Time to Write

How to write faster and finish what you start (the 80% solution)

Do you think somebody who is writing a novel or a screenplay is helped or hurt by being a perfectionist? 

It may sound like an admirable quality--striving for perfection--but all too often it means the person never finishes writing his book or her screenplay because it will never be perfect.

Some perfectionists give up in the middle because they can tell their project will not live up to their high expectations.

A powerful solution came up in an article by writer Denise Gosnell, who said she learned it from a coach named Dan Sulliven.

In a nutshell, the idea is to get quickly to the point where you are 80% satisfied. Don't keep going back and trying to get everything right; instead, forge ahead and acknowledge that there will still be work to be done when the first draft is finished.

If you're a very strict perfectionist you may have to set the bar lower--say to 70%--in order to be able to let go of the impulse to revise repeatedly as you go along.

Once you've done that, evaluate what improvements are needed. Make those to the same level of satisfaction. For instance, let's say you realize you need to make your protagonist more likeable. You make some changes in that direction. When you think you are most of the way (80%) there, stop and go on to the next thing that needs to be changed.

Then repeat the process once more. By that point it's likely that you're as close as you're going to get to making the project as good as you can get it on your own. That will be the time to have it read by a trusted friend or colleague who you know gives constructive and honest feedback (more than one, if possible). 

If they come up with issues you feel are on target, repeat the process once more, maybe twice. Then send the project out into the marketplace...even though it still won't be perfect.

(Friendly guidance from idea through to the still slightly imperfect finish is what you'll find in my book, Your Writing Coach, published by Nicholas Brealey. You can get it right now from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

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A tail, er, tale of perseverance and success

How big a role does perseverence play in the success of artists and writers? In a newsletter from ArtYouGrewUpWith.com, I found this example, a cartoonist named Rupert Fawcett who has done very well with his cartoons about parenthood as well as his more recent "Off the Leash," about people and the dogs who own them. This is what he revealed about how he got started:

I became a professional cartoonist almost by accident when in 1989 whilstdoodling I drew a little bald man in braces and carpet slippers and named him Fred.

After receiving over 80 rejection letters I was finally offered a place in Midweek, a free magazine given away at London tube stations. This was soon followed by my first book deal and a contract for Fredgreeting cards. These proved very popular and within a short period of time were to be seen all overthe place. A range of Fred merchandise followed with a steady succession of books. The cartoons also appeared in the Mail On Sunday for four years.

When my children were small I created a new character, Daddy, which was based on my own experiences of parenthood. Three Daddy books, a greeting card range and merchandise followed.

My most recent creation is Off The Leash, which is a series of cartoon strips about dogs! It's now got a global audience thanks to the likes of Facebook and a beautifiul book release later this year.

The bit that caught my attention was the 80 rejection letters and then the placement of his strip in a giveaway magazine.

How many of us would have given up after 60 rejection letters, or 40, or 20, or even ten?

How many might have scoffed at having their work displayed in a give-away magazine rather than a "real" one?

I don't know, I only know of those who would have done that, none would have gone on to have his success. 

Below is one of Fawcett's cartoons. ArtYouGrewUpWith.com is selling limited edition prints of some of his work: 

(One key to success is using your time effectively. For some friendly guidance and right-brain methods, see my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done," published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller now.)

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Forge ahead with your writing: the Next Massive Action Day is on Sunday, June 16

Want to make huge progress on a writing project (or on getting your home office organized, or anything else)? Join my online Massive Action Day on Sunday, June 16.

Declare your goal for the day in our exclusive chat window and update throughout the day. You'll get support from me and the other particpants and I do a brief live video broadcast every hour with tips and to answer your questions on how to get more done.

It's only £5 (about $7.70 or €6) when you sign up for the series of ten. Get all the information here: MASSIVE ACTION DAY INFO.

"I love the MADs - they are always fun and I get things done...I find it fun and productive. Working in the MAD chat is like having an exercise buddy - you can exercise alone, but you'll probably exercise more and have more fun when having a buddy!" -- Susanne Tanner, Zurich, Switzerland

Writers' Monday Alert: Get going with ginseng

If you find you have a hard time feeling energized at the start of your writing session, it can be useful to consider some natural stimulants.

Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is better for this purpose than American ginseng. Studies have shown it increases cognitive performance and lowers blood sugar. Experiments are going on now using it as a treatment for ADD.

Naturally you shouldn’t make any stimulant a substitute for getting enough sleep and rest, and this is not medical advice—if in doubt, consult your doctor, especially if you have high blood pressure.

(Need to focus? Get my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done," published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

Writing blocks due to your Inner Critic? Blow it up!

The inner critic is the part of you that can be harshly critical when you start something new or when you get stuck. In my book, “Your Writing Coach,”  I suggest some ways to get rid of it, and right now I have an additional one. I call this one THE BLOW-UP METHOD.

It’s really simple: Just listen to the negative statements or thoughts and exaggerate each one, step by step, with each step being worse than the last.

Example: You’re about to start writing or maybe about to start sending you your manuscript. Your Inner Critic tells you, “You’re wasting your time. Nobody will like it or want it.”

Now start exaggerating possible responses: 

“Not only will nobody want it, their rejection letters will insult you.”

“Not only will they insult you, they will hire a billboard to tell the world how bad   a writer you are.” 

“Not only will they hire a billboard, they’ll take out prime time television ads to humiliate you.”

“Not only will you be humiliated on prime-time television, you will be deported and never allowed to return.”

“Not only will you be deported, no country will take you in and you’ll spend the rest of your life on a small island in the middle of the ocean.”

“Even a small island in the middle of the ocean won’t want you; you and your manuscript will be shot into outer space.”

I know that’s silly, but the point is that it’s easy to lose our sense of humor when we really want something to succeed. This little exercise brings back some perspective and some humour to help you avoid being dominated by the inner critic. It’s fast and it’s fun, so if and when your inner critic shows up, give it a try.

***

You'll find lots of additional innovative ways to overcome blocks, be more productive, and write well in my book, "Your Creative Writing Masterclass." It features writing advice from some of the greatest writers of all time. It's published by Nicholas Brealey and you can get it from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.

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Creativity can save a life--here's how it did

The writer and artist Sark revealed in the introduction to her book, "Make Your Creative Dreams Real," what first inspired her to follow her creative path:

When I was ten my best friend was 80 years old. His name was Mr Boggs. His house was my refuge. He and I discussed my creative dreams and he inspired me to tell stories about what I saw in the world.

Mr Boggs became very ill and went into the hospital. My mother explained that because of his age and health, he probably wouldn’t be coming home. I vowed to create something for him every day that he was in the hospital, and I sent him handmade books, cards and posters.

He did get out of the hospital and when he did, he said to me, “I think you saved my life. No one else called or wrote, and I had to get out to see you.”

I immediately started writing my first book, because I thought that if my art and words could affect one person that much, what might happen if I could share them with the world?”

However, her path was neither quick nor smooth:

From ages 14 to 26 I put my creative dreams on hold as I attended school and experimented with hundreds of part-time jobs…[at the age of 26] I began creating art and writing to share with the world. For years, my art and writing was rejected by magazines, newspapers, and publishing companies. Although it must be said that I didn’t send it out very often, because I was too busy surviving and crafting new work.

In 1988 she finally decided to throw herself whole-heartedly into her work, and to be led by the answers to two questions:

WHAT DID I HAVE TO OFFER?

HOW COULD I BE OF USE?

That led to a best-selling poster and then her first book, "A Creative Companion." But that was not without its challenges, either: 

I finally dared to create the kind of book I’d dreamed of making so many times. I faced massive self-doubt, ruthless inner critics, and nearly paralyzing fear, but I did it anyway.

She's gone on to huge success; it's reassuring that even the most successful people had doubts along the way.

It might be useful to think about how you'd answer her two questions and how the answers relate to your work...and what you could do (even if just part-time) if they don't.

(My book can't make you creative, but it can liberate the creativity you already have and show you how to get into a creative state of mind, give you specific ways to generate ideas, provide tools that will help you turn those ideas into real projects, and introduce you to inspirational stories of how others have done it. It's all in the book Creativity Now, published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

Creative people: when you can't beat the forces of convention...

This is the story of a kind of unconventional collaboration. It also illustrates the principle, "when you can't beat them, join them"...sort of.

Street artist Mobstr is used to having his graffiti painted over. He decided to tell a story one line at a time, with the next one appearing when the previous one had been painted over.

You can see the results here: 

http://designtaxi.com/news/355932/Street-Artist-Teams-Up-With-The-People-Who-Destroy-His-Work-To-Tell-A-Story/

Who or what do you consider the opposition to whatever creative projects you hope to achieve? 

Could there be a way to harness that opposition to make it work for yiou?

Writers' Alert: Go Guarana to wake up your brain

Writing if you’re feeling sluggish isn’t fun or productive. I’ve always found it difficult to get going in the mornings, which is why I’ve looked into natural stimulants that help us to wake up our brains.

Guarana comes from the roasted seeds of flowering Brazilian plants. It contains a bit more caffeine than coffee, but many people find it easier on their digestion (if I drink coffee on an empty stomach I tend to get a stomach ache).

It doesn’t cause the jitters some people get from coffee, and its stimulating effects last longer.

You can get guarana supplements at any health food store. As with coffee, it’s not a good idea to take them too close to your bedtime.

Naturally you shouldn’t make any stimulant a substitute for getting enough sleep and rest, and this is not medical advice—if in doubt, consult your doctor, especially if you have high blood pressure.

(Need to focus? Get my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done," published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)

 

Writing sessions: get off to a great start

In the previous post we looked at how to gain momentum when doing a big writing project. This time let's see how you can get off to a great, fast start for each of your writing sessions and keep up your momentum.

There tends to be resistance at three points:

1: Getting started

For many peope this is the toughest one. 

• Schedule a time and make sure your resources are there at the start.
• Use a mood board or folder of images to stimulate your thinking
• Use an app that gives you an uncluttered blank screen so you're not distracted by your desktop.
• Train people in your environment that certain days and hours are your writing time
• Find the location that works best – if necessary, go to a café, library, etc.
• Find a scent that energizes you (peppermint is good) and sniff it at the start (you can get little bottles of essential oils for this at many health food stores)
• Have tools you enjoy using – notebooks, pens, folders, etc.
• Before you start, decide on a small reward you’ll give yourself at the end of the session
• Use a timer so you don’t have to think about the time. I suggest sessions lasting 45 minutes, then a fifteen minute break (also timed), then repeat.
• if you’re tempted to do something else that is more immediately rewarding, imagine with all your senses how good it will feel, look, sound, smell when you have achieved your writing goal (the feel of your book in your hands, the smell of the new pages, the sound of people complimenting the book, the look of a stack of the books in the book store, the spreadsheet with the sales figures for your ebook, etc.

Also get a copy of my book, Creativity Now. The first section suggests 25 ways to get into a creative state of mind, the second section offers 25 ways to generate new ideas, the third section reveals 25 ways to go from idea to real project and the final section includes 25 inspiring examples of others who have built impressive businesses or careers using their creativity. It's published by Pearson and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.

2: The middle

This is where distractions will intrude if you let them.

• Turn off the phones
• Put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door
• Don't stop to check email or Facebook or Twitter, etc.
• Consider getting or making a stand-up desk so you can spend part of the session standing up. If making phone calls is part of that session's tasks, stand or walk around while you do it.
• Wear noise-cancelling headphones or have white noise playing in the background—whatever you need in order to stay focused. Listen to music if that doesn't distract you.

3: The end

At the end of a working session you may face two problems. 

One: your Inner Critic rushes in and tells you that you didn’t get enough done.

• Use the Inner Critic visualisation to send it away (you can find this as a bonus on the website for my book, "Your Writing Coach").

Two: you are tempted to keep writing until you get to the end of a chapter or section— if you don’t know what you’ll write after that bit, this can be stressful. 

• Follow Ernest Hemingway’s advice and stop mid-sentence so you’ll always know what you’ll be writing the next day.

RECORD YOUR PROGRESS

You'll feel more motivated during all three of these phases if you record your progress every day—the number of words or whatever measure makes sense at that point. Keep in view not only how much is left to do but also how much you have done already. Checking off squares or filling in a chart makes this a physical thing, which is very satisfying.

(For innovative time management strategies for creative people, see my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done", published by Pearson.)

 

Big writing (or other) project? Here's how to build momentum!

If you have a big writing (or other) project, one great way to build momentum is to spend a full day working on it with support from your peers.

IT'S GOOD TO GO MAD

That's what we do on my monthly MADs--Massive Action Days. It's all online. You sign in to our exclusive website, declare your goal for the day there, and get to work. Every hour I do a brief live video broadcast to answer questions and offer tips. You update us on your progress and everybody supports each other.

The people already doing the MADs find it incredibly productive and it's inexpensive--only £5 each when you sign up for ten. You can find our more at www.MassiveActionDay.com. 

What else can you do to build momentum? Let's start with the basics:

The formula is Velocity x Mass = Momentum

The more you apply effort, the more momentum you get, unless you encounter another important aspect of momentum, Resistance. Resistance can increase the mass of a molehill to that of a mountain.

FOUR POINTS OF RESISTANCE

In writing there are four points at which you tend to have resistance:

1: Getting started. The best solution is chunking down the goal into manageable chunks, scheduling regular time to work, and getting support.

2: The middle. You’ve done a lot but there’s a lot yet to do and the initial excitement has worn off. The best tools are: knowing this is normal, using a variety of brainstorming techniques (like the ones in my writing books) to get a fresh perspective, and making sure your Inner Critic doesn’t talk you into quitting.

3: After the first draft. The first step when you're ready to critique your first draft is to use methods for getting a more objective view of your own writing (wait a week, change location and posture, print it out on different colour paper and/or a different typeface, read once for general reactions and don’t try to fix it as you go—note the necessary changes, then go back into creative mode, at your usual writing location).

When it’s as good as you can make it, show to someone you trust to be constructive. Tell them you want them to jot down any problems they discern—where it’s boring, where it’s confusing, where they think what’s happening isn’t plausible, etc. Tell them you don’t want them to suggest solutions, only problems.

Fix the problems and repeat, but stop rewriting when the new version isn’t getting better, just different.

4: When you send it out into the world.  Put on your business hat, not your sensitive artist hat, and make a plan. Let your sensitive artist get busy on a new creative project so it doesn’t hang around getting tense.

>> In the next post we'll see how you can also build momentum for every working session.

(Want to get more things done, more easily? Using creative methods rather than more hard work? You'll find the ansswers in my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done." It's published by Pearson and you can get it from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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