tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post1222066111949822449..comments2024-02-16T15:14:36.719-06:00Comments on Wet Noodle Posse: Start Writing: One word, one sentence, one book!MJFredrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06881706931355203700noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-61011122922266385382008-01-27T14:29:00.000-06:002008-01-27T14:29:00.000-06:00I was just reading about this same type of advice ...I was just reading about this same type of advice in Anne Lamott's <I>Bird by Bird</I> today. Natalie Goldberg dispenses the same advice. There is definitely a reason so many writers espouse this. It's comforting to a beginning writer to know that even prolific ones have writer's block now and then. Thanks for the inspiration, Terry!Jennifer Sardamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924724423417856384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-45551903175262404472008-01-25T11:24:00.000-06:002008-01-25T11:24:00.000-06:00Hi Esri! (waving) Yes, I think we met in Atlanta...Hi Esri! (waving) Yes, I think we met in Atlanta, and it was great fun sharing a table with you. :)Katey Coffing, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07956310592693937227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-75532080902115786512008-01-24T23:50:00.000-06:002008-01-24T23:50:00.000-06:00Hi, Katey! I think we met at last year's RWA confe...Hi, Katey! I think we met at last year's RWA conference. Thanks for visiting! Katey is a life coach, specializing in writers.Esri Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912657945785764363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-917419038293956712008-01-24T21:38:00.000-06:002008-01-24T21:38:00.000-06:00EXCELLENT post, Theresa! You're right on target, ...EXCELLENT post, Theresa! You're right on target, and the mental trick you suggested really works--I use it, myself. :)<BR/><BR/>And I've noticed the hardest part for most of my clients is simply applying butt to chair, so yep, this problem is really common. Sometimes I suggest they open their manuscript to the last sentence they wrote and just stare at the screen for fifteen minutes. After that they're free to get up--but 99 times out of 100, faced with that last sentence (and boredom), they end up adding another sentence...then another, and another, and just like you said, things get exciting. Suddenly they're typing away (and wondering why they spent any energy avoiding the chair). So YAY to sitting in the chair and giving oneself permission to start small!Katey Coffing, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07956310592693937227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-16796378128999689972008-01-24T20:11:00.000-06:002008-01-24T20:11:00.000-06:00Boy is this me in spades! I really needed to read ...Boy is this me in spades! I really needed to read this post. There are so many days I am just completely wrung out from work that I cannot make myself sit down and write. I feel like such a failure if I don't have five pages in me every night. Starting with just one sentence may just be the thing that gets me started and if not, I DO have that one sentence written at least!dogladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392561174583932552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-54133795996830472252008-01-24T19:29:00.000-06:002008-01-24T19:29:00.000-06:00Maureen, that's exactly what I do...start with a t...Maureen, that's exactly what I do...start with a to-do list every day instead of writing and pretty soon there's no time left in the day for writing.<BR/><BR/>Esri, good job on the 3.5 pages. I made my 5 page goal today too so I'm feeling good.Theresa Raganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815320170046221853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-16258509541588712212008-01-24T19:08:00.000-06:002008-01-24T19:08:00.000-06:00Okay, Theresa. I read my WIP to get back in it and...Okay, Theresa. I read my WIP to get back in it and wrote 3.5 pages. Tomorrow, I'll see if I can split my time between writing and promotion tasks. Thanks for being our cheerleader today!Esri Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912657945785764363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-58341704958727190972008-01-24T16:32:00.000-06:002008-01-24T16:32:00.000-06:00Theresa,Great advice! I wasted a little time today...Theresa,<BR/>Great advice! I wasted a little time today picking photos from Nutcracker performances for my daughter's ballet scrapbook. And the whole time I was doing it, I knew I should be writing. It's weird. Sometimes I have these to-do's I have to check off before the writing can begin. I've got to reverse that process!Mo Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13644902211036445323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-50681287254165164842008-01-24T15:00:00.000-06:002008-01-24T15:00:00.000-06:00It's not the disappointment I mind so much as the ...It's not the disappointment I mind so much as the bowel-loosening terror. Yes, I hear your whip. Whup-ah!Esri Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912657945785764363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-39603079852491875902008-01-24T13:53:00.000-06:002008-01-24T13:53:00.000-06:00"And yet, I can see my future self saying, "If you..."And yet, I can see my future self saying, "If you'd just written three pages a day, you wouldn't be staring down the barrel of your second-book contract.""<BR/><BR/>Exactly, Esri. This is a great idea...to look at our future selves and see that disappointment in our faces if we don't do our daily or weekly count.<BR/><BR/>Yes, Patricia, this internet thing takes up too much time...unless we use it as a reward system. I just wrote two new pages, not great pages, but not bad either! <BR/><BR/>Everyone should write as much as possible today and then report back tonight! I expect a minimum of one sentence. Can you hear me cracking the whip in the distance?Theresa Raganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815320170046221853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-11379000294142149832008-01-24T13:29:00.000-06:002008-01-24T13:29:00.000-06:00I'm with you, Patricia. I opened my WIP and am rea...I'm with you, Patricia. I opened my WIP and am reading through it to get back up to speed. I just won't do anything else until I write three pages every morning. Enough really is enough. Thank you, Theresa!Esri Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912657945785764363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-65099025814695151042008-01-24T12:53:00.000-06:002008-01-24T12:53:00.000-06:00This was for me today. I decided just this mornin...This was for me today. I decided just this morning, "Enough!" Enough procrastinating, enough research (see yesterday's post), enough meditative thought related to writing, enough...<BR/><BR/>The problem is I start out thinking let me get this email and blogging out of the way. A few hours later...<BR/><BR/>Today, if no other, I'm going to write.PatriciaWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04572087157439187319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-6749324414182953692008-01-24T12:40:00.000-06:002008-01-24T12:40:00.000-06:00Seems like the better I write, the more I think, "...Seems like the better I write, the more I think, "If I can't come up with something that good today, then I'm wasting my time." There's a disconnect of logic there, because I also realize that first-draft stuff is just a start, and I love to revise. I do think getting in the habit of writing helps. Seems like there's always some new thing that disrupts the schedule. It used to be, "Entering this important contest is my priority." Now it's "Getting my press kit is my priority." And yet, I can see my future self saying, "If you'd just written three pages a day, you wouldn't be staring down the barrel of your second-book contract."Esri Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912657945785764363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-8879707977784821982008-01-24T12:27:00.000-06:002008-01-24T12:27:00.000-06:00Kendra and Caroline, so glad you guys stopped by. ...Kendra and Caroline, so glad you guys stopped by. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Kendra, I know what you mean about the self medicating thing. If I don't hurry up and write that one word, I'll get up to get some hot tea and then a snack, and then I need something sweet, etc., etc. <BR/><BR/>Caroline, you give me too much credit, but thanks! <BR/><BR/>Okay, here I go...I'm going to go write one page before I will allow myself to come check this blog again. :)Theresa Raganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815320170046221853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-88686811699678685092008-01-24T12:21:00.000-06:002008-01-24T12:21:00.000-06:00Hi Terry! Thanks for commenting. I always figured ...Hi Terry! Thanks for commenting. I always figured the looming deadline thing would be a perfect motivator...darn!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Cat, I'm glad you're going to try it!<BR/><BR/>Kerry, going from Project A to Project B does work for me too. And it is sort of strange how suddenly Project A is easier to come back to after you've dealt with Project B for a while. :)Theresa Raganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815320170046221853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-75935599484660032712008-01-24T11:53:00.000-06:002008-01-24T11:53:00.000-06:00Brilliant advice! But then, I would expect nothin...Brilliant advice! But then, I would expect nothing less from you. Your keen words and encouragement have kept me writing for years! Thanks. I’m going to try this today and see how it helps. You hit the nail on the head about getting started---and that is exactly where I’ve been all week. A blank white page even makes the treadmill look inviting. A one word/one sentence goal is much more appealing. <BR/>Hugs,<BR/>CarolineCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11762297996629582641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-70079253781940551562008-01-24T11:28:00.000-06:002008-01-24T11:28:00.000-06:00Nope, it's not just you! I love to write too, but...Nope, it's not just you! I love to write too, but that initial sit-down of the day, no matter how far into the book I am, is always intimidating. I love your idea of looking at it in terms of the smallest pieces of the whole. Lots of days, even my five-page quota seems overwhelming at the outset, whether or not it ends up going smoothly. I've got the strain of stage fright Terry mentioned, for sure! And apart from continued self-medicating with chocolate, I'm going to give your way a try:-) Thanks!Kendra Leigh Castlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10254059079950439368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-55114473263194990862008-01-24T11:23:00.000-06:002008-01-24T11:23:00.000-06:00There are days that suck so much life out of me, I...There are days that suck so much life out of me, I don't have enough mental energy to stare at the TV, much less string words together coherently. For those days only, I cut myself some slack about the "write every day" mantra.<BR/><BR/>"Stuck" does seem to create an impenetrable forcefield around the computer, in which case I break out a pen and paper. The shift in method is often enough to un-gum the works. <BR/><BR/>It also helps me to have a "backup project" to shift to. It's rare to be stuck on both at the same time, and the problem with Project A usually works itself out in my subconscious by the time I get bogged down on Project B, so I can switch back without even breaking stride.Kerry Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17590084039940396398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-42037135487664539372008-01-24T11:21:00.000-06:002008-01-24T11:21:00.000-06:00Hi Theresa,Today you hit on exactly what I've been...Hi Theresa,<BR/>Today you hit on exactly what I've been struggling with. That reluctance to sit down and just do it. I love the idea of giving myself permission to do no more than write one word. If I can sit down and do that the rest should follow.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05663703767093923242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18101458.post-55938148412058770192008-01-24T11:12:00.000-06:002008-01-24T11:12:00.000-06:00Hi, Theresa :-)--Wow, this post sounds familiar. ...Hi, Theresa :-)--<BR/><BR/>Wow, this post sounds familiar. I have a terrible time getting myself to open a file and get to work (getting myself in the chair is easy--getting myself off the Internet and on task is the hard part). Some days I sit here for hours, trying to think of something bad enough to threaten myself with. Usually a looming deadline does the trick, but not always :-(.<BR/><BR/>I've decided I don't have writer's block; I suffer from an odd strain of stage fright. I'm afraid I'll never think of another thing to write, and my career will be over.<BR/><BR/>But I LOVE your suggestion about typing just one word or one sentence. If I can get myself to start, I rarely have trouble continuing. It's getting over that first hurdle that's daunting.<BR/><BR/>One word...one sentence...I'm going to try it! Thanks, Theresa :-).Terry McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08557335434947611768noreply@blogger.com