Inspire Yourself to Improve Your Skills
So, writer, you are your boss. And what is it that a boss might have that an employee who is told what to do every day might not have? Self-discipline. You must put your butt in the chair, as some say—every day. I'm getting asked many questions as we go through Killer Nashville this week. These are the same questions I get asked yearly at the conference (and, truthfully, throughout the year). This is my summation, I guess, on what it takes to be a writer and how you can improve your skills and your opportunities, as well as improve the frequency with which you write.
You are not a writer if you are not writing. Does it matter if you take a day off? Yes. It matters a lot. Imagine if you are employed by someone else and you repeatedly call in, saying, “I can’t come to work today.” How would that affect your job performance, your productivity, and your job security? Being your own boss, you must take control of your self-discipline. It wouldn’t work if you worked for someone else. It will not work if you are self-employed. You must show up and write every single day.
When do you write? It doesn’t matter. Pick when you can work it into your schedule or, if you have flexibility, when you are at your creative best. The indisputable thing is that you must write daily, no matter when you do it. Some days, you may be able to write longer. On other days, you may only be able to give it thirty minutes. We can let that slide a bit. But you do have to show up every day. That’s nonnegotiable.
Have a writing place. It can vary. When I write, I hop around from place to place, but I always have this imaginary globe around me that keeps others and distractions out. Your writing place is a physical or mental space where you can focus solely on your writing. It could be a quiet corner in your home, a cozy café, or even a specific time of day when your mind is most creative. When I started, I had to have one particular spot. With time, I’ve learned to close off my mind and focus simply on the keyboard and the words, just as I am now. It doesn’t matter where I am; I can write. I tune everything else out, and I type. You’ll have to do that for yourself. And you must be serious about it. Back when I was younger, a little more daring, a more insensitive to others, I used to have a terse phrase I used when people interrupted me while I was writing, and I cringe to share it with you here, but here it is: “I don’t talk or interrupt you when you are in church; don’t talk or interrupt me when I am in mine.” Like I said, it was a bit crass and young-sounding, but it certainly got the point across, and, in time, very few interrupted me while I wrote. I don’t recommend such young-blooded terseness to win friends and influence people (I’ve grown much since those early days), but I hope you get my point. You shut the world out, and you write. You can learn to do it anywhere and in any environment. Take advantage of all downtime while you’re waiting at an appointment, while you’re traveling on the subway (don’t get so lost in it as I have and forget and miss your stop), or anywhere else you might find yourself. Right now, mine is a hotel room. It’s two-fold: It is discipline on your part and training others around you to let them know that you need your space, which is important for you. This includes the outside world and the source of our central distractions, our family members. Teach your significant other, your relatives, your children, and your neighbors that when you are writing, that is your time. You are allowed your time.
Other distractions are also there. Let them go. When your phone dings, glance at it, especially if you have kids, but if your daughter isn’t letting you know she has broken her leg, you can answer her later, certainly at least until after you finish your current thought. They can wait. Unless someone sends an email needing immediate life-or-death information, it can wait unless it is time urgent. Rarely does anyone need anything instantaneously when you are writing. When you are doing it, your writing is more important than most other things. Guard this time. For instance, if you're writing and your phone dings with a non-urgent message, you can choose to ignore it until you finish your current paragraph. Guard your word count.
I would say let all distractions go, but I know that’s not always possible, even if it is. I’m the CEO of an entertainment company. I run a business. I have people who need things. So I have one eye on the phone (which I usually don’t answer) and one eye on my computer emails (which I typically don’t answer), and my mind, like writing this blog right now, is focused on my writing and not on all the dinging around me. You must train your mind to shut these distractions out. One way to do this is to practice mindfulness or meditation, which can help you develop the ability to focus on one task at a time. You can do it, but the responsibility falls upon you. You must discipline yourself. This will discipline and set boundaries with those around you. You’ll then be able to get your creative work done.
Lastly, I want to add that your writing time is limited, so use it. When you sit down, start typing immediately. Don’t stare at the screen; don’t contemplate all the things you should have contemplated while scrambling eggs this morning; you sit down and start the word count. I keep writing until I hit somewhere between one thousand and three thousand words during the sitting. It’s a race. I get the words down as quickly as I can. When I edit, I take the time to refine. It is essential to get those initial words down while you have the time to do it.
The trick to all of this is organization, dedication, and focus. Today, find your place to write…and do it. Close out the world and give yourself some time. Indulge yourself. This is your life. This is your future. With every word you type, you are creating your world and the you that is to come. You owe it to yourself to do it. After it becomes a habit for you, everyone around you will stop distracting you, and you’ll find they start supporting you if you take yourself seriously first. It’s a step in many steps that lead you to the status of a full-time writer and genuinely being your boss. Don’t waste a day. That’s the goal of today. Write something, even if it is only a little. Today, write something. It is the first brick in the house you are building for your future self. And then tomorrow, do the same thing. Before you know it, depending upon your skill level and your ambition, you will build the career house of your dreams. You might even make a mansion. Build it. Build your life. One word at a time. Starting today.
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