Saturday, January 1, 2011

Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviours

January 2nd and so far I'm pretty happy with how I'm going with my goals. Have exercised ever day this year - lol - and also devoted at least an hour to my writing dream. I didn't actually mention but I do have ONE resolution this year and that is to write for at least ONE hour EVERY day!

In an aim to kick-start these habits, I've signed up for a Margie Lawson online class to try and help me beat some of the demons that are stopping me achieving my writing goals.

I'd say my two biggest demons are:
1) Self-doubt
2) Procrastination

Self-doubt stops me finishing my Single Title because I worry I don't have a BIG enough story. Self-doubt makes me fuss too much over first drafts when I should just worry about finishing the damn book.

Procrastination means I waste valuable time online when I could be writing.

Hopefully Margie's course will give me some ammunition to deal with these demons and others I may not yet have recognized as being a problem.

I'll keep you updated as I participate in the course. Is anyone else taking this class?

PS. Don't forget to read my last posts about books read in 2010 cos I'd love to know which was YOUR best book!?

15 comments:

Mel Teshco said...

Good luck Rach,
I can only imagine how great Margie's classes would be =))
(from another procrastinator and self doubter)

Rachael Thomas said...

Keep up the daily exercise and one hour writing. They sound very like my own resolutions!
Good luck with the classes too.
Rachael (also a self doubter and procrasinator)

Anonymous said...

Ooh, Rach, thanks! So glad I dropped by your blog today and saw this!
I didn't know about this class, but I am definitely signing up for it.
Hope the hour a day works for you! I could do it, I know, if I stop the time wasters. I say I need to do the time wasting stuff to relax after work. Keeping in touch with friends and other writers is important. But maybe seeing my word count increase (and silencing that naggy voice in my head that keeps telling me I should be writing!)would actually be more relaxing than vegging out on LOL sites and watching YouTube videos.

Scarlet Wilson said...

Hi Rach
Loving the thought of reading your single title sometime...
I have signed up for the Editpalooza month's course where I'll be editing the next story I've written and it seriously needs it!
Favourite book of last year without a shadow of a doubt The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell. Sorry to say, if I tell you anything about it I'll spoil the story. But if you get a chance - definitely read it. It's one of those books that you wish you'd written yourself x

Helen Lacey said...

Good luck with your resolution to write every day Rach. Self doubts seem to be part of being a writer, I think. And we fortunately have such a great support network like RWA, writing groups and our cp's etc. Enjoy Margie's course - looking forward to hearing all about it.
Cheers

Lacey Devlin said...

Lots of luck with Margie's class! I'm going to have a look at a few of them this year too :)

Jessica Hart said...

Procrastination? Self doubt? Yep, you're a real writer! Good luck with your resolutions - they look awfully familiar!

Oh, and thank you for reading my books last year ... and especially for giving OSSS a star. That gave me a warm little thrill to start the year!

Rachael Johns said...

Mel - just finished lecture one of Margie's course! AWESOME is an understatement!

Rachael - we can cheer each other on with our similar resolutions!

Jane - did you sign up!? I hear ya on the wc inspirer!! My procrastination is Facebook mostly!

Susan - you may regret saying you'd like to read my ST! And as soon as I move I'm hunting down that book.

Rachael Johns said...

Thanks Helen - I think our writing friends are really important - when we doubt, they revive us!

Lacey - if the first lecture is anything to go by, you definitely should!

Jessica - still laughing over your talk in Sydney this year and I think you touched on quite a few of those self-defeating demons! And I'm a total Jessica Hart fangirl, so your books will ALWAYS be on my list too :)

Jackie Ashenden said...

Yay for you, Rach! I love your goals!

Unknown said...

Rachael, I took Margie Lawson's class a couple of years ago and I loved it.

I really like your goals from last year. Manageable but important goals: health and writing.

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Hi Rach,
I undertook a few of Margie's courses, and found them fantastic. You will also.
Good Luck,

Suz :)

Unknown said...

facebook- I agree! grrr, oh but I cant disconnect. lol
kez

Angela Ackerman said...

Hi Rachel,

You've won a mystery prize in my blog contest! Beck Nicholas put your name in a draw as someone she wanted to thank for all you've done to help with her writing. You're name was selected, and so I need some details from you to send out your gift!

Swing by my blog post and you'll see a link to my email in my profile. If you could contact me (Angela Ackerman), we can discuss this further. Congrats on being so awesome and helping other writers succeed!

http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Unknown said...

I just saw that you placed in a comp- how awesome is that.
Well done