Your 7 Step Writer Detox

Y'know what? It’s been quite a the year so we can be forgiven for getting a bit, erm, tired. 

So here are 7 great ways to shake off that sluggish winter/lockdown feeling and re-orient your writer self as we move into a new year. What better time to regroup, reassess and start afresh? 

Jump into Your 7 Step Writer Detox

Step 1 – Appreciate The Writer You Are Right Now
You’re a work in progress.  Just like your project.
So no matter what stage you're at in your writing life - what have you done this year that deserves a pat on the back?  Write a list – there might only be one thing on that list but so what?  You did that thing. 

Sometimes we just need a reminder that we're capable and smart – and the type of person who did that thing.   So even if things haven’t been ideal lately – remember if you did that thing once - you can do that again.

Step 2 - Refresh Your Writing Goal
Work out if you’re still in love with your writing goal. Take a step back and reassess.  Is this goal still serving you?  Is it still feasible?  Do you need to reassess the whole goal or just break it down into smaller, easier steps?   Then re-state your writing goal for the year.

Step 3 – Spring Clean Your Thoughts About Your Writing Time
If you haven’t been as productive as you’ve wanted to be this year – it might be time to reframe your feelings and thoughts about your writing time.  A lot of writers (especially women) don’t prioritise their writing time or their writer selves because somehow setting aside writing time doesn’t feel like a legitimate use of time. CLICK TO TWEET THAT

It’s so easy to think of writing time as something that can be shoved to one side for something or someone else.  So reframe your thinking about it as time that is precious and important to your well-being and writer dream.  Every time you diminish your writing time as “not as important as X,Y, or Z"  you're training your brain to not take this writing lark seriously. So quit it! 

Exercise: Write down this sentence and stick it up on your wall - My writing time is important to me because…......................

Step 4 - Freshen Your Boundaries
This one is a doozy.  How you spend your time is one of the few things you’ve got control over at the moment.  Soooo if you constantly let people impinge on your writing time your writer needs aren’t being met and FYI  there’s no medal for sacrificing your writing time for unimportant activities.
If your writing time is becoming something to do when later -when everyone else’s needs are taken care of - how about you diarise? Schedule yourself a writing appointment that you don’t break.  Identify the people (children don't count) who are constantly impinging on your writing time – and fit them elsewhere into your schedule.  Unless it's life and death - it can wait. You’re busy now. 

Step 5 – De-clutter and Throw out Some Garbage
Sometimes we tell ourselves things about ourselves as writers that just aren’t true.

Labouring under negative, self-limiting beliefs will slow anyone down.  So identify the main criticisms you’re leveling at your writer self – and ask yourself this – are those criticisms opinion or fact?   If they’re fact then you’ve got something to work on.  But if they’re opinion then you can probably let them go.  Especially if it's an opinion based on not very much actual evidence.

Exercise:  Write down any limiting self-belief or negative self-talk from this year.  Read that list and throw it away (Burn them!)  They don’t serve you AND they take up valuable brain space that could be put to better use. CLICK TO TWEET
 
Step 6 - Identify the Habits You Want to Leave Behind You Now
List the bad writing habits you see yourself developing. 

Create a persona, an avatar you can give those habits to – this is the writer you do not want to be.
Who are they?  What is their name? What features do they have?
When you feel those habits arise – have a firm word with yourself.  No, that’s not me – that’s just Vincent up to his old tricks.  So piss off and go and be a miserable, annoying sod on your own – I’m busy writing. 
 
Step 7 – Work out what you need to move forward and be more productive
Exercise: Write down the tangible things you need to be more productive and focused writer at the moment.  Choose 2 things.
Everyone is different.  Some people need more solitude, others need company or a writing buddy.  Others still might need to improve parts of their craft – some might need new ideas. Others might need some down time when they just take a break from wrriting.

Exercise: What are the next actions you need to take to get what you need?

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