Productivity
Sisyphus should not be your role model! (Or, what to do if you’re distracted by the Internet.)
Wasting too much time online? The solution is actually easy: disconnect. At various times, and in various situations, I’ve done all of the below—and sometimes two or more at a time: In households where others needed WiFi access, I’ve chosen not to give myself the WiFi password. That meant that while everyone else could access…
Read MoreYou Can Literally Do the World’s Toughest Rock Climb and People Will Still Find Something to Criticize
So after seven years of planning and preparation, and nearly three weeks of grueling effort and inspiring teamwork, two guys succeed at literally the toughest rock climb in history and some people can still find something to criticize. When I first spotted the critical comments alongside the New York Times articles on Kevin Jorgeson and…
Read MoreIt’s NaNoWriMo / AcWriMo Time!
It’s that time of year again! Visit our NaNoWriMo Resource Center so that, come November 30, you’ll be partying like SuperWriter!
Read MoreThe 14 Rules of Prolific Writing
The proper goal for all writing projects should be to “Get it done.” (Not fabulousness, comprehensiveness, to create a best seller, “revolutionize my field,” impress my advisor/family, make a fortune, etc. See Rule #13 on Quality, below.) Use a speedy, free-writing, free-revising technique. Aim for a large number of quick drafts where you make a…
Read MoreMeet Compassionate Objectivity, The Antidote to Guilt
“I should succeed at this job despite the fact that we’re severely under-resourced and my boss is chronically disorganized. If I don’t, I’m a loser.” “If I don’t sacrifice everything to my kids, I’m a terrible parent.” “If I don’t get my hour of exercise in every single day, I’m just a lazy slob.” “If my book doesn’t…
Read MoreSummer 2014 Online Classes
I’m teaching three great online classes this summer, two on writing productivity, and one on weight loss. Online classes are fun, convenient, inexpensive, and you do get loads of individualized attention from me. Check out my Events page for more information, and hope to see you in class.
Read MoreWhat Being “Willing to Fail” Really Means
These days, many people know it’s okay to fail.* They understand that failure is an essential part of any ambitious path, and also a fantastic learning opportunity. They also know that if you’re not failing at least some of the time, you’re probably not taking enough risks. This failure-is-okay viewpoint is reinforced by many inspiring…
Read MoreWhy People Quit Big Projects (And How Not To!)
The below fantastic article from ThesisWhisperer.com is aimed at graduate students, but really pertains to anyone who is struggling, or has struggled, with a big project. (Just substitute “boss” for “supervisor” if needed!) Thanks to the the Thesis Whisperer herself, Dr. Inger Mewburn, Director of Research Training at the Australian National University, for kind permission…
Read MoreWhy Tough-Guy Metaphors About Creativity Don’t Work
Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of the best writers on the web right now, using his Atlantic.com blog and other venues to discuss race, culture, history, and a myriad of other topics. He writes long, thoughtful pieces, and even his commenters can be dauntingly erudite. He’s currently debating New York Magazine writer Jonathan Chait on whether…
Read MoreDo You Suffer From Marketer’s Block?
Recently, I’ve noticed an interesting evolution in the writing productivity classes I teach. Up until a few years ago, writers almost always took one of my classes because they were procrastinating or blocked on a book or other work. These days, however, many who take my classes have finished their book: it’s their marketing they’re…
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