Butt-In-Chair: A No-Excuses Guide For Writers Who Struggle To Get Started Read online

  Butt-In-Chair

  A No-Excuses Writing Productivity Guide for Writers Who Struggle to Get Started

  By Jennifer Blanchard

  With Joe Williams

  ProcrastinatingWriters

  “The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair,”-- Kingsley Amis

  Copyright 2012 Jennifer Blanchard

  All rights reserved. No portion of this eBook may be copied or transferred without written permission from the author.

  Table of Contents

  [an introduction from jennifer]

  The 5 Tools You Need to Use This Book Effectively:

  [an introduction from joe]

  [you’re holding this eBook for a reason]

  Never Give Up On Your Writing Dreams

  [writing truths]

  Your Writing Limitations Are Self-Imposed

  What Are You Losing By Procrastinating?

  Are You Making The All-Or-Nothing Mistake?

  Reasons Procrastinators Give (and Why They’re Excuses In Disguise)

  [feel the fear and sit down to write anyways]

  The Things Procrastinators Fear

  Do You Fear Success?

  Do You Fear Failure?

  Do You Fear Rejection?

  Do You Fear Not Being Good Enough/Perfect?

  Your Priorities Are Your Actions—Not What You Say Or Write Down

  Learn to Accept Responsibility for Your Choices and Actions

  Challenge What You Believe

  Believe in Yourself and the Writing Will Come

  What Do You Want to Achieve?

  Make Writing A Priority

  Sign a Writing Goals Contract with Yourself

  To Write Every Day, To Not Write Every Day—The Debate Continues

  Create A Writing Schedule

  The Un-Schedule: What It Is and Why It Will Help You

  17 Ways to Find 10 Minutes to Write

  Taking On Too Much Can Keep You From Writing

  Take On Less, Get More Done: Learn To Say NO

  Self-Set Deadlines

  *How To Turn Off Your Inner Editor

  *Set A Specific Writing Time To Avoid Procrastination

  *Reduce Distractions

  Productivity Tools

  *A Weekly Progress Report Will Keep You Updated and On-Task

  *A Reliability Buddy

  * 3 Most Important Tasks

  *Keep A Daily Accomplishments List

  *Pat Yourself On the Back with Productivity Rewards

  [Productivity Methods]

  *30 Days To A Better Writer

  *Writing In Blocks Can Help Keep You Focused

  *Assign Point Values To Your Writing To-Do List

  *Set A Word-Count Goal

  *Break Your Writing Into Manageable Chunks

  *Focus On One Writing Project Until You’re Done

  [additional writer’s tools]

  *A Writer’s Notebook

  *Morning Pages

  [for when you have trouble getting started]

  *Start By Writing What You Know

  *Writing Exercises Can Get You In A Writing State-Of-Mind

  [etc]

  [If Your Next Step Is To Show Your Writing Off To Someone...]

  *Read Your Writing Out Loud

  *How To Get The Most Out Of A Writing Critique

  *How To Deal With Conflicting Critiques

  [If Your Next Step Is To Submit To A Contest, Editor Or Agent...]

  *How To Overcome Writing Rejection

  *Tips for Hiring an Editor

  *Protect Your Work

  [If Your Next Step Is To Put Your Writing Out There For The Public To Read...]

  *Why Every Writer Needs A Web Site

  [a final word]

  The Three Words Of Successful Writing: Give, Live, Love

  APPENDIX

  Limitations Checklist

  Accepting Personal Responsibility

  SMART Goals Checklist

  Writing Goals Commitment

  An Un-schedule Worksheet

  Excuses Procrastinators Use Worksheet

  Changing Negatives to Positives Worksheet

  How To Make the Most of A Writing Critique Checklist

  Tips for Hiring An Editor Checklist

  Steps for Protecting Your Work (The Unofficial Way) Checklist

  [about the authors]

  Jennifer Blanchard

  Joe Williams

  [an introduction from jennifer]

  With the Procrastinating Writers blog growing as quickly as it has been, more and more writers are sitting down and writing every single day. And I think that’s awesome because my goal all along has been to help as many writers as possible.

  Four years ago, I met Joe Williams and was instantly taken with his song-writing ability. He could listen to any song and make up new lyrics for it on the spot. And I’m talking lyrics that made sense and flowed so well they could actually replace the song’s current lyrics.

  And his talents didn’t stop there. He also wrote some of the most original songs I’ve ever heard. He sees things in a really fresh way, which is another reason I was attracted to his writing.

  As soon as I knew I wanted to put together an eBook, Joe was the first person I turned to for help.

  I asked him to help me extend the reach of the advice, motivation and inspiration on the blog and turn it into something that writers could really sink their teeth into (so-to-speak). I needed his fresh take on things.

  We wanted to create something that writers could use as a resource for working through their procrastinating behaviors. We wanted to put together a workbook with writing prompts, journal exercises and printable worksheets.

  What resulted is this eBook.

  As far as I see it there are two types of writers out there: The ones who will work toward what they want and the ones who won’t.

  This book is for the former.

  If you’re part of the latter group, I will gladly refund your money because this workbook will do you no good unless you use it.

  The 5 Tools You Need to Use This Book Effectively:

  * A notebook/journal

  * A pen/pencil

  * A desire to write

  * The willingness to commit to yourself

  * The willingness to commit to your writing

  We created Butt-In-Chair to be a hands-on workbook that you can use to sit down and start writing. You’ll find a variety of journal and writing exercises throughout the book, which are meant to get you writing (These sections are marked “Sit Down and Write!”).

  You’ll also notice that we use the pronoun “I” throughout the book. We thought it would be easier to speak as one than to keep trying to show who was talking. Since we both agree whole-heartedly with all the advice in the book, using “I” made the most sense.

  Now at this point in your journey, you may be asking: But Am I Really A Writer?

  This is a question that crosses the mind of pretty much every writer at some point in their journey. My response is always this: If you write, you’re a writer, period.

  I believe there are only three tools you need to be a writer:

  * A writing utensil–a pen, a pencil, a computer keyboard, a crayon, lipstick…anything you can use to write.

  * Somewhere for the words to go–a computer, a notebook, the back of your hand…anything you can write on.

  * A desire to write–This, to me, is by far the most important “tool” a writer needs. If you don’t have a desire to write, you’ll procr
astinate forever. It’s the desire that fuels the words. It’s the desire that causes you to finally sit down and write. You need that same desire if you want to write a novel.

  As long as you have something to write with, something to write on and a desire to put words on the page, you are a writer.

  But in order to stay a writer, you must continue to write.

  That’s where this eBook comes in.

  Dig in and get ready to reach your writing goals…

  And thanks for reading,

  jennifer

  [an introduction from joe]

  When Jennifer first introduced me to Procrastinating Writers, I was immediately happy to help in any way possible. I started out writing guest posts on the blog, then writing a column in the monthly newsletter and now working on this eBook with her.

  Over the last two years, helping writers overcome the things that hold them back has become a shared goal between us.

  We had three goals for this eBook:

  1. Get you writing.

  2. Help you make writing a priority in your life.

  3. Help you make a habit of writing on a regular basis.

  There are so many things that prevent people from even beginning to write, and even more things that can slow you down along the way. This eBook is full of situations and solutions, advice, motivation and inspiration for any writer.

  No matter what level of writer you are (beginner, intermediate or advanced), there are tips to help you work out all the “kinks” in your writing process.

  If you truly want to write, but are having trouble in any way, this eBook is for you.

  Given the content and the exercises and journal prompts throughout, even the most troubled writer can discover the root of his/her writing problems.

  If you follow the guidance in this book and work through it, you will be writing.

  Joe

  [Note: There are recommendations throughout this eBook for books that we love and recommend every writer to read. We have linked to the books on Amazon to make it easier for you to find the resource. NONE of these links are affiliate links.]

  [you’re holding this eBook for a reason]

  Never Give Up On Your Writing Dreams

  “My mind tells me to give up, but my heart won’t let me,”–anonymous

  Many writers can identify with that quote above. Especially writers who’ve been rejected a lot, and writers who procrastinate to the point where they wonder why they’re even dreaming anymore.

  But all of that is in the past. And the only way it’s going to keep dictating your future is if you allow it to.

  As a writer and a dreamer, you’ve probably had people make you feel like your writing dreams are impossible. And for a minute you thought, “Maybe they’re right. Maybe this is something that will never happen for me.”

  But then you tell yourself to ignore them, stay positive and keep dreaming.

  Sure, it’s difficult to chase a dream and to feel like no matter what you do or how hard you work, you’re never going to get there.

  All writers understand this feeling (and actually, all dreamers understand this feeling, too!).

  But you have to push through it. You have to keep on trying and, especially, keep on believing.

  You have the power to make all your writing dreams come true. You just have to be willing to stand up to those who put you down and to look negativity in the face and say, “I’m doing it whether you like it or not.”

  Because there will always be someone around who wants to knock you down. There will always be an editor who hates your work. There will always be a publisher who rejects you.

  But if you believe in yourself, and keep on writing and keep on dreaming, eventually, you will get there.

  It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

  But what if the thing that’s holding you back isn’t society or your friends or your upbringing or the critics or the fact that you have no money or your fifth grade English teacher who told you you’d never be a writer?

  What if the thing that’s holding you back is… YOU?

  [writing truths]

  Your Writing Limitations Are Self-Imposed

  “The only limitations we encounter in life are those self-limiting ones we place on ourselves,”–Anonymous

  Have you ever wanted to enter a fiction contest? Learn how to write a screenplay? Write a novel?

  What stops you?

  Do you think you can’t do it? Do you “know” you can’t do it? Do you think you need to know more about the subject first? Do you believe that you have to be an expert in order to write?

  Whatever it is you think holds you back, know this: Your limitations are self-imposed.

  That means, you are holding yourself back in life because of your words, thoughts and beliefs.

  For example, if you keep telling yourself you can’t do it because it’s “too hard to write a novel,” then you will never be able to write a novel because in your mind it will always be “too difficult.”

  But if you start to realize and accept that your limitations are self-imposed, you can then begin to overcome the barriers that keep you from writing (and chasing your dreams).

  Look at it this way, if your best friend came to you and said, “I’m going to write a novel!” would you encourage her? Would you support her and be the voice of reason for her if she started to doubt herself?

  Or would you start to impose limitations on her and tell her she needs XYZ before she can write a novel? Would you talk her out of it before she even attempts? Would you tell her that her dream is impossible?

  Of course you wouldn’t! You’d be supportive and most likely her biggest cheerleader.

  So why can’t you do that for yourself?

  You are the only person who will be with you for your entire life. That’s why you have to love yourself and care about yourself. That’s why you need to become your own best friend.

  And you wouldn’t set limitations on what your best friend can achieve. You wouldn’t talk badly about your best friend. You wouldn’t make your best friend feel like her dreams are worthless.

  So stop making yourself feel that way!

  You are a smart, talented writer… and the limitations you supposedly have are only limitations because you say they are.

  But once you let go of any self-imposed limitations you have put on yourself, something amazing will happen: You will finally see that you can have anything; you can be anything; you can do anything. [Note: There is a printable version of this checklist in the appendix.]

  Action Steps

  Become your own best friend–When you become your own best friend, you realize that the way you’ve been treating yourself all these years (placing limitations on yourself; saying you can’t do things; talking yourself out of your dreams) is absurd. If you wouldn’t treat a friend or family member like that, why would you treat yourself like that?

  Start to consider why you’ve imposed these limitations on yourself–Is it because you’re afraid? Is it because you think people will reject you?

  Figuring out why you’ve imposed limitations on yourself is the first step to removing them.

  Change your self-talk–This step is extremely important! If you’re ever going to truly remove the limitations you’ve imposed on yourself, you need to change the way you talk to and think about yourself.

  One very helpful way to start changing your self-talk is to come up with a writing affirmation. Something simple like, “I am a brilliant writer,” or “My writing is amazing,” will get you started on the path to self-acceptance and self-encouragement.

  While it may be difficult for you to say and believe this statement at first, the more you work with it, the more you’ll begin to believe it and accept it as true. Trust me; just give it a try.

  Begin accepting yourself for who you are and who you’re not–So you’ll never be Stephen King or Joyce Carol Oates or Flannery O’Connor…so what?! You get to be you instead, which is
the best thing you can possibly be.

  You are unique and bring a different perspective to the world; be who you are.

  Sure, self-acceptance takes time. It’s not something you’re going to have overnight. But when you stop telling yourself you can’t do it, and start telling yourself you can do anything, you will finally lift the barriers that hold you back from doing what you love–writing.

  Sit Down and Write!

  Make a list of all the things you love about yourself—When you focus on the things you love about yourself, you’ll discover more things to love about yourself (that’s how it works). When you love yourself—and I mean a good, healthy self-love, not conceit or arrogance—you will start putting yourself first and start going after what you want.

  Brainstorm a list of reasons why you’ve imposed limitations on yourself—Once you have an idea of why you’re holding yourself back from your writing dreams, you’ll be able to take steps toward removing the limitations.

  Create a writing affirmation—A writing affirmation can help you shut off that voice inside that says you can’t do it or that you’re not good enough. You are good enough and you can do it. A writing affirmation can also help keep you positive and looking for the good in everything.

  What Are You Losing By Procrastinating?

  Have you ever really thought about why you procrastinate?

  When you procrastinate, you gain a lot. That’s the reason why writers procrastinate in the first place.

  Think about the last time you procrastinated—What did you get out of it? Did you avoid your writing by finally organizing your office? Did you skip your writing session to wash and wax your car?

  While you might not have ended up with any words on the page, you did end up with a reorganized office and a clean, shiny car.

  But what are giving up by procrastinating?

  For example, when you skip your writing session to take your dog for a walk, your dog is happy because he got out of the house; you’re happy because you got some exercise, spent time with your dog and didn’t have to face all those things that writing forces you to face—your fears, your doubts, your innermost thoughts.