Thursday, February 17, 2011

Are You Prepared

I’d like to take the time to say a special “Howdy” to all my fellow She Writers participating in the B&W Blogger Ball. Enjoy!

This post is a continuation of last weeks post on being prepared. Last week I explored being prepared as a mother, today I’ll discuss how I stay prepared as a writer.

Me, the Writer

Writing for me isn’t a hobby; I treat it as a profession. I devote at least five hours every day, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday to writing. Most of my writing is accomplished while my family is away at school and work.

How do I prepare for my day?

Before I sit at the computer to start my writing day I know exactly what I need to do…be it revisions, blogging, honing my craft….I’m prepared to accomplish it. Knowing what I'll do before I sit down aids me in staying focused and remaining productive.

I have a clean and tidy work area – nothing on my tiny desk to distract me from my task…that includes my very thrilling novel I’m reading right now. Every writer is always reading a great book. Right.


I have all the tools that I may need for my workday positioned around me so that I can find them easily. The two most important things I use when I sit to write are a dictionary and thesaurus. I have a link saved for the online Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus. In addition, I have both in book forms by my computer in the event I’m unable to get online.

I have bookmarked helpful websites for revisions for easy access. The favorites feature online is great. I can easily find a website or blog that I found a useful tip - just point and click.

And I’m realistic. I know that once my children and husband are home very little writing will get done because they demand most of my time. Many writers do not have the luxury (I won’t always) of full time writing and when you don’t you must still make the time to do it. But, it is my opinion that you don’t have to tell a true writer this. If you truly love to write, you will. Nothing will stop you. Only you can stop you.
 
Writing Tip:

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Okay, I know this is the oldest cliché but it’s the perfect sentiment for the situation. Rejection, a normal occurrence for most writers can cripple you as a writer – if you allow it to. I don’t. I choose to stay positive and see each rejection as a step closer to my YES. I’m not a robot - rejection hurts, period. But I don’t let it define me. I keep writing. So what your critique group hated the piece you presented. Take the advice you want from what they said and let the rest fall to the side. As a writer, you MUST have tough skin or this isn’t the profession for you. Please trust and believe that! If you love it then you’ll push pass the rejections, the revisions, the criticisms, to do what you want. Write.
 

27 comments:

  1. Found you through the blog hop. Thanks for the writing advice - very useful and very true.

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  2. Your advice is so true. I just got a rejection last night! Sometimes you just have to tap into the inner armadillo to be a writer.

    Glad I found you through the blog hop!

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  3. SheWrites hopper here. Very sound advice! And I need it for sure. I definitely take criticsm too harshly sometimes, but you need to learn to work with and through it if you're going to write.

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  4. Fine advice indeed. I look forward to wandering about and reading your posts past and present.

    From another SheWriter

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  5. I've visited you before. It's nice to be back. I have been managing about 2000 words a day, but am all involved today with this blog hop, a fun and very informative exercise, including this stop. Thanks.

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  6. Thanks everyone for visiting! I'm enjoying hopping about as well. I'm learning so much. This is awesome!!! Okay, I know I'm overly excited...I'll tone it down. LOL

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  7. Another hopper here. Great advice. I wish I could keep my workspace tidy, but as I get going on a blog post or chapter I somehow accumulate notes everywhere. I also must steel myself against the big "R" when I am brave enough to actually submit some of my work again.

    I look forward to reading some more of your posts.

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  8. Greetings from another blog hopper. Nice to meet you.

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  9. Thanks for this and the previous post, how wonderful it is to have found them while I was blog hopping! I'm possibly going to have the opportunity to do some seriously dedicated writing and I'll be coming back for more guidance...and yes the draw of a really great book is a wonderful thing!

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  10. Great post Dawn, and great advice. Rejection breaks my little heart, but I know I've got to put my big girl panties on and keep at it. I always think of this whenever I start to get defeated by rejection:

    I have a story that has been published twice in paying magazines/anthologies. Once the rights reverted to me again, I started trying to place it again. And it's accumulated several rejections. But obviously, there's nothing wrong with the story. So it's not me, my writing, or the story: it's just a matter of finding the right publication.

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  11. Great advice! I love the way you're so organized. You've inspired me! :)

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  12. Thanks Samantha. I have to be organized - I have three kids and a husaband that demand so much of my time. But Thanks, I do work hard at it.

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  13. Thank you for stopping by. Just returning the favor. Love your blog and now following.

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  14. Thanks for the support Debra. Love your blog also.

    Thanks to everyone for the comments. This has been very interesting. I'll be visiting more blogs throughout today and the weekend. And no doubt will be following a lot more.

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  15. Hi. I love your blog. I love how easy it is to read and navigate. I try to keep my paragraphs short, but I love how you label them and I love the font.

    Good luck with your ninth grader. I just finished that. HS is a fun time but full of angst. Good to start planning now.

    I blog about parenting and education and would love for you to post some of you ideas and wisdom!

    Hope to hear from you. I will visit again,

    Meryl Jaffe
    www.departingthetext.blogspot.com

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  16. Hi Dawn! I'm also participating in the blog hop and loved this post. Very useful, and just what I needed to read today. I love your tip! :)

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  17. I just wrote in my journal this week about treating my writing like a job so I loved hearing how you do exactly that. You've inspired me... thank you:)

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  18. Thanks, Meryl, I try to make it as simple as possible. I originally started the blog for my YA audience...LOL that was a joke. I had no audience yet, so I had no readers. I had to revise the site. I love it now.

    Thanks, Julie. I have more tips next week about how to study/learn as a writer. Or at least how I do it.

    Thanks, Kim. So happy to inspire someone else. I've been in awe of the great writing I've seen on this Blog Hop...it's intimidating sometimes.

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  19. Hi Dawn! Met you at my site during the She Writes hop. Thank you for your comment and like your blog too :~)

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  20. Hi Dawn,

    "Don't sweat the small stuff!" Brilliant and definitely not babble.

    Thanks for the encouragement!

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  21. Thanks, Dee, always glad to encourage others.

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  22. Hi Dawn!

    I just wanted to let you know I've awarded you with the 'One Lovely Blog Award.' I think your site is great and I'm glad to have found it through the Hop.

    http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-first-blog-award.html

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  23. Thank you so much Julie. I'm just trying to share all the things I've learned with others. I absolutely love to write. I know others share this same joy. I can't keep all I've learned to myself.

    Thank you sooooo much for the award. OMG, I never win anything.

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  24. A very good resource for writers,your blog is thoughtful and interesting. Glad I found it through She-Writes.

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  25. Hello, Deborah, fellow SheWriter. So glad you found useful info here. I'm more than happy to share all that I learn about the craft of writing.

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  26. So proud of you! Your blog is great!

    Xoxo
    Tara

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  27. Thanks Tara. I really appreciate that. Thanks for reading.

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