Children's Books by Author Pat Miller
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Overcoming Your Writing Excuses in Ten Minutes

7/11/2016

 
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​Have you seen the commercial that asks, "What if you could improve your health by eating one piece of kale? By doing one push-up?"

If only maintaining health was that easy!

What if your writing can be accomplished in just 10 minutes a day?

This time, you really can. That's all it takes to get the manuscript written.

In his book, Mini-Habits, Stephen Guise talks about overcoming procrastination and negative self-talk by setting a goal that is so ridiculously easy your brain won't balk at attempting it.

Make it your goal to write 10 minutes a day.

Set the timer. For 10 minutes, work on your story or take notes on your research.

At 10 minutes--ding! You are done for the day!

Many days, I feel like writing beyond the ding, but I don't have to. I've reached my goal. I'm golden. I'm pleased with myself. And little by little--day by day--I'm getting the work done.

Give it a try. Attached is a calendar chart for you to reward yourself for writing just 10 minutes each day. 

Here's what you do:

1. Choose your color of star and click on it.

2. Click CTRL + C.

3. Click CTRL + V.

4. A duplicate star appears. Click and drag to the proper date square. 

5. If you don't write one day, simply choose a happy face. That symbolizes that you are happy that tomorrow will be the day to try again.

No beating yourself up. No negativity. Simply do 10 minutes the next day.

I call this my Ten Minute Tenacity Chart. This is just one of the tips I present in my NF 4 NF (Nonfiction for New Folks) writer's conference session, "When Inspiration Isn't Enough."

Here is a list of our conference's nonfiction writing sessions. Is this your year to write that true book?

Do join us--September 22-25 in Rosenberg, Texas. Faculty includes Candace Fleming, Melissa Stewart, Nancy I. Sanders, Kelly Milner Halls, and Peggy Thomas.

Attending this conference will be a huge jump start for your nonfiction writing.

Can't attend? You can still complete your manuscript in a tenacious 10 minutes a day.

Good luck!

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    About Me

    Ah, books. I never outgrew my love of children's books. My passion became a career--I was an elementary school librarian. And now I write books for kids!

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Pat Miller * Author, Presenter, Writing Instructor * Richmond, TX  
Header illustrations by Kathi Ember  * Header design by Joe Kawano * Author photo by Ruth Rose Photography  *  c2021
NF 4 NF Logo designed by  Karah Bradshaw.
Photo used under Creative Commons from onlineplantexchange.com
  • Home
  • About
  • Books & Activities
    • Activities for The Hole Story of the Doughnut
    • Activities: Substitute Groundhog
    • Activities: Squirrel's New Year's Resolution
    • Activities: We're Going on a Book Hunt
  • Teachers
  • Writers
  • Contact