Tag Writing

Writing: Is your brain on overload?

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Some days, we are write (I mean right.) on target with our writing goals and other days, it seems we will never find the last piece to the puzzle.

Brain is confusedI’m writing my children’s book and my brain is on overload. Too many wires out there and they are not connecting. If you are a writer or a student working on a term paper or thesis, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

We’re trying to focus, so that our writing path is clear, but our mind cannot quiet down and concentrate!

I know this is when we are told to “meditate.” I’ve tried that. My brain does quiet down for 5 minutes, then it is back to brain chaos.

This made me think of inventors. Can you imagine the patience they have to have when they keep reaching a dead end! I’m sure Thomas Edison banged his fist on the table many times when he was inventing the light bulb!

The key is visualizing the end result. Keeping our mind on the prize!

So, TODAY is about finding a break through!

The Red Quill Pen

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With my red quill pen in hand, I can officially say, “it is time to write.”

My daughter recently asked me how my children’s book was coming along. I told her I was at the cliff hanger part… “You know, where you think the character is doomed and won’t make it out alive, so you sit at the edge of your seat, KNOWING there is ALWAYS a way out, but HOW?! This is a James Bond situation.”

So, I made a joke with her that it was the computer that was holding me back from being creative. If I “just had” a red quill pen, I could think like a Pirate!

I was missing the days of the old typewriter where you had to really THINK of every word you typed; otherwise, you would be yanking the page out of the typewriter constantly, crumpling it up and throwing it in the waste basket only to start again.

So… I was pleasantly surprised when my daughter gave me a red quill pen for Mother’s Day!

NOW, you can write, she said. I really laughed, but where was the ink well and the thick paper that makes a scratching noise when the Pirate writes? Can’t have everything at once, right.

THE UNIVERSE IS AT WORK!

Another interesting thing happened last week. I was laid off work, so it would appear that the Universe is setting me up to write the end of my children’s story “in between job searching,” of course. No excuses now!

I’m following a few good writing Blogs. Visit “A Writer’s Path,” and this weekend on “Live to Write – Write to Live,” there was a wonderful Blog about facing our inner critic for any topic in our lives called, “Weekend Edition – Battling the Writer’s Inner Critic,” by Suddenly Jamie.  You’ll read that and be inspired!

So, with quill in hand I write… “You dare to touch the nose of a sleeping tiger!?”

A New Year – 2016

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The Start of the Race. Photo from www.Pixabay.com.

We are “officially” into 2016 and that means reviewing our “bucket list” and breaking it down into four quarters.

Why four quarters?  Well, if you think about it, life is like a relay race. In a relay race there are four runners. Similarly, in a year there are four quarters/chances to bring home the Gold and accomplish great things.

Last year, when I decided to make the big move to Seattle I used the four quarter strategy to set my plans in motion. Was it easy?  NO, but every time fear would set in, I would tell myself, “Stick with the plan!!”

My father owned his own business, so we saw him go through the ups and downs of the economy, etc. He taught his four kids that we were the only ones who could “make things happen.” His favorite phrase was “no one serves you anything on a silver platter.”

This year I have new goals. What are they you are wondering?  Well, I can’t reveal them. It’s like wishing on a lucky star, you have to keep the wish to yourself and wait for it to come true.

Goals are like that. If you share your goals with others they usually “laugh” and say, “Where did you come up with that idea?  It will never happen, are you crazy?”

So this time, I got smart! When I decided to move to Seattle, I didn’t tell anyone, I just focused on making it happen. Oh, I wanted to tell people, because I wanted them to be happy for me, but I could not “risk” the negative comments.

I have learned that most people fear change, but their biggest fear is what family and friends will think. They need that approval. The key to success is to “not” need outside approval. Instead, follow your passion, follow your dreams, and with determination let your gut instincts lead you to success.

The worst thing that will happen is you fall down and have a to get back up. Just like riding a bike, you KNOW you will do it, you just don’t know how many times you will have to fall before you finally ride like a pro.

So, here’s to coming up with a FOUR QUARTER plan for 2016!

Be determined, keep reviewing and adjusting it, and when a bit of doubt sets in, REMEMBER to tell yourself, “It CAN be done!  STICK WITH THE PLAN.”

I’ll see YOU at the Finish Line on December 31, 2016!

And remember…   GO FOR THE GOLD!