Comments on: On Overscheduling Yourself http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:56:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Grey Drane http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2045 Grey Drane Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:18:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2045 Randy sed: "If you’re finding them boring, maybe your Mission Statement is too broad." Too broad and/or not focused on what really brings joy to your life now. I'm actually having a similar sort of problem of having jobs I'm committed to doing but don't enjoy anymore. The problem, I've realized, is that my current mission has run its course, and it's time to find a new one. These time management tips are helping me get through the boring stuff (Thanks, Randy!), but I'm also scheduling in time to figure out my new mission and get it up and running. So yeah, keep your mission statement focused on what really motivates you, but also keep your eyes open for signs that your mission might need either tweaking or a complete overhaul and change of direction. Cheers, ~Grey Randy sed: “If you’re finding them boring, maybe your Mission Statement is too broad.”

Too broad and/or not focused on what really brings joy to your life now.

I’m actually having a similar sort of problem of having jobs I’m committed to doing but don’t enjoy anymore. The problem, I’ve realized, is that my current mission has run its course, and it’s time to find a new one. These time management tips are helping me get through the boring stuff (Thanks, Randy!), but I’m also scheduling in time to figure out my new mission and get it up and running.

So yeah, keep your mission statement focused on what really motivates you, but also keep your eyes open for signs that your mission might need either tweaking or a complete overhaul and change of direction.

Cheers,
~Grey

]]> By: Carrie Neuman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2046 Carrie Neuman Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:47:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2046 Like Randy, I got a Mission Statement after making the agreements. On the bright side, most of the project is done. We're in the editing stage now, so I should be out from under it soon. Like Randy, I got a Mission Statement after making the agreements. On the bright side, most of the project is done. We’re in the editing stage now, so I should be out from under it soon.

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2047 Pam Halter Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:36:17 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2047 I'm just getting back from vacation ... caught up on the time management topics - good stuff! About writing a synopsis, I've been told to handle it as if I were sitting around a campfire with friends and telling them what my story was about. It's a bit easier, but still a chore for me. I wonder why it is most writers have such a hard time with a synopsis. I’m just getting back from vacation … caught up on the time management topics - good stuff!

About writing a synopsis, I’ve been told to handle it as if I were sitting around a campfire with friends and telling them what my story was about. It’s a bit easier, but still a chore for me. I wonder why it is most writers have such a hard time with a synopsis.

]]> By: Paulette Harris http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2048 Paulette Harris Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:47:24 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2048 A mission statement helped me a whole lot. Be careful what you pray for. I needed to be closer to our daughter after Jim got sick and all of a sudden the whole family has moved closer to help. As a result, I am busier than ever with family. Running them back and forth to school, babysitting, spending time with Jennifer while her husband works out of state for two weeks at a time. I love it and am grateful, but boy did it put a cramp on my writing time! I am not complaining, just a different season. In the meantime, I am plugging away on my fourth novel and have another idea for the fifth. I love writing, can't stop. A mission statement helped me a whole lot.
Be careful what you pray for.
I needed to be closer to our daughter after Jim got sick and all of a sudden the whole family has moved closer to help. As a result, I am busier than ever with family. Running them back and forth to school, babysitting, spending time with Jennifer while her husband works out of state for two weeks at a time. I love it and am grateful, but boy did it put a cramp on my writing time!
I am not complaining, just a different season.
In the meantime, I am plugging away on my fourth novel and have another idea for the fifth. I love writing, can’t stop.

]]> By: relevantgirl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2050 relevantgirl Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:26:06 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2050 Quit peeking into my life, Randy!!! It's a little too scary! I am overscheduled. My problem isn't writing to-do lists (I actually enjoy doing that), it's putting too much on those lists. My aspirational vs. operational goals are out of whack. The key to get this under control is to slap at my aspirational goals that don't really resemble reality. I may WANT to do one hour of marketing a day, but if I'm not doing it and I'm still too busy, it's not operational. I like the idea of a mission statement being a filter. Good stuff. Quit peeking into my life, Randy!!! It’s a little too scary!

I am overscheduled. My problem isn’t writing to-do lists (I actually enjoy doing that), it’s putting too much on those lists. My aspirational vs. operational goals are out of whack.

The key to get this under control is to slap at my aspirational goals that don’t really resemble reality. I may WANT to do one hour of marketing a day, but if I’m not doing it and I’m still too busy, it’s not operational.

I like the idea of a mission statement being a filter. Good stuff.

]]> By: Nancy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2051 Nancy Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:29:13 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2051 Synopsis writing couldn't be more timely for me... How much detail should I include? (Do I say "and things keep unraveling after this main calamity", or do I list every crisis?) Do I mention those little 'threads' that make my story interesting even if they are secondary to the plot? All my backstory is woven throughout the novel, so where do I put it in the synopsis and still keep the synopsis reading smoothly? My novel is a 'whodunit', so do I give clues and red herrings in the body of the synopsis, or just tell how it ends at the conclusion? Should I use 'snapshots' of action throughout the synopsis, or keep it balanced in it's depth of detail? What ratio of external to internal struggle for my protagonist should I show in the synopsis? Can't wait to get to this subject--thanks Randy and fellow bloggers! ~Nancy Synopsis writing couldn’t be more timely for me…

How much detail should I include? (Do I say “and things keep unraveling after this main calamity”, or do I list every crisis?)
Do I mention those little ‘threads’ that make my story interesting even if they are secondary to the plot?
All my backstory is woven throughout the novel, so where do I put it in the synopsis and still keep the synopsis reading smoothly?
My novel is a ‘whodunit’, so do I give clues and red herrings in the body of the synopsis, or just tell how it ends at the conclusion?
Should I use ’snapshots’ of action throughout the synopsis, or keep it balanced in it’s depth of detail?
What ratio of external to internal struggle for my protagonist should I show in the synopsis?

Can’t wait to get to this subject–thanks Randy and fellow bloggers!
~Nancy

]]> By: Joleena Thomas http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2052 Joleena Thomas Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:34:40 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2052 If you are spending a lot of time writing to-do lists and trying to make everything "fit" in. You are probably doing too much. Days are very short things. Sometimes it takes an entire lifetime to really figure that out. Yes, as adults we often sense how short time really is, but unconsciously we try to put more in than possible and our lists are never ending and we never feel satisfied because just as we cross off one thing from the list, three other things surface and so on... So, if you are doing something that causes you continuous grief, consider what you might do instead. I think our society is far too "goal" oriented and not centered enough on joyful aspects of living. Work is a joyful aspect when we ride it like a wave; not when we allow ourselves to be pulled under the current and we can't breath. Joleena If you are spending a lot of time writing to-do lists and trying to make everything “fit” in. You are probably doing too much.

Days are very short things. Sometimes it takes an entire lifetime to really figure that out. Yes, as adults we often sense how short time really is, but unconsciously we try to put more in than possible and our lists are never ending and we never feel satisfied because just as we cross off one thing from the list, three other things surface and so on…

So, if you are doing something that causes you continuous grief, consider what you might do instead.

I think our society is far too “goal” oriented and not centered enough on joyful aspects of living.

Work is a joyful aspect when we ride it like a wave; not when we allow ourselves to be pulled under the current and we can’t breath.

Joleena

]]> By: Sally Ferguson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2053 Sally Ferguson Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:51:23 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2053 I appreciate the thoughts on overscheduling. I thought I needed to take on everything that surfaced for a writer wanting to make a living. Those don't happen often enough to suit my checking account. But it's harder to write something when I'm not enthusiastic about it. Saying no to one project frees me up to say yes to something that will spark my creativity! http://sallyswords.braveblog.com I appreciate the thoughts on overscheduling. I thought I needed to take on everything that surfaced for a writer wanting to make a living. Those don’t happen often enough to suit my checking account. But it’s harder to write something when I’m not enthusiastic about it. Saying no to one project frees me up to say yes to something that will spark my creativity!
http://sallyswords.braveblog.com

]]> By: Karla Akins http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2054 Karla Akins Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:14:11 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/26/on-overscheduling-yourself/#comment-2054 I agree with you, Joleena about riding the wave instead of drowning in our "to do" lists. We need to learn to live our lives passionately so that we experience joy in our journey! I am trying to learn that this year. It has been one of my goals. I am not a "go with the flow" personality, so it takes a lot of work for me. I'm learning! I agree with you, Joleena about riding the wave instead of drowning in our “to do” lists. We need to learn to live our lives passionately so that we experience joy in our journey! I am trying to learn that this year. It has been one of my goals. I am not a “go with the flow” personality, so it takes a lot of work for me. I’m learning!

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