Day 31: Queries, where art thou queries

At the beginning of the month I had a goal to send out 31 queries in March. I didn’t send out 31, I’d like to say I sent out a heck of a lot more but nope, I sent out a total of 14. That’s fine. It’s better than zero and I did attempt the goal. I don’t consider it a failure but a learning process. Here’s what the past 31 days have taught me:

1 - You can’t just come up with queries out of the blue. You need some sort of plan. 

2 - Brainstorming a dozen ideas at a time, then setting a period of time to research them, then to write, then edit, seems easier and less demotivating than going one at a time. 

3 - Which comes first - the idea or the market? My confidence sucks when it comes to matching my ideas to markets. But in the end I like a bit of both. Sometimes the idea comes first, at other times it’s the market that I specifically feel like brainstorming for.

4 - Each day is going to bring new writing challenges. Waiting for inspiration and the muse is just not going to get that query written.

5 - Butt in chair is the only thing that works. If you want to write, you have to force yourself to write even when you don’t feel like it. 

6 - Giving up is failure, persistence and practice will get you achieving your goals. This year, I’m going to persist and practice.

7 - You will get rejected. Or worse, you won’t get a response. Shit happens. Get over it. Move on. Resubmit. It happens to everyone. 

8 - Start where you feel comfortable. Trade, consumer, online...the markets are everywhere. 

9 - Have fun with it. 

10 - Your success depends solely on you. Take responsibility and make your dreams come true. 

Day 30: Celebrating

It’s baby shower day. I’m sitting in Burleigh, tables are reserved and slowly starting to relax. The surf in the background is soothing while the runners that pass just make me want to put on my running shoes and follow. Two months, maybe two and a half and I can get back into it. Slowly. I have to be patient. 

I'm a bit of a control freak so I wanted to reserve the tables myself. I'm an early riser so it's not like it was too much effort on my behalf plus I saw it as an opportunity to do some writing in the fresh air. Write I did. 

1 - an essay on joys of pregnancy
2 - a post for my running blog 

And thanks to family and friends, and my two besties, my baby shower rocked!

Day 29: Not writing

It’s the weekend again and I haven’t written. It has been a busy morning preparing for tomorrow’s baby shower but that’s just an excuse. 

No really. I’ve been at it since 6am. 

Now it’s time to put my feet up and relax for a little bit. Later on I’d like to go for a power walk and do some yoga, make a chicken curry, get J to give me a pedicure, pick up eski from parents place, and chill. Yes, I’d like to write too. 

Just a little bit. A little bit is better than nothing. 

Day 28: Writing Projects Keep the Muse Alive

You know that feeling where you sit down down, turn on your lap top, open up a word document or your writing journal and stare at a blank page not knowing what to write. Yep. That’s exactly how I feel this morning. I want to write but my brain seems blocked. 

Solution.

Have multiple writing projects on the go at any one time so that when you’re feeling blocked on one you can skip to another and continue to churn out the words. That way you don’t feel defeated. 

And if nothing works.

It means it’s time to step away from the page. Go for a walk. Watch an episode of Scandal. Dust off the gym membership. Bake a three course meal. Call a friend. Make a cuppa, put your feet up and read. Whatever. Just get away. 

I’m currently working on several projects. A personal finance website, a health and fitness website, and brainstorming ideas for a travel website. These are the topics that I want to focus on: personal finance, health & fitness, and travel. Parenting will make its way in there too I’m sure given that I”m going to become a first time mum in less than two months. 

Day 27: Highs & lows

There will be highs and there will be lows. We need to be prepared for both.

I haven't slept properly for the past two nights. Last night was the worst. I tossed and turned from about 12:30am to about 4am. I was checking the clock every forty minutes or so because I couldn't get to sleep. It was ridiculous. I was wide awake but what in the world was I going to do in the middle of night when I had to be up for work in a few short hours?

I finally fell asleep around 4am when J was getting up for work. I fell asleep but kept waking up every half an hour until about 5:30am when I decided to get up, have a shower, eat breakfast and get ready for work.

The universe had other plans.

I felt like shit. Light headed, shaky and exhausted.

I called in sick and stayed in bed till after midday. Then I had a 30 minute nap around 4pm. I felt better.

Now I'm forcing myself to stay up till at least 9pm before heading to bed. I'm tired. I hope that I'll be able to sleep all through the night tonight although given I'm 33 weeks pregnant, it won't be a surprise if I need to get up half way through to go to the bathroom.

I'd like to do some writing but knowing I have to be up bright and early for work my brain is in shut down mode.

So goodnight, tomorrow is another day.

Day 26: Can you have it all?

I don't.

I guess that depends on your definition of all.

Day 25: Every excuse in the book

I’ve been writing every day for nearly two months now. It started off slowly. But after two months it’s become a habit and I feel frustrated and annoyed if I don’t write. Even if it’s just a sentence or two, I want to be writing every day. 

I’m also guilty of using excuses. Excuses not to write. Excuses not to do any marketing. Excuses not to become successful. Silly isn’t it. Why would you jeopardise your own chances of succeeding in something you love doing? If a friend complained about doing just that I’d tell her to get her shit together and start believing in herself - in a nicer way of course - or not, I’d probably say it in the fashion. 

So why aren’t I taking my own advice? Well, I can list a dozen excuses but I’m not going to. Excuses suck and they are counterproductive. 

Reasons are much better. Reasons to do something. Reasons to write. Reasons to market. Reasons to become successful. 

I love writing.
Writing gives me a sense of freedom of expression.

Not writing is more frustrating then digging through writer’s block. 

Marketing is a writer’s necessity if they want to be published. 

Marketing will get my work in the public eye.
Without marketing, I’m only writing for myself. 

My success is purely dependent on me.

I will be happy if I can be successful in what I love doing.
Success is hard work, it’s a journey not just a destination. 

What are your excuses for not doing something? What are your reasons for doing them? Which ones are you going to pay more attention to?

Day 24: Oops

I was knackered yesterday and completely forgot to post. 

Two ideas brainstormed and outlined. Now all I need is to write a quick query, pick a market, proofread, double check my facts, and send it off. 

Day 23: Queries Sent

So, I made a list last night. Just a few little things I wanted to get done.

1 - Yoga - done
2 - Send out 3 queries - done

There were others but these two were the crucial ones. Yay. Pat on the back.

What I noticed is that if I actually sit down and get writing and stop the second guessing then I can be quite productive. Getting up at 5am definitely helped.

Day 22: Do you have a favourite place to write?

Writing in cafe's, surrounding by chatter of random early risers, watching the world wake up, the sun rise, surfers tackle the waves, cyclists speed by on their morning long rides, the smell of freshly brewed coffee…the words flow, not always perfect but at least kernels to work with.

Day 21: Timing your writing

I’m useless in the evening. Especially after a long day in the office. While I’m motivated to do some writing on my way home, once I actually get home, eat, shower, and sit down, my brain switches off. Even journaling is a strain. 

So I’m shutting the computer down for the day. Instead I’m putting my feet up, watching Better Homes & Gardens, enjoying a glass of almond & coconut milk, and going to bed. Some days I feel double my age. It’s been a long week and at almost 32 weeks pregnant, I’m just getting more tired by the day. 

Happy Writing!

Day 20: I know this is what I want

The excitement bottles up, erupting on the first day. You’re keen to write, to research, to query. You churn out whatever you can find and then your bubble bursts, and you go through a low, so low that you stop. You feel paralysed and feel you cannot move on. 

The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t, is what they do next. Here are your options;

1. stop, give up and carry on living your life dreaming of something more, something better; or,
2. push past the analysis paralysis, push past the imaginary obstacle you’ve created for yourself, and achieve everything you’ve always wanted to achieve and so much more

The choice is yours. I hope you make the right one. 

Day 19: Ideas? They’re everywhere

A common question of writers is, ‘where do you get your ideas?’

Ideas are everywhere. 

In books, on television, when you read the paper, an article in a magazine. A fresh study in a medical journal, an incident on the street, a memory, an experience, a dream, a fantasy.

Use them for inspiration and you will never run out of ideas again.

I came up with two article ideas today after reading some new studies into health and fitness. I might be able to slant them to target multiple markets. One idea = two markets (at least). 

Where do you get your ideas?

Day 18: Obstacles Galore? I don’t think so.

The only real obstacle is you. That’s right. Most of the time it comes down to our own mind frame and how we perceive what is in front of us. Why can one person become more successful over another? They don’t let their personal obstacles get in the way. Sure some people seem luckier than others but many people create their own luck by taking chances and challenging themselves. 

For a long time I’ve wondered why I haven’t gotten what I wanted. Why am I still not achieving what I want? It’s because I’m not trying hard enough. I’m placing imaginary obstacles in my way which are preventing me from taking the action I should be taking. 

In the end it comes down to how thick our skin is, how much rejection we are willing to take, to what lengths we are willing to go, and how much sweat, perseveration and dedication we are willing to give, in order to achieve our wildest dreams. People are living their dreams all over the place. They’ve taken action. More importantly they’ve taken responsibility for their own success. 

Are you taking responsibility for your own success? Or are you placing imaginary obstacles in your way? 

Day 17: Who do you think you are?

We are judgmental fools trying to differentiate ourselves from the rest of the flock. We label and stereotype one another with little consideration for the consequences. It starts of when we’re children. Our parents call us shy, naughty, boisterous, rude. These are just words but they become ingrained in our brain and we grow up to reflect these traits more than others. All my life my mother labelled me shy because I wasn’t outspoken and I didn’t feel I needed to be the centre of attention. That does not make a person shy. I was simply and introvert and choosing when I spoke or when I cried wolf. Shyness had nothing to do with it. I’m not shy. At 30, well almost 31, I know that now. I like attention, I like to talk, I like to have fun, travel, meet new people, but on my terms not on someone else’s. 

I can think of many labels I can give myself. Writer. Runner. Daughter. Partner. Friend. Client Maintenance Officer. Giver. Taker. Lover. Soon to be mother. Granddaughter. Swimmer. Triathlete. I probably could think up of many more but there’s no need The above shows that I am not one dimensional and I should not let just one dimension define me and my actions. 

That’s what I’ve been doing all my life. 

The ‘shy’ label has prevented me from achieving my dreams. I heard the term so many times that I started believing it and maybe even became it. Now, I fight to rip it off, because a ‘shy’ child may be cute, acceptable, lovable. A ‘shy’ adult is odd, obscure, and just doesn’t work. Not the in the world of social media, competition, and wanting to achieve your dreams. 

Now it comes down to taking the first step. Going out into the world and reaching our full potential. Only we are capable of doing that. No one is going to reach our full potential for us. Nor are they going to put in the effort to guide us if we first don’t take the first steps and reach out. 

I’ll always be an introvert. I love my ‘me’ time. The quiet of being with my own thoughts. Analysing the world, my life, and just being. I like my own company and that’s a good thing. I don’t need to take energy from others to feel good. I just need solo time be it at home on the couch, going for a walk in the park, lying under a tree at the beach, sitting at a coffee shop writing. Whatever. 

I’m a writer. I write. Whatever happens next is up to me. 

Who are you?

Day 16: The hours of 5am - 9am

Yes, I am an early riser. I love the morning hours, the birds chirping is the only noise from the outside. When the world is still sleeping my mind seems to work at its best. I feel productive and motivated to achieve my goals. In these precious hours I can get more done then if I were to wake up at 8am and work through till 4pm. 

Another query sent off today! Yay. Then I wrote up a potential travel article on spec. I'll try to send it off this week.

Day 15: And the ball is rolling

I woke at 4am this morning. Yep. That’s right. 4 am. It was still dark outside but since the better half had to get up for work I figured there was no point in going back to sleep even though it is a Saturday morning. I did yoga instead. Boy does yoga benefit the mind and body and first thing in the morning is the best time to do it too. There’s too many excuses not to later in the day. 

I drove J to work, came home, made a quick breakfast of scrambled egg on toast with avocado, radish and tomato, topped up my water, and sat down to write. 

Do you know what I actually did? I wrote. Yes. I wrote two queries this morning and submitted them. No excuses. Pat on the back for me. 

Now it’s just after 8am. I’m off to meet my two besties for breakfast/coffee and baby shower planning. 

Here’s to an awesome Saturday! Clink, clink

Day 14: Making Dreams Come True

I’m a dreamer. Always have been. Always will be. I also believe that dreams can come true, but only when they transform into goals and then become actionable steps. 

One of my problems has been working straight from the computer. I’m a bit old school and I like printed paper. While I do enjoy typing straight onto the screen, there are some things that I need the feel of a pen or pencil between my fingertips and a piece of paper or fancy notebook in front of me. The same goes for reading, yes I like the kindle, and I don’t mind perusing articles and stories on the Internet, but having the printed matter in front of me slows down my reading speed and ensures that I actually read the words rather than just scan and forget. 

I’m a writer. Heck, the past two weeks I’ve written over 20,000 words. A combination of free writing, novel work, blog posts and articles. I love it. I feel so much better after having written that it seems crazy for me not to do it. But my dream is to make a good living as a writer. How do I define a good living? To earn over $100,000 per annum. 

- 

Friday afternoon has arrived and I’m still motivated to get the show on the road. I’m tired from the week but I’m ready to have a productive weekend too. Queries are going to be sent out. Blog posts are going to be written and posted. The novel is going to get worked on. And I’m still going to find time to relax, read, cook, and do the antenatal classes. I may even try to attempt to do some study too, and wash the carpets if I’m feeling really domesticated.

Tonight’s task is to print off markets that pay online and start brainstorming ideas. I just need to go one by one down the list. Pick a market, come up with an idea, write the query or article, edit it, rewrite, submit. Then repeat. Easy.

What are you doing this weekend?

Day 13: Catching the train

I’ve gotten so used to writing on the train that it seems to be the only place my brain functions. The writing hat is on and the words just spill onto the page. I wonder if it’s got to do with the background noise, the people, or the rocking side to side back to front. It’s become a habit, and that’s all that matters. At least I know that for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon I can get some solid writing done. 

Just this morning, I was driving to the station and an idea for a blog post came to mind. I quickly locked it in so not to forget when I got on the train. I started writing as soon as I set down and switched on my Macbook Air. Twenty minutes later I had a 1000 word draft on a current personal finance topic that will no doubt affect the majority of Australians, especially those living on credit. 

Now what am I going to do when I go on maternity leave? Will my brain function the same way when I’m sitting at home with baby? Who knows? I’ll cross that road when I get to it. 

I’m still no where near my goal of sending out 31 queries by 31 March. That’s purely my fault. I’m trying to do too much at once (prepare for baby, work, do an assignment, study for an exam, stay fit, spend time with family and friends, run three blogs, eat and still get some sleep). 

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up. On the contrary. I’m going to have to work much harder over the next two and a half weeks to meet my March goal. And I’m going to meet it dammit even if it means losing a couple of nights sleep. If I can aim for preparing two queries each day for the next two weeks then I will meet my goal. 

What I do find annoying is when editors do not get back to you. I followed up last week on a few queries I sent back in January. Response? Nada, nil, zilch, nothing. I’m very annoying. Given that they’re emailed, it takes two seconds to type up a thanks but no thanks email. No excuses. Regardless of how many you get per day. It’s not that hard really. 

Last week I requested writer’s guidelines from five publications. Again, nothing. Seriously, that’s just bloody rude on their behalf. How is a writer meant to get published, get her career off the ground if editors are not willing to give her a chance? I’ll keep trying though. I’ll persevere and I will get those queries out, and those articles published. 

What are you doing this week to make your freelance dreams come true?

Day 12: Um, Er, Ah

I have no idea what to write. Feeling exhausted, discouraged, frustrated, unmotivated, useless. 

Just one of those days. 

Hope you're feeling more productive today.