Winter doesn't agree with me. It makes me want to hide and avoid everyone and everything I love...including my work.
So here's where I tell you about June Faver. She's a writer from Texas. A BUSY writer. She's got a few novels out there now, and do you know why? Because she has a 100 word a day rule. In fact, if you view her Facebook page, she's on day 1293. That means writing 100 words day...whether you feel like it or not.
I don't remember who said it, but someone quipped that "You can always fix a bad page, but not a blank one." So true.
So I've been adopting that practice.
It doesn't feel like a writer's block. I know what I need to say, but I need to get out of bed, wash walls, do laundry and dishes, market both 'Thoeba' and the upcoming 'Aphrodite's War', answer my e-mail, feed my cats and troll, create new bookmarks, make time for friends and family. Don't forget my role as a paranormal investigator and client care consultant , yada, yada. Sometimes it just feels like I don't have the time and I can't seem to get started.
This isn't the last time I heard the 100 word rule, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Because it works.
Imagine your tired, non-enthusiastic self sitting at your computer. Just sitting there. Don't stress out! It's only 100 words...you can always fix it later. Just let go, and do it. Start a sentence. Then another one. Do you know what happens? Sometimes you only write one or two hundred words. Sometimes you find your way back.
Isn't it true that everyone has a bad day in their career? Isn't it true that we all get the occasional 'blahs'? We are in a unique position as writers. WE can change things up. WE are the boss.
I wrote 800 words yesterday, and I'm on my way back. How are you doing?
Photo by: Stuart Miles FreeDigitalPhotos.net
That's an awesome rule, Donna! Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like. I'm finding it pretty effective.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna! I'm so glad I infected you with my disease...I think it's a mania, actually.
ReplyDeleteI started when I had a perfectly horrible job in healthcare, working for even more horrible people. I worked 4-10 hour days and should have been happy to have those 3 days off to write, but by the time Friday pm came, I was depressed, totally blown out and couldn't even recall what I had been writing the previous weekend. I finally girded my figurative loin and made a commitment to write the 100 words a day for 100 days. All I wanted to do was stay in the story I was trying to write. A lot of the words I wrote were not wonderful words, but it was Nora Roberts who said, "You can't edit a blank page." So I got to my 100 days and by then it was a habit, and I'm still going. Check out my Amazon page to see where all this writing has led me. http://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Faver/e/B0050KEWMM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Sending positive thoughts your way. Please post on my page as to your progress. I'm always here to cheer you on. *hugs*
Thank you so much June! Both for sharing your story and for the inspiration. You rock!
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