Overcome Your Challenges

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Think about your writing life. Do you have a series of “can’ts” about what you can or can’t write? For example, some writers say they can’t write outside of their office and need quiet in order to be able to create their stories. Others say they need to be in the corner of a coffee shop to do their best writing. 

My journalism training taught me to ditch the can’ts. I can write in a noisy city room full of reporters on the phone, talking and even banging out their stories. I can write on an airplane. I can write in a hotel room. I can write during a busy conference. I can also write in the quiet of my office. The critical element is sitting in your chair at your keyboard and moving your fingers cranking out words. It does not happen in your mind but only through your actions. I encourage you to try it and experiment with those negatives and conquer them. It will make you a more flexible writer.

As writers, each of us have experiences which could prevent our writing and moving forward. During my years as an editor, I’ve heard almost every possible excuse why an author did not meet their deadline. After listening to their story, I grant them the extension and set a new deadline. When they move forward, we will get a manuscript and be able to publish it and get it into the bookstores. I can’t do that work for them but I can do it with them.

Last week I faced my own challenge. A tech person worked remotely on my desktop and killed the sound and produced a number of other behind-the-scenes errors. Another remote tech person worked for over and hour, but he could not resolve the errors. My only path forward was to disconnect my desktop and take it into the store for repair. Talk about a painful path! I have a lot of writing and specialized programs and other details on this computer. Plus it is connected to my printer. Because it was my only path for repair, I took it to the store and had to leave it for three days. 

Did I stop working for those days? No, I began using my laptop which I rarely use. This computer doesn’t have many of the tools I needed. It took time and energy but I persisted. While it was not rapid, I continued to get the necessary work completed. I met with my Morgan James authors and answered their questions. Two of them signed their contracts last week and other things happened despite these interruptions. 

At the end of the day, it’s about your mindset in this situation. Do you persist and try different options or do you quit? My encouragement is for you to find your path forward with your writing life. Maybe you have to skip some television or get up a bit earlier or stay up later at night to get your writing done. It is critical to keep moving forward despite the challenges. 

This week I heard bestselling author Darren Hardy encourage us to enjoy the journey in the midst of the ups and downs of our lives as writers and entrepreneurs. Also he includes two hashtags and says them on a regular basis: #BeTheException and #BetterEveryDay  Notice these words are focused on the journey and not the end result.

There are many of life’s experiences which are outside of my control. Through hard experience, I’ve learned there is only one person on the planet where I have any measure of control: me. 

As a final key point with your writing: focus on your readers and serve them. Make a conscious choice to serve your readers with a well-crafted story or point them to a new tool or resource. Your path forward is filled with many choices and opportunitites. 

What steps are you taking to be the exception and become better every day?How are you overcoming the challenges in your everyday life? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

As writers, our lives are full of challenges and opportunities. This prolific author and editor gives some personal examples then action steps in this article. (ClickToTweet)

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How to Press Forward When Stopped

As a writer, how to you move when stuck?

As writers, I've learned we are frequently told the word “no.”

“Your idea isn't a good fit for us.” (A polite rejection)

“Not publishing this type of book.”

There are many other ways we are told no or stopped in our tracks. For example, I've mentioned in these entries about using the tool called Refollow every day to grow my social media presence. 

Refollow helps you follow up to 800 people in your target market—and you can also unfollow about 1,000 people a day. You can get month's FREE trial and see if you like using this program (use this link). Consistent use of Refollow is one of the reasons I have a large Twitter following.

I want to use this program as an example of how we as writers need to not get stalled with “no” and instead keep pressing forward. Today I used the program and followed 800 new people. Normally I open a window in my browser and Refollow works along as I do other things. To make sure the program is working, I check on it from time to time. Refollow works with Twitter and sometimes the program will stop and flash a message saying the program stopped not because of the program but because of Twitter's limiting the number of people you follow.

When this happens, I suspect some people close the program and stop using it—and return tomorrow. I do not take this path. Instead Refollow allows you to unfollow people who have not followed you back. In some cases, I've been following these people for years and they have not followed me back. I use the program to unfollow people. Even using the unfollow portion of the program, I am stopped. I get a message saying my connection between the program and Twitter has expired and I have to restart. Some people at this message, would probably quit the program. Instead I try it again—and often it keeps working. The program and the process isn't perfect or straightforward because it works with Twitter. You have to determine your next move when stopped—continue or use a different aspect or decide to return later (even tomorrow).

This process is often the same in other parts of the writing world. You pitch a magazine and get a rejection. (Follow this link for a resource to help you.) Or you approach a literary agent and they don't respond or they say their client list is full for your type of writing. Or any number of other polite ways people say “no.” When you get this response, does it discourage you and you take it personally or do you press forward with something else (like a different type of writing)?

I encourage you to figure out your game plan before you get stopped or hear no. Then keep moving forward with the next plan on your list. Otherwise, you go into stall and don't accomplish what you wanted. The choice is up to you. I choose to look at the world as full of opportunity and you are searching for the right opportunity. 

As writers we have many different directions for our writing. I've written books, magazine articles, websites, Ebooks, radio scripts, and other types of writing for many different audiences (preschoolers, young readers, teens and adults). If you need some ideas, I encourage you to download and read the first chapter of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams (no optin and use this link).

How do you press forward when you are stopped? What are your strategies? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:


When you are stopped, how do you press forward? Get ideas from this prolific writer and editor here. (ClickToTweet)