A lesson from Anne Hathaway

Writing this summer has been challenging for me. I take that back. Besides the normal freelancing I do, since I submitted my manuscript for book #2 in the Madi series on July 5th, writing has been virtually non-existent for me. Book #3 will be due in about 8 months. Yikes. As I was mulling this over, I had an epiphany. Wanna hear it?

My book won't write itself.

Deep, I know.

Recently, I saw a reporter interviewing Anne Hathaway on some entertainment TV show. Apparently, Anne had just lost about 15 pounds for a movie role. I know, right? The girl doesn't have an extra 15 pounds to lose. But that's not my point.

The reporter asked this question: "Wasn't it hard to be on such a strict diet?"

Anne's reply sticks with me:

"It doesn't matter how hard it was. It's what was required."

Wow. Talk about a great answer. Rather than focus on the difficulty of sticking to such a regimented diet, and how she missed out on the fattening foods she loves, poor me...wah...wah...wah... Anne simply bucked up and did what she had to do. Okay, so she had a (few) million reasons to stick to that diet. I'm thinking if I was making millions of dollars on a book, I'd be more inclined to sit my buns in a chair and do what's required, too.

But that's beside the point.

The point is, just as acting is Anne's passion, writing is mine. And if I want to see another book on the shelf, then it doesn't matter how hard it is. I need to do what's required to make it happen. Even if it means getting up early. Even if it means giving up something I love (*cough--Solitaire Blitz--cough*). Even if it means keeping my butt glued to my chair until my daily word-count goal is reached.

Of course, adopting that attitude is easier said than done. It begins (and ends, really) in the mind. It's taking authority over my feelings when I don't "feel" like writing. It's telling myself (again and again, if necessary) during the difficult...boring...frustrating...moments, that "this too shall pass." It's constantly reminding myself that the fruits of my labor will all be worth it in the end. Even though my "fruits" will be grapes, compared to Anne's watermelons.

Stop chuckling. You know what I mean.

Question for you: Is discipline something you struggle with? Any tips or recent epiphanies you'd like to share?

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." -  
Hebrews 12:11

Don't let your big But get in the way

There's a course in progress over at ACFW that is being taught by multi-published author, Janice Thompson. The subject is supplementing your fiction habit with income. The course is only just beginning but Janice had us answer twenty questions regarding our writing journey so far and our goals for the future. These questions were awesome because they forced me to really take a look at myself and my writing habits, and in what direction I believe God is leading me. One of the questions really slammed me. It was:

What circumstances (and/or excuses) have kept you from fulfilling your writing goals thus far?

In other words, what big BUT is in your way?

We all have them, don't we? Excuses why we haven't had time to finish that novel or submit that article. Reasons why we're not yet published or haven't fulfilled the dream that's burning a hole in our hearts.

While not having an ounce of talent may quality as an excuse, for those of us who know we have the gift of writing, is there really any excuse to keep us from setting out to do what we know God has called us to?

Have you finaled in writing contests? Have you had work published in the past? Have you had reputable industry professionals who were impressed with your writing or who offered encouragement and support? Have people (other than your mother, spouse, or best friend) raved about your "way with words" or your knack for story-telling?

Then guess what? You have no excuse. Get rid of that big BUT.

Whether your "buts" are about finding time to write, landing an agent, getting published, submitting that article, joining a critique group, or entering that contest, I can tell you one thing for sure: making excuses is a guarantee for failure. Ok, so just getting up and doing it may not bring you the results you expect or hope for. It may not make you an overnight success. But it will bring you one step closer to realizing your dream. The dream you know that you know that you know God has put in your heart. And it will also give you the satisfaction of knowing you gave it your best instead of hid behind a curtain of pathetic excuses.

As George Washington Carver said, "Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses."

So are you going to be included in that ninety-nine percent? Or will you be a part of that one percent that stops making excuses and just does it?

Who's with me in getting rid of their big BUT in 2010?

Confessions of a Hopaholic

Because I am just recouping from the ACFW conference, I have chosen to repost a previous blog entry today. I hope to post all about the conference and how awesome it was but I will spend today unpacking, doing laundry, and trying to process all the information fed into my brain over the last several days. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this entry from earlier this year, in which I confess my hopaholic tendencies. Maybe you can relate...



So I saw the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic, the other day and I could so relate. Not to the shopping part (although, don't get me wrong - I LOVE shopping and especially a great bargain!), but to the "aholic" part.I have an addictive personality. Years ago, it was cigarettes, parties, burritos, The Love Boat and ice cream. These days, it's the computer, coffee, reality TV, coloring my hair, and ice cream. They really need to come up with support groups for these things.

Now, about the title of this blog post. You may think the HOP refers to my tendency to character-head-hop. But that's not it. I pretty much have a grasp on that principle. No, my confession is about my slight addiction to distractions. Ok, I don't have A.D.D. In fact, I'm not a hyper person at all. Most people would describe me as laid-back. But even though I'm physically calm, mentally, I hop around like a bunny on steroids.

This addiction gets in the way of my writing. I'll be in the middle of a great scene and the thought "email" will pop into my head. Oh...gotta go check that e-mail!

Scene interrupted.

I'll be brainstorming away for twenty minutes straight, and out of the corner of my eye, I'll see dust particles dancing in the beam of sunlight. Oh...gotta go get the Pledge.

Creativity interrupted.

I'll be concentrating on editing a chapter that includes a character's birthday and I'll think, "Oops...forgot to mail so-and-so's birthday card. I'd better do that now."

Productivity interrupted.

I'm working hard on one manuscript and something triggers the thought of another manuscipt I've got going. Oh...think I'll dig that one out instead.

Focus interrupted.

Get what I'm talking about? This is why it takes me so long to finish a manuscript (about 4 years to finish my first!).Maybe you struggle with the same thing. Please tell me you do and that I'm not the only Hopaholic Writer. But here's what I'm after: ADVICE.

How do you keep your focus? How do you prevent yourself from flitting around from one thing to another? How do you get stuff done?

You know, I'm thinking there needs to be a support group for Hopaholics. But then, that would just be one more thing to bounce to and distract us from our writing.

Oh...gotta go. Gotta check my email.

Wake Up, It's Monday!

Ugh. It’s Monday.

I suspect that this morning, millions of snooze buttons are being pummeled, a bazillion groans are being emitted and oodles of covers are being pulled over heads. Anything to prolong the agony of facing a brand new work week.

But not me. I love Mondays. It’s true! And it’s not only because it’s my day off and the kids are back to school and I have the house to myself for the day (what writer doesn’t relish that silence?).

I love Mondays because I have the whole week ahead of me in which I will make huge progress on my novel. I will write my little heart out….10,000 words, minimum, by Friday. I will develop blisters on my fingertips from all the writing I will do.

I am novelist. Hear me type!

Unfortunately, my intentions will probably fall a little short. And I will blame it on the laundry, message board forums, and my addiction to television.

And then on Friday, when serotonin levels all over the nation are skyrocketing, I will likely be sulking when I look at my weekly word count and realize I have only typed 1,000 words—nowhere near the 10,000 I projected. And I will berate myself for failing. Again.

As cool as it would be for God to pinky-pin me to my computer chair and force me to write my book, He normally doesn’t work that way. I will need to decide to stick my buns in that chair and write. Not just intend on doing it. But do it.

I know. Bummer, right?

Proverbs 12:11 says, “Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.” (NLT)

Yikes.

I suppose I could reread this verse to say, “Actually sitting down to write will get my book(s) finished (and hopefully published!). But wasting time with unimportant distractions that take me away from writing…well, um, I guess that would make me a— gulp—fool. Not to mention, keep me an unpublished novelist.”

Double yikes.

We've all heard the saying, “God won’t do anything for you that you can’t do yourself.” I suppose it wouldn’t do much good, then, to request prayer for pages in my novel to get supernaturally written this week (but I bet those pages would score well in the Genesis contest!). But it might help to ask God to give me a little extra discipline and focus and a little less propensity for distraction and procrastination.

And if CSI is a repeat this week, that will help too.

So what about you? Do you need an extra dose of discipline? Are you like me and want to actually reach a goal this week instead of just setting one and falling short? It IS possible, you know.

Would you care to join me in praying for a little more focus this week?

Heavenly Father, forgive me for idling away my time. Help me to focus my thoughts and actions in the right direction today. As I begin a new week, show me how to manage my days so I can finish the things you want me to do and toss aside the unimportant things that get in the way of achieving my goals. May everything I do honor and glorify You and bring me closer to fulfilling the possibilities and purpose You have for my life. Amen.

So, come on. Throw those covers back. Replace that groan with a shout of praise. It’s Monday -- there’s a possibility with your name on it! Maybe even 10,000 words by Friday!