In working through a couple of different books and workshops on writing, I’ve come to realize one of the things I need to spend some time working on this year is refining my focus—both as a writer and as an editor. And in recognizing that need, I’ve begun to takes steps to move toward it.
And you know what? It’s been exhilarating!
Having a clear picture of who our ideal audience is and what they expect and need as readers doesn’t just help us write better stories, it also helps us focus our creative energy where it’s most needed and effective.
This is vital if we want to pursue a long-term career in writing. If we don’t, we risk trying to do too much too fast or we get so overwhelmed by all the details and to-dos that we don’t make much forward progress toward our ultimate writing goal.
One of the early lines that caught my attention in Write Your Novel was from Jill Williamson. She wrote, “I’ve learned that I can’t wait for others to prioritize my time, identify what matters to me, or give me permission to create. Those are my responsibilities.”
Looking over my own writing journey thus far, I can see how true that is. That awarenesses has allowed me to make changes in how I do things, what things I say yes to, and more importantly, what things I say no to.
I’m not just doing this in my writing. I’m doing it in my everyday life as well.
Want to succeed as a writer? Focus on the “best thing” instead of the “good things.”
I think one of the biggest reasons why we end up feeling burned out, blocked, or ambivalent when it comes to our writing is because we’re spreading ourselves too thin trying to build a name for ourselves by working on “good” projects in an number of different areas. Instead, we should be giving ourselves permission to focus on “best” projects that, in the long run, will move us forward in the direction we ultimately want to go.
While working on multiple different projects can help us discover what type of writing we enjoy most and can help us start adding publishing credits to our name, it can also leave us feeling a bit like we’re “butter that’s been spread over too much bread.” Before too long, we can find ourselves looking back and wondering where we are and how we got here.
If you’re finding yourself feeling this way, there’s hope! Asking yourself a few questions about what you ultimately want out of your writing and focusing in on the type of work that brings you true creative joy is the first step to getting yourself back on track. From there, you can begin making conscious decisions about where and how to best focus your creative energy.
What are some areas in your writing life that could use a bit of focus-refining this month?
Are there things going on in your everyday life that you can delegate to others? Are there projects or activities that you might start needing to say no to—not because they’re bad uses of your time, but because they’re not necessarily the best use for your time right now?
What are some areas in your writing life that you need to start giving yourself permission to pursue?
Maybe it’s starting on that story that’s been niggling at you for months. Perhaps it’s signing up for that online conference that’s going to help you develop a plan for your writing career. Or maybe it’s not being afraid to start looking for an editor to help you with a manuscript you’ve finished (or have gotten stuck on) and aren’t sure what to do with next.
Whatever step you choose to focus on this month, I hope you’ll pursue it with intension and with courage. Next steps can be frightening, but they don’t have to be feared.
Endure fort!
—Jen