tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post5196779170578646422..comments2024-03-26T17:32:38.865-04:00Comments on YA Outside the Lines: A Writer's Quest for Focus and Balance (Stephanie Kuehnert)Brian Katcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159532800819759917noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-32251677539281172742011-06-21T20:12:22.665-04:002011-06-21T20:12:22.665-04:00Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions, guys...Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions, guys. Ali, you are so right, it is essential to be kind to yourself as a writer or writing does get frustrating. That is something I have to keep reminding myself.<br /><br />Jennifer, to a degree I can and do do that. When I can binge, I absolutely will, but the problem is I can never binge when I'm starting a project, only toward the end or doing revisions, so I have to trick myself into starting one so I can get to the binge, lol! I think I came up with something though! <br /><br />Here is my new trick guys! Lydia, it might work for you because it is about butt in chair rather than word count. I have the exact same probs with word count as you. http://stephaniekuehnert.blogspot.com/2011/06/15-hour-writing-challenge.html<br /><br />Holly, high five for the fellow binge-writer and first draft hater! I can't do the insane goal thing because my story gets way too out of control hence the butt in chair method instead. But home renovations, I like that!!! And cleaning and rearranging furniture...Stephanie Kuehnerthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337734171729461782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-37135031146156480682011-06-14T20:00:40.647-04:002011-06-14T20:00:40.647-04:00I'm also a binge writer...(I go on what I refe...I'm also a binge writer...(I go on what I refer to as "Crazy-Writes," where I do nothing but write for twelve hours a day.) I HATE first drafts ("hate" should be in bold print and italics), so I try to give myself just really out-there page count goals on drafts. (I know "page count" sounds scarily close to "word count"...) Anyway, point is, if I give myself insane goals, I don't have the luxury of overthinking or second-guessing anything. I just have to roll with it. Many times, I find myself thinking, "Oh, yeah, this is SO going to get cut when I revise" as I plow through a scene...But so many times, amazingly, it DOESN'T, and I'm grateful that I didn't talk myself out of cutting it during drafting...<br /><br />Another thing that helps as I write? Home renovations. It's amazing how much clearer the world can look after swinging a sledge hammer...Holly Schindlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16742207239654178917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-1737592635080408102011-06-13T23:34:33.878-04:002011-06-13T23:34:33.878-04:00I am exactly the same with word count goals. They ...I am exactly the same with word count goals. They have never worked for me. I get distracted by constantly checking the word count instead of just letting the story flow. ergh.<br /><br />To help with a new project? I usually have to just not think about it. At all. Then the ideas suddenly start flowing out of nowhere, and assuredly, at the most inappropriate times. But hey, whatever works. :DLydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-28143672634887979922011-06-13T17:49:54.361-04:002011-06-13T17:49:54.361-04:00Maybe if you're a binge writer, you should jus...Maybe if you're a binge writer, you should just *be* a binge writer, and not try to force yourself to change? Use these in-between times to relax and catch up on the things that get put aside during a writing binge.<br /><br />I don't have any magic answers, of course--just a suggestion!Jennifer R. Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408588432492354248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3388578325782539013.post-42907722385069858892011-06-13T10:10:23.423-04:002011-06-13T10:10:23.423-04:00I am still slowly building up the confidence with ...I am still slowly building up the confidence with my writing but I never force things. If things aren't working then I know it shows in the writing so I will go for a walk or do something else that is fun and takes my mind off it. I normally find then that whilst I have been doing that other thing my mind has been thinking and re thinking the writing and suddenly an idea will come. So I write down that idea and normally find that I write more than I meant to and suddenly I am back in the swing of it. Although if that doesn't happen I used to get quite annoyed with myself which would kill all creativity - now I think OK so I have to push that aside and not beat myself up and it's amazing how much easier the writing becomes when I am kinder to myself. That might not help everyone but I've found it helps me.Aliblahblahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01329491260616318897noreply@blogger.com