by Jenna | Oct 22, 2022 | ScriptMag Articles
In this month's "Ask the Coach" article, I’m responding to a comment on Twitter about handling procrastination. This is a topic I never tire of talking about with writers because it's so relevant and important to understand and navigate. Plus, I've recently reviewed some newer (and empowering) research about procrastination, which I've shared in the article.
In the article, I review five high-level reasons writers procrastinate to help us unpack this common struggle. I describe each reason more fully in the article, but here's the core overview:
- We procrastinate because we’re afraid.
- We procrastinate because writing matters to us.
- We procrastinate to manage challenging emotions. 👈 the newer part!
- We procrastinate to get dopamine hits.
- We procrastinate to process intuition and information.
With this understanding of why we procrastinate, I also offer ways we can manage procrastination, including rewriting negative thoughts, creating community and support around writing with other writers, using deadlines and other external motivations, and more.
The bottom line is that we procrastinate for very real reasons.
by Jenna | Jun 18, 2022 | ScriptMag Articles
Welcome to the latest installment of my “Ask the Coach” column on Script Mag! This month I’m addressing a question about how to keep writing during the summer:
“How do I keep writing even when I’m pulled away by summer? Between vacations, BBQ weather, busy kids, and an urge to get my house organized, I’m having trouble focusing on writing. What do you suggest?”
This is a timely question, with the summer solstice nearly upon us. A common challenge for many writers is being pulled in multiple directions — whether it’s family, a day job, multiple writing projects, self-care, or just wanting time off, while also wanting to keep pushing ahead with our writing goals and visions. And summer can be tricky. As a season, summer evokes a feeling of spaciousness and expansion, creating both the idea we’ll have “tons” of time to write while simultaneously feeling drawn to get out into nature, play, go to the pool, and do other summer-focused activities. And as you mentioned, it can feel like an expansive time to clean and purge your house, too!
Here are seven ideas to help you creatively keep writing and enjoy the summer. Use them with a mix-and-match approach, adopting those that work for you and ignoring the rest. [more…]
…don’t fall for the false dichotomy that you can only write OR enjoy the summer. You can do both.
by Jenna | Feb 19, 2022 | ScriptMag Articles
Welcome to the latest installment of my “Ask the Coach” column on Script Mag! This month I’m addressing a question about
being superstitious about writing:
“Do you ever feel superstitious about your writing time? Like you have to write in the same place, at the same time, after eating the same thing, to recapture the same success of a particular writing day that went well? Or do you find yourself giving up on a day’s writing because you weren’t able to do those things?”
This is an intriguing set of questions because whether or not a writer considers themselves superstitious about their writing practice, it speaks to underlying strategies and challenges around having a consistent writing practice, which is something I recommend for most writers. Let’s discuss. [more…]
Create a routine or container for your writing practice, but don’t be afraid to experiment and refine. Being a creature of habit is useful for writers, but we don’t have to be locked in.
Photo by Black ice from Pexels
by Jenna | Jul 16, 2021 | ScriptMag Articles
Welcome to the next installment of my “Ask the Coach” column on Script Mag!
This month’s question is about whether to abandon a current script in favor of a new idea, or not:
“I recently committed to working on a particular script idea, and almost instantly became fascinated by another story entirely. Should I move to the new idea? Or is this a distraction getting in my way?”
Great question. Ultimately, this is a choice no one else can make for you, but here are some possibilities about what’s going on, and some possible strategies to consider. [more…]
When it comes to choosing what to focus on, and possibly letting go of a current idea, there’s a lot to reflect on. Brand, career, preference, genre, instinct, market, and more. And because there’s often a fine line between recognizing resistance versus intuition, pay attention to how and when new ideas come cropping up. The beauty of writing is how it begets new ideas. It’s your job as a creator to corral that surging herd into a manageable strategy that works for you.
by Jenna | Apr 18, 2021 | ScriptMag Articles
Welcome to the next installment of my “Ask the Coach” column on Script Mag!
This month’s question is specifically about finishing, and when — or if — to give up on a project:
“How can I deal with the indecision that comes with looking at what I’m writing and reaching a point at which I say, “I never should have started this in the first place — no one will care about this, this is unoriginal, this has no chance of selling, what was I thinking?” I don’t see a point at continuing and then go on to the next potentially shiny object. Very frustrating and totally within my control. What do you recommend?”
Great question! In order to help you answer it, I have some questions for you.
“The first thing to consider is whether or not this inner voice speaking up is the voice of resistance, or the voice of intuition.”
For my four questions to consider and my full answer,
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
