Having Motivation Troubles?

Give yourself a deadline!

One of the things I struggle with as a beginning writer is finding the motivation to write. I have pens, paper, ideas, a laptop, a printer and... really what other things do I need? Life in general it seems, always gets in the way of writing. I must schedual some regular writing time. Once I create my schedule, which is something else I have to do @_@!

Other things such as rent, bills, assignments, exams etc always have a deadline. In the past, a deadline for a competition was a great time to have a piece of writing finished. I don't write enough to try and make a living out of it. I am not such a prolific writer that I have a collection of works waiting for the right opportunity to jump up and yell, "HEY DANCEY THIS IS WHY YOU WROTE ME!"

So I have given myself another deadline. I am entering the Young Writers Award Competition for a second time. The first time was in 2006.

"Submit your short story between 21 May and 16 Jul for your chance to win."

I will begin a countdown, write it in big numbers and stick it above my Laptop. I won't countdown on here because I only blog about once a month. Though I may post updates on my progress.

THE big thing about having a deadline is making yourself accountable. It is so easy to pick any old day to be a deadline. Along comes the day and you have a million and one excuses ready to explain to yourself why you havn't finished. Being accountable to someone else - if you tell one person who you know will ask about it, that helps keep you in check. If you tell a whole bunch of people! Now thats pressure. That is what kept Magda Szubanski from 'Kath & Kim' accountable when she went public about her trying the weight loss program of 'Jenny Craig'. It helped her lose weight and save her own life. Writing, most of the time, is not life and death. But without accountability, there is no point in deadlines.

Dancey

Adventuring Online

I wonder if I fail as a blogger because I don't post regularly? Hmm well I have never promised anything except sharing my adventures. Aaaages ago I did a lot of looking around online to find out what opportunities there were.

It all started out with me visiting the local library and discovering a postcard advertising the QLD Young Writers Award. I resolved to enter the competition dreaming I'd win the $2000 prize money, or even the $500 runner ups. Needless to say I didn't place but I wrote my first "finished" short story. I got a letter saying I entered it and how many other people had entered. I was thrilled!! And disappointed. Left wondering; what was wrong with my story?

Since then I have chopped, changed and polished that story so much that I really can't improve it any more until I acquire more skills!! I have also completed another short story (motivation to finish it was a university competition which I didn't place in either), half written another and have bundles of ideas for more. Through entering writing competitions I learnt that there is always going to be a better writer than you out there! Every year I read the stories that win the YWA and I agree that they are better than my stories. I just have to keep writing and eventually (with hard work) I will produce a winning short story!!

Back to the topic of adventuring online. I found that each state of Australia has a Writers Centre! They do classes and competitions and all kinds of writerly stuff. The place that I should join is the Queensland Writers Centre. Which I haven't become a member of. Yet. Do a search online and see what Writers Centre is near you if you aren't a member of one.
Also there is the Australian Writers Marketplace Online!! Its for all of Australia. Go to their website here. Its got EVERYTHING!

That is all I have for the moment. One of my goals this year is to write regularly and churn out a few short stories. Wish me luck!

Dancey

Author For Sale!

I reckon buying a book is like buying a part of that Author. They have created a book with their brain, with bits and pieces from the outside world, and other people's bits too. Its like:

'Here, I will put part of myself onto these pages. I have labored long and hard (and hopefully enjoyed myself) over something that you might like to read.'

I wish I could afford to buy all my favourite books. The books that you can just read over and over again without getting bored. Do you have a few of those? I hope you do :). I am quite embarrassed to admit that most of my favourite books are Young Adult novels. Most of them fiction-fantasy. *blush*. Four authors whose books I have delved back into recently are Holly Black, Tamora Pierce, and, surprisingly, I found a wonderful childrens novel written by Neil Gaiman! I also enjoy reading Garth Nix's novels. Because I am Australian I feel as if I must mention that Garth Nix was born in Melbourne. Angela Meyer (I follow her blog) is currently Melbourne based. I wonder, am I missing out on something being all the way up here in Brizvegas?