“Just Put One Foot on the Ground”

About a month ago, Mimi Meredith shared her mother’s advice for cold Montana mornings: “Darlin’ girl, just put one foot on the ground.” I’ve been smiling over that ever since.

And I’ve begun noticing how often I begin projects that feel huge, day after day: creating a proposal for a workshop, reading a book manuscript for a consultation, grading a flood of student papers. (I’m sure you have your own version of this.) Once I’m in the flow, I don’t want to stop. But there’s that moment that can feel like a winter draft: do I really know how to do this? do I have enough time set aside? Am I up to this one? Will I know what to do with whatever I’m in for?

I’ve been noticing those moments and thanking Mimi as I just put one foot on the ground and realize I’m up and running.

If you want to write a book, maybe you could put one word on a page.

Feel the draft and do it anyway.

Here’s Mimi’s post: “Just put one foot on the ground”

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© Gwyn Nichols 2011. All rights reserved. WritersResort.com

 

Don’t You Have a Writing Appointment?

Do you ever break your writing appointments? Let’s assume you scheduled time to write. Congratulations! That’s progress right there. But that laundry is calling? You’re only going to check e-mail? You just can’t wait to read my blog? (Thank you.)

Well, here’s a guy who inspires me. He has an almost foolproof system for writing on a schedule. He has an accountability partner. He makes the appointment. He keeps the appointment. He writes. He gets it done. He sends it out. Whether he feels like it or not, has an idea or not, feels satisfied with how it turned out or not, he just does it. And that’s the secret to eventual success.

Sourena Vasseghi, speaker, author of Love Your Life and It Will Love You Back

Sourena Vasseghi has cerebral palsy. So he makes appointments with his typing partner. That is one strict schedule. If I had someone typing every word for me, how many minutes would I waste getting sidetracked? (Do Sourena and Kristi ever get sidetracked?)

And by the way, Sourena has not only completed a book, Love Your Life and It Will Love You Back, he also speaks professionally with his speaking partner Rich Finley at Love Your Life Seminars. Naturally, he has a personal trainer to keep his exercise appointments, and he’s looking for the love of his life. You might say Sourena is mastering the art of partnership.

So enjoy Sourena’s advice on The Proper Environment for Writing and read between the lines for his message on getting support and keeping your writing appointments. You might ask yourself, Are you reliable in your appointments with yourself? And could there be a partnership that supports your writing success?

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Text © Gwyn Nichols 2011, Writers’ Resort LLC

Hamlet in Prison

Jack Hitt’s hour-long report  for This American Life on Hamlet performed by prisoners, originally broadcast in 2002, has inspired me all week with its deep insights about Hamlet and encouragement for my own students, a few of whom have come from prison.

Nobody points out the ex-cons in my classes–I wouldn’t know that detail if they didn’t confide in me themselves. A couple have broken my heart by returning to prison or to the streets, but most are determined to take their second chance and become a blessing to their families. Like this reporter, I don’t necessarily want to know what they’ve done in the past. For me, their life begins here and now.

And I’d love to have all of my students think of my class-as one prisoner/performer said of his experience with teacher/director, Agnes Wilcox–”For a few hours a week, we get to feel human again.”

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Text © Gwyn Nichols 2011