35 Years a Writer, 35 Lessons Learned

by Jane McBride

 

 

 
 
(Note:  This article is from the new January 2018 edition of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing Monthly.  To learn more about this essential tool for all kidlit writers, click here.)

 
 
 

Thirty-five years have passed since my first writing was published. Thirty-five years in the crazy business of writing have taught me a number of things. Thirty-five years have also taught me that I have much still to learn. But today we’ll start with what I’ve learned thus far. My hope is this list will shorten your own learning curve.

 

1. Writing is a business. Treat it as such.

 

2. Treat yourself as a business person. If you don’t respect yourself as both a writer and a business person, how can you expect others to treat you that way?

 

3. Keep records. Keep very, very good records. You never know when you’ll be audited, as my husband and I were five years ago.

 

4. Keep on top of your taxes. Do you need to make quarterly tax payments? Penalties are no fun.

 

5. Keep track of your expenses. Do you think that it’s too much trouble to record your mileage to a meeting or postage costs? Think again. Every penny counts.

 

6. Invest in yourself. If you can swing it, attend writers’ conferences. Subscribe to industry periodicals such as CBI, The Writer, Children’s Bookshelf (twice-weekly newsletter electronic newsletter from Publishers Weekly), etc.

 

7. Invest in good equipment. You wouldn’t try to cook professionally without the right tools. The same applies to writing.

 

8. Network. Even if you are an introvert, as many writers are, learn to network. You needn’t become a social butterfly at conferences, but don’t spend all of your time in your room. Engage others in conversation.

 

9. Have a support group. Writing is a solitary business. One of the best things you can do for yourself and for your career is to find a group of like-minded people. If you belong to a professional organization, see if there is a chapter in your area. If there isn’t, consider starting one. Or join an online group.

 

10. Find a mentor. A mentor can guide you in your writing, offer critiques, and tell you when you’ve gone off track.

 

11. Be a mentor. I’m a firm believer in giving back. Mentor a less experienced member of your writers group. Mentor a young writer at your local high school. You’ll learn much in teaching others.

 

12. Work to first learn and then improve your craft. Do you expect a surgeon to decide he wants to practice medicine and then start operating the next day? Of course not. You want a surgeon to have the necessary training and skills before he performs an operation. Then why do we expect to be skilled writers without learning how to write? Take classes. Attend workshops and conferences. Above all, practice your craft and write.

 

13. Don’t take the first offer that comes your way. In our eagerness to sell a book, especially a first book, it’s tempting to take the first offer, even a bad one.

 

14. Be wary of scams that pop up in the industry such as book doctors and others who claim they can fast-track your career. Some are legitimate; some are not. Always do your research before paying anyone to edit your manuscript or help you self-publish.

 

15. Remember that no agent is better than a bad agent. Don’t be in such a hurry to sign with an agent. Do your due diligence and check out any agent or agency before you sign.

 

16. Understand that a contract with an agent does not mean you are married to him or her, but that you will be “bound together” for the lifetime of any book he or she sells for you.

 

17. Don’t burn your bridges. Leave any agency or publishing house with good feelings on both sides. Any bad-mouthing about editors or agents on your part can and probably will come back to bite you.

 

18. Keep in touch. When an editor leaves your publishing house, it pays to stay in touch. The same goes for agents and other industry professionals.

 

19. Volunteer. Volunteer at your writers’ chapter, at conferences. Volunteer at bookfairs and the library. You will not only be giving back, you will also be making valuable contacts.

 

20. Establish working hours. When you’re writing, you’re working. Let your family and friends know that.

 

21. Don’t be afraid to say no. A few years ago, I received an offer to buy a book from a new publishing company. Something felt fishy about the offer, and I turned it down. In the end, I’m glad I did. The company proved not to be reputable.

 

22. Don’t be afraid to say no to family and friends. This goes back to treating yourself as a professional and expecting others to do the same. It’s tempting for others, when they learn that you work from home, to say, “Since you’re not working, will you ‘Let the repairman in,’ ‘Watch my sick child,’ Bake seven dozen cupcakes for the school bake sale,’ etc.” Smile politely and say, “I’m sorry, but I am working.”

 

23. Give yourself a break now and then. It’s wonderful to write every day (or whatever your schedule is), but it’s okay to take a break once in a while. You need to experience life to write about it.

 

24. Don’t beat yourself up when you can’t make your word count. Double down the next day. The important thing is that you keep writing.

 

25. Treat rejection as part of the learning curve. Rejections are a way of life for many writers, including me. After selling 36 books and hundreds of stories and articles, I still receive rejections with depressing frequency.

 

26. Respect your editor and/or agent. Don’t pester them with constant calls, texts, or emails. It’s okay to stay in contact, just don’t overwhelm them.

 

27. Meet your deadlines. Publishing houses operate on strict deadlines. If you don’t meet yours, you may put a crimp in the entire schedule.

 

28. If you can’t meet a deadline, let your editor know as soon as possible. Editors realize that emergencies happen. Give yours a heads-up if it becomes apparent that you can’t meet a deadline.

 

29. Be prepared to have financial dry spells. What happens if your last book doesn’t sell well? Can you still make the mortgage and buy groceries? (See # 30.)

 

30. Think twice before quitting your day job. Royalties can be delayed and/or be spotty. It helps to have the cushion of a regular paycheck to fall back on.

 

31. Know how many books you can reasonably expect to produce in a year. Set a realistic goal and then do your best to meet it.

 

32. Don’t be so quick to send off a book. Revise and polish, revise and polish again.

 

33. Stay current. Know what’s happening in your genre. Keep up with the latest trends. You don’t have to write to them, but you should know what is going on.

 

34. Find an outlet outside of writing. Writing is not just a business, but a form of expression as well. It helps to have another outlet to replenish your well of creativity.

 

35. Keep learning. A woman in my writing chapter expressed surprise when I mentioned that I had just returned from a writers’ conference. “With all the books you’ve published, I’m amazed that you that you still attend conferences,” she said. I replied, “I hope I never feel that I don’t need to learn something.”

 

 

Well, there you have it—35 lessons learned, many of them the hard way!

 

---

 

Jane McBride is the author of 36 novels, numerous short stories and articles including pieces in 16 Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies . Follow her writing blog at http://ift.tt/2EqH3z5

 

 
 

‘The Best Things in Life Are on the Other Side of Terror’

If fear is holding you back from pursuing your dreams, listen to what Will Smith has to say.

 

 

 

The post ‘The Best Things in Life Are on the Other Side of Terror’ appeared first on   WriteForKids - Writing Children's Books.

What’s YOUR Writing Profile? Find Out Now!

By Jon Bard

 

No two writers are created alike.  Some of us are masters of planning and organization.  Others among us live by improvisation and spontaneity.  And still others work somewhere in the middle.

 

You probably heard of writers being described as “plotters” or “pantsters” (as in “seat of their pants”).   And perhaps you’ve even identified as one or the other.  But it’s never really gone deeper than that.

 

Until now.

 

We’ve just created something that will help you truly understand how you operate as a writer, lay out the dangers you might face as a result, highlight the special opportunities you have and provide specific strategic steps to make your writing career more fun, more successful and, hopefully, more lucrative.

 

 

 

 

Introducing the Writing Profile.  It’s a fun, brief quiz that will pinpoint exactly the kind of writer you are and it comes with a  personalized report that will help you adjust, adapt and thrive.

 

And yep, it’s completely free.  

 

It’s our gift to the writing community.  So please, after you take it and see how cool it is, feel free to share it far and wide.

 

Here’s the link:  

 

 http://ift.tt/2pD6k5v

 

 

After you get your report, come back and leave a message in the comments section.  Tell us if you’re a Visionary, Mapmaker or Pathfinder, and what you learned about yourself.

 

Have fun!

 

 

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: What’s YOUR Writing Profile? Find Out Now!

The Surprising Benefits of Rejection

By Guest Author

 

 by Jane Choate

 

“We are all failures. At least the best of us are.”— J. M. Barrie, author

 

Most working writers have extensive experience with rejection. When I complained to my husband Larry one day that I had received five rejections in the mail, he said, “Congratulations. When you’ve received ten in one day, you’ll know that you’re a real writer.” (In those days, rejections came in the form of an SASEs, self -addressed stamped envelopes, which writers carefully enclosed with their submissions. These days, rejections typically come via email. Either way, they are devastating.) I wanted to throw something at him. Actually, I wanted to slap him silly, but I refrained. Barely. “Five rejections isn’t enough?” I yelled at him. “You want me to get ten rejections? How many rejections do I have to get until I get an acceptance?” “As many as it takes.” Larry had reason to know about rejection as he worked to get a start-up engineering business off the ground. In his field, rejections came in the form of clients who didn’t renew contracts.

 

(Just a note: Larry and I are still married, having just celebrated our 43rd anniversary.)

 

This piece of conversation has stayed with me, though it occurred several decades ago. It was early in my writing career. I struggled to fit writing in to a schedule already crowded with the demands of being a full-time mother to five children whose activities ranged from flag football to piano lessons to book club. An occasional acceptance on an article or short story to a small magazine kept me going, that and a determination that I would succeed at writing, no matter what.

 

I’ve progressed in my writing, now receiving more acceptances, but the rejections still come. And, despite my vast experience with them, they still hurt. Sometimes, I think about giving up and becoming a rocket scientist or a special ops soldier or something— anything—easier than being a writer. But I keep writing.

 

Occasionally we hear of writers who have never received a rejection. Privately, I doubt those stories, but they persist. If you are a writer who has never been rejected, you won’t need this article and should promptly ignore it in favor of one that resonates with you. If, on the other hand, you have received rejections, if you are still receiving them, then you may learn something.

 

Now that we’ve discussed the pain of rejection, let’s move on to the positives. Can rejection have benefits? Surprisingly, yes.

 

Rejection develops greater maturity both professionally and personally. I am a better writer and a better person because of the rejections I’ve received. I’ve developed a determination that keeps me going, in writing and in other aspects of life. Those dreaded SASEs with form letters that say, “Thank you for your contribution, but this doesn’t work for us” that showed up in the mail with depressing regularity caused me to grit my teeth and persevere. Likewise, when I suffer a setback in my personal life, I grit my teeth once more and press ahead.

 

Rejection creates resilience. Imagine a writer such as described three paragraphs above who has never been rejected. Everything she turns in is perfect and eagerly gobbled up by editors who can’t get enough of her work. What happens if this gifted writer suddenly does receive a rejection? How does she handle it? Probably not very well. Having never dealt with rejection, she doesn’t understand that it is but one part of the writing life. Those of us who have dealt with rejection for years, even decades, know that rejection does not mean failure. Rejection isn’t permanent; it is temporary, as is success. What counts is what you do after getting a rejection. Do you keep writing and keep submitting? Or do you give up? Giving up is the only true definition of failure.

 

Rejection prompts change. If my work had never been rejected, I would have continued writing as I had in those early years. I would have kept making the same mistakes, kept producing work that was inferior with flat characters, trivial plots without conflict, and banal dialogue. As I think back to some of my earlier manuscripts, I blush in embarrassment and thank the heavens that they were never published.

 

Rejection provides greater opportunities. I was rejected by one publisher over and over and over. One editor took an interest in me, though she had yet to buy a manuscript from me. At the time, I didn’t realize how fortunate I was that she even knew my name, much less found something in my work to catch her attention. I learned of a one-time opportunity, to submit a novella to the publisher. (Because I had kept up on news about this publisher, I knew of the project before many other writers learned of it. Never discount the importance of timing.) It was a trial on the publisher’s part, to see how a 20,000 word novella would do in their publishing model, which normally stuck to full length novels. I decided to go for it. I sent in my novella. The editor in charge of the project was the one who had spent time and effort encouraging me. She read my work and liked it. She offered me a contract and remains friendly with me to this day, nearly 25 years following that sale.

 

Rejection pushes talents. I’ve been told that I have a talent for writing emotion. I’ve also been told that my plotting skills need work. Serious work. Such terms as “inconsistent plotting” and “episodic plotting” have repeatedly shown up in rejection letters. I continue to try to write emotional stories, just as I continue to work on my plotting techniques. I know that if I am to get to the next level in writing, I need to build upon my strengths while, at the same time, improve those areas where I am weak. It is a matter of balance—maintaining your strengths while admitting to and working on weaknesses.

 

Rejection motivates. I’ve been writing for 35 years. Over that period of time, I’ve received hundreds of rejections, ranging from short stories to articles to novels. I’ve also received acceptances. Guess which ones motivated me to keep trying to improve? If you guessed rejections, you’d be right. Don’t get me wrong. Acceptances are great. Upon receiving one, I pat myself on the back, preen a bit, and am tempted more than once to rest upon my laurels, modest though they are. But it is the rejections that keep me writing, calling upon skills that I didn’t know I had. It is the rejections that make me want to do better, to overcome my poor plotting skills, to strengthen my characterization, to craft more realistic dialogue. It is the rejections that make me a better writer. As Benjamin Franklin stated, “The things which hurt, instruct.”

 

Rejection is no fun. I still gnash my teeth when I receive one, still wonder how I can garner so many when I’ve been at this business for such a long time. In the end, though, I keep trying.

 

“Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.”—Abraham Lincoln

 

 

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: The Surprising Benefits of Rejection

Why You Matter — and Why the World So Desperately Needs You

By Jon Bard

Happy 2017!

As writers, we can often feel frustrated, and even overwhelmed, by our perceived smallness.

We look at bestselling authors and marvel at their success, but also beat ourselves up for not having the reach and impact that they do.  We wonder whether our efforts truly matter, and whether the world really needs our contributions.

If we can give you one gift to begin 2017, it would be to erase that sort of thinking from your mind.

Because you matter.

 

Because your work matters.

 

Because it only takes one reader to be changed and moved by your words for you to set in motion a massive impact on this planet.

We like to think that big changes in the world happen only by big people doing big things. But that’s not true at all.  The history of the planet is really the history of the “butterfly effect”.  Of people with vision inspiring others, who then inspire others.

You are a critical part of this cycle, and you absolutely cannot give up and break this chain.  Your butterfly wings can create a hurricane of humanity, decency and hope.

But only if you are willing to fly.

We’d like to share this poem with you.  It’s by Victor Ratner and Moshe Davis, and it so beautifully represents your potential to transform the world.

A candle is a small thing.

But one candle can light another.

And see how its own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other.

You are such a light.

This is your year.  This is our year.   Let’s flap our butterfly wings.  Let’s fly, and make things better.

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: Why You Matter — and Why the World So Desperately Needs You

A New Way Forward for Children’s Writing

By Jon Bard

There are two important things I want to tell you today.  This post may take a few minutes to read, but I promise it will be worth it.

 

First, this:  You know the old Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times”, right?  Well, we certainly do.

 

And, whatever your feelings about events may be, there’s one thing we know.  In uncertain times, it’s children and teens who often feel things the most.  They don’t have an understanding of the complexities of the world, and they don’t have the life experience to put things in their proper perspective.

 

If the world seems a bit scary and uncertain to grownups, imagine how young people are feeling.  They need to know that kindness, common purpose and love are still the fuels that drives humanity, and that, together, we’ll make our way through whatever happens.

 

They need people who can tell them that, and do it in ways that are engaging, entertaining and powerful. They need children’s writers.

 

They need you.

 

We’ll have more to say on this subject soon, but I wanted to share this today, because a lot you need to hear it.  And I needed to express it.

 

So get to work.  Your insight, your compassion and your talents are needed. Right now.

 

 

Which leads me to my second point.  It’s about *how* to put your talents to work.

 

 

You’ve probably heard us talk about Picture Book Blueprint and our upcoming Chapter Book Blueprint. They’re the first of what will be an extensive library of online tools/courses to help you learn to create a great manuscript in whatever genre you want.

 

We created them because we know that so many of you are truly devoted to the idea of writing great books for kids and teens, but you’re confused, intimidated and overwhelmed.  The process seems impenetrable.

 

 

You want to change the world with your words, but you just don’t know where to start.

 

 

So let me take just a moment to explain the Blueprint concept we created, because it can show you a clear path to move past all the frustration and go directly to being an author.  It’s the answer to help ease your mind, allow you to relax and get right into the joyous process of writing your book and connecting with the young people who need you.

 

Here’s the deal…

 

After 27 years, here’s what we’ve come to know about writing:  Learning to write can seem like a long, hard slog.  You just want to write, but it’s like there’s a mountain in the way. It represents the things you don’t know, and the experience you don’t have.

 

There’s no clear path. Just tons of info.  Courses, blog posts, articles, conferences, advice of varying quality from thousands of sources.

 

Everyone tells you “what” to do, but hardly anyone tells you “how” to do it.  As a result, you probably have no clear idea what to do next.

 

 

And, you’re short on time and money.  You don’t have the resources to buy every expensive course, get a Masters Degree or fly around the country attending conferences.  And your hectic life doesn’t give you enough time to pore through all those “how to” books and courses.

 

The Blueprint concept changes everything.  A Writing Blueprint isn’t just another course.  It’s actually a writing system that you’ll use again and again.

 

It’s built on these foundations:

 

1.   Writing Blueprints break every step of the writing process into easy-to-manage pieces.

 

2.  They offer expert video guidance every step of the way.

 

3.  Each step includes worksheets that build on one another, leading to a finished manuscript.

 

4.  The way the worksheets are created assures that the “DNA” of the best books of the particular genre are built into your manuscript.

 

5. Each Blueprint includes a step-by-step self-critique and revision system, with expert guidance.

 

6. When you’re done, you’ll have a finished, polished manuscript, ready to be submitted!

 

 

Here’s the old way of learning how to write a book in a particular genre:

 

• Spend months sifting through information
• Try to figure it out yourself
• Spend tons of money on courses, conferences and books
• Pay for expensive critiques
• Use trial and error while you collect rejection slips and get discouraged

 

Here’s the Blueprint way

 

• Write your manuscript while you learn!
• Get step-by-step instruction from world-class teachers
• Incorporate the DNA of the greatest books directly into your manuscript
• Revise like a pro with video guidance from top critiquers
• Effortlessly create a polished manuscript, ready to submit
• Includes lifetime access – Use it again and again, for each new project

 

Picture Book Blueprint is already transforming the lives of writers around the world (you can see it here http://picturebookblueprint.com)

 

Next Wednesday, we release Chapter Book Blueprint and we’ll be inviting you to join us and actually use the Blueprint in real time to begin your own chapter book.  (Save the date, the live launch webinar is Wednesday, November 16 at 5 PM Pacific.  More details to come soon!)  If you’re interested in writing chapter books and haven’t already checked out our free webinar called “The Magic of Chapter Books”, visit http://writeforkids.org/cbmagic

 

We’re currently developing Writing Blueprints for YA/Middle Grade, Magazine Writing and Self Publishing, and more are on their way.

 

We believe that the Writing Blueprint concept will be the key to get writers out of their own heads and onto the page.  And then, into the hands of the children and young adults who so greatly need your work.

 

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: A New Way Forward for Children’s Writing

Why Every Writer Needs a Purpose — and How to Discover Yours

By Jon Bard

You are standing at the end of a massive field.  In front of you is a giant, steel ball.

You are told that you need to get that ball from one end of the field to the other.   How do you do it?

You have two choices:

1. You can get behind the ball and push, and strain, and huff, and puff in hopes of somehow rolling it across that vast space.

or

2. You can place a giant magnet at the other side of the field, sit back and watch as the big ball glides across the surface by itself.

If sitting down to write has ever felt like you were exhausting yourself trying to unlodge an immovable object, your solution is simple:

YOU NEED YOUR OWN GIANT MAGNET.

And in writing, the giant magnet is this:     Your Writer’s Purpose.


Having a real purpose for sitting down to create will “pull” you toward a completed manuscript, rather than forcing you to push your way to one.

Have you ever gotten into your car to drive toward something that really excited you? The big game?  A concert from your favorite artist?  A rendezvous with your sweetheart?   Chances are, you barely notice the potholes, tolls or traffic tie-ups along the way because your anticipation of what’s coming — the purpose of your trip — is so vibrant.

Now imagine you’re on your way to the post office, or perhaps the dentist’s office.  Your outlook may be just a tad different, yes?  The other drivers are idiots, the ads on the radio are annoying,  your mind starts wandering to all the tasks on your to-do list.  Honestly, you’d just as soon turn around and go home rather than deal with it.

That’s what it’s like to sit down and write without an overarching purpose.  You’re doing it because “you have to” or “you’re expected to” or because you’ll feel guilty if you don’t.  Hardly a recipe for crafting great literature.

On the other hand, if there’s a big reason for your writing, each visit with your computer is another stop in fulfilling your purpose.  It’s not just another day at the keyboard — it’s an exciting piece of an exciting puzzle.

You’re on a  mission.  And you are unstoppable.   That’s the power of having Writer’s Purpose.


Let’s Define Your Writer’s Purpose

“I want to get published” is not a purpose.  It’s a tactic toward fulfilling your purpose.

“I want to make people laugh” is a weak purpose.  It’s barely enough to get you near the keyboard let alone creating something special.

To act as a giant magnet, your Writer’s Purpose must be big, and bodacious and even a little scary to you.  And it must, must, must be about the impact your work will have on the world — not just about you.

Here’s what’s true about a real Writer’s Purpose:

• If focuses on the value and meaning your work will give its readers, and it does it in vibrant and emotional language.
• It’s honest, and connects to your actual work, not a romantic or unrealistic ideal of your work.
• It moves you, and inspires you no matter how often you read it.

Now, let’s build your own Writer’s Purpose, with a series of questions:


Whose life do you want to improve?

Let’s start by making an important statement that all writers need to understand:  No matter what you write, you have the opportunity to improve the lives of the people who read it.    It doesn’t matter whether you are writing a breakthrough self-help book or a book of silly jokes, you are giving real value to your reader.

So, who is that reader?  What are they going through that they need you so much?

Here are some examples:

 

• Children of divorce who are worried about the future
• Teens who are stressed and need a fun outlet
• Young girls who are interested in science
• Pre-teens who love soccer and want to learn more, etc.

What Will You Be Giving Them?

What value will your work give your reader?  Remember, it’s all about them, so focus on what your readers will receive from your books.

Some examples:

 

• Guidance and advice
• Joy and laughter
• Cool facts that will enhance their interests
• Encouragement and support for what they’re going through, etc.

What Are You Showing Them?

As a children’s writer, you have the opportunity to show important things to young readers. (Notice I said show, not tell.  This isn’t about preaching or tacking on “morals” to stories.  It’s about letting your characters and plots convey meaning).

For example:

 

• That they’re not alone
• That preserving the environment is vitally important
• That reading is fun
• That any problem can be overcome, etc.

Why Are YOU Uniquely Qualified to Do These Things?

Now we come back to you, the writer.  For your Writer’s Purpose to resonate, you must not only believe that what you’re doing is important.  You must also believe that it’s important that you do it!   You must get into the mindset that says this:

 

If I don’t sit down to write today, all the readers whose lives can be enhanced will suffer because of that decision.  That’s because I have important things to convey and, if I don’t do it, no one else will.  Because no one else can.

 

Pretty bold statement, isn’t it?  But it’s also true.  That’s because you are unique.  No one else writes like you, no one else has your life experiences and no one else has a Writer’s Purpose that comes from the same place as yours.


Finally:  How Will Your Work Make the World a Better Place?

Every great book, article or blog post you’ve read has somehow made your world a better place.  Perhaps it was in a modest way (you got a good recipe for eggplant), in a  lighthearted way (you laughed out loud during a trying day), in an absorbing way (that new spy novel made the two hour wait at the DMV fly right by) or in a profound way (you discovered something about yourself that changed your outlook forever).

Take your experience and multiply it by how ever many other folks read that same piece of writing.  Do you start to see the compounding power of the written word?


So now, dream big, and answer this question:

When I am published and widely read, the world will be a better place because I have given it ____________

You have so much to give, so many lives to touch.   It’s time to do the work.

 

So let’s build that giant magnet.  Use the answers from the previous questions to complete your Writer’s Purpose:

My Writer’s Purpose is to improve the lives of ____________  by giving them ________________ and showing them that ___________________ .  

I am uniquely qualified to do this because no one else _____________ the way I do.   

When I am published and widely read, the world will be a better place because I have given it ____________


Use this as a beginning, and play with it.  Create a Writer’s Purpose that really speaks to you, that really compels you to get away from the TV and to your keyboard.  That makes you excited and proud to be a writer, and gets you motivated to keep dreaming up new ideas and expanding your reach.

This is your giant magnet.  May it pull you to great things.

Photo credit: BobMical via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: Why Every Writer Needs a Purpose — and How to Discover Yours

Five Minutes to Change Your Life Forever

By Jon Bard

I recently heard something that has impacted me in a profound way.  I wanted to share it because it might do the same for you.

 

It’s from an author named Hal Elrod, who said this:

 

Where you are today is the result of choices you made in the past.

 

Where you will be tomorrow will be the result of the choices you make today.

 

Wow.

 

Here’s what it means to me:

 

We tell ourselves things about ourselves all the time as if they are set in stone.  Stuff like…

 

“I’m terrified of putting myself out there and being judged….”

“I’m not disciplined enough to write every day….”

“I’m too shy to ever speak in public…”

“I’m not meant to stand out or be famous.  That’s for other people, but not me…..”

“I’m too old to succeed….”

“I’m not educated enough to succeed….”

“I’m not talented enough to succeed….”

 

                                                        and on and on and on.

 

We view these statements as objective truths, as if someone out there has decreed them and we have no choice but to live our lives in accordance with them.

 

But wait — that’s really not at all true!    We are the ones who have decreed these things, and we are the ones who choose to remember them every day and live small lives as a result of these phony beliefs.

 

And — here’s the key thing — if we choose to believe them, we can also choose to discard them!

 

Since hearing Hal say that, I’ve started making a list of the “truths” about myself that I’ve always believed – just 5 minutes here and there as they occur to me.

 

Things about my commitment to health, success and living a bigger life that have kept me from reaching my potential.  Stuff that was ingrained in me at a young age by things people may have said, and things that I’ve told myself over the years to stay inside my comfort bubble.

 

And, for each one, I’m simply asking:

 

• Is this actually true or is it a false belief that I can discard?
• How can I choose today to leave this belief behind and move forward boldly?

 

It’s an exciting process, and very, very illuminating.   I invite you to do the same as you think ahead toward the New Year.

 

You might just find that most of the “facts” you’ve come to believe about yourself are little more than falsehoods that you choose to believe about yourself.

 

Try leaving them in the dust and choosing something different, and watch your career — and your life — blossom in 2016.

 

Fondly,

 

PS:  I have a hidden motive for talking to you about this.  As writers for children and teens you are uniquely capable of sharing this thinking with young people, who can benefit greatly from leading lives without phony self-limiting beliefs.  How can you inform your writing with this message, and spark your readers on to great things?

 

Something to ponder, isn’t it?

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: Five Minutes to Change Your Life Forever

Trick Yourself into Finding Time to Write

By Guest Author

by Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.

 

How do you find time to write?  Many people struggle through their day-to-day lives, only to discover at the end of the week they haven’t taken five minutes away from the madding crowds. But writers need to write on a regular basis.

 

Conditions are rarely optimal.  While we fantasize about writing a few hours a day, this isn’t reality for most people.  Very few people make their living entirely from writing, and even those who do have to deal with the business side of it—from sending out query letters to answering fan mail.

 

So, how do you deal with it? Many writers have a variety of other responsibilities to deal with, yet they still manage to finish projects.  A perfect example is Jane Yolen, who has more than 300 books in print.  What can we learn from these literary superstars?

 

Here’s an idea: Trick yourself into thinking you have time to write.  But is it that simple?

 

I decided to try an experiment.  I was grading papers at a local bookstore. I had 30 papers to grade that night, and realistically I didn’t have time to write.  I only had time to correct, correct, correct.

 

However, I took a 15 minute creativity break. It saved my sanity.  Taking that break was better for everyone, including my students; it allowed me to give them better comments on the papers they worked so hard on. Even if I didn’t finish all 30 papers in one night, it wasn’t the end of the world; it turned out not be a very realistic goal to begin with!

 

So, how can you trick yourself into finding writing time? Here are some tips.

 

Give yourself five minutes.  You’d be surprised at what you can do in five minutes.  Pull out a pen and let your thoughts unravel.  Remember, five minutes isn’t even one percent of a day.  Now, how do you feel afterward?

 

Find ten minutes here and there.  Now that you’ve managed to snag five minutes out of the day, why not try for ten minutes?  Don’t you deserve a short break every day?  I’ve seen physical fitness plans for sale on QVC which highlight a ten minute workout, once or twice a day.  Why not try this approach?  It’s far more manageable than you may think.

 

Write while you are doing other things.  If you are watching your child’s baseball game, why not pull out a notebook and write between plays? Many times you feel like that two hour period is booked solid, but there are short breaks. Between innings, you can write your heart out without missing a single pitch.

 

Write to a prompt.  Sometimes it’s less intimidating if you write to a prompt. You don’t have to commit to even writing a page response; just write a paragraph.  You can even do this between commercial breaks, if you are watching TV.  Why not give it a try?  You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish in just a few minutes.

 

Take a careful look at your schedule. Chances are you aren’t using your time as wisely as you could.  For instance, how often do you check your email?  Couldn’t you spend this time writing?  If you are checking your email ten times a day, try to cut it to three times day and utilize this time for writing instead.

 

Be realistic. If your goals are too lofty, you may not be able to accomplish anything.  So be realistic with your expectations, and hope for the best.  You may not be able to write an entire book series, but you could start working on a picture book.

 

Write on a consistent basis, and don’t feel badly if you don’t write every day.  The best projects are accomplished one day at a time.  If you write regularly, you’ll make great progress on your larger goals.

 

Just do it.  If you think of excuses not to write, you’ll never get anything done. Think of how many great books never would have been written if their authors had turned on a television every night. Just write!

 

Dr. Suzanna E. Henshon teaches full-time at Florida Gulf Coast University and is the author of several young adult and middle grade books, and two collections of writing exercises. Her newest book, Andy Lightfoot and the Time Warp, is available for the Kindle on Amazon.

 

This is a post from writeforkids.org. Read the original post: Trick Yourself into Finding Time to Write