Do Something Scary
I don't know about you, but I've been seeing Halloween stuff all over the place and I couldn't be more freaking excited. I'm not in a financial place to buy any and everything I want, but come Halloween time, you best believe I'll have a new costume for the year, some new dramatic makeup to play with, and something fun and spooky for the house. My dog already has two costumes and she will have a third this year.
With all the different craft stores and department stores packing their shelves with "scary" decor, I've realized two things. First, I'd rock ninety percent of this shit as my everyday home decor. Like, as in, I still haven't decorated my office, and I'm damn tempted to make it Halloween themed. Then I could have my decorations up year round without people looking at me weird. Well, they'd still look at me weird, but I'd at least have a happy place to write.
The second thing I've realized is that I don't do enough things that scare me. One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt. "Do one thing everyday that scares you."
And in my everyday life I've been working so damn hard to find my routine and feel comfortable and get all the things on my To Do lists done, that I've forgotten how wonderful it is to do something scary.
No, it doesn't always pan out the way I'd like, but not trying at all is way way worse. There are so many things that are scary. Having a heart-to-heart with someone when a tough conversation needs to happen...plunking down cash on supplies for a project you don't know if you'll sell...putting out a new format...or even opening that edits document that has been sitting on your computer for the better part of a year, and oh my god, has it really been that long?!?!?
I read a book a while back called "Eat That Frog" (which now that I look has multiple newer additions, so I might grab that. Damn you, Amazon!)
Anyway, in the book the main premise is that you should do the thing you're dreading the most, first. So whatever is on your To Do list that makes you want to cover it up and put it off to tomorrow, that's the thing you should start with. Because, according to the author, if you have to "eat a frog", after that everything else will seem easy. Obviously this author is not a fan of frog legs, but you get the idea.
I've been noticing my book work keeps getting shoved down on my list because I've been out of the game so long, I've built it up in my head to a huge task. Because it's been so long, unless I am exceptionally productive for hours upon hours, it's not good enough.
Remember yesterday's post, where I realized I need to start calling myself on my bullshit? Yup. This falls right in line.
I can't edit a blank page. I can't fix a document while hiding from the edit letter. And I can't get a publishing deal if I don't query.
This whole author gig is hard, but perhaps the biggest challenge is crafting a career and how you want it to look. Do I want to query? Or do I want to self-publish? Or do I want to try KU? (Hint, I don't. But I know lots of people who do very well with the platform, so power to you!)
You get the point. Sometimes the hardest thing is picking a direction in which to take the first step. I'm off to do something that terrifies me. I'm going to plot out the rest of a story I'm working on. Not a huge uber detailed plot. Just a direction. My main goal for today? Make it to the writing. Because this story has me so damn excited.
Plotting terrifies this pantser. So that's what I'm heading toward next. What are you going to do that scares you today? Let's turn some dreams into plans and take baby steps together. We've totally got this.
~Roxy
With all the different craft stores and department stores packing their shelves with "scary" decor, I've realized two things. First, I'd rock ninety percent of this shit as my everyday home decor. Like, as in, I still haven't decorated my office, and I'm damn tempted to make it Halloween themed. Then I could have my decorations up year round without people looking at me weird. Well, they'd still look at me weird, but I'd at least have a happy place to write.
The second thing I've realized is that I don't do enough things that scare me. One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt. "Do one thing everyday that scares you."
And in my everyday life I've been working so damn hard to find my routine and feel comfortable and get all the things on my To Do lists done, that I've forgotten how wonderful it is to do something scary. No, it doesn't always pan out the way I'd like, but not trying at all is way way worse. There are so many things that are scary. Having a heart-to-heart with someone when a tough conversation needs to happen...plunking down cash on supplies for a project you don't know if you'll sell...putting out a new format...or even opening that edits document that has been sitting on your computer for the better part of a year, and oh my god, has it really been that long?!?!?
I read a book a while back called "Eat That Frog" (which now that I look has multiple newer additions, so I might grab that. Damn you, Amazon!)
Anyway, in the book the main premise is that you should do the thing you're dreading the most, first. So whatever is on your To Do list that makes you want to cover it up and put it off to tomorrow, that's the thing you should start with. Because, according to the author, if you have to "eat a frog", after that everything else will seem easy. Obviously this author is not a fan of frog legs, but you get the idea.
I've been noticing my book work keeps getting shoved down on my list because I've been out of the game so long, I've built it up in my head to a huge task. Because it's been so long, unless I am exceptionally productive for hours upon hours, it's not good enough.
Remember yesterday's post, where I realized I need to start calling myself on my bullshit? Yup. This falls right in line.
I can't edit a blank page. I can't fix a document while hiding from the edit letter. And I can't get a publishing deal if I don't query.
This whole author gig is hard, but perhaps the biggest challenge is crafting a career and how you want it to look. Do I want to query? Or do I want to self-publish? Or do I want to try KU? (Hint, I don't. But I know lots of people who do very well with the platform, so power to you!)
You get the point. Sometimes the hardest thing is picking a direction in which to take the first step. I'm off to do something that terrifies me. I'm going to plot out the rest of a story I'm working on. Not a huge uber detailed plot. Just a direction. My main goal for today? Make it to the writing. Because this story has me so damn excited.
Plotting terrifies this pantser. So that's what I'm heading toward next. What are you going to do that scares you today? Let's turn some dreams into plans and take baby steps together. We've totally got this.
~Roxy
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