  Noticing Newbies
This week: Getting Yourself in the Mood Edited by: Sara♥Jean  
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Getting Yourself in the Mood
We all have different ways of getting ourselves in the right mindset for completing any kind of task, including writing
Have you ever found yourself sitting and staring trying to complete a task, and you just can't? For whatever reason, you can't focus. And I don't mean just writing - I mean any task. Something you need to complete for work, a housework task, a project, anything you have put your mind to, but you just can't figure out where to begin.
I find that everyone has their "zen", for lack of a better term. Their optimum working environment where they are most productive.
For some of us, it's a room full of relaxing music. For some, it's a room that's completely silent. For some of us, maybe there's an audiobook in the background, or classical music, or the comforting sounds of white noise, or ocean sounds. Then, alongside it, maybe we need our favorite cold drink, or coffee, or iced latte, or lemonade, or iced tea. Some prefer to write on a notebook, while others prefer a computer.
Me, you ask? I'm a list maker. When I find myself absolutely overwhelmed with the unbelievable amount of tasks I need to accomplish... I make lists. And then, I prioritize those lists, so I can make sure the things I really need to do happen first. And if I just can't, then I ask my boss to help me prioritize those lists. My really bad weeks, I don't make those lists until... like Wednesday, and then I feel awful, because I feel like Monday and Tuesday were wasted. (Not that they really were, but I feel like I didn't get as much done as I could have - which I probably didn't, but I never get nothing done, if that makes sense.)
Can you believe... I even schedule in fun, because that's how lame I am. Because if I don't, I might forget to have it.
I schedule in that I need to pull away and take a break, or take a nap, or write my newsletter. I remind myself in my lists that I need to breathe and eat some chocolate, or watch another episode of The Voice, or Storage Wars. Because before I did that, I'd work all the time, or I'd forget to do things to relax. It wasn't the greatest for my health.
BUT... it helps me to cross things off of my list, I can see what is getting done, and remove them one at a time, and add them when I need to. It does help.
Writing isn't a whole lot different. When you're staring at your screen, and you're stuck, it means the setting isn't right. You need to change things, and make your environment optimum for your writing. I make lists, but what is it that you do that makes you the most productive writer? (YES, for my writing, I make lists, too. Think about my last newsletter about outlines. What is an outline? It's a fancy, organized, layered list... I really am a list maker.) Don't blame your muse, change your environment. Make your environment one that makes you be the best you. |
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Here are those that responded to me in "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (February 14, 2018)" :
Angus  said, "Thank for this great Newsletter, Sara Jean! Outlines do seem a little out of date, but years ago I realized the importance of making one. I wrote 250 pages of a novel before I ended up writing myself into a corner; I had to go back and get rid of 1/2 of those pages! All because I didn't start out with an outline!
Aaargh!
Write on, my friend!"
Oh, I don't think I've ever been that far along when I've had to scrap it all, but I've nearly rewritten an entire story because I realized it was going off in a way that I couldn't manage it, and I had no idea what was going on. Outlines can really help control those type of situations, definitely! There is a limit to allowing a story write itself. ~ S J
Crow said, "Hello, Sara. Outlining was a preliminary form I never really used, even in my preaching days. I always typed out my sermons as full manuscripts. For me, I believe it was my desire to fully express my thoughts to the letter. Now that I have written for so many decades, I can see your point, especially when writing a full-length article or story. It's funny really because I do believe in storyboarding which I would imagine is just another version of outlining.
Thanks for your words,
Crow"
I do think storyboarding is a form of outlining, yes. There are a lot of different forms, now. Basically, finding a way to lay out your plans without writing out every word would be a form of outlining, in my opinion. ~ SJ
The question for this newsletter is as follows:
I'm a list maker. What do you have to do to get yourself refocused when you find you can't focus?
Write in the "Send a comment or question to the editor" box below to let me know what you think, and I'll include your response in my next newsletter! |
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Noticing Newbies: March 14, 2018 Issue [#8805]
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