Slowing Down March 4, 2009

“Slow down, slow down!  The job will be there when you get there.”  This morning, I heard a man say this to a woman as she brushed past him in the subway.  I watched the scene from behind and realized that his statement meant more to me than to the speedy woman who pushed her way through a few more people (she was probably already at her desk whizzing through her morning emails at work before I could even step out into the cold). 

I’ve had a fast paced week; everything and everyone seemed to be moving at warp speed.  Or, was it me moving at the speed of light?  The most frustrating part about the whole thing is that I’ve been working my butt off and I have yet to see the fruits of my labor – speed and all.  So, what gives?  My aggravation – I think – stems from the fact that I’ve handed over my last assignment two weeks ago and my recent pitches are probably floating around the inboxes of magazine editors (and hopefully not their email trash bins).  Anxiety and self-doubt were slowly finding there way into my psyche.  My energy level was rapidly declining as I found myself reluctant to research ideas, work on my novel, and follow-up on magazine query submissions.  Why bother?  I was working hard and doing a lot.  But, I didn’t see the results. 

Surprisingly, it was the words of a stranger that helped me to bolt from the dark side of second-guessing myself.  Though I know I will inevitably fall into that dark place again and again, what truly matters is how quickly I bounce back.  Today was all about slowing down and recognizing the things I have done and not what isn’t working or hasn’t happened for me.  I’m focusing more on the positive things I’ve done in 2009 so far.  Here are a few:

• Actively pitching ideas to local and national magazines.
• My visits to the bookstore and library have helped me identify and study a few new markets in both consumer and trade magazines; this helped me to steer clear of pitching ideas that were previously done by the publications. 
• I’ve been writing my first novel and even when I fall off my schedule or it seems like I won’t do any writing at all, I commit to writing for 30 minutes.

After taking a break today and shifting my focus on the pros rather than the cons I feel less tension within myself.  Slowing down to recognize your accomplishments will help rejuvenate your passions and stimulate your drive for success.  Though writing jobs may not be flowing at the moment, I want to be sharp and ready when they do show up – not wrapped up in uncertainty. 

When was the last time you slowed down to give yourself a pat on the back?

Giving Myself a Laptopotomy December 10, 2008

Yesterday, my microwave clunked out right when I was about to heat up a bag of kettle popcorn and watch “PS I Love You” with Hilary Swank. I tried unplugging and plugging the microwave back into the socket and pressed buttons randomly hoping my microwave would miraculously just start working.  I even took the time to move the coffee maker and plug it into the wall socket for the microwave.  The coffee maker worked providing further proof that my microwave was in fact defunct.

With no workable microwave, a bag of popcorn, and a free evening to relax I wondered if this was some sort of karmic payback for something I did.  But, no sooner was I about to give up my buttery snack when it dawned on me that I could use a frying pan to make the popcorn.  So, I opened up  the bag and did the unthinkable – I popped my treat right there in a pan.  And it worked too.  There’s was something oddly familiar about popping the yellow kernels of corn this way.  Oh, yeah.  It’s because that’s what my mother used to do back in the 80s when she refused to bring a microwave into our home (something to do with not being the way she was bought up and other things about health hazards).

I had spent about ten minutes being annoyed that my microwave had run its course as I tried to plug in cords, click buttons, and move my coffee maker.  Why did it take me so long to think of just popping ‘em in a pan?  It got me thinking about all the other electronics in my life that started out as conveniences and then somehow became bodily appendages that I just couldn’t live without, except when I’m asleep of course.

Even while walking I’m on my phone checking my text messages and emails.  But, I do look up when I’m crossing the street and to prevent bodily collisions with other pedestrians.  There are those times when I’m on the phone with a friend and I’m just clicking away on my laptop at the same time.  How did I become that person?  You know the one who is asked what they’d bring to a deserted island and they ask, “Is there WiFi?”

As a writer, having these items are great for communicating, getting work done and researching online.  But, a friend jokingly pointed out to me that I need to be surgically removed from my laptop.  It was a Saturday evening and I was in the living room kind of watching TV and chatting with her while checking my inbox.  After she made that comment I started using my less conspicuous, smaller than a computer, so-no one-will-notice-me-working Smartphone.

As I polish off my writeResolutions for 2009, I’ve decided to make tech-free hours a part of my goals.  These hours are set to keep a balance between my work life and personal space.  Until now, there’s been a lot of gray areas and overlap between the two; so I’m giving myself a laptopotomy.   Instead of checking emails and browsing the web for markets and writing gigs at anytime, I’ll be using my laptop in the daytime only for work-related matters (between 9am – 5pm) to:

1. Send out queries
2. Complete writing assignments (includes interviews when necessary)
3. Blog and contribute to social networking sites/writing communities
4. Manage my emails
5. Research
6. Work on my novel

These hours aren’t written in stone as I realize with most things in life you have to be flexible.  The point is that I need to become more focus-driven and time efficient.  I am being anything but effective when I’m watching CNN while trying to look for markets to sell my articles (although I am a bit more aware of the happenings in Mumbai).  And although this is part of my 2009 resolutions, I’m implementing this rule effective today.  I need time to practice.

Happy writing!

WriteResolutions December 3, 2008

Well, the year is almost over.  And 2008 was all about overcoming my fears and facing the writing world head-on.  Here’s what I’ve learned this year:

• Writing isn’t some fantasy, whim or hobby.  I love researching, writing and learning new things.  Writing has become a part of my life.  It’s something that I enjoy doing.  In spite of all the difficulties I have encountered I still persevere.
• The market only appears to be saturated and impenetrable.  My motto: “There’s always room for more.” I don’t try to emulate anyone else’s writing style.  I have a unique voice, style of writing, and fresh ideas that I can offer to publications.  The key is learning which markets are the best match for me and those are the places where I can thrive.
• I soak up information and feedback on my writing to improve and grow as a writer.  I believe that constructive criticisms of my work have allowed me to grow vertically.  I am open to criticisms because staying in my comfort zone hasn’t been all that productive.  I’ve learned to become more professional and keep my emotions in check.  When it comes to abrasive critiques I apply what I call the “mirror-effect”- it’s my belief that harsh feedback is not a reflection of me but of the person delivering the critique.  So, I am able to quickly move on without absorbing that kind of negativity.

2008 has been a yo-yo year for me with all the ups and downs I’ve experienced.  But, as I reflect on the past months and anticipate the New Year I see greater and better things in store for me.

The New Year is going to be my time to break into national magazines (I’ve targeted my wish list already), create monthly query submission goals, set a freelancing income objective, enroll in writing classes, and formulate a plan from start to finish for my novel.

I have bigger plans for 2009 and I don’t think it should be any other way.  I’ve started writing and there’s no turning back now.  My mind, heart and fingertips simply won’t allow it.

What are your writeResolutions?

Visual Motivation November 12, 2008

I am a firm believer in the idea that if you want something in this life you have to align your thoughts, words and actions to match the dream.  In pursuing a writing career, I believe that I am a writer.  And the things I say and do complement each other to mirror that reality.  When people ask me what I do – I tell them I’m a writer.  I don’t go through this whole spiel of explaining that I just started out, and that I’ve gotten some clips, and yadda, yadda, yadda.  Part of my process involves visual aides that help me to focus on the path toward evolving as a writer.  Here are some of the things I’ve done to create visual motivators for myself:

• Visual Board – Oprah had a show and the idea of a vision board was discussed to help people focus on their goals.  Write your goals on a chalkboard, stick a list to your refrigerator door, or find some other way to create your very own visual board.  The idea is to have your goals in one place where you can easily view them.  In my attempt to take small steps toward becoming more “earth-friendly” I made my vision board on my laptop and selected it as my desktop image.  So every time I turn on my computer it’s the first thing that I see.  Martha Beck, one of Oprah’s guests on the show explained the importance of visual boards.  Beck said, “If you repeat the word, ‘blue, blue, blue,’ and you start looking around the room, all the blue things will start popping out,” she says. “Part of it is quantum physics. … We know now, scientifically, that consciousness brings matter into being where there was energy. So it’s not even necessarily that it draws it toward you. The conclusion is you’re literally creating some of this stuff.”

• Book Cover Inspiration – I’ve been playing around with the idea of writing a novel for some time now.  Finally deciding to move forward, I’ve created a book cover for my novel which keeps me on course and inspired.  My book cover has my name, an image, and the working title for my novel and I taped it over another book.  It serves as a concrete reminder that I am working toward something real, not just an idea of being published one day.  It feels nice to see my name on a book and the proud feeling that stirs up in me is the fuel I need to keep me writing.

• Just For Fun – Recently, I stumbled across a friend’s social networking page and she had a picture of herself on the cover of a magazine.  I had to look twice and then I realized she created her own magazine cover.  It’s cute, fun, and if anything another visual source to keep me motivated.

The Rewardathon Box October 29, 2008

Balancing the ups and downs of breaking into writing has been anything but boring. Meeting deadlines, searching the web for freelance work, coping with rejection, honing my skills, and participating in writing workshops are just some of the many things I’m juggling. Then in early June I crashed.

I woke up early on a Saturday to work on an article. And nothing happened. The only action I got came from the steam rising above my mug of coffee and the vertical cursor flashing on and off across the blank page of my computer screen.  I couldn’t even think of a good leading sentence.  Immediately, I felt the anxiety brewing inside my chest. A self-taught yogi, I grabbed my mat and ran through my relaxation routine. Twenty minutes later, my deep breathing and stretching helped me kick the knotted feeling in my chest to the curb. Facing my laptop once again, I still got nothing. I was getting nowhere.  So, I got dressed and headed to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for a relaxing morning. With girlie magazines in hand, cool stationary, and my Canon I entered the garden just in time to make the Saturday morning free admission.

A few hours later, I left with some helpful tips about summer skin care, a handwritten letter to a family member living in London,  and a great selection of natural pictures (which I’ve included for your viewing pleasure).  I felt renewed and relaxed. I took the rest of the day off and the very next day I had an article I was proud of minus the writer’s block.

The lesson I learned was that as much as I love writing I also have to make time to nurture myself. Now, I make sure to reward myself in small (and sometimes big) ways. This helps to keep my creative juices flowing. All work and no play really dulled my senses because I was exhausted and didn’t even realize it until I shut down.

So what I’ve done is create a rewardathon box for myself. On small pieces of paper, I’ve written some of my favorite treats and stored them in a small box. Every two weeks, I look forward to closing my eyes and picking out one item from the box to reward myself. Even my sister, a busy mother, loved the idea so much that she adopted this practice as well. Some of the rewards I have in my box include:

1. Buying a book from my wish list (I usually borrow books from friends or the library)

2. Picking up a bag of Gorilla coffee (my newest coffee craze)

3. Getting a facial (I save $$ by going to a really great school for estheticians and they give mini-massages to boot)

4. One shoe indulgence (whenever I pick this one it ends up being two shoes – I can’t help it!)

5. My favorite is the “Think Outside the Box” pick. I love this one. I came up with the idea as sort of a free pass to do something I wouldn’t normally do and it’s something that isn’t already in the box. And whenever I select the TOTB paper, I always end up doing something for someone else. Giving back by volunteer my time, helping out a charity, donating food and clothes, and even making visits to the Red Cross have been a few of the things I’ve come up with.

The rewardathon is my way of breaking the bad habit of working all the time. And when I do the floodgates of creativity are wide open because I’ve given myself a chance to slow down and reboot.

I’d love to hear what you do to reconnect with yourself after a busy week of writing?  And while you’re here check out my photos below.

Magnolia denudata (Yulan Magnolia)

Steinhardt Conservatory: Warm Temperate Pavilion