Just Do It: Write
Oy. How many times have you heard that piece of advice?
But the funny thing is — it’s true. Or better yet, it’s the only way the writing gets done.
So hats off to several people who have, unbeknownst to them, nudged me to get a lot of writing done this week:
- over 4,000 words on my new novel
- 19 days of querying my novels
- in conversation with an agent on a particular story
Hats off to Chris Brogan, marketing genius. I’ve heard much about him, though only today read his post on how he writes over 4,000 words a day that impressed me greatly. Novelists take note!
Also hats off to Bryan Franklin, executive coach extraordinaire, and his brand of just-do-it. I love this post: his notion of just move the ball forward, no need to score a touchdown, all wrapped in magic and sexy dangerous charm.
Lastly, I need to give a huge shout out to the women who lead by example — way different than how men teach. (I notice I don’t often celebrate the women in my life because they don’t stand out as teachers, and it’s because we all teach and learn from each other!)
- Thank you to ALL of my writing colleagues and friends at the San Francisco Romance Writer’s of America chapter. It’s because of your support and example that I was able to get my new novel started on Saturday. That moment of collective brainstorming rocked my world!
- Thank you to Cheryl Liquori, marketing coach, and fellow Breakfast Blogging Club founder. Your spontaneity, playfulness and honesty helped me move the ball forward this afternoon. I’m glad that I called, and that you were nearby. 🙂
Lastly, but not leastly, I give a hats off to myself for doing the hustle and enjoying it!
Question for discussion: (or pick your own!) How are you doing the hustle AND enjoying it? In what way are you moving the ball forward? How you you just writing, just getting it done?
Well I’m not anywhere near on par w/ all the authors you coach, hang out with, etc. But I do try to write a blog a week and an article a week for an Expat forum I’m a member of, and even on that small scale it does take commitment. There are weeks when I’m so busy I don’t know how I’ll squeeze the time in to write. Then there are weeks when I have a block. But after I “get er done,” there’s such a sense of accomplishment – that’s what motivates me week after week, waiting for that feeling! Great blog Beth! And oh, I love Cheryl too!
Sharon Hiebing
Following Your Dream Compass
Hi Sharon, Oh! Thanks for the compliments. And I do have to say that what you see in me and the authors I hang out with, etc. is also in you! Yep! And here’s to that sense of accomplishment. I raise a glass to that. For me that’s what it’s all about! I’ll tell Cheryl we’re talking about her. :-0
It seems like the trick is, what’s the “IT”?
The question “What’s the right IT that I should be getting done?” is actually just the manifestation of fear. It is the home-state of all creatives to be afraid of your own creation. The story of Dr. Frankenstein actually applies to us all. When you sit down to create, fear starts to well up in the parts of you that are numbed out. Human beings take unfelt feelings as fuel for meaningless unanswerable questions – we have to have an explanation for everything! So we say “I don’t know what to write”. We really mean, “I’m afraid of what I might write.”
What’s the right blog post to write? More Fear.
What’s the right way to start on my book? Fear.
What’s the right way to talk to her? Fear.
What’s the right business for me to start? Fear.
The answer to all of these questions is: Write the one that comes out when you start writing. That is why the only good advice I’ve ever heard about writing is: Write.
It seems like the trick is, what’s the “IT”?
The question “What’s the right IT that I should be getting done?” is actually just the manifestation of fear. It is the home-state of all creatives to be afraid of your own creation. The story of Dr. Frankenstein actually applies to us all. When you sit down to create, fear starts to well up in the parts of you that are numbed out. Human beings take unfelt feelings as fuel for meaningless unanswerable questions – we have to have an explanation for everything! So we say “I don’t know what to write”. We really mean, “I’m afraid of what I might write.”
What’s the right blog post to write? More Fear.
What’s the right way to start on my book? Fear.
What’s the right way to talk to her? Fear.
What’s the right business for me to start? Fear.
The answer to all of these questions is: Write the one that comes out when you start writing. That is why the best advice I’ve ever heard about writing is: Write.
Bryan, Write on!
The best “its” move things forward. My favorite “its” are those things that help me grow. Because I’m a business man, I tend to think of growth in these ways:
* relationship-based growth – do I make more connections and potentially friends from this?
* personal development – do I learn something that will sustain me in the future from this? Does this sustain my body or soul or mind?
* financial growth – is this something that helps my family eat so that I can focus on my passions?
The “its” I work on tend to fall into those categories.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BethBarany, BethBarany. BethBarany said: Just Do It: Write — my post on the topic. What do you think? http://bit.ly/apLxwM […]