tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post7858520648878027400..comments2023-02-22T02:46:25.086-08:00Comments on Jessica Hart: Monday mornings and psychological tricksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-67592647688214614432010-10-20T01:46:55.701-07:002010-10-20T01:46:55.701-07:00If chocolates work for you, Elissa, then go for it...If chocolates work for you, Elissa, then go for it. You'll soon be whizzing through the pages! I had coffee overload when I first started writing - was drinking it all day at work, then long into the night - and ended up so jittery I could hardly string two words together. Now I'm one of those boring people that can't touch it after lunch, but boy, am I hanging out for it come 10.30 in the morning ...<br /><br />Lacey, never try and deny your inner list maker. It's just too painful. I've tried stepping out of that particular comfort zone, and it never works!<br /><br />When I was writing my 'time slip' earlier this year, I changed my reward system to get me into a different writing mode, and switched to word rather than page targets. I also changed the font I normally use. Just little things, but they made the whole writing experience feel different.Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-41017611044176440872010-10-20T00:00:28.974-07:002010-10-20T00:00:28.974-07:00I'm a list maker too. I tried not to be for a...I'm a list maker too. I tried not to be for a while with disastrous results. <br /><br />I like the idea of counting progress by pages rather than words. I'm going to switch :)Lacey Devlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716109142743069204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-11710174901231598572010-10-19T15:27:11.245-07:002010-10-19T15:27:11.245-07:00Seriously: coffee is not a reward or excellent mot...Seriously: coffee is not a reward or excellent motivation. Coffee is oxygen. Me without coffee is the equivalent of a houseplant trying to churn out a book - ain't gonna happen! But I do like the idea of little rewards......chocolates are little right?Elissa Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415274389691816585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-35134715032749185722010-10-19T13:40:26.903-07:002010-10-19T13:40:26.903-07:00I do that little reward thing, too. Coffee is exce...I do that little reward thing, too. Coffee is excellent motivation.Julia Broadbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10593278225395665018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-80584933829557291192010-10-19T05:29:02.140-07:002010-10-19T05:29:02.140-07:00You're absolutely right about the deadlines, E...You're absolutely right about the deadlines, Elissa! Make the most of being able to set your own while you can. Maybe you should think about rewarding yourself (shopping and cocktails always work for me!) when you DO make your self-imposed deadline, rather than ticking yourself off when you don't? <br /><br />My entire writing process is based on the reward system, in fact (a bit like training a dog. So I'll let myself go downstairs and make some coffee if I get to the end of the page, or check my email at the end of a paragraph ... All tiny things, but they keep me writing, which is what I need.Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-6621267771557144542010-10-18T16:17:02.333-07:002010-10-18T16:17:02.333-07:00Jessica, I guess one of the pros about being an un...Jessica, I guess one of the pros about being an unpublished writer is that you don't have deadlines imposed upon you. I can set my own and then when I don't meet them I tend to just give myself a stern talking to and then console myself for getting into trouble (chocolate, shopping or cocktails usually cheer me up no end)! <br /><br />When I do set goals, I tend to set big picture goals (eg first draft by Christmas or second draft by Easter etc). I've read that this is one of the perks of being unpublished and I should enjoy it while I can if I'm serious about having a career as a writer. <br /><br />Psychological or not, I admire your approach. Hope you have a wonderful time in Scotland (sigh) - that's me being jealous!Elissa Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415274389691816585noreply@blogger.com