tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post1391380402992618836..comments2024-02-19T15:25:57.626+11:00Comments on Breathless In the Bush: How to Achieve Your Goals (When You Haven’t Even Started Yet)HelzKathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921987291520604201noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-80382597580109767982017-02-07T10:14:40.084+11:002017-02-07T10:14:40.084+11:00Hi Sharon, the journal technique was really necess...Hi Sharon, the journal technique was really necessary for me as I'm writing in an unfamiliar genre and I needed to steep myself in the time I'm writing about. I've been doing a LOT of research about the time period and had to find some way to absorb it all, hence the diary. Now that I'm right into the story, though, I've found I don't need to continue it.<br />Like you, I do a lot of percolating before I begin to write. Marilyn Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17264683453138649702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-44502045753929516062017-02-07T05:55:44.989+11:002017-02-07T05:55:44.989+11:00Hi Marilyn, I love your diary writing technique. I...Hi Marilyn, I love your diary writing technique. I tend to let ideas, snippets of conversation and scenes percolate in the background before starting to write. I encourage myself to recognise that this is a highly creative stage and very much part of my writing work.Sharon Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01662544181464130756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-16015518596469944442017-02-06T18:02:16.948+11:002017-02-06T18:02:16.948+11:00Hi Cassandra! So glad you like the tips. Yes, the ...Hi Cassandra! So glad you like the tips. Yes, the music becomes white noise for me after a while, too, but it's great to start with to set the mood for writing.<br />I'm into writing my third chapter now and I feel I know my MC well enough not to have to continue with the journal. Writing the journal did help me to fill out a pretty comprehensive Character Profile though.Marilyn Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17264683453138649702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-85864162064281512102017-02-06T17:55:10.123+11:002017-02-06T17:55:10.123+11:00Thanks Enisa! I'm so glad you feel you can tak...Thanks Enisa! I'm so glad you feel you can take something from my suggestions and use it. Words are flying onto the page for me at the moment and I'm really enjoying writing again.Marilyn Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17264683453138649702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-53098141006026043362017-02-06T14:47:30.846+11:002017-02-06T14:47:30.846+11:00Great tips Marilyn. I like to write with music on ...Great tips Marilyn. I like to write with music on headphones. It becomes white noise eventually and I don't get distracted by the movements in my very busy household. I agree if you are not sure about the first chapter start somewhere else, otherwise some of us would never start. I'd love to hear how you go with the journal of your MC as you progress and at which point you decide you don't need it anymore.Cassandra Samuelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818025453828445251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-70930321364372754352017-02-06T10:04:23.796+11:002017-02-06T10:04:23.796+11:00Great tips, Marilyn. Have tried writing with music...Great tips, Marilyn. Have tried writing with music playing. Worked wonders with words flowing. Crossing off days on a calendar would keep me focused. Love that tip. Also, ticking off every 100 words is very motivating,giving you incentive to write more and more. Motivation is a wonderful way of achieving goals. Great post.Enisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14618040099949009436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-53600246272491324872017-02-06T09:03:41.427+11:002017-02-06T09:03:41.427+11:00Hi Cathryn! I don't yet have a cover for my ne...Hi Cathryn! I don't yet have a cover for my new book, but I'm hoping it will be as swoon-worthy as some of your recent covers. :)<br />I SO agree with you about taking breaks - it's too damn hard to get back into the rhythm of writing again. I'm a little worried about the effect my upcoming trip to Vietnam will have on my ability to not break the chain. I'm thinking that I might lower my daily word count expectation for those 10 days. Fingers crossed.Marilyn Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17264683453138649702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-6697517693579704662017-02-06T08:55:09.872+11:002017-02-06T08:55:09.872+11:00Hi Malvina! The 'Don't Break the Chain'...Hi Malvina! The 'Don't Break the Chain' method really works for me (so far, anyway :)). I think it's because I'm a visual person. I've also been writing 100, 200, 300 etc. (up to 1000) and crossing each number out as I reach that word count. It's helping me to keep on track, too.Marilyn Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17264683453138649702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-42141785676300390942017-02-06T07:52:56.803+11:002017-02-06T07:52:56.803+11:00That is so true about writing being hard work. I d...That is so true about writing being hard work. I don't think any of is really understand that until we're neck deep in. Not that knowing would stop any of us writing!<br /><br />I spent a lot of January travelling so it's been really hard to get back into it but it's like Malvina says, you just have to get started. My word count was terrible for the first week, and the second but now the words are starting to come again, and my confidence in the story and writing is growing with it. This week should see me back to normal.<br /><br />The break did teach me something: I shouldn't take breaks! Not when my goal for the year is lots of words. It takes too long to get back into the rhythm and the struggle causes that old fiend self-doubt to rouse. I took too long fighting that thing in the past to let it wake again.<br /><br />Congratulations on your upcoming release, Marilyn!Cathryn Heinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638629707594115419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2603806150366948575.post-27593176466671403852017-02-06T06:46:30.564+11:002017-02-06T06:46:30.564+11:00Really, it's just as simple as getting started...Really, it's just as simple as getting started, isn't it? Putting hands to keyboard, pen to paper, writing a sentence and then flowing from there. I love your idea of not breaking the chain and writing every day, Marilyn. Malvinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01643063300200396369noreply@blogger.com