Getting motivated to write

Maybe you’ve heard the story about Michelangelo and the block of marble that would one day be his statue of David. Some important guy – a prince or something – heard that Michelangelo hadn’t done anything with the marble even though he’d had it for months. The man went to see about this himself and found the artist just standing there, staring at the huge block of stone. “What are you doing?” asked the visitor.

Michelangelo replied, “I’m working.”

I imagine Michelangelo was thinking, planning, visualizing, dreaming up and rejecting ideas, preparing himself to create. He really was working!

A lot of a writer’s work is invisible, too, because it goes on inside the mind. But too many times we tell ourselves we’re doing the Michelangelo thing when we’re really just stalling around. Writing is tough. It’s hard to start writing. It’s hard to keep writing. It’s hard to rewrite as much as you should.

Here are some ideas for getting and staying motivated. You’ll have to figure out what works for you, but hopefully one or more of these suggestions will help!

Set a reasonable goal.Okay, everybody tries setting goals. The problem is that most writers set pie-in the-sky goals that are just too hard to meet. (Like you’re going to get up a four in the morning every day and work on your novel!) You need to set a goal you can actually achieve. And if you really have trouble getting yourself to write, make your goal so easy that you’d feel ashamed to miss it. That way you’ll get somewhere with your writing even if it is just a little at a time – and you can feel proud when you overachieve!

Lose the not-worth-it attitude.It’s wonderful to have a whole hour, a whole afternoon, a whole day to write. (I was so happy when I was able to quit teaching and write!) But usually real life doesn’t allow that. It’s easy to feel there’s no point in even trying to write when you have tight time limits. Why, you’ll barely get started! And you certainly won’t get very far! And the end is nowhere in sight! Why bother? But even though it’s slow and inefficient, writing in little pieces can really work. Eventually you’ll write a whole something. Keep waiting until you have plenty of time, and you’ll eventually write…nothing whatsoever.

Work on several projects at a time.
It seems counterintuitive, but working on several pieces of writing at once can be easier than concentrating on just one. When you have a single writing project, hitting a snag can stop you cold. You sit there for ages, unable to decide what to write next, getting more and more discouraged until you finally quit, never to return to the computer until you’ve worked through the problem, which, face it, could take months. But if you keep several projects in the works, you can set aside a piece that’s not working and move on to something else. And something else if you have problems with that piece. Having several projects also makes it easier to start writing because you have a choice of possible projects.

Make the job fit.To keep yourself working for all of your valuable writing period, match your writing tasks to your personality and energy level. If you’re someone who works best when you’re fresh then start writing as soon as you hit your desk. Don’t squander your most productive time on checking your email, printing address labels, doing research, and the like. You can turn to those tasks later when you’re getting tired. Having some easier jobs at that time can keep you from quitting early. If you’re someone who needs to settle in a bit first, then go ahead and do some of those jobs. Just be sure to watch the clock so you don’t piddle away your time.

Refresh!
When you’re wrestling with a story, taking a moment away can really help. You can do that by setting the story aside and working on another writing project. (See #3.) Doing something unrelated to writing can help, too, so you might just step away from your desk for a few minutes, get a cup of coffee, sit on your deck awhile, or walk the dog. But be careful – and honest with yourself. If a certain activity tends to lead you into the temptation of just quitting for the day, don’t even start it. Substitute a less tempting activity and set a time limit for it.
You can keep your writing energy up over time by refreshing yourself with some nonverbal activities. Art classes, hobbies, and sports give you a break from all those words, words, words so you can come back to writing feeling renewed and open to new ideas.

Join a critique group.Getting together regularly with other writers is one of the most motivating things you can do. Reading other people’s work inspires you to write yourself. The support you get from writing friends keeps you going. Other writers’ suggestions help you improve your work which makes you want to write more. And needing material for your meetings encourages you to write on a routine schedule.

End with a jumpstart.
When you reach the end of one writing session, set things up so it’ll be easier to get started next time. Some writers stop in the middle of something – an exciting scene, an interesting dialogue, or even a sentence! I sometimes jot a few notes about where I’m planning to go next: a few words about plot, a snippet of possible dialogue, a question. If you’re using some kind of outline, check off what you’ve finished. Even just straightening up your desk and setting out what you need next time can help you get a good start.

Be nice to yourself.You’re trying to do something really hard so cut yourself some slack. Gag that critical inner voice, and take joy in what you’ve written. Write as much as you can but don’t hate yourself if that darn stupid real life gets in the way. When you can’t write, let your mind imagine, dream, plan, and prepare what you’ll write next. Who knows? You might be working on your masterpiece!

For more about writing, visit http://www.dianarjenkins.bravehost.com

Invisible Again!

A romantic evening. A trendy restaurant dripping with ambiance. A unique and tasty meal. A cup of coffee would really top things off.

When the waitress comes to clear our dishes, we'll ask for the coffee. And maybe a slice of something sinful.

We wait.

The waitress is not coming to clear the table. She's not even bringing our check. We try to catch her eye as she passes, but she walks by without a glance. We signal to her as she turns from another table, but she does not notice. Even a loud "Excuse me!" does not attract her attention.

I look at him. He looks at me.

"It's happening again," he says.

"Yes," I say. "Once more we've become . . . INVISIBLE!"

Fortunately, invisible people can see each other ‑‑ they needn't feel alone in their plight. When we're invisible, my guy and I discuss the shrinking size of our server's gratuity. If we remain invisible too long, we leave an invisible tip!

Restaurants seem to be the worst place for invisibility. (Is it something in the food?) We once ate a delicious lunch in the garden courtyard of a Santa Fe restaurant. At first, we did not realize we had become invisible. When we ran out of tea and had to suck ice cubes to combat the spicy food, we knew it had happened again. We would have tried the usual things to get our waiter's attention, but he had disappeared as soon as he served the food, though once I may have glimpsed him from afar.

When we went to the hostess to complain about the poor service and to get our check, she explained everything. "The computer is down," she said.

I suppose our waiter was some kind of hologram.

Invisibility must be contagious. I spread it to a friend when we went out to lunch one day. We became invisible as soon as the waitress brought our food. Then two men at another table became invisible, too. And right before our eyes, it happened to a young couple at a third table ‑‑ they were sucking ice cubes between bites of nachos.

The only visible person in the room was the waitress's friend. The waitress stood at her table and chatted like they were at a slumber party, oblivious to glares, hand signals, or any other attempts to get her attention. When the two men resorted to banging their silverware on the metal lamp above their table, she did look in their direction and narrow her eyes as if she thought she saw something. Then she shook her head and went back to her conversation.

Invisibility can strike at other places besides restaurants. A typical scenario: I wait at a cash register, intending to buy a small part for a big item I bought at this very establishment. The salesman is with another customer, one who may buy a big, expensive item – perhaps even the very item I bought. It will take this customer at least twenty minutes to decide whether to make this major purchase.

Here is an opportunity for the salesman to show how the store believes in good service after the sale. Does he take advantage of this situation, impressing a potential customer and keeping an old one? No‑‑once again, I am . . . INVISIBLE. The salesman could see me just fine when I was thinking about spending a lot of money, but the smallness of my current purchase has shrunk me into nothingness.

It doesn't always happen that way. In fact, the service industries serve well most of the time. But I become invisible too often these days.

I only hope all the good salespeople, servers, and clerks don't catch what I've got!

(originally published in Laf!)

Read Along with Highlights

Did you know that Highlights for Children offers online audio/read-along versions of many stories? I didn't either, but I think it's a great idea! Here's one of my stories as an example, but be sure to check them all out!

Saints Said It!

"There is nothing good that does not meet with opposition, and it should not be valued any less because it encounters objections." Those words of wisdom come from Saint Vincent de Paul, pictured above.  For more inspirational quotes from the saints, check out my new Facebook page Saints Said It. 

Blog Hop!

 

Last week my writer friend Peggy Archer invited me to participate in a blog hop interview. She sent me some interview questions to answer (see below). Then I'm supposed to tag three other writers to answer questions, too. Check out Peggy's answers to the questions on her blog, posted  July 2. Feel free to leave her a comment, and tell her I sent you!

Here are my answers:

What are you working on right now?

I'm finishing up Tackling Tough Topics with Faith and Fiction, a unique resource book for adults who work with young teens. The book is designed to help teachers and parents introduce sensitive topics and guide kids in using their faith when facing tough challenges. (The topics really are tough to talk about: pornography, modesty, substance abuse, cyberbullying, materialism, dishonesty, etc.) Each chapter includes a relatable story about the topic as well as helpful material like background information, a suggested activity, discussion questions, and scripture references. Pauline Books and Media will be releasing the book next spring. 

Why do you write what you do?

I was a teacher for many years, and I look at writing for kids as another way to teach. I particularly like writing fiction because it doesn't just tell young readers what they should do. Stories draw kids in and show them how to apply values to "real life."

How does your writing process work?

Very slowly! I decide where I'm going – what the main character's journey is – but it takes me a good while and a lot of rewriting to figure out how he/she is getting there.

What is the hardest part about writing?

Rewriting and rewriting and rewriting on and on and on until the story is the best I can make it. (See above.) If I'm not sick of a story, then I haven't worked on it enough! It's tough, but when a story is finished…aah! What a great feeling!
Thanks for the tag, Peggy! Check out Peggy's answers on her blog.
Now I'm tagging the following three children's authors. Be sure to check out their blog posts on these dates:
Posting on Monday, July 15: Virginia Wright
Posting on Wednesday, July 17: Donna Shepherd
Posting on Friday, July 19: Sherry Ellis

Saints Said It!

"No one heals himself by wounding another." Those words of wisdom come from Saint Ambrose, pictured above. For more inspirational quotes from the saints, check out my new Facebook page Saints Said It.

Writing is a pain!

You know you've felt the same way sometimes. And so have many other fine and discriminating minds! I love collecting quotes -- especially ones about writing. Below are some of my favorites about the pain of writing. Do you have any to share?

How to start a novel: First thing, defrost the refrigerator. (Ernest Hemingway)

Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank piece of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. (Gene Fowler)

Good stories are not written. They are rewritten. (Phyllis Whitney)

I only write when I'm inspired, and I make sure I'm inspired every morning at 9 a.m.
(Peter DeVries)

Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. (Pablo Picasso -- Hey, it applies to writing, too.)

Dear Editor
Why do you keep sending my stories back? You're supposed to print them and make me rich and famous. What is it with you?  (Snoopy)