Pushing Past Giving Up

That's it. You give up. Give in. Give out.

For most people - and if you aren't most people I need to hear from you - there comes a point in driving toward a goal that you throw in the towel. Not always or on every project, but at least once in your life you've probably hit roadblocks so hard, depressing and flattening that you lose the desire to even keep going.

Yes, we all know you have to keep pushing and working at it, but what happens when you do keep at it, and keep at it, and keep at it...and nothing changes.

That fire you had, the desire to achieve that goal, the passion for what it meant you, all seem to extinguish.

At least it did for me.

I find I'm just going through the motions. Still doing those things I "need" to do to achieve the goal but I'm feeling resigned that I'll never get there. I DON'T LIKE IT BUT I CAN'T FIND MY FIRE.

So I'm asking for real insight. What do you do to reignite your passion for something? And I don't mean "just keep going." I am going, but without conviction.

So team, any advice on pushing past giving up and finding your purpose again?

Spur Of The Moment Decisions

On Friday mornings I teach a 5:45am spinning class that is hit or miss. Sometimes it can be a good group, but usually it's just a couple of brave souls.

Today I had no one. 

It's cold. Early. Friday. 

But I was there so why not make the most of it? Since I had planned to teach spin, I hadn't come to the gym with a workout in mind. I won't make that mistake again! 

Instead of heading home or doing yet more cardio, I improvised and decided to the do a lower body blast. Here's what I did: 

Do you have a go-to workout if something just doesn't work out that day? How do you improvise? 

What about for other things in life? Do you have a backup notebook if the computer battery runs out or you get inspiration for a story in the grocery store? 

Deciding To Live My Best Life

So what's with this whole third person "Sabrina Decides" stuff? I know that previously this blog was solely devoted to my writing ups and downs, but it was oh, so seriously neglected.

For 2014 instead of declaring resolutions for the new year, I chose instead to choose one word or phrase to focus on for the year. After some deep reflection I settled on "Decide". In all aspects of my life I felt I needed to focus on making the best decisions for creating the life I want. That included the decision to change up my personal blog to not just include my writing life, but all topics that inspire and drive me toward my goals.

Hence the rename and relaunch of this blog. Sabrina Decides will include my conversations about life, progress toward a healthier life, the writing process, travel and anything else that inspires and excites me.

If you followed my writing life, I hope you'll stick around for the new stuff too. If you're just finding this blog, please chat with me!

Decide Your Life! 
Sabrina

Reigniting the Fire: Taking Back My Passion for Writing

Reigniting the Fire: Taking Back My Passion for Writing

It’s been right over a year since I last posted on this blog and while I’d like to claim it was because I was busy writing, that would be only a half-truth. While I have been writing, blogging on other sites, dealing with a job change, handling my husband relocating for a job and other life events, I also haven’t blogged because I’d lost the fire inside that made writing burn for me.

Again, I was writing. Even writing some good stuff, but writing about writing seemed false at the time. I was still working my way through the first book so who the hell would want to hear from me. I should have remembered that I was a newbie and I would have liked to have read someone else’s posts on what those first years were like and how to find your way as a writer. Hindsight and all that.

Today I'm starting a new workshop I hope will not only get me writing faster, but will be like jumping feet first back into the fire of writing. My hopes are up that it will really get me going again and not just with output. I want to burn with the need to keep writing a story. To move my characters along and see where they end up. I’m looking for a spark on my happiness with writing. And yes, with talking about writing.

Because you don’t have to be published to have something to say about writing. Or even just to feel the release that writing about your issues with writing will give you. There’s a whole lot of meta going around in mind right now!

So, wish me luck in my new workshop – Book In A Month withCandace Havens. I’m going to need it since 20 pages a day is the goal. Holy Mackerel what did I get myself into.

How Do You Do It All?

We all have a million things going on in our lives that butt in on our writing time. Work, family, chores, blogging and even time we spend trying to "build a platform" as a writer. Personally, when my writing is going great it means I'm not blogging at all and my house is a mess.  


Lately, both of my blogs heave gone black for the most part. I even started thinking about letting my book review blog go. Seriously, I cannot believe I was even considering it. My book blog is something I love but the time it takes to read and review books has been taking a back seat to my writing time. 


The voice in my head is telling me I have to give my entire focus to my writing and let the blog go. Another part reminded me that there are writers just as busy or busier than me who somehow do it. So, how? 


That's when I got the bright idea to actually schedule out my days - at least 1 whole week - to see where does my time actually go and when could I reclaim time for writing and blogging. 


I put in my workout times, commuting, work hours, my Saturday trip to the Farmer's Market, etc. What I discovered is that I have more time than I thought and I'd been wasting it by not realizing how all that time could add up. 


I've now plugged in blogging and writing time during lunch and after dinner. I even scheduled time with my husband. That might sound weird, but I want to give it 2 weeks or so of following a hardcore schedule and see what I can accomplish. So, I've warned the husband that for now we have specific scheduled times for our hikes, movies, etc and that he has to work around my schedule. 


We'll see how that works. :) 


In the meantime, I've set a few goals for my book blog. If I can't hit them in the next 1-2 months then I'm going to say goodbye to it being anything other than a few times a month review post. 


Priorities. Yep. 


So, have you ever plotted out all of our "stuff" to find out where you really spend your time and where you could add in writing time? I think it was a really helpful exercise and I highly recommend it. I think you'll be surprised by what you find. 


Just sit down with a day planner or online calendar and block out EVERYTHING. Driving time, dinner, lunch, laundry. Set times for everything and then see if you can keep up with it for a week. Then look at how it might have helped your writing production. Let me know how it goes! 

Congratulations Golden Heart Finalist Terri Osburn!

Every year Romance Writer's of America (RWA) announces the finalists in its RITA and Golden Heart contests. This year I'm insanely excited to be able to squee over my friend and writing mate Terri Osburn being nominated for a Golden Heart in the Single Title Contemporary Romance category!

If you aren't aware of these contests, check out the RWA link here.

Basically the RITA is like the Oscars of the Romance Book world for published authors and the Golden Heart is for unpublished authors. It's an amazing honor to be nominated and I'm so proud of Terri!

Please go check out Terri's blog to wish her well and check out a snippet of her Golden Heart Nominated story Meant to Be!

A Few Excellent Writing Blog Posts

Lately I've run across some really great blog posts I thought I'd share:

How to Return to Writing After a Long Break by Nathan Bransford (Oh yes, this one was obviously very useful to me!)

Thank you for (not) asking by Bria Quinlan (Fantastic blog post I wish every writer would read)

Math For Authors by Deryn Collier

Deadlines: Why Do Some Motivate & Others Don't?

I'm a horrible blogger. At least at this blog. It's kind of my red-headed stepchild that is the first thing that I let slide when real life gets busy or my writing stops.

And lately that's been the main issue. I haven't been writing for the past 3 weeks because we have company coming to stay with us and suddenly we thought that was a great way to get all our little DIY projects around the house done. Like a countdown clock would inspire us to get the house finished.

And in truth? It's totally working. I'm amazed at what we've accomplished in 3 weeks. I know I said "little" projects, but some of them are rather large. Like rip out carpeting, paint ceilings, tile floors large. And we've been DIY rock stars!

But the writing...what writing. It's been on total hold. And that left me thinking lately...

Why doesn't setting a deadline for my WIP have as great an impact on my production as this deadline for our house repairs has? Why is this taking precedent over my world and home when my writing never seems to even when I set very hard deadlines and the hubby agrees to support me?

I'm a visual person, so I thought maybe at first it was because the house projects I can see and admire everyday and that's added incentive to keep going. But isn't seeing my page count go up the same thing. I look at that count and record it every time I write. So why isn't see the "progress" there propelling me to write faster, longer, etc?

I'm just starting to swirl this around in my noggin, and I'll post again when I figure out exactly what it is, but what do you think?

Is it because the hubby and I do it together and there's a 3rd party that will be witness to it? It is the visual cues of projects getting done? Maybe it's that I'm blocked in my story and this is an excuse to step away for a bit? Or could it be all of the above?

Not Going to Nationals?

If you're like me and not able to make it to Nationals this year (for those of you who don't know what Nationals is, it's the Romance Writers of America's Yearly National Conference) you're probably feeling pretty down about it. I know I am. :(

One thing I've done for years that I've found very helpful is to head over to the RWA.org site and check out the workshops section of the conference. In an amazing show of support and sharing with authors who can't attend, many workshop presenters have their workshop handouts available for download online.

Now, some of these handouts don't make much sense without hearing the session that goes with them (which you can order the recording of after the conference) but most of them are actually extremely helpful!

You can get some of the benefit of the conference workshops without actually being there.

So, head over to this page and see what workshops you are interested in that offer their handouts already. I'll think you'l find at least a few that will give you some new insight into your writing or writing career. (Make sure to check out that updated SHOW ME THE MONEY handout for a real look at authors make on books at some publishing houses)

Are you one of the lucky few heading to Nationals? If so, what workshops are you most excited about? Or if workshops aren't your thing, what are you most looking forward to. If you aren't going then are you doing anything special to pump up your writing during that time?

Make sure to take advantage of writing during the time everyone else is at conference . You'll feel better about not being there and it may even inspire you to push yourself.

Now Go Write The Damn Book!

Sabrina Shields

Educate Yourself: Know Your Target Publishers & Editors

Yesterday's Word Count: 501

As an aspiring author, I've heard time and time again from industry professionals that newbies should not only just “write the damn book” but that I should also keep up with what's happening in the industry and research and know as much as possible about the publishing house I'm targeting.

Now, I know for a fact from all the blogs, forums and tweets that there are TONS of writers out there writing away with no thought whatsoever as to which publisher they are targeting. It's almost like it's an afterthought and that they'll just sent out masses of queries without regard to if they are even targeting the right house for their work.

There are so many things wrong with this haphazard Russian roulette way of kicking off your writing career.

Although I think a writer should be true to their story, shouldn't they have at least a passing idea of if their idea has an audience and if so, what publisher is the best one to present it to that audience.

Most people wouldn't accept a job with a company without trying to get a feel for what the job entailed, who your boss would be, what the expectations are and finally, do you meet the qualifications of the job?

I know there are so many out there saying, “But you must write the book of your heart without caring about audience and who you are pitching.” This isn't the post to get into that whole book of your heart convo, but I wanted to point out that you CAN do both. There's no reason why knowing you want to sell to Harlequin Blaze and that they want stories at 55k words has anything to do with if the story you write is an emotional one for you.

Please authors, educate yourself! Treat this like the business it should be to you if you want to make a go at this being a full time career for you.

Follow any and all romance editors on Twitter, Facebook and blogs. You'll see them write about books they love, what they've acquired or are editing and you'll get an idea of what type of stories they are looking for. It's an easy way to get an idea of who might be your ideal target.

Oh and for goodness sake go to the websites of the publishers and look at their submission guidelines! I don't know of a single publisher that doesn't list them plainly online. I can't tell you how irritating it is to sit in on an editor chat and have question after question be about what the margins should be or if they take e-submissions. Do your homework!

Present your best face to an editor by knowing your business – the writing business!

Now get out there and learn all you can so you can make sure you have the best chance at not only finding the right editor and publisher, but also the one that will help you be the most successful.

OTF - (Off to Write)
Sabrina Shields
www.twitter.com/sabrinashields

No Words But Still Productive!

So no words written on the WIP this weekend. But I do have my reasons, although some might call them excuses, I'm giving myself a pass.

Saturday was my 32nd birthday and I had a fantastic lunch at one of my favorite resturants. Amazing food and with the hubby there to offer his generally witty conversation topics it was a great time.

After lunch, we headed over to my appointment to get LASIK eye surgery. Yep. On my birthday. I didn't intentially plan it this way, it just so happened it was the best day for me to do it. Happy Birthday To Me!

What this meant though was that my vision wouldn't allow me to work on the computer or read. In fact, today is the first day I can spend anytime online. So you would think it was a total waste of a weekend for writing right?

No way! I totally let my imagination take over and walk me through the rest of the story I have to write, and I even brainstormed a little on a story idea I have for a novella. Somehow, I even managed to write down some notes on each but we'll see how readable those are later this week!

Do you brainstorm when you can't actually sit and do your writing? Is what you come up with useful later or do you find that you really needed to have your computer with you to really get down the right notes?

Staying Focused On The Goal

Yesterday's Word Count: 205 New Words
My writing friends will tell you that I get caught up in the organizing, planning and plotting of a book so much so that the damn book itself doesn't get written. This is 100% true. So I've been thinking lately on how to keep myself focused on the actual goal - putting words on paper. That's not to say that organizing, planning and plotting aren't about getting the book written. It would be stupid of me to remove those aspects of my personality from writing. I need the process, but I have to make sure the process doesn't take over.

So, the first step I'm taking is right here on this blog. I'm going to post my daily word count and any other writing efforts here every day for the previous day's activities. Check out my first report at the top of this blog post. Not only will I be tracking this for myself, but the feeling of publicly posting my progress should help me stay more focused on the actual words on paper. I mean you can't fix a blank page is a common (and sort of annoying) phrase for a reason.

Secondly, I've committed myself to an April Writing Madness Month. Again, I did this publicly with my fellow writers over at The Romance Writer's Revenge. See a pattern here? I know myself. Something about feeling like I owe it to other writers not to drop the ball on this thing really helps me focus. Yes, I know I'm not writing for them and shouldn't feel like I have to prove something to anyone, but I'm not stupid enough not to know that if something pyscological will work to push me along then I should totally use it! And it's not really about proving anything, but instead feeling like others are going through this same process with me.

Those are my first two steps toward hitting my goal of finishing this first book. You'll see more as the weeks go by, although I hope this book gets done and I can move forward with editing goals.

What about you? What do you do to stay focused on putting words on paper? Not just the process, but the actual butt in chair words on paper goal?

The Dirty Truth & Fighting Writing Fear

Last week on the Romance Writers Revenge, Author C.C. Hunter did an excellent blog post that brought up the idea of writer's dark secrets. You can find that blog post here and I do recommend it since it had some really insightful points. Most of all though, it made me think about my own down and dirty dark secret.

I can’t finish the damn book because I’m scared it will prove I don’t have the talent. If I never finish the 1st one I’m never letting myself down.

That's the really big enchilada right there folks. There are nights when I do have the time I could write and I'm actually even itching to do so, but that fear keeps making me second guess going in to write. I will push through this. I know I will, but it's just taking some personal pep talks and the constant reminder that a shitty first draft is what I'm doing. IT IS GOING TO BE SHITTY! It's my first freakin attempt at writing. I'm sure even my favorite authors didn't write a perfect book right out of the gate.

I'll keep telling myself these things and eventually, I'm going to hit that 60k words goal and there will be no looking back. If I can just write this first one I think I will totally move past this.

But, will I just fill that fear with something else? Given the fact that I constantly see writers talking about how they just HAVE to write or they would die, it makes me question am I really a writer at heart?

What does that really mean anyway? Must one feel like writing is the very air we breathe in order to ever be not just a good writer, but an exceptional one?

Maybe once I get past this first book I will feel this way too. I can say that creating stories in my mind are as much a part of me and breathing. Will that translate to the page as soon as I get more used to the actual writing process? I sure hope so.

Did you find it hard to finish that first book? What helped move you along? Do you think a REAL writer can't live without putting words on the page or is a trait that will come to you as you feel more comfortable with your process?

Pimping My Friend's Debut Book! The Kraken's Mirror by Maureen O. Betita

Congrats to my very best writing buddy and awesome lady Maureen on the release of her debut book! I was honored to be a beta-reader for The Kraken's Mirror and think you'll really love it - it's a pirate-punk romance with an older hero/heroine I loved.

Here's the scoop:

Captain Alan Silvestri is a man haunted by a strange curse. Good luck is his to command, but it comes at the cost of any place to call home or people to reckon as family. Resigned to die and shunned by all, he is forced to sail every three days, until he begins to dream of a special woman.

Treated by our youth-oriented society as invisible and sexless, Emily Pawes is ready to move on with life. She attends a pirate festival, hoping to recapture the make-believe magic she knew as a young woman. Lucky to win an interesting bit of booty at a brick-a-brac stand, she finds herself transported by the Kraken’s mirror through a magical portal to a land of Hollywood piratitude, where swashbuckling heroes own iPods. With little choice, Emily embraces the madness. Playing pirate has to be safer than falling into the arms of handsome Captain Silvestri, right?

When they meet, sparks fly, passion flares. He needs her to be free, but more than that, he needs her to be whole. Setting sail and uncertain of who actually controls the wheel, they seek ways to defeat his curse of good luck and discover the Kraken’s mirror has plans for them. Will Emily stay in this pirate haven to fight alongside him or will he lose her because of his curse?

Click here for an excerpt or buy the book!

Yep, I'm Still Working On Those Goals...

I posted my goals here on the blog a little over a week ago and since then have discovered I need to do a little more work on them. First off, I need to make them SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Timely.

One of my favorite Tweeters Bria Quinlan does a really in-depth hand-on workshop about setting goals and achieving them, but you should do it with a group you'll work with moving forward - say a critique group. I'm not there yet, but I've still always wanted to take her workshop.

Low and behold, Bria is doing an intro / abbreviated version of the workshop for free over the past week on her blog. You can join in at any time - just go to Day 1 of "Goaling to Success" and start there. We are still only up to Day 3 and I'm still working on my first set of goals list. Wish me luck and join in to help yourself set some personal or writing goals!

Bria's Website is here.

Follow Me Back Tuesday!

If you are a new visitor coming from the blog hop welcome to "Write the Damn Book" a blog about trying to write my very first book. Besides writing, I'll also post on my pets, anything I happen to get a kick out of and books that I love. Oh - any anything else I'm feeling the need to chat about. :) I'll also be doing giveaways so you won't want to miss that!

If you are interested in writing, reading or having a few laughs I hope you'll follow my blog and check in and chat every so often! Nice to meet you!

Check out all the blogs in the hop here:

New Writing Festival - Join The Fun & Meet Your Writing Goals!

The awesome writers over at the Ruby Slippered-Sisterhood launched a new writing festival today where you set your own goals from today Jan. 10th through the end of Feb. Each time you reach your daily goal, you get a point and there's some fun prizes to win!

Best of all, since you set your own goals this program is tailored just for you. Make it work for you and check out the entire details at the Ruby Slippered-Sisterhood blog or the festival website.

2011 Writing Goals - Getting Serious

I've been MIA from this blog for quite awhile and you'll see that it's part of my 2011 goals to make sure I'm posting here regularly. What better way to kick-off my first post of 2011 with a real look at both my short term and long term goals for my writing and hopefully my "writing career." These lists are not all-inclusive - I'll be updating and adding to them as I achieve goals and move forward. I've tried to keep them around 10 or so goals for now. Please let me know what you think and what are your goals for 2011?

2011 BIG Goals:

1. Finish 1st draft of A Passion to Protect (30,000 words to go)
2. Edit & then complete 2nd draft of A Passion to Protect
3. Fully participate in new online critique group
4. Submit A Passion to Protect to Harlequin Intrigue
5. Begin writing 1st Book in new Urban Fantasy series idea (This one has been begging me to work on it)
6. Consider writing a Novella for E-Pub (Determine if any current story ideas would work well with this)
7. Join RWA & RWA local chapter
8. Find 2-3 local writers to meet face to face at least 1x monthly
9. Further develop my writing skills
10. Build my writer's platform - Exp. Build up followers on Blog & Twitter, connect with other writers/readers & start building an audience before publishing 1st book
11. Identify who really could be my writing Mentor and build that relationship
    

2011 small Goals to Reach the BIG Goals:

1. Commit to writing at least 5 days per week. Any amount of words - just ass in chair.
2. Work-up to writing at least 500 words a day on those 5 days per week. (at 2,500 words be week minimum, It should take NO LONGER THAN 12 weeks to finish A Passion to Protect - hopefully I can write more than that but let's work on AIC first)
3. Sell boxed-up books (HUNDREDS of them) on Amazon to pay for RWA fees
4. Continue putting writing samples out to the world for feedback
5. Finish reading GMC by Debra Dixon (Thanks to my AWESOME secret Santa who gifted me at Christmas!)
6. Commit to at least 2-3 Blog posts each week. At least 1 should focus on my writing progress & lessons learned that week.
7. Commit to posting to online critique group 1x per week.
8. Join local RWA chapter to find those 2-3 writers who would meet separately from that 1x per month.
9. SUCK IT UP & find a way to connect with those big name authors who you KNOW live in your area. (yeah, I have a few that write what I want to write and I need to connect with them)
10. Communicate more with those writers who could become mentors. Since I was slacking on the writing I didn't want to approach someone and not be ready, but I have a few authors who have reached out and I think would make great career mentors. I'd like to develop this and reach out and see who fits best and honestly how much they want to really help. Maybe it's more than 1 writer - one for different parts of my writing/career?

What do you think of these for a start? Have you created goals for your own writing? If so, what small goals or steps are you taking to insure you reach them or stay on track? Please share - I need all the tips and help I can get!

New Writing Contest Alert

Seize your opportunity to write for the Cave with Tawny’s Taylor’s “Some Like It Hot” writing contest!!

Starting October 25th, 2010, Tawny Taylor will be hosting a writing contest!
The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave.

The Prizes? Read on!

All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including:
~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~

*You may submit one chapter--not to exceed 5000 words. Stories must be complete and unpublished.

*Each Monday, two stories will be selected by an Ellora's Cave editor who is actively acquiring. At the end, six weekly winning authors will submit a partial (first three chapters, last chapter and synopsis) to the final judge for ranking.

The first place winner will receive ...

A critique of the full winning manuscript by EC editor Grace Bradley!

The second place winner will receive...

A critique of the partial manuscript by EC editor Grace Bradley (first three chapters, last and synop).

The third place winner will receive...

A critique of the first chapter by EC editor Grace Bradley.

Details here.

Round-Up of Awesome Writer Websites & Tools

Lately I've discovered quite a few awesome websites that give great advice and tips for writers and I thought I would share them with you in the hopes that you find a new to you resource.

Here are some of my new website obsessions for writers, or websites I've been following for awhile but think every writer should be:

Agent Blogs:

Nathan Bransford's blog is by far one of the best out there. Insight, tips and updates on all things publishing, you really should be reading this blog.

Rachelle Gardner's blog also offers amazing news and tips for writers.

Writer's Group Blogs:

The Romance Writer's Revenge has long been a favorite of mine and the blog posts there are both thought provoking and humorous. A great group of writers I'm so glad to have found.

A newly launched blog, I'm enjoying the posts at Romancing The Muses very much and think they offer some great tips for newbie writers.

Some of my favorite Harlequin writers are part of Drunk Writer Talk and I'm a frequent lurker soaking up their advice.

An established blog, but one I still want to mention just in case you aren't familiar with it, is Riding with the Top Down. A wonderful cross-section of writers sharing the craft with you.

Writing Tools & Resources:

The writing software Write Way Pro is offering a 30 day free trail right now. (Maybe they always do?) I'm trying it out on the home computer to see what I think, but have been disappointed that it won't work with my operating system on my netbook.

I met Bria Quinlan at RWA10 after following her on twitter for a bit. She has an excellent website (where she is even running a writing contest right now), but she's also set up a great chat room for writers to use anytime for challenges or sprints. Check out her site, and you'll notice the Fast Draft and Chat Challenge links at the bottom. (HINT - we are usually in the Fast Draft room) :)

Finally, Harlequin is doing a So You Think You Can Write week November 1st-5th on their blog that looks chock-full of webinars, editor chats, community posts and more. I'm really excited to see how this goes and hopefully it will offer some great info. Check out the weekly events calendar here.