February 10, 2010

According to the National Science Foundation, the average person has about 12,000 thoughts per day, or 4.4 million thoughts per year.

I wager that writers are well above the average because we read more and writing causes us to think more than the average.

Who’s In Charge?

I had known for a long time that our thoughts affect our emotions, and that toxic “stinking thinking” could derail our writing dreams and health faster than almost anything. You are the only one who can decide whether to reject or accept a thought, which thoughts to dwell on, and which thoughts will become actions.

But sometimes–a lot of the time–I felt powerless to actually do anything about it on a consistent basis. Sometimes I simply felt unfocused and overwhelmed.

Need a Brain Detox?

I’ve been reading a “scientific brain studies” book for non-science types like me called Who Switched Off My Brain? by Dr. Caroline Leaf Ph.D. which has fascinated me. With scientific studies to back it up, it shows that thoughts are measurable and actually occupy mental “real estate.” Thoughts are active; they grow and change, influencing every decision we make and physical reaction we have.

“Every time you have a thought, it is actively changing your brain and your body–for better or for worse.” The author talks about the “Dirty Dozen”–which can be as harmful as poison in our minds and our bodies.

Killing Our Creativity

Among this dozen deadly areas of toxic thinking are toxic emotions, toxic words, toxic seriousness, toxic health, and toxic schedules.

If you want to delve into the 350+ scientific references and pages of end notes in the back of the book, you can look up the studies. But basically it targets the twelve toxic areas of our lives that produce 80% of the physical, emotional and mental health issues today. And trust me. Those issues have a great deal to do with you achieving your goals and dreams.

There Is Hope!

According to Dr. Leaf, scientists no longer believe that the brain is hardwired from birth with a fixed destiny to wear out with age, a fate predetermined by our genes. Instead there is scientific proof now for what the Bible has always taught: you can renew your minds and heal. Your brain really can change!

Old brain patterns can be altered, and new patterns can be implemented. In the coming days, I’ll share some more about the author’s ”Brain Sweep” five-step strategy for detoxing your thoughts associated with the “dirty dozen.”

But right now I’m going to read about the symptoms of a toxic schedule. I have a suspicion…

February 5, 2010

Even the most dedicated writers need a break sometimes. The brain gives out (often on Fridays), or the back and neck scream for relief. Sure, you can always read more email or surf the web or watch a re-run.

On the other hand, says Arthur Plotnik in a February, 2010 article in The Writer, “Take a productive break from writing.”

His definition of such a productive break includes “activities that can bolster my writing even as they give respite from its grind…A boost [to my writing] in quality or quantity is my criterion for ‘positive’ avoidances.”

Good for Your Writing

Time-wasting breaks produce guilt for not writing, leaving us feeling disgruntled at the end of the day. On the other hand, a break taken to bolster our writing skills is both refreshing and growth-producing. And guilt free!

Read Plotnik’s entire article for many more unusual ideas. (He’s the author of Spunk & Bite: A Writer’s Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style and is on The Writer‘s editorial board.) Here are just a few of his suggestions to whet your appetite for the next time you just have to get away from your desk:

• Talk a walk in your neighborhood as if seeing it for the first time. In your pocket notebook, jot down images and sensory perceptions and things you overhear and character descriptions.
• Visit a botanical garden, aquarium, museum, zoo, etc. where things are displayed and labeled. Collect metaphors based on the things you see, such as “a roommate like a stinkhorn fungus.” (Plotnick)
• Wander through your local library’s exhibits, and look through community bulletin boards and local history collections for ideas.
• Watch a “dopey adolescent sitcom” to update one’s YA-dialogue skills.
• Play an instrument or do a drawing.
• Build your inventory of character names from a directory.
• Spend time with someone in an interesting occupation, absorbing the details of a job one of your characters might perform.

Or do like me-and catch up on reading inspiring magazines like The Writer!

November 25, 2009

For the last four months, besides working full-time as a writer and instructor, I’ve been heavily involved in running two community groups and serving on the board of another. The biggest commitment finishes just before Christmas, and frankly, it’s just in time. I’m pooped!

I have been reading a great book called The Worn Out Woman: When Your Life is Full and Your Spirit is Empty by Dr. Steve Stephens and Alice  Gray. There is a lot of wisdom in this book. (And as I’ve talked with men who juggle a day job, a family, and writing, I’ve come to believe the following is not gender specific.)

How Did I Get Here?

“Most worn-out women struggle with expectations. Everyone seems to want more and more. They want you to do things better and bigger and quicker, all the while with a smile on your face. Everywhere you turn, there’s another expectation…until you’re exhausted just thinking about it,” say the authors. “Your family, your friends, your work, your neighbors, and even your church have expectations for you. You have expectations for yourself as well. It’s too much. Yet the shoulds and oughts don’t stop. As they grow, you can feel the arms of the octopus wrapping tighter.”

And what do Stephens and Gray say is the answer? “The only way to stop the octopus from dragging you down is to starve it.” If you take away the three foods it thrives on, the octopus will lose its power. The three foods are comparison, people pleasing, and perfectionism.

Know Thyself

Only you know where the three “foods” show up in your life. Are you a perfectionist housekeeper who won’t allow anyone to help you–even your family members–because they don’t clean up to your standards? Do you compare your flower beds to your neighbors and then spend your precious writing time weeding and watering? Are you afraid to displease your mother-in-law when she requests your presence on the Saturday you planned to write at the library?

Take a good look at the behaviors that are wearing you out and robbing you of your writing time. Plans on how to get rid of them would make some good new year’s resolutions!

November 7, 2008

According to Chris Baty, the founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Week One tended to include giddy feelings of anticipation. (Was this going to be the best book I ever wrote?) Shortly into the week, he cautioned that I might be plagued with an equally compelling, but opposite, question. (Was this going to be worst book ever written?)

My week, unfortunately, was plagued by a third question… “Can I write the chapters on four hours or less sleep per night?”

Before the first week of NaNo, I had alerted all family members that I would be going to bed early, getting up early to run, eating healthy, and then heading to the computer. Did that happen? No.

Some editing work I do requires an Internet connection. The day before NaNo started, the Internet on both computers went bad. Sluggish doesn’t describe it. It took four HOURS to load my blog on Friday. (I did reading and NaNo writing on another computer while waiting.)

I talked to DSL/phone tech guys, Microsoft tech guys, anti-virus tech guys… It took nearly twenty hours to clean out both computers, re-install programs, update software, and change from Internet Explorer to Foxfire. I managed to write in fits and spurts, but was denied the pleasure for several days of being able to log on and record my numbers at the NaNo site or read any badly needed pep talks from the message boards.

I had planned to write 2,000 words each day M-Sat, and then rest on Sundays. There are five Sundays in November! We’ve had one so far. Was it restful? Not so you’d notice.

I worked on Internet problems from 4 a.m. till we left at 7 a.m. to go teach Sunday school to the basic trainees. At noon we went to the air show, where I dozed in my lounge chair despite the ear-splitting noise of the Blue Angels and Tora! Tora! Tora! directly overhead. That night, hubby ate his frozen pizza while I again tackled the Internet issues till midnight.

Monday morning I summoned everything I could remember that I’d ever read about persistence and not giving up. Was I tempted? You bet. Was I sorry I’d announced in the blog that I was doing NaNoWriMo this year? YES. But I was also glad because I knew I’d keep going rather than face quitting publicly. The power of accountability! I was thankful that this year I had created a novel outline. Even when I am creatively brain dead, I can read an outline.

Did I get any writing done this week? YES—11,674 words. Was it the fun, creative, restful, energetic week I had pictured? NO. But the writing got done. And from what I can tell, it’s not bad for a rough draft.

As Chris Baty warned us, we aren’t supposed to judge our NaNo novel by the “sparkle of our prose” or the “rock-solid genius” of our plot. No, we simply write, getting the words down on the screen, leaving the judgmental inner editor snoozing on the sidelines.

The computers are now both functioning. The kinks in my neck are working out. I’m looking forward to Week Two.