Writing Bootcamp for Procrastinators—Ivan Coyote
Any way I try to describe Ivan Coyote’s class, I find it entirely lacking. You simply have to be there. Honestly. I’ll bullet-point the highlights, but really it was the most motivating class the whole weekend. I will not miss one of her workshops next year.
*Figure out what routines work for you. If you grew up in a small house with upwards of 10-15 people in it at any given time, a quiet place might not be for you. If you are distracted by nature, don’t write next to a window no matter how many times people tell you to sit somewhere “inspiring.”
Try all kinds of routines. Mornings/Nights. Busy coffee shops/the oversized, well-lit closet, far away from ALL noise. With or without music. TRY EVERYTHING until you figure it out, and own it. It doesn’t matter if NO ONE else does it that way. YOU do.
*Give yourself a deadline. Ivan actually got her first full length novel (later published it) from NaNoWriMo. If there’s a writer’s group, join it. Make sure there are writers you think are better than you—give yourself something to strive towards.
*Write. Every. Single. Day.
Make the time. Utilize the time. Practice! You wouldn’t show up to the playoffs without training first. You won’t write well without practicing that either.
Ivan said that at the beginning of NaNoWriMo, it was taking her three hours to get out the daily 1,667 words. A few weeks later, she was getting that in forty-five minutes. You Will Get Better With Practice.
*BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!!!!
Damn, I’m motivated all over again!
