motivation

,

5 Tips to Avoid Procrastination

There’s a line between waiting for inspiration to strike and sitting down to write – with or without the ever-illusive… inspiration.

When I was in college, my mom gave me a poster that said,

If your ship hasn’t come in, swim out to meet it.

And inspiration is a lot like that! Some days, you just won’t be feeling it. I’m sorry, it’s true. As a mom, MOST days I’m not feeling it when it comes to the Triple B’s (bath, books, bed.) I just want to skip ahead to the BED part and be done with it.

But as soon as the kids are happily splashing away – or as soon as we’re cuddled up with a book – it’s not so bad.

Here my PROVEN tips for beating procrastination in your writing!

1. Turn OFF Social Media
Do you remember life before Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and all the OTHER social distractions? I do! I remember when the Internet wasn’t always “ON” but was a privilege we bought as 100 minutes a month for $100 a month!

If you were still paying for Internet by the minute, I guarantee you’d spend a lot less time cruising Facebook!

There are a dozen apps that you can install that will lock you out of social media – if you need that. For me, just closing the Facebook tab is enough. (And I do NOT have the Facebook messenger app installed on my phone!) I’ve ALSO turned off all notifications (especially the sounds) for all my social media accounts. When you don’t have those “dings” chirping at you a million times a day, it’s easier to ignore your online social life.

If you need one more reason:

Take a look at the feed of somebody who’s life you envy. The one who looks PERFECT from the outside. The one who is always organized, lives in a neat and tidy house that is color-coordinated, and ALWAYS finishes projects. Then imagine that their life IS perfect… It’s exactly how it looks from the outside.

Wouldn’t you rather be the friend that OTHER friends are envious of – because of your PUBLISHED BOOK? Be the role model for getting.it.done so your other friends can think YOUR life is perfect. (It won’t be perfect, but having your book written and published can be the truth!)

2. Hone your Bullsh*t meter for when you’re working (or not!)
How often is your “research” just a fancy way of procrastinating? I completely understand that for most of us, especially writing non-fiction, a certain amount of research IS required.

But are you focused?
Is it necessary before you move on?

Or are you following the rabbit holes of the Internet and gobbling down click bait the way bugs eat insect poison… and then die leaving piles of little insect corpses in the corner of the room?

Because, trust me, watching a TV show is NOT research even if it IS remotely related to your topic… Here’s an advanced tip when you’re procrastinating your dreams: Imagine the actors in your FAVORITE show or movie. Imagine all they had to do to get to where they are. Send them an energetic “Thank You” for the entertainment they’ve brought you. Now imagine what YOUR life would be like if that same actor hadn’t pursued their dream… YOUR life would be the poorer for it – and by not writing, you’re making your reader’s life poorer!

Keep Reading!

,

Mid-Year Reset for Your Writing

It’s nearly July! Which means that 2022 is just about halfway over.

Is that a good thing – or a scary thing? Are you making progress toward your goals for your book this year… or not?

When you just “think” about what you’ve accomplished over the last six months, it’s really easy to fall into the “I didn’t do ANYTHING” trap. (Seriously, I do that too!)

You look back and only see where you “failed.”

(It’s rare, but sometimes you look back and overestimate what you’ve accomplished. MOST people only see a list of their setbacks, disappointments, and where they missed the mark,)

Except…

How do you KNOW what you’ve really accomplished?

By TRACKING it!

And then revaluating. Making a new plan.

All too often, goal setting is limited to January.

Um… that’s ridiculous! You can set a goal at ANY point in the year. There is no magic in January. Just like there’s no magic on Monday, or June 21, or in any other day.

Mid-year is a GREAT time to do a reset. Evaluate your goals. Create evidence of where you’re succeeding – and where you can use improvement. I spent my early morning doing just that: reviewing my goals, changing the ones that no longer fit, looking at what I’ve met (yay), where I’m getting closer, which I’ve forgotten (do I even still want that?), and setting NEW goals for myself.

This is where “The Writer’s Goal Setting Workbook: A Step-By-Step Process to Getting Your Writing Done” comes in.

I created this workbook JUST for you – to help you set goals around your writing. It will walk you through your wins, where you need improvement, and how to set doable goals for the upcoming months.

And no, you don’t ONLY need to start it in January!

It also offers 12 monthly tracking sheets so you can track your progress. No more “I THINK I’m doing it” or “I suck. I don’t do it.” – you’ll be able to see your progress add up.

Here’s some GREAT news:

Amazon has it on a WICKED-GOOD sale of over 60% off. But I don’t control Amazon so I have no clue how long that sale will last.

Get It Here

And let’s make the next six months something amazing!

, ,

The Intersection of Time and Fear

I’ve had dozens of people email me over the past week – telling me what their biggest challenge is around writing their book.

It boils down to pretty much two things:

  1. How can I find more time to write?
  2. Am I doing this writing… right?

When those two challenges show up in combination… it’s a recipe for inaction (and then getting MAD at yourself for not writing!)

My darling author, let’s look at this okay?

Time

Imagine me holding your hand and saying this very gently:

We make time for the things that matter.

And if you look at your life, you’ll find it’s true. You’ll also find that it’s EASIER to make time for other people – less so for yourself. Which is why you’re probably also struggling to find time to exercise (me!), go to bed at a decent hour, pursue your hobbies, and yes, write.

The things that seem “easy” are caring for other people – those kids HAVE to eat, they HAVE to have clean clothes (even if they aren’t folded), and the dog HAS to be fed. If you’ve got clients or a job, you rarely, if ever, drop THOSE balls – they are cared for.

Now, add in the fact that you are TIRED. It’s so easy to watch TV, scroll social media, even disappear into a book. And that’s okay! You’ve GOT to have time to switch off your brain and rest.

And…

We make time for the things that matter.

We make time for things that matter. Your book, your message... MATTERS. Click To Tweet

Writing your book DOES matter. And you WANT to make time to write. But… here’s where time intersects with fear. Because WHY spend your time on something that, while enjoyable and you WANT to do, you’re riddled with self-doubts about if your message does in fact, matter; will anybody READ the book, and are you writing “correctly” so people will want to read it later.

Does my writing MATTER?

We WANT to make an impact in the world. We WANT to make a difference, to help people. We also want to be liked, respected, and appreciated.

Writing is a solo activity. And it’s almost impossible to figure out if you’re doing it “right” on your own. You either think all your writing is BRILLIANT and wonderful… or your convinced it’s all crap and you should never write again.

There’s no middle ground.

Keep Reading!

, , , ,

Client Success Story: Douglas Gentile

I want to take a moment and brag on my client, Douglas Gentile, for his new book that was published on May 12, 2022.

The book is “Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and Be Happier” by Ven. Dr. Douglas Cheolsoeng Gentile.

​Douglas is one of the graduates from the VIP Writing Mentorship and the Finally Write Your Book System. His book was published last week by Penguin (and is available on Amazon.)


 

Douglas came to me after hearing me speak at Sedona Yoga Festival. I was asking the same questions his potential publisher had been asking (and he didn’t know how to answer!) Douglas quickly figured out that I could help him answer those questions – and rewrite the book. (He had written it twice already!)

Through our work together in the VIP Writing Mentorship, Douglas re-wrote the book, this time for a more main-stream audience. While the original publisher who had expressed interested in the book decided to pass on publishing it, Penguin decided it was perfect for what they wanted to bring to market.

Buy The Book

More about Douglas Gentile:

Dr. Douglas Gentile is an award-winning research scientist, educator, author, and is professor of psychology at Iowa State University. His experience includes over 30 years conducting research with children and adults. He has authored over 140 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, including studies on the positive and negative effects of mass media on children in several countries, video game addiction, and mindfulness practices for reducing anxiety and increasing happiness. He has written several books on similar topics.

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. He was honored with the Distinguished Lifetime Contributions Award to Media Psychology and Technology by the American Psychological Association, and he was named one of the Top 300 Professors in the United States by the Princeton Review.

In addition, he is an ordained Zen Buddhist monk and meditation teacher who leads retreats and has written and narrated the best-selling audiobook Buddhism 101: How to Walk Easily over Rough Ground and Meditation: The Busy Person’s Guide to Cultivating Compassion and Positive Mind States.

, ,

Are You Using Stinkin’ Thinkin’ as an Excuse Not to Write?

It’s not a newsflash that I love my watercolor paints. I spend time every single day thinking about painting. Ideally, I spend time every day also, actually, PAINTING.

Sometimes I even dream about it at night…

When I started this watercolor journey, I really wanted to be able to paint for hours at a time. Uninterrupted. In the flow.

However, I was physically able to SIT for about 15 minutes at a time. (Surgery-gone-sideways, October 2020.)

Then as I could sit for longer periods of time, my days also filled up with getting back to the tasks of motherhood, chores, and my business.

For a while, I wasn’t painting AT ALL because if I could only do it for 20 or 25 minutes, it wasn’t “worth” it.

What stinkin’ thinkin’!

Most days, Ben is able to help me grab the time between Little Bean going to bed and the time dinner is ready. Approximately… 20 minutes.

And in those near-daily 20 minutes, I have been able to complete DOZENS of paintings. But more than that, I’ve clocked about 75 HOURS of pure enjoyment.

Because I changed my stinkin’ thinkin’ about how it wasn’t “worth” painting if I couldn’t do it for long stretches of time.

The same is true for your writing.

Yes, you may WANT to write for two HOURS a day. But writing for 15 minute a day, every day, can actually get you MORE writing done than scrambling to find two uninterrupted hours in your week.

The math

15 x 7 = 1.75 hours actually COMPLETED.

OR

2 hours that you tried (and maybe couldn’t) find.

So let me ask you:

Where will you find fifteen minutes today to work on your writing?

The #1 Mindset You Need to Write Your Book

Let’s talk about… mindset.

#truthbomb

Mindset doesn’t write books.

WRITING – the physical act – writes books.

#truthbomb - Mindset doesn't write books. WRITING - the physical act - writes books. Click To Tweet

There I said it! Whew!

Mindset alone doesn’t do you any good. Because action is what actually moves your book forward. The action of thinking about your book, planning out your stories, and then *gasp* putting words onto paper.

Woah.

Now there are FIVE Mental Monsters™ that keep you from writing your book. Read about them here.

And the thing with these Mental Monsters™ is that they like to show up – alone or in combination – often. So yes, there is mindset work that you need to do to recognize those Mental Monsters™, deal with them, and get back to writing.

At “Brew Your Book – LIVE: Stop ‘Percolating’ on Your Message and FINALLY Write Your Book” we have a whole session about identifying and dealing with your mental monster.

But here’s something you need to know about how we deal with it at the event:

We do it LAST. The very last thing on the very last day.

Why?

Because you don’t START writing your book with mindset!

I’ve been around the Internet course building, coaching, mentoring space a LOOOOOOONG time (like 10 years.) And I’ve seen so many experts put together their course, program, system, etc.

Every single one has a mindset element. Every single course, program, system, book, training – you name it.

And often times, getting into the right mindset is the foundational piece. The FIRST step.

Except…

That isn’t the truth for writing a book.

Let me say that again:

Working on your MINDSET is not the first step in writing your book.

(Nor is it dealing with your procrastination, inertia, or habits.)

The FIRST step in writing your book is your message.

MESSAGE.

Which is why we spend an entire DAY on Message at “Brew Your Book – LIVE!” and only one session on Mental Monsters™.

If you’re still on the fence about joining us, this is your prod to get OFF the fence, register your ticket, and come to Prescott, Arizona April 7-9!

At the event you’ll learn:

  • The steps to uncover your powerful message so you can move your readers – and change their lives.
  • Exactly how to write powerfully and easily – even if you think you’re not a writer or struggle with expressing yourself in written word.
  • What needs to go into the book and what doesn’t so that your reader feels that you understand them – and are here to help.
  • How to deal with procrastination, writer’s block, overwhelm, and lack of motivation so that you’re able to keep going – moving forward and making steady progress – even if your inspiration gets derailed.
  • My proven method to consistently finding the time to write no matter how busy your life is!
  • How to engage your readers – from the first page – so that they keep reading, and so they recommend your book to their friends.
  • How to share your message in a way that your readers will remember – even if they forget the steps of your process, acronym, or system.
  • Why writing a book is the best way to be seen as an expert – and how having a book can open doors to interviews, speaking gigs, and more clients.
  • And more…

Register Here – Ticket Is $297

Keep Reading!

,

Are You Creating an Environment for Writing Success?

Take a moment, right now, and ask yourself:

How am I setting myself up for writing success?

If you’re like most of the authors I work with, that answer is going to surprise you. Authors fall into two camps:

I’m so organized my PAPERCLIPS are alphabetized. (And I don’t write because I’m afraid of messing it up!)

OR

My piles make sense… to me. And if you need something, I just need to shift four piles to get it. (And I don’t write because the clutter is actually out of control BUT I neither want to admit that NOR deal with it!)

By the way, I fall FIRMLY in category two. I have been cleaning my office lately but to anyone else’s eyes, it’s still a disaster.

Now, no matter which extreme end of the organizing continuum you fall on, one thing remains:

How are you setting yourself up for writing success?

Because it’s so EASY to just focus on the STUFF. The neat office. The pretty mug full of perfectly sharpened pencils. The exact right journal. The software. The comfy chair. The perfect temperature cup of coffee.

But are these outside things REALLY helping you write?

Probably not. Because writing is so much more than the writing space. It’s more than the computer or journal or perfect pen.

So where do you fall in these categories?

Writing mentorship
Are you STUDYING writing? Or are you just sticking words on the page and HOPING it gets your message across?

Feedback
Who is reading your stuff? Is it someone who KNOWS how to write a book or just someone who knows how to hunt down commas? Or worse – is it someone who blows smoke and tells you how wonderful your writing is? (Positive encouragement is SUPER important – but it won’t point out your weaknesses!)

Community
Who do you know who is also writing a book? Who is serious about it?

Investment
Where are you investing your money in your writing? While writing may be the cheapest of all the arts (you don’t need expensive paints or a pricy instrument) that doesn’t mean that it is actually FREE. What events are you attending? (And yes, a paid event IS going to offer better content than a free event!)

Writing time
Are you ACTUALLY writing? Or is it just lip service?

Guess what? You get all this AND MORE when you join me for the live three-day event, “Brew Your Book – LIVE: Stop ‘Percolating’ on Your Message and FINALLY Write Your Book” happening April 7-9, 2022, in Prescott, Arizona.

Register Here

Keep Reading!

< 1 2 3 4 5 >»