A big part of being successful at memoir writing is showing up and doing the work. To succeed you have to do the writing; you have to exercise writing discipline, some “nose to the grindstone.”
Now the writing process is neither straightforward nor linear, and there are many unexpected twists and turns to the process. In fact, in the blog posts below on writing discipline, you will even find one on taking time out—which doesn’t seem very much like discipline. But when you go to the post you will see that it does lead to more discipline—now that’s a twist and turn!
People get it that they need to show up for paid employment as scheduled, but so many writers don’t get “showing up” very clearly and insist on writing when they feel like it. (“I don’t want to force my writing!” etc.) The fact is that big parts of writing can be compared to yeomen’s work and not too many people feel like doing “pick and shovel work!” No, this sort of work is best scheduled—or else it will be always put off.
Turn inspiration on.
Inspiration is an on-again-and-off-again experience. What I have found is that inspiration can be turned on with scheduling regularity. Just as going to the gym at regular times can get you motivated as exercise time approaches, so too writing at fixed times can get the juices going. And if it doesn’t?
You will have a period of time set aside anyway to produce your memoir.
In Conclusion
There are many factors that will contribute to your success as a memoir writer, and discipline in writing your memoir is one of them.
The posts below will provide some insight into what you might do to let discipline help you succeed.
Good luck as you write your memoir.
Writing Your Memoir Regularly is Key to Success
Success is built on daily writing habits. As has been bandied about and attributed to many different speakers and writers, it is said that “you go to the office every day for 20 years, and before you know it, you are an overnight success.” Well, we can apply that bit of humor as an insight […]
The Work of Writing a Memoir Can Be Hard, But You Can Succeed!
No one said it would be easy to show up and do the work of writing a book! “This is hard,” you think as you look at your production. “perhaps I’m not cut out for this.” (more…)
Motivation or Writing Discipline: which will sooner see you to the finish line?
“I just don’t feel motivated to write,” you say struggling with writing discipline . “I want to get my book written and out in the world but I’m just not motivated. I won’t write today.” Alternatively, what if you don’t feel like writing but you sat down at your computer and reread some pages of […]
Bringing Discipline in Memoir Writing
A big part of success is showing up and doing the work. The same is true in writing a memoir. To succeed you have to do some writing; you have to demonstrate some discipline, some nose to the grindstone. Now the writing process is not straightforward or linear and there are many unexpected twists and […]
Three Pillars of Starting a Memoir Right Everytime.
DL: this post—Three Pillars of Starting a Memoir Right—introduced a YouTube video which turned out to be the most popular of all my videos. Today, I would like to share both this post and the video. If you haven’t done so already, please share the post and the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel. […]
Your writing is your work–Schedule first your time for writing
To make time for writing, you have to be serious about the principle that your writing is your work. You must act on it and take it as seriously as your paying job. (more…)
Setting Writing Goals That Work For You: Better Time Management
I have a goal for this post. I want to help you to develop and articulate your writing goals for the next three months—that is, 90 days. You can start your three months today, at the beginning of the next week or at the first day of the next month, but don’t put off setting […]
Don’t Wait To Write Your Story!
It is later than you think. In the years I have been helping people write memoirs, I have seen people die and people grow too old. The energy not only to write deeply but to write a memoir at all has been lost to them; their stories have been lost. We go through our days […]
Four Reasons to Take a Break from Writing
When should you take a break from writing? Writing is hard work, and there will be many times when it seems too difficult. You sit at your desk and nothing much comes. Your impulse is to get up to do something—anything—else, as long as it’s not writing! You think of the lawn that needs mowing, […]