Reader comments on my previous post, Writing Should Be It’s Own Reward, Right? Wrong!, highlighted where I need to clarify a few things for everyone’s benefit. (This is one of the reasons I love your feedback; another is that your comments tell me my writing mattered to you, which tremendously rewarding for me.) Joel Canfield … More Refine Your Writing Rewards
Joel Canfield commented that he’d like more information about the Reward Yourself box on the Get Around Writer’s Block flowchart. The funny thing is that when I ask writers about rewarding themselves for their writing efforts, many react as if I’ve suggested they do something immoral or indecent. “Writing is its own reward!” they say, … More Write, Reward, Repeat
Thanks to everyone who voted for a section title to replace “Brain Factoids” in the upcoming Around the Writer’s Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance. The majority of you voted for “Inside the Writer’s Brain,” which is what I was leaning toward myself. So Inside the Writer’s Brain we go! What you’ll find … More The Results Are In: Inside the Writer’s Brain We Go!
Writers hate to make mistakes in print and the fear of that is a common source of resistance. But Niels Bohr defined an expert as a person who “has made all the mistakes that can be made in a narrow field.” I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I don’t think I’m anywhere near making … More Embrace Mistakes to Sidestep Writer’s Block
It’s vital that you reward yourself for the behaviors you want to become part of your writing routine. Have fun with your rewards and you’ll have more fun – and success – with your writing!
… More E.P.’s Recipe for Reducing Resistance Part 2
What’s better for you: an easy win (e.g. your writer’s group loves your latest effort, the query you sent gets a quick and enthusiastic go-ahead, a blog post almost writes itself) or a painful setback (e.g. your writer’s group has questions and suggestions for your next revision, the editor you queried says “No thanks,” it … More When is Winning Really Losing?
By Rosanne Bane One of my agility trainers once commented, “If your dog does everything in class perfectly, you are failing.” I did a double-take. “Failing,” she explained, ”to challenge yourself and your dog often enough.” Are you challenging yourself as writer or are you playing it safe? What was the last big risk you … More The Risks of Playing It Safe
By Rosanne Bane Is Writing Its Own Reward? When I blogged about using chocolate to bribe ourselves to write (When All Else Fails, Use Chocolate), the post got three times more visits than any other post. But when I ask writers about consistently rewarding themselves for their writing efforts, many react as if I’ve suggested … More Reward Yourself Part 1
Bane of Your Resistance 