IWSG & Writing Modus Operandi

Wednesday, July 3, 2013



Today is the day to share our challenges and give support in the Insecure Writers Support Group run by the Ninja Captain. Check out the list of participants here. Here we go...

A few days ago, my son posted a notice on his door. I took a picture of it, but couldn’t get it from phone to computer. I’ve replicated it below and I chuckled while doing it, thinking the font bears a startling resemblance to his handwriting. 





The essence of his message is that we are supposed to leave our problems at the door before interfacing with him. Dunno how you do that with a child, especially when something he’s done might be the subject of the conversation, but anyway it occurs to me that that may be a good attitude to bring to my writing. As in:

1.   Leave the negative energy that might have come with the work day aside when I sit down to write.

2.   Shut out the madness of the world and focus on what’s going on in the environment I’ve created for my characters.

3.  Forget about the doubts and external influences (maybe another story I know about that’s similar to mine) that creep up on me when I’m not motivated to finish a story and just write.

4.   Abide by the processes that work for me and tell the bad habits goodbye.

5.   Be bold and do my own thing, just as my 11 y/o has chosen to do.

Have you come across any messages lately that have struck a chord with you as it pertains to your writing?

44 comments:

  1. It's so funny to think of this coming from an 11 year old. And I like the comparison to writing, it is appropriate!

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    1. Julie, sometimes I have to wonder about my son. I'm tempted to think he's an old soul, but he's grown up mainly among adults. :)

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  2. He's just eleven? Clever boy! He's starting out life ahead of the game.

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    1. He's does get exasperating to deal with, but you see what happens when you encourage kids to be free with their thoughts.

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  3. LOL, that's a smart little guy you got there. I wonder what prompted it? I love how you use it in your writing - I absolutely need to leave everything at the door when entering my writing cave. Thanks, Joy - thank your son, too!

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    1. Hey, Gwen,
      I think he needs all the privacy to hide all the junk he manages to correct. He's probably tired of hearing that his room looks like a junkyard.

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  4. That note is priceless. My son would love it if we left our problems at the door because usually we are knocking because he didn't do something he was supposed to do or did something he wasn't supposed to do. I like how you connect it to writing, though. I work at letting go of the day job on my way home.

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    1. You know it. I'm usually knocking for the same reasons you are.

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  5. I think he's on to something ;)

    If you start your day off with negativity you're setting yourself up to fail in every way. Stay positive and the failures will only be minor setbacks!

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    1. True that, Samantha. Things look so much better when we keep a positive attitude.

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  6. I love how you made this apply to writing. I'm going to write your points down!

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    1. Julie,
      I looked closer at the 'notice' while passing his door and it occurred to me that I could take some of his attitude to my writing.

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  7. Aloha J.L.,

    I really like your son's No. 1 rule - that one is a classic.

    It's true though, we should sit down to create/write with only positive energy flowing within :)

    (Stopping by, on behalf of Alex, as a co-host of IWSG. Have a great, creative month:)

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  8. A very smart boy with an awesome list of rules, you've got there Joy!

    Nas

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  9. Your son is an independent thinking young man. It's great that his words made you think up some important lessons.

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  10. This was definitely something I needed to read. *high 5 to your son* What a great note and yes, highly adaptable to writing. I need to print out your points and tape them to my door. (:

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  11. Thanks for dropping in, Mark and thanks for your good wishes.

    Mas. Yeah, he is something else.

    Sheena, he makes every day interesting.

    Elise, I should print them out myself. :)

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  12. lol... i love it!! Smart kid. I need one of those signs for my office door!! I like how you related it to story. I think I've used a lot of things that way--not necessarily to writing, but to the whole shabang of being an author and following dreams/finding an audience. :)

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    1. Yeah, we do have to do what works for us in all aspects of our lives.

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  13. Oh, I like this very much. Turn off everything else when we sit down to write.

    I do bring too much baggage.

    Excellent post. Please thank your son, too!

    Heather

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  14. Love the message on the door - creative kid! LOL! Great post...some good tips in there. Thanks!

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    1. Donna, thanks for visiting Children do make things interesting.

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  15. I would knock on the door and ask him to come out, since I can't bring problems inside the room.

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    1. That's what it is these days since the door is closed when he's not camping out in my room.

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  16. Okay, so your son's note is just a bit too cute to boot. But the message is a good one and worth applying to writing with the things you've outlined. I've got a lot of things going on in my writing world right now and I probably should take a real step back soon - though not until I release my Neverlove sequel - to gauge things for my writing life. I think that is a "silent" message being given to me at this time.

    Good luck with moving forward and leaving the problems at the door.

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    1. Ya know, in terms of leaving the problems at the door, a wise man once told me that when I get home from work, I should shower and get rid of the stress from the day's work before spending a lot of time with my child.

      There are times when we definitely gotta press and the time also comes when we have to pull back and regroup.

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  17. What a clever 11 year old. If only we could leave our problems that easily. Good luck breaking down that door Joy!

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    1. I think the door thing is only gonna get worse when he discovers all the stuff I'm afraid he'll discover sooner or later.

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  18. Oh, that's perfect! Now I really wish I had an office - I'd tack a copy of that on my bulletin board. Or even my door!

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  19. I love your son's attitude! And truly great rules for our writing and writing time, too. Thanks for taking the time to share here.

    Happy Weekend!

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  20. I love how you took the idealistic (though perhaps not quite realistic) demands of your son and turned them into rules that would help you write. Go you! :-)

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  21. It's funny where writing philosophy can come from sometimes. Great note.

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  22. Oh, good stuff! Eeep, leaving behind thoughts of stories that are like yours. I know what you mean. I thought my WIP was so unique in content, and now I see everyone and their grandmother practically is coming out with that topic. LOL But mine will still be unique. As yours will! No one can write it the way YOU can.

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  23. I love your son's notice. I might have to post something like this on my office door! Ha! And I think it's brilliant how you translated that notice to work for your own writing. What an insightful post.

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  24. Such wisdom from your son! It's great to apply this to writing, especially when we're trying to write something new and we start thinking about all those reviews (positive and/or negative) we've already received ... We need to leave them at the door and not let them distract us!

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  25. I'm copying your son's note and posting it on my door!

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  26. That's a great note. So, if there is a problem do you summons 'management' out of the room for a face-to-face?

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  27. What a wonderful sign to put the front door! It would be good if people left their drama elsewhere before trying to bring it into my life.

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  28. Great note!I haven't come across any inspiring quotes lately. This one has to be my first for the month. ANd what awesome advice it gives!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  29. He is wise. I need a sign like that.

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Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you think.