Over the holidays and the first week of January I had trouble sitting down to write. Between the whirlwind of the holidays and being under the weather, I have been extra distracted
The prevailing wisdom is to get your butt in the chair even if you're not in the mood to write. You need to treat writing like a job and do it everyday. But that's not possible for a lot of us. The pressures of family, day jobs, and health challenges sometimes mean we're only writing for a few minutes a few times a week.
Instead of beating up on yourself, factor in all of your commitments and then set manageable goals for yourself. Maybe you can only write for a couple of hours on the weekends. Maybe there's only three hours a week that you can find in your schedule. Be kind and realistic to yourself when setting these time goals. You can make progress on your projects with concentrated, regular writing sessions, even if you’re not writing everyday.
Stick to this new writing schedule for January and then adjust as needed for February.
You might try the Jerry Seinfeld trick of putting a big X on your calendar every time you write. This visual representation is a wonderful way to keep up creative momentum. You will crave that dopamine hit of putting the X on your calendar. And the visual of your progress will drive you to keep going. Seinfeld’s goal is to “not break the chain” of Xs on the calendar. It’s not about results; it’s about the practice of writing.
What are your tricks to keep up your creative momentum? Hit reply and let me know.
My Current Obsession
Is the French movie of The Count of Monte Cristo that is in theaters now. The direction is stunning, the sets and costumes gorgeous, and the acting heartbreaking in the best way. This classic story has it all: true love, betrayal, and revenge.
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