If you’re like this editor, you start a lot of projects but don’t always finish, or take your sweet time doing it. In a guest post on Jane Friedman’s blog, Janna Marlies Maron suggests ways to reframe your mindset so that you can see your stories through to the end.
“I hear these kinds of stories from writers all the time,” Maron says. “They can’t seem to make progress on their own, without being in a workshop or MFA program. They also get stuck because they are overwhelmed by the amount of material they have, they don’t know how to organize it, and can’t figure out what structure will work best.”
To get unstuck, we’ll read books and articles, attend conferences, or commit to working harder to get our novel finished. But those don’t address the internal shift you need to make. Maron suggests a three stage framework:
- Structure. “Embracing structure means planning and finding consistency in your creative practice so that you can truly start to see the progress you want to see on your manuscript,” Maron explains. She urges writers to figure out why they write and why they are writing their current project; identify 3-5 goals that support your vision; and keeping your schedule intact.
- Story. Maron reminds us that we’re supposed to love our story and our writing. When someone says they love to cook, you know they are finding new recipes, trying new foods, and experimenting in the kitchen. Are you loving your writing and your novel that much? You can learn by developing your draft, mastering your mindset, and investing in yourself by finding the time, energy, and attention you need to make it all happen.
- Sanctuary. Finally, Maron says we need a sanctuary. You might have a physical space, but Maron urges us to create sanctuary in our minds so that we can take it everywhere. Consider the rituals you engage in when you write. When you sit down, are you rushing in or are you celebrating the time you have? Also, cultivate your creativity, as well as your physical and mental health. When you aren’t well, your work won’t be either.
