How to Tackle a Huge Writing Project by Rochelle Melander
13 May 2014
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
My daughter Elly and me.
This past weekend, I ran my first 5K, Run Like a Mother. I didn’t burn up the route but I finished, beating my best training time. The cool part: I had fun. Really. I enjoyed running and cheering on so many amazing athletes!
And in honor of tackling a challenge, today’s tip talks about one way to finish massive writing project!
Happy Writing!
Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
How to Tackle a Huge Writing Project by Rochelle Melander
Earlier this spring, we visited The John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to view the Arts/Industry exhibition of pieces created by artists while on residency at the Kohler Co. Pottery, Iron and Brass Foundries, and Enamel Shop.
Babel by Jim Neel
And wow—the art amazed me! I was astonished by Jim Neel’s Babel, an installation of 50 ceramic chimpanzee warriors, lined up and ready to fight. The artist spent just 11 weeks casting the monkeys and their weapons. He shared the kiln and other equipment with factory workers who were casting sinks and toilets.
As I walked into the room where Babel stood, I felt overwhelmed by the dozens of marching monkeys. I wondered: how does one conceive of something so large and then complete it in a short period of time?
On the wall, just above his army of monkeys, the museum posted this quote from Jim Neel:
I just put my head down and made sure I got those two monkeys finished every day and as many arms and legs as I could. –Jim Neel
Eleven weeks. Two monkeys a day. And as many arms and legs as I could.
That’s so much more concrete than my usual, “I’ve got to work on this book.”
Jim Neel successfully finished his project within his 11-week residency because he committed himself to slow and steady progress: two monkeys a day. It’s not very sexy, but it works.
Try it: Take a look at your current work in progress. What does two monkeys a day look like for you? Declare it and do it!
WANT TO USE THIS TIP IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.
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Wednesday, May 28, 2014
12:00-1:00 PM CDT
De-Mystifying Editing
John Adamus
Editing is not the bogeyman everyone presumes, nor is it the exclusive sorcery of a few gatekeepers. Learn what an editor does, what actual good that will do you as a writer, how you can build a working relationship and what the difference is between self-editing and having someone edit your work.
About the speaker. John Adamus has been editing things with words for half his life, having spent years as a editor’s apprentice and coffee retriever before finally taking the plunge into working for himself doing freelance editing and consulting on anything from television and film scripts to children’s books to card, board and role-playing games. His work has gone on to win numerous industry awards and his blog (http://writernextdoor.com) is a frequently-cited resource for writing advice, art creation, frank discussions of mental health and wellness and lately, recipes. He tweets with the zeal of a teenage girl at http://twitter.com/awesome_john.
On the blog:
You can receive more information about writing, publishing, and social media from our blog. “The Write Now! Coach Blogs” features helpful tips by the Write Now! Coach and other publishing professionals: http://www.writenowcoach.com/blog/
Writers@Work: The Book Trailer by Marjorie Treu http://bit.ly/1jlOkCG
Writers@Work: An Interview with Austin Kleon http://bit.ly/1fEfR2b
A Story of Resistance…to Revision by Sandy Brehl http://bit.ly/1gTYuFt
Five Favorite Poetry Collections by JoAnn Early Macken http://bit.ly/1i2Y0kJ
Want More Quotes and Resources? Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander posts writing and publishing stories on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Visit her here:
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