“Trust me . . . the act of creation is great fun. The act of preparing to create and all the nervousness and procrastination that goes with it is not. So, sleeves up, ass on seat and get writing!” 

—James Lamberg
 

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In This Issue

Outwitting Your Inner Buzzard

Mindy Goes Beyond Her Fear 

Saundra_M: The Ways We Fraud Ourselves (Especially Writers?!)

Would You Participate If the 10K Day Was Saturday Instead of Thursday?*

10K Day: Where to Go Online If You Plan to Join Us on July 16*

*See lower half of sidebar for more 10K Day info

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Outwitting Your Inner Buzzard

Wondering why the opening quote is the same quote I used in the previous issue? By the time you've read this newsletter you'll understand why I found it worth repeating.

The two writers featured in this issue, Mindy and Saundra_M, demonstrate that sometimes the “Sleeves up, ass on seat and write!” approach is all that's left to try. And it can work wonders.

For those times when the process of writing *does* feel as fear-filled as your preconceived notions may often suggest, visit this blog link for a technique that can use that angst to your advantage:

Writer’s Block? Use the Whiplash of Your Inner Critic to Make It Across the Drawbridge


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Mindy Goes Beyond Her Fear 

EDITOR'S NOTE: A 10K Day is where you attempt to write 10,000 words in one day by following certain liberating rules—and by teaming up with fellow writers for support. 

Mindy Lawrence wrote to me on June 16, two days before a pack of writers convened at the Fear of Writing blog to attempt the 10K Day:

“The closer I get to ‘10K Day,’ the more I am sweating. I haven't produced anything over 1,000 words in a long time. I reached for my copy of FEAR OF WRITING and held it, white knuckled, reviewing all the reasons to just let it fly.

“I've been starting one story after another and dead-ending after a paragraph or two. I get started but find nowhere to go from there. Maybe I shouldn't worry about the ‘where’ and concentrate on the process.”

Bravely, Mindy asked her boss for the day off so she could join us. And she found out that James Lamberg from the opening quote is right: mental and emotional anticipation is a lot worse than the actual process.

Here are some tidbits from two follow-up reports she sent me:

6/18/09 Despite the fact that Mindy was deep into preparations for a trip she was taking the next day, she racked up 5,000 words during her 10K Day. One of her entries on the check-in page at the blog said, “Eye opening things are happening.” 

7/6/09 “This weekend I wrote 2200 words on my novel. I attribute my surge in writing to the 10K Write. Now I have 7200 words on my book. I plan on having a manuscript completed by the end of the year if at all possible. Thanks, Milli, for priming my writing pump. — Mindy”

Photo Courtesy of Theresa Terry

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The Ways We Fraud Ourselves (Especially Writers?!)

By Saundra_M

I've found that whatever I designate as my make-a-living occupation automatically becomes my paralysis factor. I procrastinate, worry about it, feel inadequate doing it and in general sabatage myself on it. I lock myself down and freeze up in that area. No wonder my hips and legs locked up so I couldn't move! The body takes things so literally! I always feel like I'm on probation with my every output scrutinized by a crabby overseer who doesn't like me. 

I can find a million and one ways to distract myself. I enjoy working around the house and in the garden. If I decided landscape designer or a home stager or interior design was my designated make-a-living work, I'd stop doing it. Argh! 

I'm slowly learning to stop demanding absolute perfection of myself before I can do something. (How can we learn if we don't make our mistakes and grow into proficiency? Tell my subconscious that. It thinks that wisdom applies to others only.) 

The myth that writers or artists are born, not educated into the field is one that I bought into long, long ago. I took a correspondence writing course in my early 20s. One of the founders on the board of the school was quoted as saying "Writers are born not made. Either you've got it or you don't. No one can teach it to you."

I was furious. I felt frauded and wrote a nasty letter to the school about her comment and quit. In truth, I was afraid she was right and I was wasting our money trying to learn something that couldn't be taught. The school never replied. 

I ignored my real life, in-front-of-me teachers in high school and college who praised my writing and called me talented. What did they know? 

The ways we fraud ourselves!

Saundra_M wrote the above in November of 2008. That was, in essence, her Before Story. I invite you to visit her guest blog post to read her exhilirating After Story:

Saundra_M and The Reluctant Blogger

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10K Day: Would Saturdays Work Better for You Than Thursdays?

See sidebar for more info re: 10K Days

Sixteen writers showed up for the June event, so I've decided to continue hosting them on Thursdays.

However, Mindy from the article above wrote in to say she can't take a day off work every month and would prefer a Saturday.

So if enough people write in, I'd be willing to also host a Saturday 10K Day. I'd like to hear from at least 4-5 people and then I'd be happy to provide the same level of event hosting on my blog. 

If you'd like to chime in for Saturdays, please hit your Reply button and let me know. 

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10K Day: Where to Go Online If You Plan to Join Us on July 16

The 10K Day takes place over on the Fear of Writing blog. There you'll find plenty of tips for how to participate by looking in the sidebar of the blog (or see the 10K Day links in the sidebar of this newsletter).

On July 16 there will be a special post right at the top of the blog where you can post your check-ins. Last month we had 104 check-in comments posted by 16 writers and (combined) we wrote 100,246 words!

Even if you think you have no hope of writing 10,000 words, please consider participating. We had a wide range of word counts on June 18—but everyone agreed that the experience itself is so phenomenal, the word count becomes secondary.

BOOKMARK the Fear of Writing blog
so you can find the check-in page on July 16

~ Happy writing!