work better.
Safe space is co-created
One thing that many people fail to notice is that safe space is co-created.
When I welcome people into my writing community, I make a point to talk about how we want participants to share the good, the bad, and the ugly. We want to know the whole person, the self that has an easy time and the self that has a hard time, so we can truly support and witness each other.
We co-create our safe space by being honest with each other. It doesn’t happen by accident or only on my end.
I hold the space, you come into it, and we perpetuate it by being present and truthful with each other.
Without honesty, we get shame
By being truthful together in that space, we can avoid falling into the dark side of accountability: Shame.
Shame can be a positive motivator when it comes to accountability — it’s part of what gets us into action. But if it persists, and we don’t take action and we don’t talk about it, it can consume us, overwhelm us, and keep us stuck.
Bottom line?
True accountability and support happens in partnership.
If you’re finding yourself hiding out, it’s time to get help. We ALL feel this way at times — I certainly do.
The key is to reach out and get support from the right people who can help you get back on track.
by Jenna | Feb 22, 2012 | Writing Articles
Last week I wrote about protecting ourselves from our dreams.
I want to continue the conversation around the notion of doing things just for the joy of them, even if they don’t “happen” the way we want them too.
This is a tough one for me.
I love to dream big and see the possibilities that can be available to us — to imagine things reaching the outcome I want them to have.
And yet, like we talked about last week, what if we don’t get those outcomes? Does that mean we’ve failed? Or that our dreams weren’t worth pursuing?
I don’t think so, though I have to admit I would be disappointed if I never sold a book or a screenplay.
But.
But, but, but.
What if I loved writing so much that I wanted to do it anyway, no matter what the outcome?
We’re always told that we should focus on the things we love so much that we’d do them for free, right?
I think there is powerful truth in that, but I have to confess that I’ve never really believed it up until now. And even today, on a day when writing has been much harder for me than I would like, I can tell you that I love it. And I would do it for free, without guarantee of outcome or success.
That’s a huge step for me. To acknowledge the joy of doing something so much that it doesn’t matter what happens with it.
Doesn’t mean I won’t try.
Doesn’t mean I won’t feel disappointed if it doesn’t “happen” the way I imagine.
But it does mean that I intend to enjoy it every step of the way.
