Comments on: Are You Making the All-Or-Nothing Mistake? http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/12/are-you-making-the-all-or-nothing-mistake/ Guidance for writers who struggle to get started Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:55:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dirtywhitecandy http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/12/are-you-making-the-all-or-nothing-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 dirtywhitecandy Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:15:06 +0000 http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/?p=1066#comment-1760 Very good point, especially about splitting the writing of a novel into manageable chunks. This not only applies to the wordcount for drafting the text, but all the other stages - from initial research to writing the selling synopsis when you finally want to show it to the world. Writing a novel is an enormous task, and one of the things that will help you finish is if you split it into smaller, manageable jobs. Very good point, especially about splitting the writing of a novel into manageable chunks. This not only applies to the wordcount for drafting the text, but all the other stages – from initial research to writing the selling synopsis when you finally want to show it to the world. Writing a novel is an enormous task, and one of the things that will help you finish is if you split it into smaller, manageable jobs.

]]> By: Stormy http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/12/are-you-making-the-all-or-nothing-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-1710 Stormy Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:43:27 +0000 http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/?p=1066#comment-1710 Thank you so much for this blog! This is exactly what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed to hear it. I do this every single day and although I know I'm missing out on valuable writing time because of it, I can't seem to stop. I'm going to make this a top priority (right in time for the new year!) and start writing whenever I get a minute. I refuse to let my own silly boundaries stand in my way this year. :D Thank you so much for this blog! This is exactly what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed to hear it. I do this every single day and although I know I’m missing out on valuable writing time because of it, I can’t seem to stop. I’m going to make this a top priority (right in time for the new year!) and start writing whenever I get a minute. I refuse to let my own silly boundaries stand in my way this year. :D

]]> By: Icy Sedgwick http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/12/are-you-making-the-all-or-nothing-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Icy Sedgwick Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:34:20 +0000 http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/?p=1066#comment-1708 I was definitely making this mistake! If I didn't sit down and write for any prolonged period of time, I felt like I was letting myself down...but then I wouldn't sit down and write because I'd tell myself I didn't have the time. Like, I would have an idea for something, or a story would start telling itself in my head, and I wouldn't write it down, telling myself I'd "remember it later". Obviously I never did, so I've started MAKING myself write when the urge does take me. The more snippets of writing I get down on paper, the more I want to write, and the more time I miraculously find for writing...it's a delicious upward spiral! I was definitely making this mistake! If I didn’t sit down and write for any prolonged period of time, I felt like I was letting myself down…but then I wouldn’t sit down and write because I’d tell myself I didn’t have the time. Like, I would have an idea for something, or a story would start telling itself in my head, and I wouldn’t write it down, telling myself I’d “remember it later”. Obviously I never did, so I’ve started MAKING myself write when the urge does take me. The more snippets of writing I get down on paper, the more I want to write, and the more time I miraculously find for writing…it’s a delicious upward spiral!

]]> By: Laura Lee Bloor http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/12/are-you-making-the-all-or-nothing-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-1697 Laura Lee Bloor Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:44:10 +0000 http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/?p=1066#comment-1697 Thanks, Jen! I agree with lapetus999 that it's hard to jump in and out of your story or a big project if you only have 10 minutes. However, as you say, even getting a couple sentences down is better than none at all. Same with exercise. Again, having more time is better and will allow you to burn more calories but just doing a walk around the block is better than nothing. I think with any goal, it's best to start very tiny. Get yourself used to doing something every day by only doing a little bit of it so it won't seem so intimidating. Writing, exercising, tidying -- just spend five or 10 minutes every day. I'm going to try this approach to many of my goals for next year. Thanks, Jen! I agree with lapetus999 that it’s hard to jump in and out of your story or a big project if you only have 10 minutes. However, as you say, even getting a couple sentences down is better than none at all. Same with exercise. Again, having more time is better and will allow you to burn more calories but just doing a walk around the block is better than nothing.

I think with any goal, it’s best to start very tiny. Get yourself used to doing something every day by only doing a little bit of it so it won’t seem so intimidating. Writing, exercising, tidying — just spend five or 10 minutes every day. I’m going to try this approach to many of my goals for next year.

]]> By: Iapetus999 http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/12/are-you-making-the-all-or-nothing-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-1690 Iapetus999 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:09:50 +0000 http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/?p=1066#comment-1690 That's way easier said than done. My mind doesn't task-switch that easily. The reason I need a solid block of time is that the first 10-20 minutes are getting myself back into the story. Can't do it in two minutes. And for the exercising, yes, some is better than nothing, but prolonged exercise (30-60 mins) activates more of your metabolism than short bursts and is a better workout :) So set aside the full time you need for it. That’s way easier said than done. My mind doesn’t task-switch that easily. The reason I need a solid block of time is that the first 10-20 minutes are getting myself back into the story. Can’t do it in two minutes.

And for the exercising, yes, some is better than nothing, but prolonged exercise (30-60 mins) activates more of your metabolism than short bursts and is a better workout :) So set aside the full time you need for it.

]]>