Thanks to the fabulous Edie Ramer, I was inspired to put two new progress bars on my blog in an effort to keep myself on track. (We'll see how well that goes - I hold the gold metal for rationalizing my way out of anything.) :)
Now that I see I'm 33.2% finished with a story I was going to submit to Ellora's Cave, I'm motivated to get back to work on that puppy. Not a bad idea since the deadline for that particular line is 11/15, meaning it will need to be finished and polished by the end of October.
(If watching progress bars interests you, scroll down to nearly the bottom of the page and it's there on the left.)
One of my CP's from AZ and I were both published within a few months of one another last year, and while I haven't finished anything since, she's gone on to have four more books published. While I am thrilled for her, and she deserved it, I stopped and asked myself last night, what is holding me back? The only answer is: me.
So, here's to a good swift kick in the pants. It's time to get busy. Time to let that nagging little blue scroll bar and my friend's success spur me to work a little harder.
Are there any tricks or tips you'd like to share about how you motivate yourself? Please note, if you're one of those sickeningly organized people who never procrastinate, I don't want to hear from you. ;) Just kidding - I'd love to know how you do it.
Becky, I scrolled down to your progress meters right away. The first thing I do when I go to Michelle's blog is look at her word meter. I'm trying not to fall too far behind her. So that's one way I motivate myself. Competitiveness. lol
ReplyDeleteI'm not a procastinater, but messiness ... I recently found out from my doctor that the reason there's so much more childhood asthma lately is that homes and environments are so clean. Really. (Shocked me, lol.) So I made my son thank me for raising him in a messy environment.
Hmmm, I don't know. DH is amazing. I just get up, get ready, and go to Borders. I have it easy, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but desperation to pay the bills gets me over most of my humps.
Becky, I forgot to thank you for calling me fabulous. Why can't my husband be like you? *g*
ReplyDeleteRight back at you! I think you're brave and wonderful.
Edie - too funny about the houses. I'll make sure my daughter knows this. lol
ReplyDeleteThank you, and you're welcome, you fabulous, you. :)
Spy - I'm pretty desperate to pay my bills, too, but with what I've made on my writing so far, I don't see that being anything I should rely on. :( (One short story in an anthology shared with with 4 other writers - you can do the math.) :P
Ah well. Let's hope that blue bar inspires! :D
Okay, Kate. You and Edie are making me jealous with these cool little bars. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your Ellora's submission--I'll be checking back to peek at that bar!
Too funny, Cynthia. No need for jealously - just go to to get your own. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sickeningly organized and STILL a procrastinator. I don't know why. I think I build things up in my head to be harder than they actually are, then I rationalize my way out of doing them. If I could selectively turn off portions of my brain, I think I'd be better off.
ReplyDeleteI've got some pants-kicking to do to myself as well. Maybe a progress bar would do me some good, too.
Like I said on Edie's blog, I do it the expensive way. I don't like handing out business cards at conventions as much as I do promoting an actual book. At RT 2008, I want to wear my "Published Author" badge and have people come up to me and say, "Oh. Who are you published with? What do you write?" To me, that's a lot more rewarding than handing out some business card. That's all the motivation I need to get my ass in gear, too.
ReplyDeleteIf I could selectively turn off portions of my brain, I think I'd be better off.
ReplyDelete- I know what you mean, Avery.
That's an interesting way of looking at it, Marcia. :)
Well, I've updated my weight loss meter. (woohoo!) The original pounds lost I entered were from last week - was able to add another 3. Haven't been writing, however, but in self defence, I've been painting a lot to get ready to try to sell some things on ebay. I was up until 4 am this morning doing that, so I was a wee bit too tired to write. :)