WRITER’S WORKOUT – Tips For Success
Like every disciplined athlete, getting into shape requires commitment and determination. You’ll be more successful with your Writer’s Workout if you devise a plan, keep to a schedule and give yourself permission to do this. Will some of us miss a workout? Probably. Life isn’t always accommodating to our writing schedule. So if you trip up one day and don’t write, acknowledge it and move on. Don’t beat yourself up over it and don’t quit. Pledge to yourself that you’ll return the next day and work on the next assignment – or the next page in your current project.
Remember, the primary goal here is to allow us permission and room within which we can write. We want to shoo away the perfectionist, the editor, the ego . . . the one who can find all kinds of ways to sabotage our sacred time, our writing time. What we want to do is establish some priorities, a focus and a plan. And then become intentional with our self to make it happen.
Here are 6 tips that will help you achieve success during our 21-day Writer's Workout.
- Show up every day
Every athlete knows action is required and it has to be on a consistent basis. So work out a schedule that fits your lifestyle. Where will you do this creative work? An office? The dining room table? When do you want to write? Early morning? Late evening? Every night? Weekends only? You decide.
- Schedule time for your workout. How much time can you allot for writing? Be honest. You don’t want to be so over zealous that you set yourself up for failure.
- If you’re a calendar junkie, put it down on your calendar – block out time every day you plan to write. Put something down that you can stick with. What can you do? Then do it.
- Communicate with the rest of your circle of family and friends. Ask their help in giving you this time and space within which you can write.
- Come prepared
If you show up at the gym in street clothes, your workout won’t be nearly as effective – and you might get thrown out of the gym altogether. So come to your “writing time” prepared and ready to go.
- Have the right workout equipment.
i. Computer turned on and ready to go
ii. Pens and paper. Pencils need sharpening? Erasers handy?
iii. Download your assignment. Stay focused. Don’t let email and the Internet tempt you. This is YOUR time to write.
- Workout space. Is it cluttered and cramped? Give yourself some breathing room. Move the stacks to a table or floor where they’re out of sight – just while you’re writing. Minimize your distractions.
- If you’re on a strict schedule, set a timer or some other type of reminder so you won’t have to also be worrying about what time it is. You’ll know you can just create and the physical device will take care of the reminder service. If you’re one of the lucky ones and don’t have to set a timer because you can just write until you’re empty, then congratulations! Either way, stick to the allotted time you established in Step 1.
- Wear something comfortable. Take off that tie and coat; get rid of those high-heels that pinch your toes. Wear those comfy sweats and soft socks. It’s time to indulge in a bit of pampering for you.
- If you’re so inclined, bring in your favorite beverage so that it’ll be within easy reach.
- Warm-up stretches
If you’re like 90% of writers out there, this is not your full-time profession. You have a job and other responsibilities that support you financially so you can enjoy your “writing habit.” When you are switching gears from the typical work environment to your writing environment, you need some transition activities to allow Creative Self to emerge.
If it was a particularly hectic day, this is a good time to release all that weighs on your shoulders and set it aside. Just for now. If you’ve already downloaded the assignment, perhaps you will choose to fill your thoughts of the assignment and how you want to approach it. Either way, take a few minutes to transition.
- Physical stretches. Come into your writing space and do a few, slow, physical stretches. It could be bringing your arms straight over your head and then down to your sides – slowly.
- Do you have some relaxing music or mediation sequence you can practice?
- Silence. Allow yourself a few minutes of plain, simple silence – quiet the mind. You’ll be surprised how effective this is.
- Thank the Universe for having those people and things in your life that allow you to now have this time to feed your Creative Soul. Show gratitude for having a roof over your head, a way to pay the bills, family and friends who really care about you. What specific thing are you grateful for today?
- Give your “Editor Self” permission to take a break
- Give your “Creative Self “ permission to come out and play with you.
- Hints for your intense 20-minute workout
Okay, it’s now time to get down to business. This is where we do the heavy exercise. You’ll pump hard, increase your tempo and sweat.
- Put the pen or pencil in your hand. Feel it, smell it, sense it. Know that it brings your creative energy to the paper. If you type from a keyboard, it’s the same result – make a conscious connection between your mind, your hands and your writing instrument.
- Download the assignment – If you choose to download it now, after your transition time, that’s fine too. Remember to skip the rest of your email and the temptation to surf. You’ll find time for that later. This is your scheduled time to write! (Come on, stay disciplined!)
- Allow yourself one-minute maximum to think about the assignment. Much more than that and your Editor Self is going to be joining you in the room. Remember, we sent him/her packing – we only want the Creative Self to be with us during this time.
- Get to work and let it out. Write like crazy and don’t question, don’t look back.
- Cool-down stretches
Whether you’ve allotted 30 minutes or an hour, your time is nearly up. You’ve had a good workout. You feel great, albeit some days you may feel exhausted. You’ve worked hard and it’s time to pull back a bit. Take a moment now to reflect and express to yourself how well the assignment went.
- Take a deep breath. Sit back and relax.
- Remove your hands from the keyboard (or put the pencil down). Stretch your arms over your head and flex your muscles. Roll the shoulders.
- Your Editor Self has been knocking at the door while you were playing, right? Well, give him/her permission to poke its head in the door just a bit.
- Read over your assignment. How did you do? What was really stunning and exciting about what you created? How did you surprise yourself? How was it different from the results on the previous assignment? Where did your ideas and responses come from? What was the feeling or sensation you got while this was going on? Take a moment to capture that sensation and tuck it away for later. You’ll want to call upon it again tomorrow.
- Congratulate yourself for such a great workout.
Congratulate your Creative Self for showing up and playing. You stayed with the project and kept focus for the 30 minutes or 1 hour you set aside. Put away your work and get back to the rest of your life – join the family, eat dinner, or whatever else is next on your schedule. Smile. Rest well.
Happy Writing!
Coach Darlene
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