This week I'll return to my success series. The next topic I haven't written about yet is about setting boundaries. Setting boundaries is a little bit like setting goals and at the same time it's a bit different. In my opinion, there are two methods that you set boundaries. Boundaries are set around the times that you write and boundaries are set around the places where you write.
First of all, you have to set boundaries around the times that you devote to your craft. Again, this is a bit like goal setting. If you look back at goals setting (see blog post here: http://deanpacefrech.blogspot.com/2010/05/set-goals.html), I suggest that you create a goal around when you want to finish your project or that you devote "X" number of minutes to writing every day until you accomplish your goal. This type of goal helps me get going on my writing and get working on a project. But once I get going, I can get carried away. I can end up neglecting household chores, bedtimes, paying attention to the things that matter just as much as accomplishing my writing goal. By setting boundaries around time, I ensure that I continue to function in life and don't neglect my sleep or my household chores (One of these days, I'll be able to afford a cleaning service and then I can devote more time to writing, right?).
The other boundary that's been helpful for me to set is with my workspace. Find a place to do your writing that works for you. For me, it's the home office when I'm at home. I attempt to keep it organized and uncluttered so that during the times that I write, I can sit down and do it without constantly searching for supplies. I keep one or two reference books available for my current project. The printer always has paper in it for the times that I want to print something and do some editing. Find a place to do your writing and create that routine. For some, their writing space may be a coffee shop, carrel in the public library, a park bench. Although I've never had to resort to this to get my writing done, it's a great idea for someone who is struggling with balance and making writing a priority. It would be akin to going to a part time job: going to a specific location to complete a specific task.
Time and space are just two of the boundaries I believe you have to set as a writer. Get those two boundaries out of the way and you'll be well on your way to accomplishing your goals, through the routines that you set for yourself. In the end, you'll realize that vision that you're working towards.
Have a great week!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
What August Means to Me...
It's amazing to me how life's rituals we grow up with continue to last me through my life. August was the time I went back to school in the rural Nebraska town where I grew up. Twenty years after leaving traditional school, August still marks a fresh new beginning of the year that carries me to the end of the year. Just so you understand how important August has been for me, here's a quick timeline:
August 1990 - I started full-time for Neodata in a call center in Omaha, Nebraska. This would be the beginning of a seven year career in third-party contract work.
August 1994 - I transferred with Neodata to Bouder County, Colorado and moved to Denver. This woulld be the beginning of thirteen years in the Denver area.
August 1997 - I interviewed and was offered a job at U.S. Bank (although I didn't start until after Labor Day). This would start a nine-year banking career. This is where my technical writing experience started.
August 2000 - I interviewed and was offered a training position at U.S. Bank (again, I didn't start until mid-September). This is where my technical writing skills really got a nice workout!
August 2010- I start my new job returning to call center where I hopefully will be able to work more consistent hours and have more time and energy to devote to my writing.
It's my mom's birthday and my grandma's birthday this month as well.
What most of the these job and career changes have helped me do is re-energize to accomplish my goals through the end of the year. August is an exciting time for me to refocus my efforts to accomplish what I set out to do in January.
Quite a few years ago, I vented to a co-worker in late May or early June how I hated to have to work during those times. She reminded me it was because when we were younger we were out of school. My dad was a teacher, so I was used to him being around in the summer as well. That epiphany helped explain why August was a re-awakening for me...it is traditionally the beginning of the "school year."
So this August is yet again a new part of my career and renewed energies into my writing. What are you working on to get finished by the end of 2010?
August 1990 - I started full-time for Neodata in a call center in Omaha, Nebraska. This would be the beginning of a seven year career in third-party contract work.
August 1994 - I transferred with Neodata to Bouder County, Colorado and moved to Denver. This woulld be the beginning of thirteen years in the Denver area.
August 1997 - I interviewed and was offered a job at U.S. Bank (although I didn't start until after Labor Day). This would start a nine-year banking career. This is where my technical writing experience started.
August 2000 - I interviewed and was offered a training position at U.S. Bank (again, I didn't start until mid-September). This is where my technical writing skills really got a nice workout!
August 2010- I start my new job returning to call center where I hopefully will be able to work more consistent hours and have more time and energy to devote to my writing.
It's my mom's birthday and my grandma's birthday this month as well.
What most of the these job and career changes have helped me do is re-energize to accomplish my goals through the end of the year. August is an exciting time for me to refocus my efforts to accomplish what I set out to do in January.
Quite a few years ago, I vented to a co-worker in late May or early June how I hated to have to work during those times. She reminded me it was because when we were younger we were out of school. My dad was a teacher, so I was used to him being around in the summer as well. That epiphany helped explain why August was a re-awakening for me...it is traditionally the beginning of the "school year."
So this August is yet again a new part of my career and renewed energies into my writing. What are you working on to get finished by the end of 2010?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
What a Whirlwind Month...
It's been a crazy month in my life! I got my first articles published on Suite101.com and I published the first four chapters of my novel, A Place to Call Their Own, on iWriteIt.com. More importantly this month, I refined my Vision for my writing career and found more focus in achieving that Vision.
It's been over a month since I updated this blog. The good thing is that I have a clear vision and goals I want to achieve. One of the goals I set for myself was finding another full time job with more regular hours so I can write every single day. I have accomplished that task as well.
Even though I haven't covered Setting Boundaries or Finding a Friend to complete your Journey, I wanted to revsit Vision because it's been a so much a part of my month. I recommend that you go back to your Vision and make sure it's always the direction you're heading.
This difference for me this month was getting accepted to do article writing for Suite101.com, finding iWriteIt.com, and all the time I spent surfing the web while I was on vacation from the "real job" Memorial Day week. I had planned to get much more writing done than I did. Part of the reason was because I got so involved in looking at all the writing blogs and advice column on the Internet as well as through Facebook. I also spent a great deal of time looking at all the freelance writing opportunities out there and sending some queries to get some work. But as for actually practicing my craft, I got very little accomplished. My real goal was to revisit my Boundaries, Goals, and Routines this week (and blog about it today) and move forward with writing.
Now that I have my Vision clearly in hand and a new full time job to make writing/freelancing jobs easier to maintain and handle, I can move forward with my goals of finishing A Place to Call Their Own by the end of the year. I have to make that happen. In my interview they asked me what my personal and professional goals were for the year and I told them to finish my novel.
It's been over a month since I updated this blog. The good thing is that I have a clear vision and goals I want to achieve. One of the goals I set for myself was finding another full time job with more regular hours so I can write every single day. I have accomplished that task as well.
Even though I haven't covered Setting Boundaries or Finding a Friend to complete your Journey, I wanted to revsit Vision because it's been a so much a part of my month. I recommend that you go back to your Vision and make sure it's always the direction you're heading.
This difference for me this month was getting accepted to do article writing for Suite101.com, finding iWriteIt.com, and all the time I spent surfing the web while I was on vacation from the "real job" Memorial Day week. I had planned to get much more writing done than I did. Part of the reason was because I got so involved in looking at all the writing blogs and advice column on the Internet as well as through Facebook. I also spent a great deal of time looking at all the freelance writing opportunities out there and sending some queries to get some work. But as for actually practicing my craft, I got very little accomplished. My real goal was to revisit my Boundaries, Goals, and Routines this week (and blog about it today) and move forward with writing.
Now that I have my Vision clearly in hand and a new full time job to make writing/freelancing jobs easier to maintain and handle, I can move forward with my goals of finishing A Place to Call Their Own by the end of the year. I have to make that happen. In my interview they asked me what my personal and professional goals were for the year and I told them to finish my novel.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
My first four chapters are available for download!
I posted the first four chapters of my novel, A Place to Call Their Own, at www.iwriteit.com. iWriteIt is a content portal for written material primarily for use in e-reader devices. Users do not pay for any of the content on iWriteIt, however, they do not have permission to redistribute the content they download.
Here's the link:
http://www.iwriteit.com/content/Fiction/GLBT/A_Place_to_Call_Their_Own_-_Part_1.php
(Right click on the links and "open in a new window or tab" or the website will take over the current window/tab you're using to view my blog.)
This web site is intended for use in e-reader devices. If you download to a computer, you'll be downloading a text file and reading it from there.
Enjoy!
Here's the link:
http://www.iwriteit.com/content/Fiction/GLBT/A_Place_to_Call_Their_Own_-_Part_1.php
(Right click on the links and "open in a new window or tab" or the website will take over the current window/tab you're using to view my blog.)
This web site is intended for use in e-reader devices. If you download to a computer, you'll be downloading a text file and reading it from there.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 7, 2010
I did it!
I'm published on the web...check out my article on Suite101.com:
http://south-dakota-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/the-best-reason-to-visit-de-smet-sd
Don't forget to check out the sponsor's links, they're the reason I have a place to write and publish on the web!
http://south-dakota-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/the-best-reason-to-visit-de-smet-sd
Don't forget to check out the sponsor's links, they're the reason I have a place to write and publish on the web!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Develop and Follow Routines..
In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia – Author Unknown.
Develop Routines…and Stick to them!
I first learned the value of routines when working in cash services for a large bank. I started in that department as a supervisor. Not only was I honing and developing my skills as a supervisor, I also had to learn the jobs and functions of my team as well. One of the skills I learned to coach was developing routines with the employees and their cash handling. It took me a while, but I translated this skill into to my work ever since. Routines have helped me to be successful in management, training, sales, and now writing.
When it comes to your writing, find the time in your schedule to hone your craft and hone yourself. Yes, I said it, take care of yourself. The first part of taking care of yourself is getting enough rest and exercise. Even if you just take a twenty minute walk during your lunch at work, that's good exercise that will give you the energy you need to work your writing into your schedule.
The other part of honing yourself is reading books to help you with your writing or help you with your self confidence. This could be a book about developing plot, developing character, or getting your manuscript published. This could also be a book to help bolster your self-confidence, about achieving your goals. Either way, reading a book to improve yourself and exercise help you to hone yourself so you can be everything you want to be to your family and your writing.
And of course, make routine time to write. In the beginning, write just fifteen minutes a day or one page a day. If you write one page a day of 250-300 words for a year, you'll have a full length novel manuscript when you're done. After you get into your work, you'll figure out how to carve more time out of your schedule to pursue your dreams and goals. In addition to your writing, make time to read. If you're writing fiction, read fiction. If you're writing non-fiction, read other non-fiction to hone your skills. Reading will help you hone your writing craft.
In short make time each day to write, read the genre you are writing, read to help you better yourself, and exercise to take care of yourself physically. It will all make you a better writer and help you accomplish your goals.
Routines – Closing Thoughts…
1. Develop routines.
2. Stick to them.
3. Constantly revise.
Develop Routines…and Stick to them!
I first learned the value of routines when working in cash services for a large bank. I started in that department as a supervisor. Not only was I honing and developing my skills as a supervisor, I also had to learn the jobs and functions of my team as well. One of the skills I learned to coach was developing routines with the employees and their cash handling. It took me a while, but I translated this skill into to my work ever since. Routines have helped me to be successful in management, training, sales, and now writing.
When it comes to your writing, find the time in your schedule to hone your craft and hone yourself. Yes, I said it, take care of yourself. The first part of taking care of yourself is getting enough rest and exercise. Even if you just take a twenty minute walk during your lunch at work, that's good exercise that will give you the energy you need to work your writing into your schedule.
The other part of honing yourself is reading books to help you with your writing or help you with your self confidence. This could be a book about developing plot, developing character, or getting your manuscript published. This could also be a book to help bolster your self-confidence, about achieving your goals. Either way, reading a book to improve yourself and exercise help you to hone yourself so you can be everything you want to be to your family and your writing.
And of course, make routine time to write. In the beginning, write just fifteen minutes a day or one page a day. If you write one page a day of 250-300 words for a year, you'll have a full length novel manuscript when you're done. After you get into your work, you'll figure out how to carve more time out of your schedule to pursue your dreams and goals. In addition to your writing, make time to read. If you're writing fiction, read fiction. If you're writing non-fiction, read other non-fiction to hone your skills. Reading will help you hone your writing craft.
In short make time each day to write, read the genre you are writing, read to help you better yourself, and exercise to take care of yourself physically. It will all make you a better writer and help you accomplish your goals.
Routines – Closing Thoughts…
1. Develop routines.
2. Stick to them.
3. Constantly revise.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Set Goals
This week's blog is a bit late. Here it is, short and sweet; this will have to do for next week as well. I have to travel out of town for my current full time job and won't have the access to submit a full update...bear with me...I'll be back at in in a week.
Set and Attain Goals...
You will never “find” time for anything. If you want time you must make it – Charles Bruxton.
Now that you have established a vision and you know what "success" looks like, break up the journey to get there into milestones. These milestones become goals.
I love the song in Disney's "Cinderella", "A dream is a wish your heart makes." A goal is a dream with a date attached to it. Until you assign a date for completion on your goals, they are just dreams. I also like, "...That star can only take you part of the way, you've got to help it along with some hard work of your own and then you can do anything you set your mind to.." That's from Disney's, "The Princess and the Frog."
As the quote says, you must make time to reach your vision through your goals.
Goals – Closing Thoughts…
1. Set goals.
2. Schedule activities.
3. Constantly revise.
Have a great week everyone. I will return in a week and talk about developing and following routines to make your writing dreams (vision, goals) come true.
dean
Set and Attain Goals...
You will never “find” time for anything. If you want time you must make it – Charles Bruxton.
Now that you have established a vision and you know what "success" looks like, break up the journey to get there into milestones. These milestones become goals.
I love the song in Disney's "Cinderella", "A dream is a wish your heart makes." A goal is a dream with a date attached to it. Until you assign a date for completion on your goals, they are just dreams. I also like, "...That star can only take you part of the way, you've got to help it along with some hard work of your own and then you can do anything you set your mind to.." That's from Disney's, "The Princess and the Frog."
As the quote says, you must make time to reach your vision through your goals.
Goals – Closing Thoughts…
1. Set goals.
2. Schedule activities.
3. Constantly revise.
Have a great week everyone. I will return in a week and talk about developing and following routines to make your writing dreams (vision, goals) come true.
dean
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