Seven steps to busting through writer's block

It IS a process, oh gosh yes it is. The answer isn't about one silver bullet or a matter of time even. It's more about what are the environmental conditions that get us into action?

One method I notice can work is having regular check-ins with deadlines —if having a babysitter doesn't drive you to just shut down and bail out, which I've done myself like...a dozen times at least.

I notice that being in the same room with somebody who is silent, but they know you're committed to writing and they're there to support you can make writing happen. It's commonly called co-working, and it seems to work pretty well.

Sometimes the block is SO entrenched that emotional catharsis...screaming and lashing out and such, that release can open up space to write. That's worked for me, and it's fun :)

Setting up a structure with times and a plan and labeled boxes to check off helps, it works probably better when there's a person to check in with...but again, authority figures can just make a body start slashing tires and howling at the moon rather than get any actual writing done.

I myself have a huge writing project due right now and I'm writing this article instead... because I'm as much a victim to distraction as anybody is.

If I could point to the the most effective strategy I know to make writing happen I'd say the following:

1. Declare it. Out loud, "I'm gonna write this thing dammit!"
2. Lay out concrete goals like: Home Page drafted by Tuesday, sky-diving article drafted by Friday, etc.
3. Make a list of writing times on your calendar.
4. Get a babysitter, either in the room with you to check-in by phone. Email the results to them as proof.
5. Be willing to write total crap. Revision is a gazillion times easier than writing.
6. Be patient and forgiving with yourself for blowing deadlines.
7. Never quit, never give up.

...there's some old adage about how anyone can fall off their horse six times, but it takes a master to be willing to get back on a seventh.

That's what I got~

15 Minute Calls: Accountability groups made easy

Guest Article:

Blake Mills

I'm not the most organized person. Emails go unanswered, projects get left idle for months and my to-do list sometimes seems frozen in time. One of the best structures I've found for getting out of a rut is the accountability group. It's a simple concept: get a few motivated people together to support each other in getting projects done. Over the last six months I've been participating in regular short accountability calls with three other people. For the most part, they've been great! The calls have helped me stay organized and focused on what's important to me. However, accountability groups have two major drawbacks: they're difficult to get started and they seem to fade away fairly quickly. Finding a dedicated group that's available and committed to making the calls is a challenge. Life happens, schedules shift, emergencies come up and pretty soon the accountability group slips away, often without anyone even acknowledging that it's gone. I was in that position a couple months ago. My group was slowly drifting apart. I thought about what I could do to bring more people into it. As I asked around I found a lot of interest, but finding people whose schedules matched up with our existing call was difficult. Over the course of a few weeks I came up with an idea I felt could solve several problems at once. By building a software system to handle hundreds of accountability calls automatically, members could pick and choose which times worked for them and the software would match them up with others who were available at that time. Problem solved! That system has now been built, and it lives at www.15minutecalls.com. Here's how it works:

1. Become one of the invite-only beta members by clicking the link above and signing up.
2. Enter a few goals, or a project you're working on, into your member profile.
3. Pick a few times during the week you're available for a short accountability call.

That's it! Once you're set up, the system will call you at the times you specified and connect you with two other members. Your team will have a total of 15 minutes, during which each person checks in and members support each other in reaching their daily and weekly goals. The call ends promptly and automatically after 15 minutes. You are invited to join 15 Minute Calls and experience the value of automatic accountability calls that work with your schedule. Early morning, afternoon and evening times are available on any day of the week. During the beta release, the service is free and your input will help us make the service even more valuable. Click here to sign up now -- in just five minutes, you can take action to become more accountable in your life.

How Meditation Can Make Your Business Work

Your business demands that you wear many hats and that you juggle them constantly. Juggling hats! You have to be aware of your options, prioritize tasks, and be reliable. How can you do all that? Regular practices help.

Managing in-boxes, planning the week ahead, tracking your finances - these are all jobs that can get boring or slip beneath your radar.

Creating a regular meditation practice is the best tool you have for keeping your business house in order, here's how:

Every day, for 7 days, sit for 5 minutes and concentrate on your breath. When you notice you have become distracted, by stray thoughts or emotions, acknowledge the distraction and return to your breath. This will attune you to focusing on simple tasks.

After a week of meditating, plan to work on something you normally find challenging right after your meditation. (I find this is a good time to track my finances.) While you work, remain in a meditative state, concentrating on steady breath and returning to the task at hand when you become distracted.

Soon, you will notice that your task has simply become a set of actions. Your commitment to the meditation becomes associated with your commitment to the work. I've noticed that when I meditate right before a task I no longer judge the task as hard or boring, it's simply what I'm doing right now.