Recently, it has come to my attention that I’m not writing enough. Actually, that’s not quite true. I’m not writing regularly enough for myself.
I get freaked out by the ‘obligation’ of writing to a schedule. As soon as someone sets something out concretely (even if that someone is me), it’s the last thing I want to do. Yet, as a distraction from almost anything else, writing is pretty much the first thing I’d pick.
Writing schedules work for some people when it comes to getting shizzle done.
I have a mastermind friend, who embarked on an epic writing project, an ecourse she wanted to create, and was having a hard time doing until she set up slots to sit down and write the damn thing. In under three weeks, she was halfway done.
Pretty. Damn. Awesome.
All the signs are there that I should just get more regular with the writing, but much as I adore it some days, other days the thought of writing makes me feel sick to the stomach.
Dread creeps in.
Resistance beats me to the door and locks and bolts it.
I’m staying in this place.
Stuck.
Sound familiar?
Shut in a room with Dread and Resistance is not an expansive, creative place to be. It’s small and claustrophobic. It’s safe. It’s where your other mate Ego wants you to be, avoiding any harm of being seen.
That changes when we write daily
Dread and Resistance can get a little too comfy if you invite them in, feed and shelter them. But they tend not to be great pals with Action and Momentum.
And Momentum isn’t a fair-weather friend. She doesn’t call once a week or just when a deadline is coming up. Momentum is a life-long, constant presence. If you have her in your life, she’ll drop round and check in with you a few times a day. The more you see of her, the closer you become, and before you know it you’re like sisters.
How do I get more Momentum in my life?
It’s down to you to create it. Little by little or by taking one gigantic leap.
Me? I’m setting myself a massive challenge.
I got my hands on a ticket to the Problogger training event in Melbourne for October 2012. I am freaking excited, if a touch intimidated, to be going to this high profile (in my world at least) event.
One teeny weeny problem though. My to-date five blog posts are simply not going to cut it. Most of the attendees will be posting at least daily, if not several times a day.
Determined to gain momentum in my writing I’ve set myself a challenge to blog every day until then, encouraged by this Problogger post.
For me, momentum is about constant accountability, constant short deadlines, constant milestones to aim for and ever pull me forward. With this in mind, it simply makes sense for me to decide to write every day.
I’m psyched
I’m doing it.
That’s not to say Dread and Resistance won’t come knocking.
But I think it’s time to break up with them, don’t you?
Join me for writing challenges and more over on my Facebook page Kris Emery Editorial.
Hi Kris! I’m not sure where to leave this comment, so I will leave it here. I attended your free webinar (found out about it on LinkedIn) and won the T-shirt, which was then substituted by your book.
I just wanted to tell you that, with the help of reading your book and with the encouragement of two friends, today I started something new. For at least 10 years now I’ve been freelancing on the side of my regular job, but it pays better than my regular job, so… starting today I am taking half days off every Friday to work on freelancing projects (proofreading and editing), and I hope to work up to where I can take every Friday to do that, plus be more free to travel occasionally.
I tell you, it is a little intimidating because people seem to think that wanting to be free and to travel is somehow not admirable. I’ve been called a gaddabout. You should want to be in a regular 9-5 job behind the same respectable desk at the same respectable company your whole life. That’s the honorable thing. I liked reading your book because I felt that “kindred spirit” of wanting a change, a little adventure, a little freedom to try my wings going here and there and still being able to support myself.
So today is a redletter day in my life! In fact, after posting this comment, I’m going to start a blog!
Anyway, I promised I’d tell you what I thought about your book, and I loved it. Thanks for sharing it with me. I will be recommending it to my friends. And I will buy a hard copy, because I don’t do the e-reader thing…yet.
Ann, Kentucky, USA
Ann, thank you so much for sharing this.
I completely recognise all those ‘shoulds’ and thrilled that you can now let them go. That you identified with my story makes me so happy and I’m glad it’s helped you in some way in your life.
Huge congratulations on taking that step!
It’s great to hear from other freelancers about their successes, their fears, and best of all committing to taking future steps. Please share your blog here when you get it up and running. I’d love to read more about your interests, even if the blog us unrelated to what you read here.
So grateful to connect with you and best of luck on your exciting new journey!
Thank you so much, Kris. I plan to keep reading your blog to keep me inspired and going. I hope your books sales go very well! One other thing I liked about your book, your style reminded me of Eats, Shoots & Leaves and also Talk to the Hand, both of which books I just re-read and enjoy very much. (sorry, I don’t see a way to italicize the book titles but I know I’m supposed to, ha ha!)
Just wanted to pop in and say hi, Kris. I am all for daily writing, as much as it kicks my butt sometimes 😛
Looking forward to meeting you at ProBlogger. I love it when ‘new’ bloggers come to events like this one- you’ll come away pumped 🙂
It’s totally kicking my ass, but I’m very glad I’m doing it for this month. Can’t let the side down, can I? Counting the days until the end of the month though!
Kris, Hope your writing challenge has been a great success this month!
I would so love to be able to write for my blog every day. If I spent less time procrastinating – and was a little more fearless (I’m working on overcoming that ‘Dread and Resistance’!) I possibly could. I’d love to be writing 2 posts a week – but my average has been only one every four to six weeks. Not nearly enough!!
I do write ‘morning pages’ every day though, which is a habit I absolutely love. It would be great to be able to keep that up as well as a whole lot more blog post writing.
I’m looking forward to the Problogger Training Event next month too. In the meantime, I have plenty of ideas for my blog, so will set myself a goal of writing (and publishing) at least two new posts before the event.
Hope to meet you then. And thanks for the inspiration!
Brigid
Nice work, Brigid. I’m heading over to your blog right now to see what it’s all about! I have to say I have some in draft form from this weekend, so I’ve slacked off for a couple of days. It’s so tough, but we’re going to be amongst the pros, so I’m really pleased we’re putting in the work. Good luck!