Tag: Motivation

Writing is Hard Work….

Posted on by CV Whitfield

I know I’ve said it before. But writing is hard work. Especially for me. Mostly because, I have good days and great days. And then some not-so-good days.

I can easily sit down and work the keyboard for a few hours and write pages and pages. Yet, then my OCD and Anxiety kicks in and I look at the writing and feel its not very organized. Or my thoughts are not coming out right. Even when I know its just a rough draft. Or a quick blog post thats not polished. I sit and worry that it’s crap.

Then, the internal debate happens. Delete. Leave it. No. Delete it. Okay, lets revise and edit it. No, it wasn’t meant to be edited. Okay. Delete it. Forget it. Just leave it. I’ll come back to it tomorrow and edit.

Sometimes writing is a chore. Yet, I do it because I know its something I have to do. Like a job, you have to do it even if you’re not really into it. So I just write. Mostly garbage or just stream of conscience stuff. This is when I rant or throw common sense at a problem and try to explain the upside or downside.

I hope I’m not alone in this battle to write. I think this is why I’m insanely curious to how others write and try to voyeur on their writing process. Like a nerdy 7th grader, I’m trying to justify I’m not alone in this complex world.

And don’t get me started when I think I’m just writing this stuff and its like a note in a bottle. I doubt anyone is reading it or even finding it on the web…..

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Today’s Word: Patience.

Posted on by CV Whitfield

Hello, boys and girls. Today’s word is patience.

This is something some writers don’t have. Okay. Well, maybe not some. Let’s just say me. I try hard to have it but ….

My head is filled with stories. It’s full of scenes, dialog and … things. I sit and as I write, it flows so much slower. I can spend a full solid morning and only have a few pages to show but in my mind, I’ve seen the beginning, the middle and the end.

So, with the patience comes focus. With that head so full of stories and ideas, its hard to stay focused on just one. I easily get something else caught in my imagination and start to document that. And typically, as I’m working on that, a new idea bursts forth.

I’ve learned that patience comes with discipline. To ease the chaos of my mind, I try to satisfy it by working on more than one project at a time. I’ve been asked if that isn’t confusing or difficult. To be honest, not really. But it does do, is: it slows down the process and extends the completion of the story.

So, I’m trying to focus on only 2 or 3 projects. I can rotate as needed but I feel it will help me and my blocks. But its not rigid. If I find that I spend all my time on 1 project, then so be it. And congrats to me. The only benefit to a slow process is that I get to think more about the story. I find places to make changes and fix problems. In the end, maybe thats the reward….

Oh, and with that: I use a notebook to catalog all those new ideas. Let’s just hope I can get to them one day!

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Plotting…. plotting…. plot ….

Posted on by CV Whitfield

To plot or not to plot.

We Plot, we happy plot, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that plots with me
Shall be my brother

A plot, a plot! My kingdom for a plot!

Can you tell that I’m plotting…. plotting… with still about 40 pages still to refine and then it will be done!!

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Last minute …. greatness!

Posted on by CV Whitfield

For as long as I can remember. I have been a procrastinator. I always say I’ll get an early start and if you work slowly there will be plenty of time to complete the project.

Sounds good on paper. Yet, I don’t think I’ve ever done that.

Then, suddenly, the deadline approaches. What seemed like an eternity just a few days ago, is now being questioned if it’s enough time at all. The rush is on. Every hour is now focused.

And so here I sit. Same ol’ same ol’. The script is due by the 15th. The project started sometime in November. Technically, I should finish a couple days earlier so it can be reviewed and one last edit. Is it a problem that about 40 pages shy of the needed amount? Wait, thats about 10 pages a day, right? I can do that.

As I said, this is typical for me — school papers, miniature painting competitions. Those stressful last minute pushes to get things done have worked well. I’ve always gotten good scores or awards. So perhaps I work best under pressure and in those last minute rushes, I succeed with greatness. Well, cross your fingers and wish me luck….

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Recharge The Soul….

Posted on by CV Whitfield

Sometimes, it’s okay to disconnect.

Put the phone down. Close the computer. Turn off the TV.

Give the mind a break. Sit by a Fireplace. Read a book — one with pages not pixels!

Watch the snow fall. Watch ducks glide across the water. Listen to the wind whisper between trees.

Talk to family instead of text them. Rest the mind. Recharge the soul.

Escape the noise of life. Relax with the silence of nature.

Find Inspiration. Change your destiny … next week!

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