more productive I was when I was fully
focused on my writing.
Coming Up:
Be honest with yourself and ob-
Sep. 3 - Begins 6 wk class
“Soul Currency”
serve how you are spending your time.
Sep. 12 - Susan Smith Jones
Whether it is television, the phone,
Healthy Body wkshp
email, eating, or other distractions, be-
Sep. 15 - Science of Mind
ing aware of your habits is the first step
classes begin with
Dr. Arleen Bump
to changing them and moving toward
productivity.
Talk About It
Stop keeping your projects a secret and
start telling people about what you are
working on. It was scary at first when I
started talking about the fact that I was
writing a book. There were no more
excuses or escape hatches after that.
The occasional “So, how’s the book
going?” kept it real for me. And I looked
forward to the day I could answer, “Oh,
I finished it.”
Even beyond that, one of the most
important things I can suggest is to se-
lect one person who you trust unques-
tionably to be your confidante - your
writing cheerleader. This is the person
who knows the most about your project
and the deadlines you have set for your-
self. He or she is the one who has per-
mission to nudge you when you need
it. This is the person who gets a preview
of your work before it’s completed. And
hopefully, this is the person who helps
you keep going because they believe in
you and your creative work.
Don’t Worry About Perfection gone out of the creating. I have been has already received several awards
This was probably one of the most diffi- there. I learned that when it’s not flow- including COVR (Coalition of Vision-
cult strategies for me. I think I am like a ing, it helps to take a play break. Walk, ary Resources) Visionary Awards Book
lot of writers who get stuck because of exercise, garden, go to the beach, go of the Year and a Mom’s Choice Gold
perfection. Experienced writers all seem shopping, go to a bookstore, or any- Award. The book is an adventure
to say the same thing: just write. Don’t thing that moves you at the moment. fantasy geared toward ages 8-12 about
worry about making it perfect. You can When the ideas begin to flow again a young boy who gets transported to a
and will go back and fix it again and (and they will), then get back to work. mystical mountain paradise where he
again. (Believe me, I learned this in There will be days when the words learns that he is a Child of the Light
the editing stages!) What I discovered will fly out and fill pages on the com- with special
was that when I just let the writing flow puter screen. And there will be days abilities. For
without worrying about perfection, I and days that fly by without a word at more infor-
accomplished so much more. And ulti- all. With these tools, your own personal mation, visit
mately, the writing was better because I strategies, and your will to simply stick www.child-
wasn’t over-thinking every word. with it, you will be reveling in the joys renofthelight.
of completion. net. For more
Finally, Know When to Give Your- information
self a Break on Ellen’s
So you’ve set your schedule and your Ellen Wolfson Valladares is an author workshops,
deadlines. You’re accountable to your- and workshop facilitator. Her first visit www.
self and others. That doesn’t mean that novel, Jonathan’s Journey to Mount connecting-
you push yourself until all the joy has Miapu, was released recently and
withlight.com.
September 2009 37
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