focus

Book In A Year Series-Month 3: Maintaining Focus

There are many things that can take your focus when you are determined to write. Now, distractions can be anything, and coming from anywhere. Yet, you must know that you have control over what you pay attention to. You have the complete power to write, not write, or be distracted while writing.

The chief way to keep focus while you are writing is to develop a writing schedule. Being able to develop a set time to write will remind you that you have to write! Your writing schedule should be three things:

1.) Fixed-Flexible. Your writing schedule should suit your life, and be able to adjust to its demands. An example of this you want to write for 1 hour 3 times a week. Let’s say you still have a day job and you have to pick up hours. One hour 3 times a week may not be possible! However, you may be able to do 1 hour twice a week, or 30 minutes 3 times a week. The goal is to write–while making it suit your life. This is especially helpful when you a specific deadline assigned or chosen.

2.) Stick to the plan. Book writing can often feel like hacking through a jungle with a machete. It is essential that you have a reference point to re-center. Having an outline (or reworking the outline in certain cases) to reference provides a source of encouragement to keep writing.

3.) Be like a rubber band. The great thing about a writing schedule is that you can adjust it as you see fit! You can increase time, decrease it, or even designate certain days (this is different from fixed-flexible). This is a good tool when you are getting back to your writing after some hiatus.

Keep up the good work!

Facts, Truths And Focus: Retreats And Workshops Are What You Make Them

Let me tell you a simple truth. Retreats and workshops are tools. They are things which are able to sharpen the talent and gifts that you have. Being a writer does not make you a wizard, dear one. This is gift is one that you must work at, and work to be successful. Good writing doesn’t just occur. It doesn’t just happen–it is worked at. One of the reasons such resources exist are to encourage those whom write the confidence to write better! There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve you talent. There is nothing wrong with believing  you do something well, only to desire to that thing better! Writing, truly pursuing this–will require an investment; the primary investment is time. Always time. Let me give this formula:  Facts + Truths = Focus.  The fact is simple:  you are a writer.  The truth is, you could write better–there is a way to do what you do better. With those things compiled will only yield focus! It is this simple formula which will prepare you for the challenges posed by and through any workshop or retreat. Don’t push away from this process, dear Oracle. If you want to write, be a better writer even, you must write.

Encouragement Pages-07/24/2020, Regaining Focus (Part 3)

Hold on.

Take a deep breath.

Having an unfinished work is not the end of the world! Being distracted or overtaken by life which stopped you from finishing a work is a not a cause for alarm! It happens!

The toughest part will ways this, “Can I pick up where I left off?”

Which really translates to “Do I/Can I have the focus to write this?”

With refocusing your energy, you can.

With idenifying what you need to support your writing, you can.

If you make time to write a little a time, you can.

It is not impossible.

It’s a journey.

The words will be you map and light.

Write yourself where you need to be.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-07/22/2020, Regaining Focus (Part 2)

The hardest thing you will encounter while writing is the dynamic duo of time and planning.

Some times the best writing has to be harnessed, caught and pushed (this is the surge of creativity artists rant about. It is a real thing!), other times you must put your own energy to storm as you want!

Remember focusing requires discoline. It requires seeing one thing in front of you, and just that one thing, so your task can be completed.

How will you harness your focus today?

Writing Sprints?

Turning off your phone?

Developing back story for your character?

The day is yours. The time is yours. Use both wisely.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

Encouragement Pages-03/13/2020

*The 3 F’s of Writing will be tradmarked through JBHarris Writing Services. Look for this book to be released in May 2020 under Divinity Publishing. Thank you! -JBHarris

Avoid the frenzy.

In looking through your draft-drawer, it can be completely overwhelming! Utterly overwhelming! It can be discouraging. It can be nerve-racking! This space–if not put in the proper perspective–can look like a graveyard for your imagination. Which, no lie, can make any writer feel like a complete failure! Or it can lead to what I call ‘the frenzy’.

This is the feeling where you think you have to do everything all at once. This feeling robs you of the weapon that is creative energy. It forces you into a space of panic and doubt–a paralytic for any writer! This is the feeling you have when you feel that you cannot complete anything you have found–which is incomplete. This is also the feeling you have when you believe there is too much in front of you to try and complete what you have found–that is complete.

Conquer ‘the frenzy in three steps (the 3 F’s of Writing)’

Forgiveness. Life is hard. Writing even harder. Accept that what you have in front of you is not burdens, nor the sum total of them. They are opportunities. Wisdom dictates that you never squander them. Everything cannot be done at once–but one thing can be done. Choose wisely.

Focus. There are only 24 hours in a day. No more. No less. With the demands of your time, whatever those are, you have to be generous with yourself. The tool to develop as you take the challenge to complete a writing project is time-management. Dedicate a set day or time to work on what you have you decided to work on. Your work day will be–should be–unique to your needs. Whether this is a specific word count, page count or sprint (writing as much as you can in a set time (as few as 10-minutes or as long as 2 hours; it’s up to you!). Time can be enemy and ally. Make it an ally.

Faith. All writing is an act of complete faith. You are taking something which has only existed in your mind, and taking it –by force!–to a physical media. It’s scary! It is traumatic in some cases! But it is not impossible. Bear in mind that, every work is written one word at a time. One day at a time. One minute at a time. It can be done. It is not overwhelming, and it will not overtake you. Some days are easier than others, yes. On these days, the writing is a joy! On other days, it can feel like Sisyphus. But unlike the myth, the writer–you!–can make it to the top of the mountain. Letter by letter, word by word. If it helps, remember the words of the Little Engine That Could: “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”

If you think you can, you will.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris