Tag: writing success

5 Writing rituals for success #MFRWauthor

Writing books is not magicWhen I first saw the topic for the week, writing rituals, I had to stop and think. I don’t have any writing rituals. I know that writing a book takes work—it’s not magic (darn it!). But I have trouble thinking of it as a job to do every day. I’ve let my dreams fizzle without intending to. Anyway, because I have no writing rituals of my own, I looked up the topic and found this great article in a 2015 HuffPost article.

Author Jennifer Blanchard has created a killer process made of routine and ritual that keeps her focused and creative. I like her points! I’m going to try to work her ideas into my day…and maybe finish that stupid book I’ve been halfheartedly working on for a year. Here is what Jennifer does for herself:

  • Write before I do anything else (Routine). Write before you do anything else—put your writing first. It’s important. Treat it as such, like John does. See? He starts every day writing. I like that routine, John!

Start your day writing

  • Write five days a week at least (Routine). Everyone needs a break. Pick a day or two where you don’t write or don’t write as much, but success requires action. Be sure to write every other day!
  • Release fears, doubts, and excuses (Ritual). Our topic a couple of weeks ago was how fear is our greatest enemy. Jennifer recommends an action—write down your fears, your self-doubts, and excuses that allow you to justify not writing, and burn them. Let them go. They’re holding you back.
  • Acting “as if” (Ritual). This explanation struck me between the eyes. Hubby has said so many times that I get up to the edge of making my Writing as an important businesswriting matter and then I back off. Jennifer asks in this point, if you were a bestselling author, would you put your writing “off all the time or would you site down every day and write?” Wow. I really want to follow through on this point!
  • Amping up your mindset (Ritual). Simply put, believe in yourself. Don’t let preconceived notions about what you can or can’t do keep you from achieving your writing goals. Jennifer suggests making two columns on a piece of paper. On the left, list negative notions about being a successful writer. On the right, list the counter thought to the negative. Then adopt the ideas on the right. For me, I would list the self-doubt on the left that I can never measure up to friends of mine who are authors. On the right I need to say that I can be the best writer I can be. Then I need to adopt that notion. Affirmations work!

All in all, I found this article right when I needed it. I’m sending Jennifer a thank you note! 😉 We all need aids to reach our goals for writing. Jennifer’s process starts with routine and then uses the positive thinking that comes with the rituals. Find a routine that works for you. Then make the affirmations and believe them. What do you have to lose?

Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.

Dee
Mystic Desire: A collection of supernatural tales sure to keep you up at night, peering into the shadows! Or just wide awake, reading.
Only a Good Man Will Do
Naval Maneuvers

“The Call” #MFRWauthor

I haven’t had the pleasure of getting “The Call”—meaning from an agent or big time publisher. But I know people who have and to me, the only

Publishing contract

changes I’ve noticed is that they’re busier than ever, and, as with anytime someone gets a new job or position, their attention and time is necessarily taken up with new people. And they travel more, going to more conventions and such because it’s also part of the job that is writing. However, the authors I know who have been published with big-name companies are still friendly and inordinately helpful. Authors in general are a wonderful group of people!

I have been published for quite a while, and I hope those I know can say the same about me—that I’m friendly and helpful when I can be.

I will say, those working with larger companies than I have mostly earned decent money, allowing them freedom from worry and the chance to do things they weren’t able to do before finding their success. Writing has Successful authorgiven one the opportunity to live where she wants and to help her child attend the college of her choice. I know another who is able to spend more time with her family than when she worked a 9-5 job.

But for all of us, I think success in writing—whether in a large publisher or small, with or without an agent—has known a sense of accomplishment and well-being that can’t be found doing any other thing. I’m so grateful that I found writing and whatever success I have. It’s a blessing!

Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.

Dee
Only a Good Man Will Do: Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!

Naval Maneuvers: When a woman requires an earth-shattering crush of pleasure to carry her away, she can’t do better than to call on the US Navy. Sorry, Marines!