Trevor's Writing

Just a thought – about dreams

3 Comments »22nd October, 2007; Category: Just a Thought, The Writer's Life

There is only one sure method of turning dreams into reality; it’s by a process called “waking up.” Ashleigh Brilliant.

Do you have a dream about your writing?

That’s good. Dreams are good. Translating those dreams into concrete goals is even better. Achieving those goals is the best. Turning those dreams into reality is exciting and very rewarding. To do that, however, we need to “wake up” and get on with the task.

Dedicate your waking hours to achieving your writing dreams and turning them into reality. Otherwise, your writing dreams remain just that – dreams.

Dream deeply then wake up – and good writing.

Promises, promises, promises

No Comments »21st October, 2007; Category: The Writer's Life

I try not to comment on political matters on this blog. The topic does not really interest me all that much, and politics is not what this blog is all about. Many other blogs cover the topic far better than I could ever achieve, and many more cover it far worse than I could ever imagine.

Why write about it now? Last weekend the Prime Minister of Australia announced that he was calling a Federal Election to be held on November 24th. So now the false election campaign we’ve been assaulted with over the last six months has been replaced by the real thing. Promises are flying everywhere. Each party tries to outdo the others in the generosity, attractiveness and appropriateness of their promises. Those hopefuls who are attempting to be elected for the first time are especially full of dreams and hopes and promises.

In fact you could say that politics is a very promising career.

The problem with promises is that they are generally fairly worthless. Anyone can make a promise. We all do. We all make promises willy-nilly, often not pausing to think about what we are promising.

The true value of a promise is whether or not we keep it. People who actually carry through and keep a promise are getting as rare as quality television programmes. A person who actually keeps a promise gets my vote every time. A person who follows through, who works hard at achieving the stated promise and who is true to their word is someone to admire and be thankful for. This applies not only to politicians; it applies to everyone.

Promises and writing

What has all this to do with writing?

Have you ever set some firm goals with your writing? Have you written down these goals and said to yourself: “I’m going to do this and this and that?” That kind of statement is like making a promise to yourself. Did you keep that promise? Did you work hard at fulfilling that promise? Or did you let yourself down?

If I do not keep a promise I have made to another person, I not only let them down, I let myself down as well. I damage their trust in me and that is so hard to repair. In some circumstances the broken trust cannot be repaired.

Politicians are expected to make promises. Many people expect that many of those promises will not be kept. Normal people, however, expect you to strive hard to keep your promises. Perhaps we should try even harder to keep the promises we make to ourselves.

I hope you fulfill a promising career in writing.

“People don’t always keep their promises: that’s what makes people who do keep them so special.” Ashleigh Brilliant.

Good writing.

Writing Hint #39: Take up a hobby

No Comments »20th October, 2007; Category: The Writer's Life, Writing Hints

I might be only guessing at this, but I think it would be safe to say that many writers started out treating their writing as a hobby, something they did in their holidays, weekends or any spare time they had during the week. Most start out writing on a casual basis in between all those things life throws at them, including a day job.

Now there is nothing wrong with that. I did that myself for nearly thirty years. My day job (elementary school teaching) sort of took over every aspect of my life. Writing was confined to short bursts here and there, usually during holiday breaks, or on weekends. It was a hobby only. In the last fifteen years it has gradually become a passion, and now that I’ve retired from teaching the passion can reach its full potential, for I now have the time. It is now no longer a hobby.

That causes a problem. Writers who allow their writing to take over their lives so that it is no longer a hobby have just destroyed the only thing that gave them relaxation time. The demands of writing regularly for a blog is one good example of this. Blogging can consume all of your previously spare time. You may be starting to resent the very thing that gave you such pleasure in earlier days.

Get a life

Alternatively – get a hobby. A non-writing hobby preferably. Something you can get passionate about and use to re-create yourself. An activity that recharges your batteries. I was fortunate that as I became more serious about my writing I developed an intense interest in birds. I now take every opportunity to get out into the Australian bush and go birding. Now I write about birds on my Birding Blog – but that is not a chore, it’s a real delight and a pleasure. Into that mix I’ve also taken up the hobby of photography as well, something I’d dropped for many years. Now when I take off outdoors with my camera, notebook, bird field guide and binoculars, I know I’ll not only be out to enjoy myself, I’ll also get so much material to write about that the writing becomes a sheer joy once again.

Good writing (and don’t forget to have good times of relaxation as well).

Galahs

Writing Hint #38: Collaborate

No Comments »19th October, 2007; Category: Writing Hints

Writing can be a lonely pursuit.

One way of overcoming this is to write collaboratively with another writer. I normally do not do this, but I’ve done it enough to know that it can be a very stimulating activity. I love the energy it can create as ideas spark off each of the participants. The collaborative writing I’ve done was largely in the context of when I was a classroom teacher. More recently it has been in the context of writing leadership policies and various other documents for our local church.

It is worth seeking out another like minded person and planning a collaborative writing project with them. An added bonus is that working in this way you not only spark ideas off each other but you are also accountable to each other. You are less likely to procrastinate if the other person is relying upon you.

Another method

I recently heard an interview on local radio featuring two authors who wrote and published a book collaboratively. All the writing was done via email and a few phone calls. The two authors never met until the book was actually launched. Collaboration does not mean you actually have to be in the same room together, though I find that writing in this way to be very intellectually stimulating. The two people in the case just quoted lived in different states here in Australia. The speed of email makes such collaborative efforts so easy these days.

Good writing.

How to motivate the writer within you

No Comments »18th October, 2007; Category: The Writer's Life, Writing Hints

This is a HUGE topic.

Whole books have been written about the topic of motivation. I just want to give you one little writing hint today. It works for me but I acknowledge that it may not work for everyone. However, I believe it is worth a try.

Graph the hours written

I keep a daily record of the number of hours I spend on my writing. It is not totally accurate to the minute; it is just a guide. Then I graph the results over a whole year. I can then see if I’m improving, slowing down or not being very productive. If I see my graph going in an upwards direction it encourages me to keep on going. If the graph is declining it spurs me on to get back on track. It keeps me accountable. Matched against my goals for the year I can see at a glance how I’m going.

It works for me. Perhaps it can work for you too.

Bonus Idea:

You could also keep a record of the number of words written and graph that against your weekly, monthly or annual goals.

Good writing.