writing

Revisions, Revisions, Revisions

August 1, 2015 by ReeseRyan

I awoke this morning with the nagging feeling that I’d forgotten something, and alas, I had. My Friday post.

While I hate to have missed my Friday, I’m feeling pretty amazing about the reason I forgot my post yesterday. I was neck deep in revisions of Book 1 of my new series.

It felt good to not only be working on my series, but to be so excited about working on the book again. Thanks to some fabulous beta readers I received some fantastic feedback on the book. Reading their feedback again the other day got me excited to dive into the project again. While they identified several things they loved about the book, there were a couple of issues mentioned that had been nagging at the back of my head, too. One of which called for me to roll up my sleeves and make some serious changes. For a chronic procrastinator, that triggers one thing.

Procrastination.

A side-stepping meltdown in which I will work on any and everything (gardening, jewelry making, visiting with my next door neighbor, yoga, chatting on the phone with friends and helping my husband change the oil in the car) except the task at hand.

I’d like to say that all of this craziness is just part of my process. As if I’m Andy Warhol, F. Scott Fitzgerald or some other notably brilliant creative artist. However, my procrastination is simply rooted in fear and just another one of those bad habits that I need to let go of.

I’m working on it.

On letting go of that bad habit and…FINALLY…on revising my manuscript.

Yesterday morning, after yoga I took a little time to meditate and set my intentions for the day. One of which was knocking out the first fifty pages of revisions on my manuscript. The other was to submit a proposal to a traditional publisher I’ve been eyeing. (Another task I’d been procrastinating on out of fear.) I’m happy to say, I completed both projects yesterday.

Today I’ll continue revisions and focus on two other tasks:

My local RWA Chapter’s Book-in-a-Week Challenge. No, I won’t actually be producing a book in a week. During BiaW we focus on making our work in progress our priority and write as much as we can each day during the challenge. Since my focus is revisions right now, I won’t be writing a lot, but I will be writing.
Writing daily. This is something I’ve been avoiding for a long time, but for a stop-and-start person like me, I think it’s time I try adding writing every single day to my routine. Since today is August 1st, what better time to start than today?

But before I go back to work, I want to let you know that my journal/handmade jewelry giveaway ended. I’ll announce the winner in this month’s newsletter on Friday, August 7th. So stay tuned to find out if you’re the winner. If you’re not on the mailing list, be sure to join for the latest book and event news and your chance to get in on the next contest in the fall.

Unafraid (or Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway)

April 24, 2013 by ReeseRyan

I was at a complete loss about what to cover in today’s post. None of the “U” words I’d been scrolling through spoke to me. I was this close to posting a picture of an umbrella and calling it a day. But then I was reflecting on a motivating video I watched earlier today, and suddenly it hit me. The word for today is unafraid.

Fear has held an unhealthy place in my psyche for as long as I can remember. Fear of heights and water kept me from flying, or learning to swim until I was a married adult and had powerful motivation to do so. Fear of rejection held me back as an entrepreneur, from joining a critique group, and from submitting my work to agents and editors.

Even now–with my debut novel being published this summer–I still peek through my fingers, hesitant to post an excerpt. Feeling both joy and dread that my work will be published. I have many more goals ahead, including a desire to establish a career in magazine writing (in addition to fiction writing). But that pesky, old friend fear perches on my shoulder and whispers in my ear.

You’ll never be good enough. Why set yourself up for failure? What will people think?

But this morning I got the most wonderful gift delivered to my inbox from local writer, Linda Formichelli. In a post on her site, The Renegade Writer, she shared the link to a Skype talk she and her partner-in-crime, Carol Tice, gave on overcoming fear.

The video is a half hour long, but completely worth it for anyone who struggles with fear of failure or rejection. Two of my favorite quotes from the video:

“Fear is natural. Action based on fear is a choice.” ~ Carol Tice

“If you get out there and do what an unafraid person, a motivated person, would do, it will start to change your attitude.” ~ Linda Formichelli.

There were so many juicy nuggets of motivating goodness in the video. Carol and Linda also shared their experiences with fear, and how they’ve dealt with them. Had I heard parts of their message before? Sure. You probably have, too. But we often need to hear a message multiple times, delivered in a variety of ways before it takes root. Then sometimes it’s a matter of timing. We have to be prepared to receive the message. Maybe that’s why hearing it from Carol and Linda, in the manner they delivered it, on this day seemed to flip a switch for me. Maybe it will, for you, too.

During the video I jotted down a new mantra that I am hanging over my workspace:

I choose not to take action (or inaction) based on irrational fears.

Check out Carol and Linda’s fear-busting chat here. What fears do you struggle with? How have they held you back? How did you overcome them?

D is for Determination #AtoZChallenge #BasketballTrickShotKid

April 4, 2013 by ReeseRyan

The video of this amazing little basketball prodigy, Titus, completely blew my mind. First I wondered if this was a series of camera tricks. When I realized it wasn’t, I wanted to scout this kid for my hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

Titus is adorable, but he also reminds me of four important ingredients to success. Determination. Passion. Fun. The Right Team.

Determination

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines determination as, “Firm of fixed intention to achieve a desired end.” There’s no doubt that Titus is determined to reach his goal. This determination drives him forward. There’s no way the kid makes these crazy good shots without the hours of practice–which we don’t see— where the ball just won’t go in the basket. It’s on those days our determination to achieve our goals carries us through.

Passion

It’s not hard to spot the difference between an athlete that’s just dialing it in or working for a paycheck versus one who is fired up, completely consumed by her passion for her sport. We see this same difference in people we meet throughout our day–from the barista that made our double tall latte this morning to our doctor or child’s teacher. Having that same passion in our work and allowing it to fuel us on both good days and bad results in an end product that we can be proud of, and that end users–like readers–will truly enjoy.

Fun

It’s pretty obvious that little Titus is getting a kick of shooting the basket. We don’t see stage parents dragging the kid somewhere he doesn’t want to go, or threatening him if he doesn’t try one more time. Rather, we see the pure fun he’s having. He loves what he’s doing and he’s having a ball.

If we’re not careful, even our dream job can become a chore (ask any writer). So making it fun, and keeping it fun contributes to a better overall experience, and again has an impact on our final output.

The Right Team

Little Titus loves playing basketball, and his parents and siblings cheer him on fervently, and happily assist in doing what they can to help him get better. We don’t see his parents complaining because he wants to throw the ball one more time, or his siblings sulking in the corner because Titus is in the spotlight…yet again. Instead, they are there supporting him time and again, and show genuine elation each time he makes another basket.

Having the right people around us makes all the difference as we forge toward our goals. There will be some people in our lives who will always point out the negative or respond to good news with a telling “Hmm…” Distancing ourselves from those people physically isn’t always an option, however we can learn to minimize the impact we allow them to have in our lives and on our psyche. More importantly, we must find people who are supportive of our dreams and gravitate toward them.

Sometimes the right team is built piece by piece. The right coach here. The right trainer there. Then sometimes we’re lucky enough to find an entire group of supportive people–like the right critique group or writers’ association. When we find supportive people who are a joy to be around, and who want to see us achieve our goals as much as we want to see them achieve theirs things don’t get much better than that.

What goals are you determined to reach? What are you most passionate about? How have you built the right team?

Photo above captured from video below.

Because the Longest Journey Begins with the First Step

January 13, 2013 by ReeseRyan

I know what you’re thinking. That’s one of those lame pieces of advice well-meaning friends trot out when we’re bitching and moaning about how hard life is, or why we’ll never obtain some goal. A career change. The ideal relationship. Going back to school.

Our friends mean well, but the truth is, for a moment, even if it’s the tiniest moment, we just want to smack them. To make them understand why our case is the exception to the rule.

But there’s a reason these lameisms continue to rear their unwelcome heads. It’s because they’re true. Plain and simple.

This particular thought–that even the longest journey begins with a single step–came to me while on a journey of my own.

It was sunny and warm, more than 75° in the middle of winter, here in North Carolina.

I set this space up months ago, and I’ve been meaning to post something here for just as long. But every time I intended to post, something else would come up. I’d be overwhelmed with work, or school, or writing my next book. Or maybe the thought of sharing my intimate thoughts and feelings with you was a bit intimidating.

Whatever the real reason, my delay caused me to miss sharing with you all of the wonderful moments I’ve experienced as part of this journey to publication thus far. But no more.

I committed to not only starting the blog, but revealing those earlier experiences.

Is there something you’ve been meaning to do, but just haven’t gotten around to it? What is holding you back?