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| What Truly Matters to You. In Life. As a Writer.
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April 23, 2021
Oakland, CA
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| | When I was starting out as an entrepreneur, my coaches said, "Show me your calendar and your bank balance and I can tell you what's important to you."
I was shocked when I heard the statement, even felt a little offended. (Honestly, not sure why.) But then I took the time to look at my calendar and my meager bank balance. I couldn’t account for a lot of my time, or my money.
I realized several things:
1. That I needed to track my time better. I was already in the habit of tracking my writing time but I hadn’t been tracking anything else. Once I started tracking my time I noticed as a side benefit: I felt more accountable to the chosen focus of the moment.
2. I had to seriously think about where I wanted my money to be invested as a business person, also where specifically I wanted my money to be coming from.
3. I realized that it was harder to control where my money came from, but it was not hard to control what I focused my time and energy on.
So how does this relate to you and your writing, editing, and marketing?
Ask Yourself...
On Writing Your First Draft
How much time are you actually spending on your writing, even if you are staring out the window daydreaming about your story?
The time you spend writing, brainstorming, planning, and plotting is precious, highly valuable and worth guarding.
On Book Marketing
Many people think there’s a magic bullet to making book sales. They think that if they do ads or use a certain social media channel or tap dance a certain way, that the book sales will come.
But actually, the right marketing activities are going to vary according to your goals, values, and availability of time and focus.
You can spend your time asking, "How do I market so I’m a best-selling writer?" Or ask instead:- What are your goals for marketing your books? What results would you like? What experience would you like?
- What are your fears and concerns around marketing? It's helpful to acknowledge these and let your body digest them.
- What actions can you afford (time and money) and that are aligned with your values and that you can do now to start to attract an audience to your work?
On Editing and RevisingWhen it comes to your editing and revising, are you putting in the time you need to improve your work?
Of the hundreds of writers I have worked with, I have found that the difference that makes a difference is putting in the time to making the work better and getting feedback from trusted people.
When it comes to writing your first draft, same thing.
Are you putting in the time to put words on the page?
You’ll get more done if you write (or edit or market) consistently over time. Notice I am not saying you need to write every day, or every morning.
Find a time that is best for you and a rhythm that is sustainable and do that.
In Conclusion :-)
Examine your values. What truly matters to you in your whole life.
Are you living your writer's life in alignment with those values?
If so, awesome. Do more of that.
If not, what is one small change you can make today to shift toward what you truly value?
Ultimately, it is the time and attention we put on our books that create the finished product that readers can fall in love with.
If your goal is to create rip-roaring reads for people who love what you’re writing, then schedule your writerly activities as you would a very important date.
One of the biggest pivot moments in my life was when I realized that I was my most important client. A VIP!
When I made time for myself as I would any of my clients -- a scheduled meeting on the calendar -- I took myself more seriously, I made sure I was ready for those appointments, and I looked forward to those meetings with my Muse.
Your Turn
Let me know how this inquiry goes and how these questions land for you. Hit reply with your answers. I'd love to hear them.
Listening To...
Earth Day soundtracks on iTunes. I am listening to the Antarctica track. Loving hearing those penguins. Happy Earth Day! There is no Planet B. At least not yet anyway.
Instagram Live
Also, I'll be doing my first Instagram Live later today with writing coach, Joelle Hann about writing fiction and nonfiction and being a writing coach.
Time: Friday, April 23, 12noon Pacific/3pm Eastern
If you can't make it live, Joelle will have a replay up soon.
Here’s a short preview video (with bloopers and Ezra's laugh) in which I awkwardly test out my technology: (posted on my blog; no Instagram account needed)
Weekly Writing Sprint
Just a reminder: the fact that you were on this list means you are welcome to our twice weekly writing sprints hosted by student and fellow writer Ann Shannon.
Keep an eye out for the reminders that go out day-of: Wednesdays at 11am PT/2pm ET and Sundays at 10am PT/1pm ET.
Conscious Style Guide
A shout out to the Conscious Style Guide if you are looking to bring awareness to diversity in your writing. They are a community of writers, editors, educators, and entrepreneurs who are curious or serious about conscious language. Highly recommend.
Independent Bookstore Day: Saturday, April 24th
Support your local independent bookstore -- as I support mine.
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Have a happy and creative week!
All my best,
Beth
♥
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| | Top Posts on the Writer's Fun Zone Blog |
| | | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Now in its 15th year, this newsletter is a service of my coaching and consulting business, helping genre fiction writers write, market, and publish their books through courses, coaching & consulting, NLP sessions, a 12-month group program, and books to the delight of their readers.
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
c. 2006-2021 Beth Barany, Creativity Coach for Writers, www.BethBarany.com
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| ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Discover the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, I teach alongside with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
Uncover her Henrietta series here (YA Fantasy) and her Touchstone series here (Fantasy/Paranormal Romance). And her new Sci-fi Mystery here.
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Ezra Barany
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