March 24, 2017

Works In Progress by Tandy Balson



Two years ago I went on a cruise with my daughter. One day an area of the ship had a sign up saying Works in Progress. To ensure the passengers didn’t attempt to access that area there was also a security guard close to the sign. They were serious about not having the work disturbed.

There are times I’d like a sign and security guard when I have a work or several works in progress.  The trouble is, most of my interruptions come from me!

Sometimes the words don’t flow and I look for distractions to keep me from feeling like a failure. Avoidance doesn’t work forever and sooner or later I need to focus on my writing. When I force myself to sit down and actually start, things aren’t nearly as bad as I’d feared.

Other times I have an abundance of ideas. I will write a few lines, give the piece a working title and save it in a draft file. These drafts may give me a starting place on the days I’ve run out of fresh inspiration. The trick is to make enough notes so I remember what my original idea was.

At the moment, I have a few works in progress that I need to get on with. It’s time to set out my sign, position my inner security guard and get serious about eliminating distractions. Maybe then I can make some progress.

6 comments:

  1. I loved this post Tandy! A sign would be a good thing... except as you pointed out, we are often our own worst enemy when it comes to distractions! so clever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe I could put up a sign t keep my distractions away!

      Delete
  2. Making notes in order to remember the original idea is a helpful tip. I must remember to do that. Thanks Tandy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes I look at my notes and wonder what my
      original idea was but other times they come in very handy!

      Delete
  3. Thanks, Tandy. I like what you say about writing your idea notes and your bonus tip to write enough that you can recognize what you were thinking when you come to your notes. I need to become more methodical with this strategy, because it can definitely come in handy when my mind is as blank as the page I'm staring at.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon, I learned the hard way that a title isn't always enough to jog my memory! I also have a file of photos labeled 'for future stories' . Sometimes going through these will help me put words on the blank page.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation. Our writers appreciate receiving your feedback on posts you have found helpful or meaningful in some way.