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Writing on the Run Tip of the Week, 6-3-06, "Manageable Writing Goals"
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Allen Anderson
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Aug 22, 2006 19:34 PDT
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Writing on the Run Tip of the Week
June 3, 2006
Visit us at www.writingontherun.com
A "101 Best Websites for Writers"
Choice by Writer's Digest, May 2005
Dear Writing Friends,
Welcome to the Writing on the Run Tip of the Week.
This week, we have been proofreading the typeset galleys for our book
about animal rescue. It's quite a job, going back through every word,
comma, and line to see what mistakes remain. The mantra of proofreading
is that as the author, now is not supposed to be the time for rewriting.
But that's impossible to do. You see something that's not working and
you feel as if you must fix it, or at least try.
Proofreading and making corrections feels far away from the original
impulses that led you to write in the first place. Yet they are
essential to having a readable finished product. The romanticized
version of the writer sitting at a desk, gazing out the window, and then
writing furiously after inspiration strikes is much more appealing. But
sitting with your manuscript and making proofreading marks for hours at
a time is also what gets the words on the page for readers to enjoy.
Today's Tip of the Week is from us and in some ways is for us about
setting a big writing goal and then having the distractions of daily
life get in the way.
We hope these tips bring you closer to achieving your writing goals and
inspire you to share your own great ideas for how to enjoy writing, even
when life gets busy.
We invite you to e-mail this week's tip in its entirety to, other
writers who might benefit from it.
Sincerely,
Allen and Linda Anderson
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TIP OF THE WEEK
MANAGEABLE WRITING GOALS WON'T OVERWHELM YOU
By Allen and Linda Anderson
Have you ever set a big goal and then covered yourself up with
distractions because you didn't believe you could achieve it? People
tend to avoid projects altogether when they fear that there is no way
they will finish them.
Try breaking big projects into smaller, manageable goals that don't
overwhelm you.
Let's say you want to write a book. Could you start by brainstorming
ideas for a working title? How about making a list of points that could
become chapter heads? Instead of announcing that you're going to write
a book, say, "By Wednesday, I'm going to set up files in an open
container for what I think might be the chapters in my book."
With files ready, you can set another goal of starting to accumulate
ideas, quotes, and reference material for each chapter.
Keep yourself focused and on-task by frequently meeting with a writing
friend via e-mail or telephone as you make progress toward your smaller
goals.
After you have achieved a smaller goal by the deadline you set, reward
yourself! If you created chapter files by the end of the week, take
time out to visit with a friend at your favorite coffee shop and
celebrate this accomplishment.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
What big goals are you overwhelming yourself with? How could you make
them bite-size and manageable?
* * * * *
WRITING QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
"That in the beginning when the world was young there were a great many
thoughts but no such thing as truth. Man made the truths himself and
each truth was a composite of a great many vague thoughts. All about in
the world were truths and they were all beautiful."
--Sherwood Anderson
"I am writing a book. In it I am speaking to you. But I am also speaking
to the world. To both I owe an accounting."
--Whittaker Chambers
"Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a
contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is
wrong."
--Ayn Rand
* * * * *
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BOOKS by Allen and Linda Anderson:
Go to Amazon.com or bn.com for descriptions of these books and
recommendations from those who have read them.
ANGEL DOGS: Divine Messengers of Love, by Allen and
Linda Anderson, published by New World Library, with a
foreword by Willard Scott.
RAINBOWS & BRIDGES: An Animal Companion
Memorial Kit by Allen and Linda Anderson, published
by New World Library.
ANGEL CATS: Divine Messengers of Comfort
GOD'S MESSENGERS: What Animals Teach Us about the Divine
ANGEL ANIMALS: Exploring Our Spiritual Connection with Animals.
All of Allen and Linda's books are available at online or regular
bookstores, some Costco stores, and at many gift shops that sell animal
books. ANGEL CATS and ANGEL DOGS are also available through One Spirit
Book Club.
COMING SOON:
RESCUED: Saving Animals From Disaster by Allen and Linda Anderson, New
World Library (August 2006).
ANGEL HORSES: Divine Messengers of Hope by Allen and Linda Anderson, New
World Library (September 2006).
* * * * *
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR 100-WORD WRITING ON THE RUN IDEA
FOR THE TIP OF THE WEEK:
Mail to: writingo-@aol.com with your best 100-word idea for making
time and space to write. Include a 25-word bio. If we publish your
idea in the newsletter, you will receive a byline and the bio in which
you can mention your own writing projects. For those of you who are
starting to write, this is a good way to get a quick publication credit.
For seasoned writers, it's a generous way to share your knowledge with
struggling starters.
* * * * *
OTHER INFORMATION
Writing on the Run is devoted to collecting and disseminating ideas and
inspiration to help people keep writing, as a vital part of their lives.
You can learn more about Writing on the Run by visiting
www.writingontherun.com.
If you send this newsletter to others (and we hope that you will),
please don't change it in any way and include the information above
about Writing on the Run (TM) Website. We'd appreciate it if you would
encourage others to subscribe. The more ideas, the better for all of us.
Thank you.
This newsletter is sent to you by Writing on the Run (TM) Copyright
2006, Allen and Linda Anderson. All rights reserved. Nothing in this
newsletter may be reproduced or published without the written permission
of the individual authors and/or copyright owners. Writing on the Run
(TM) is a trademarked name
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