Comments on: Are you up to the task of writing?

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 17:21:00 +0000

In reply to JB. Good idea about the need to stop impressing others. If we could all persuade ourselves to do this, we'd get a lot more accomplished.

By: JB

JB — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 01:41:00 +0000

“Stop trying to impress others” certainly stands out as the essence of this great advice. I find myself less inclined to try for perfection or be overwhelmed with negative talk when I write just for me. I also tend to write with more insight and feeling when I remember that I am not writing to impress others. Thanks for a beautifully written reminder for all of us about our true “why” for writing.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 20:02:00 +0000

In reply to KW. Our monkey minds have, well, minds of their own! Just focus on the writing when you're writing and the editing when you're editing. Procrastinate on the task of worrying about publishing!

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 20:00:00 +0000

In reply to LJ. Never have one big self-imposed deadline, LJ. Instead, resolve to spend xx minutes working on your book every day. See it as part of a long process. If you can view it that way it should help remove some of the terror.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 20:00:00 +0000

In reply to Jagadish Kumar. Yes, I guess it could apply to just about any task! Thanks for pointing that out Jagadish.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 19:59:00 +0000

In reply to Tommy Williams. That's a really good point, Tommy. I think these thoughts could apply to anyone doing something creative. (And I include creating software in that category.)

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 19:58:00 +0000

In reply to Mary. I agree, Mary. Who is ANYONE to think they can write? We all just need to write and get over judging ourselves so harshly.

By: KW

KW — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 16:48:00 +0000

Thank you for this insightful and relevant post, Daphne. The negative self-talk and perfectionism are both factors for me, and I think they work together throughout my writing projects. Your suggestion to take stay in the moment and “just write” (and not let the monkey mind get too big; i.e., worrying about others perceptions) is just perfect. I think this is all predicated on Start Writing early, in advance of deadlines. This is something I am working on. (I am behind on a book chapter due date right now, but I digress… :P)…

By: Jagadish Kumar

Jagadish Kumar — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 08:35:00 +0000

‘Are you up to the task of writing,’ could be replaced by ‘Are you up to the task’. We always adore this style of our Daphne’s. Keep it up, dear Daphne.

By: LJ

LJ — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:58:00 +0000

I think it’s hard (for me) to finish a book because it’s a self-imposed deadline. As for the confidence part, I try to remind myself of successes I have had in the past-when the doubts creep in-as they invariably do. There are SO many head-smart people in the Bay Area where I live, and tons of great writers. But we all have something unique to contribute and if I have the discipline to actually write, I will accomplish something.