February 16, 2011

I’m down with the flu (fever, coughing) and feel rotten, so I’m going to repeat something from a year ago that seems appropriate to me today! I should be back in the swing of things by Friday. *************************************************

“Life is what happens when you’ve made other plans.” We’ve all heard that saying. I want to remind you that it’s during these unexpected “life happens” events that you most often lose sight of your writing dreams.

How do we keep that from happening?

According to Kelly Stone in Time to Write, “The only requirement to be a writer is a Burning Desire to Write, coupled with the dedication that that desire naturally creates. Follow that desire up with action and nothing will keep you from success.”

Life Interrupted

I agree with Ms. Stone. Adhere to that formula for success, and you can’t miss. BUT life gets in the way sometimes: personal illness, job loss in the family, sick parents or children, a teen in trouble, a marriage in trouble. It’s at these times when you need to take precautions to keep your dream alive inside you.

Other writers struggle with this too, whether it’s during calm times in life or when there’s more upheaval. “It’s easy to believe that what you do doesn’t matter, but you have to think that it does matter,” says novelist Mary Jo Putney, “that you have stories to tell, and a right to tell them.  You should take the time to yourself to explore this ability. You’ll always be sorry if you don’t do it.”

Practical Tips

There are many tried-and-true actions to take to keep your dream alive. Write out your goals and action plan, breaking it down into small, do-able steps. Set small daily goals, and write–even if it’s only for ten minutes–to stay in the habit. Visualize in great detail having pieces published, autographing your first novel, or quitting your day job to write full-time.

You don’t have time for all that?

Okay, then just do ONE thing. Steve Berry, NY Times bestselling author, said it well: “The number one thing you must do is write. You have to write, write, write, and when you can’t write anymore, write some more.”

Don’t go to bed tonight until you’ve spent at least ten or fifteen minutes writing. Nothing keeps a writer’s dream alive and flourishing like sitting down and writing. Absolutely nothing.

5 Comments »

1. 

   Praying you feel better really soon, Kristi!

   Comment by MizB — February 16, 2011 @ 4:30 pm

2. 

   Kristi,

   I hope you feel better soon. Take care.

   Andrea

   Comment by Andrea B. — February 16, 2011 @ 6:56 pm

3. 

   Thank you! This is what I needed tonight.
   Hope you feel better soon!

   Comment by Anna — February 16, 2011 @ 11:43 pm

4. 

   Sending you healing thoughts and prayers, Kristi. Writing 15 min. a day is golden advice.

   Comment by Vijaya — February 17, 2011 @ 12:07 am

5. 

   Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes, everyone! I think it’s getting better–but s-l-o-w-l-y!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — February 17, 2011 @ 2:13 pm

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