Before I had children, I watched A LOT of Dr.Phil. "Now Katie," you are likely thinking, "this blog is usually about writing and not about your most embarrassing personal escapades." Yes, dear reader, you are right. I state this point about my previous love for Dr. Phil not just to embarrass myself, but to use it as an illustration One thing I love about Dr. Phil (besides his folksy sayings and shiny head) is that he helps audiences identify hidden negative thoughts they are thinking about themselves. Then he helps to squash them like a Texas chigger. As a school counselor I use this a lot with my students, but I also use it a lot in my writing. There is no other activity where I have more negative thoughts than when I am conjuring up new worlds. I think I am not alone, though if I am solo in this cold and lonely place at least Dr. Phil is with me. (Imagine his thick mustache for a moment. Ah, yes.)
Here are some of the most common negative thoughts in no particular order.
Lie One - "I have to be inspired to write."
The Fear - "I will sit down to the computer and realize I have nothing to say. Furthermore, I will realize I actually am a dolt with a Twizzlers for a brain. I should probably give up and focus on my Words with Friends game."
The Solution - Begin by telling yourself that it is okay not to feel inspired to write, but make yourself do it anyway. Tell yourself it is okay if everything you write sounds terrible. I'd say it's okay if all you write is "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." (However, if you have any inklings towards buying an ax, seek professional help.) The very act of sitting down in front of a computer can kick your brain into writer mode. You'll be surprised at how the inspiration finds you right there on the page.
Lie Two - "If I write, it will be terrible and there will be no fixing it."
The Fear - "Any material that I produce will be drivel. My writing will be crap and no matter how many times you sculpt a cow pattie it'll never be Michelangelo's David (tiny pee pee and all).
The Solution - Pounding out a crummy first draft is the only way to start. No one writes a perfect first draft, not even the greats. As Raymond Chandler once said, "“Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon.” And as Ernest Hemingway so eloquently put it, "The first draft of anything is shit." So, either way you've got a lot of puking or pooping to do before you lay a golden egg.
Lie Three - "I'll focus on building my platform first. I need to have lots of followers so that when I actually write my book, I'll have people to buy it."
The Fear - Sitting down to do the hard work. What's more fun: dredging your soul or chatting on Twitter?
The Solution - Forget about platform, at least for now. You'll need to connect with readers at some point and you'll want a landing spot where readers can find you, but the work. THE WORK, is what will sustain you and keep those readers coming back for more. Don't let your brain fool you into taking the easy way out. Write first, platform second.
There you have it, little Phil-inites, three big lies we writers tell ourselves. The sooner you can squash them, the sooner you'll be on your merry, writing way. What about you? What are some lies you tell yourself when you sit down to write?
Here are some of the most common negative thoughts in no particular order.
Lie One - "I have to be inspired to write."
The Fear - "I will sit down to the computer and realize I have nothing to say. Furthermore, I will realize I actually am a dolt with a Twizzlers for a brain. I should probably give up and focus on my Words with Friends game."
The Solution - Begin by telling yourself that it is okay not to feel inspired to write, but make yourself do it anyway. Tell yourself it is okay if everything you write sounds terrible. I'd say it's okay if all you write is "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." (However, if you have any inklings towards buying an ax, seek professional help.) The very act of sitting down in front of a computer can kick your brain into writer mode. You'll be surprised at how the inspiration finds you right there on the page.
Lie Two - "If I write, it will be terrible and there will be no fixing it."
The Fear - "Any material that I produce will be drivel. My writing will be crap and no matter how many times you sculpt a cow pattie it'll never be Michelangelo's David (tiny pee pee and all).
The Solution - Pounding out a crummy first draft is the only way to start. No one writes a perfect first draft, not even the greats. As Raymond Chandler once said, "“Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon.” And as Ernest Hemingway so eloquently put it, "The first draft of anything is shit." So, either way you've got a lot of puking or pooping to do before you lay a golden egg.
Lie Three - "I'll focus on building my platform first. I need to have lots of followers so that when I actually write my book, I'll have people to buy it."
The Fear - Sitting down to do the hard work. What's more fun: dredging your soul or chatting on Twitter?
The Solution - Forget about platform, at least for now. You'll need to connect with readers at some point and you'll want a landing spot where readers can find you, but the work. THE WORK, is what will sustain you and keep those readers coming back for more. Don't let your brain fool you into taking the easy way out. Write first, platform second.
There you have it, little Phil-inites, three big lies we writers tell ourselves. The sooner you can squash them, the sooner you'll be on your merry, writing way. What about you? What are some lies you tell yourself when you sit down to write?
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