EASY… Ahhh. That’s my personal buzzword these days. As in, allowing my life + writing to flow easily. It’s springtime, after all. Slogging through winter felt hard this year… and I was in sun-swept Southern California! If EASY sounds good to you, too, I’ve got a few delicious recommendations:
1). I’m all adrenalined up about yet ANOTHER addictive writing book (click here if you missed my most recent prior book raves). While secluded away in our mountain home yesterday, taking an easy writing day all for me, I made the “mistake” of picking up this title just for a few minutes. You know how that goes. Five minutes turned into 20 turned into 90. And then it was nap time. And then lunchtime. (See, you’re not the only one with the focus of a basket full of puppies.)
The author, Lee Gutkind, in his book, You Can’t Make This Stuff UP: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything In Between, hooked me with tips like this:
“You need to create a writing schedule and keep it sacrosanct.” Okay. I’m listening. But that doesn’t really sound easy. Still, I read on. “If becoming a writer means enough to you as a person, then, as I have said, you will police yourself. But more importantly, writing should become a voluntary part of your life–not a forced internment. Many writers complain about the agony of the writing experience, but the mere thought of giving it up, even for a week, would be anathema.”
Hmmm. Sounded convincing. But I needed to break it down. I’d become so busy running my business and editing for others and working hard NOT working (but rather relaxing and riding my horses and being balanced), that I often gave up my own writing time for a week. Or longer. The realization of this made me immediately thirsty, like I’d just scaled a mountain in the scorching sun. Wrapped in blankets.
But create an actual schedule? That sounded restrictive, complicated, not at all easy or in the flow. Outside of editing for clients, I haven’t followed a schedule in years. And I wasn’t at all convinced I could. But when I read the following paragraph, I laughed out loud upon noticing that I was nodding at the book while also biting my bottom lip through a smile. A hint to self when I’m completely jazzed:) Here’s what else Lee says on this topic in You Can’t Make This Stuff Up, quoting author Annie Dillard (from her book, The Writing Life, 1989):
“A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.”
A “net for catching days.” My eyes rolled up and looked heavenward. I felt light headed. Grateful. Massively relieved. Like this was the final piece I needed to fully give myself permission to take more time for myself (writing blog posts more often, for example, which makes me happy because there are so many tips + resources to share). This granting-myself permission business has been cooking for a while (see the below announcement about BIG changes over here at BookMama). Scheduling time for my writing is part of it.
So, I’m going for it. Me time is now officially scheduled. Every day. On the books.
I’d LOVE for you to do this with me–schedule your writing! If you haven’t already, take out your calendar and commit to some kind of a schedule. (Okay, wait! Do it after you’re done reading this post–I’ll remind you, promise.) And, if scheduling time each day has you all fidgety and curling toes, take a breath. I’m not the writing police. But what about scheduling something… maybe two hours a week? And, to help hold yourself accountable, tell me below when you’ve scheduled your time, and how often you’re going to show up for yourself. That should help wrangle your butt in the chair. Public declarations help.
Big changes over here at Book Mama…
2). Things are evolving over here, and that has everything to do with easy–for us both. I’ve decided that since I’m so much more effective helping clients sign with lit agents and land book deals once I’ve met them in person and we’ve worked side-by-side for 5 days in Carmel, I’m no longer taking on new private clients who haven’t first come to an in-person retreat. (For you boys, I’m taking names for the first-ever all-dude writing retreat… go here for the blue sign-up box.)
This wasn’t actually an easy (there’s that word again) decision by any stretch. I have LOVED being a freelance editor and ghostwriter, and have felt honored beyond words to consult with so many of you. But as my Carmel “grads” increase in number, my life has become so full with this amazing family of women and I want to be more available for them + future retreaters. For editing when they need it, agent connecting when they’re ready, and navigating the many phases of publishing and marketing when they’ve landed their book deals. (A few announcements on deals any minute… waiting on contract signings.) Plus, nurturing our friendships! It’s all so exciting; making time for these women, who’ve taken up permanent residency in my heart and expanded my life in countless ways, is a big priority.
Plus, in-person creative jamming is just way more potent! There’s nothing I’ve yet found to top the energy, fun, and brain-trust immersion that takes place in this mystical environment. There’s no better way for me to get to know you, delve into your work, feel into your possibilities, and know which agents you’ll jive with. There’s a quickening process that happens in person that doesn’t have the same juice over the phone or via Skype. (I have a few spots left for the summer retreats… the year is already going by so quickly… so if you’d like to talk about joining us, sign up for a chat with moi here.)
And then there’s the beauty + healing energy of the actual physical locale of Carmel. But we don’t have all day here, so I’ll move on.
Before I get to my last recommendation for today, though, let me say that I understand coming to a retreat is expensive and not possible right now for many. (That’s in part why I cut the numbers of participants down for each retreat from 6 to 5, and then last month from 5 to 4, so that I can offer each woman even more value–the best of me to help her build a longterm, lucrative career.) But, having lived with creditor calls for two years following the break up of my marriage, I feel for anyone out there who wants support and feels that it’s lightyears away. The heartbreak that accompanies a lack of money can cut more deeply than any other loss. I don’t know that I’ll ever forget that pain and don’t even know that I’d want to.
Some of you gals (and guys) are high on talent and low on cash. It’s precisely for this reason that I’m excited about a few things: a). blogging more often (posting more FREE resources here–if you’re not yet on my newsletter list for those update, sign up here), and b). continuing to nurture Your Big Beautiful Book Plan, the digital book I co-authored with the one and only Danielle LaPorte. We gave it all we had–this step-by-step program for getting a book written and sold. And, we made it affordable ($150, with a new 3-part payment plan) so that book deals could be born sans our physical presence. It’s working, big time! Reports of landing agents and publishing contracts are coming in all the time now. It’s astonishing and just what we’d hoped for. (*Free for all retreaters.)
Join me for a powerful publishing discussion online tomorrow!
3). Lastly, I’m honored + excited to be included in The Inspiring Women Summit (it’s FREE) that starts tomorrow (April 20th). Join me in a powerful conversation on Landing Your Big, Beautiful Book Deal + avoiding rookie mistakes as you find your voice. You’ll also hear from women like Marianne Williamson, Lisa Nichols, Ali Brown, Gabrielle Bernstein, Lucy Liu, and many others in the series.
You know, Danielle and I wouldn’t be where we are in our careers without strong female friendships (cheering us on) and mentors (showing us the way). This summit is a chance to tap into FREE, really wise + enthusiastic girl-power support. I hope you join me, and very much look forward to seeing you there! To sign up, go HERE.
That’s all for today. Yes, I see shorter, more regular (EASIER) posts in my future. I want to thank you so much for being a part of my growing book mama community, and for bringing so much value to my life. It’s so much more fun writing with my tribe.
Please remember to schedule your writing NOW, and tell me about it below. I can’t wait to cheer you on!
Yours,
Linda
xx
