Keepin' it Urgent

• Do Police Check with Pers... linda [September 01, 2010, 02:39:40 PM]
• Subcategory quips wonderactivist [August 31, 2010, 10:19:46 PM]
• The Continentals: Mystery... TheDeeMan [August 30, 2010, 03:42:33 AM]
• How much do they say? Old Bill [August 27, 2010, 08:57:01 PM]
• The Welcome Wagon Thread Criminal_Writer [August 27, 2010, 07:15:09 PM]

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[wonderactivist]

For some strange reason I always work best under deadline; tell me the task is impossible and I'll do it even better. 

Example:  As science coordinator for a local museum, I committed to building a solar system with 2 other directors in our "spare" time out of 'junk' from the attic.  (Museums have GREAT junk.)  Anyway, when one person moved away my 3 planets became 6 planets plus the Kuiper Belt.  Then the Ops Mgr got overwhelmed with another project and I ended up designing and building 7 of the 8 planets, both belts, and repainting the only remaining planet when the artist forgot to use glow paints - it was all to be displayed in black light.   The point:  the exhibit exceeded expectations despite my having to triple my commitment to it.   With almost no budget, I had no choice but to dive in and solve the problems as I went.  (I would certainly have wasted my time complaining and jockeying for a bigger budget or better stuff if time had been available.)   

Lately I'm trying to maintain a sense of urgency in my writing routine by assigning myself deadlines, promising pages to readers, etc.  Do any of you have techniques you recommend for maintaining that driving sense of urgency?  I really need a sort of 'toolbox' of techniques to help me keep to my goal despite my kids, my part-time job, and my husband's needs.  (Love them all but I need ways to fool myself into keeping MY goal in the daily mix.)

Thanks in advance!

Lucie

[Leon]

Hi Wonderactivist

RE: Your goal in the mix.

Just as you alocate time to memebers of your family and outside interest alocate time to write. Say, one hour per day. Even thrity minutes may help you develop a pattern that may allow you to realize you can alocate even more time writing.

I think one mistakes many writers make is when they take break from writing then return they re-read what was written -- just continue where you left off. After all, while you were taking a break or doing something else your subconscious mind keep a detailed account of what you wrote and the subconscious mind may have the next paragrahs ready to put on paper.

So much for my blah, blah.  Best of luck and best wishes to you and your.

Leon

[wonderactivist]

Thanks Leon!  I do think that forbidding myself from constant "editing" goes a long way toward keeping me on target...and I do write everyday.  I still do need to find a way to keep an sense of urgency for the long haul...or it will just become a longer and longer haul.  I also think I feel the difference in my writing when it's really fast. 

I really appreciate the support! 

Lucie
back to my work

[Elena]

Lucie,

It appears to me that you are trying to apply the same techniques a sprinter will use to win, rather than what a long distance runner needs to do to win. Long distance running (writing a novel) is more about pacing than about a constant adrenalin push. And, just as you have done such a remarkable job learning to work under pressure, you can also teach yourself to work at a constant and steady pace.

The amount of physical, emotional, and mental effort you put into the museum was incredible. But putting that incredible outpouring of effort into the daily grind of writing a book could actually make you sick. This was a very hard thing for me to learn when my life changed and I was able to drop writing nonfiction for publication with constant deadlines and switch to writing fiction. Of the many techniques I tried the one that worked best for me was to limit my daily writing to a set period. In my case an hour. This was pure writing - no editing/research/pondering - all that was done outside my set writing time with no limits other than life's demands.

Trust yourself.

Best wishes,
Elena

[JIM DOHERTY]

I think Elena's analogy of novel-writing to distance running (as opposed to a short story or article which is a sprint) is very apt.  It's one I've used myself.

You bring a different set of muscles to the job of writing a book than you do a short piece.  Steady production, not fast completion, should be the goal.

[wonderactivist]

Your long distance analogy is just what I needed!  Thanks. 

This is a huge transition for me.  I'm used to starting-finishing-starting something new...etc.  I'll just have to work more on my daily routine - one part of which is to check the Mystery Forum!

Highest regards,

Lucie