4 Ways Accountability Makes Writing Goals Easier to Achieve

It’s the time again where many of us are thinking about the back to school season. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or student, school is on the mind. Even if you’re not any of these roles, you’ve probably seen the back to school section growing in the grocery and office supply stores - maybe getting some office supplies while they’re on sale. 

Who doesn’t want to stock up on penny notebooks?!

This year is different because everything is uncertain. Will teachers and students go back to face-to-face classes? Will there be more online learning opportunities and/or expectations? Will we have another outbreak of COVID-19 and have to be sent home again? No one really knows. 

This is a great time to talk about accountability because so many of us are already in the mindset of figuring out what we have to do and what we’re responsible for (even those of us with fur babies rather than human babies). 

Writing is frequently one of the things that makes it onto the “do it later” list.

As adults, we know we’re responsible - we’ll get our stuff done and move on. But many times we push off things we don’t feel we “need” to do or that “can wait” because they’re “just not that important” or other things have to take precedence. Writing is frequently one of the things that makes it onto the “do it later” list. 

Accountability

What is Accountability? 

Before we talk about why it’s so much easier to achieve your writing goals with accountability, I wanted to clarify what I mean so we’re on the same page. 

When I say accountability, I simply mean that we are treating it as a worthy investment of our time and making time to actually do it.

When I say accountability in reference to our writing, I simply mean that we are treating it as a worthy investment of our time and making time in our busy schedules to actually do it - to be accountable for making our own progress. 

A lot of times writers will keep themselves accountable by getting an accountability partner. Having someone else involved can apply a little pressure to actually do something about our writing instead of just letting it sit there like we might if there’s no one we’re “accountable” to. 

So while it’s always important to be accountable to ourselves, I will also talk a lot about the benefits of having an accountability partner. 

Accountability & writing goals

How Does Accountability Relate to Writing Goals? 

So what does all of this have to do with writing goals? 

There are several ways accountability can be good for our writing: 

Human Connection with Other Writers

While you can certainly make yourself accountable by regularly checking in with yourself, accountability also gives you a great opportunity to connect with other humans! Since writing is solitary most of the time, we can sometimes get wrapped up in our own little world. If you get an accountability partner, it’s a great way to talk about writing as a process, talk about your own project, and learn about other writers’ projects, too. 

Helps with Progress on SMART Goals

If you haven’t read my blog on SMART goals, you should because it’ll really help you clarify your own goals. Just as a quick review, though, SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. So when you start making accountability a priority in your writing, you’ll feel good about making progress, but you’ll also see it because you’ll be monitoring it regularly!

Makes You Actually Write

A big part of the reason writers get stuck is that we put off the actual writing. Even if we want to write, we find reasons to push it back “just a little” or even make an excuse NOT to do it. It’s kind of weird, actually.

A big part of the reason writers get stuck is that we put off the actual writing.

Weirdness aside, when you use accountability, whether to yourself or with a partner, you will actually write because at that point there’s more at stake than writing whenever you feel like it. And hey, writing because you feel like it is great! But it doesn’t always get the job done if that’s the only time you’re doing it.

Why Does Accountability Make Writing Goals Easier?

Are you starting to see why accountability is helpful to your writing? 

It can definitely be tricky, especially for those of us who feel constantly overloaded and overwhelmed by our To Do lists. 

BUT, these 4 reasons why accountability will make writing goals easier to achieve are hard to argue with.

(They really make you want to start being accountable!)

1. Lessens the pressure to be perfect

Who here struggles with that crazy idea we call perfectionism? Hi there, me too! The thing about perfectionism, besides the fact that it’s actually terrible, is that it keeps us from taking action. When we’re being accountable and making measurable progress on a regular basis, we tend to feel less pressured to be perfect because we know we just need to get it done. 

When we’re being accountable and making measurable progress on a regular basis, we tend to feel less pressured to be perfect

This is especially true if you have an accountability partner because you know you need to send it out, and you need to do it on time, so there’s no time for you to dilly-dally around with whether or not you used the right word in that one sentence in the middle of that one paragraph.

2. Forces action

If you know you’re waiting on someone to send you something, and you’re going to send something back, that compels you to take action, right? It’s the same way with accountability. You know you need to be accountable and just do the thing - if not for yourself than for your partner - so you simply do it. 

3. Built in feedback

When you’re being accountable with someone else, you can use that as a time to get feedback on an ongoing basis instead of just at the end after you’re done with everything. Getting feedback has numerous benefits, but in this context it can be super helpful because you can start implementing changes or playing with different ideas right now rather than when you’re all done with the draft. 

4. Consistent Progress

Accountability is great because it helps us make consistent progress. Not just once in a while progress, or explosive finish the whole thing in 30 days progress (unless that’s what you want to do), but instead week after week progress that’s a struggle for most of us. 

Accountability helps us make that progress we’ve been trying to get and struggled with on our own. 

The busier we get, the more writing seems to slip down the list of priorities. Accountability helps us make that progress we’ve been trying to get and struggled with on our own. 

Next Steps

Next Steps

If you’ve heard of or used accountability before, you’re probably familiar with how helpful it is! If you haven’t, I would highly recommend getting an accountability partner! You’ll find it lessens the need to be perfect, makes you take action, gets you some ongoing feedback, and allows you to make the consistent progress you want to make but have such a hard time with on your own. 

If you haven’t used accountability before, I would highly recommend getting an accountability partner!

But what do you do with this information going forward? There are several simple steps you can take. Notice I didn’t say “easy” - being accountable isn’t necessarily easy, but it IS worth it.

1. Decide what kind of accountability you need for your writing.

Do you need just a simple check-in with someone every week/two weeks/month to say “Hey, did you do this?” Or do you need someone to meet with every week and workshop new material? Or maybe something in between? Decide what you want from accountability before you try to find someone to work with. Remember, your situation is unique to you, so you know what would be most helpful - trust yourself. 

2. Find someone to be accountable with.

Whether you go with a trusted friend or a professional, make sure that whoever you want to work with will be a) honest and b) tell you what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear. This generally means try to find another writer. 

If you are interested in working with me, I offer 1:1 accountability sessions for just this reason. A lot of writers don’t have other writers in their life to do this with, at least not friends who they are close enough with to feel comfortable working with in this way. 

I’ve been a writer and writing teacher for years, and I’ve seen almost everything in writing. I’m always going to be honest, but I will always be kind about it. If this sounds like something you want to investigate more, click here to read more about some of the services I offer along with accountability. 

3. Ask them to help you

Once you’ve decided on someone you want to be accountability partners with, ask them if they would be willing! I’ve found that most people are willing to help if they can, but don't assume anything before you ask.

4. Be accountable!

Once you’ve found your person, get writing and be accountable! And, if you decide you don’t want to find an accountability partner, set up regular check-ins with yourself about your writing so that you can be accountable to yourself. 

My challenge to you is to find an accountability partner before your next writing session and ask if they’re willing to work with you. 

Have you had an accountability partner before? How did it go? Or have you used another version of accountability? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

Book Review: You are a Badass by Jen Sincero (2013)

I don’t do book reviews too often because, anymore, I read faster than I can review. This book is a must review for me, though, because I think it will be a powerful tool for you. 

Overview

Jen Sincero’s first book, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, is pretty dang empowering. It’s not quite like other self-help books because it doesn’t take a lot of time to do the “feel good” shmoozing we’re used to. BUT, even through the blunt advice (said in a loving way), the message is still to love yourself because you’re worth it. The book itself is pretty badass. 

Content & Message

The overarching goal of the book is: “to help you get where you want to go.” In her unique voice, Sincero follows that up by noting, “I’m going to ask you to roll  with some pretty out-there things throughout this book, and I want to encourage you to have an open mind. No, on second thought, I want to yell in your face about it: STAY OPEN OR YOU ARE SCREWED.” 

At first you might think, “Okay, Jen, sure.”

But this book is 244 pages of real, badass advice. It’s broken down into 5 parts and a Resources section at the end. During each chapter, Sincero gives examples from her own life that show that she has made this journey she’s taking you on. She’s a human being who’s vulnerable just like we are and she talks to readers on a human level, which is refreshing. 

This book is 244 pages of real, badass advice.

It’s not about getting advice from someone who has all her shit together. It’s about letting someone who knows what you’re going through, and sincerely wants to help you, be a guide using a little tough love and profanity.

After Part 1, which is mainly just informative, the chapters from the other parts begin to have actionable steps to take. Sometimes there are affirmations to practice, or an exercise to stop and do where it’s most helpful. The book is designed not just to keep you reading, but also doing the personal work along the way. 

Each chapter ends with a numbered list of ways to start improving your life and begin making it a little more badass. The final point in every list is to love yourself because you are worth it, plain and simple. 

Biggest Takeaway

The biggest takeaway, as you might expect, is that through loving yourself you can make your own life badass. You don’t need to wait on things to come to you - by believing in yourself and unpacking all the crap you’ve collected that’s holding you back, you can be a badass with an awesome life. We all can.

Overall Impressions

I will be the first to admit that I have NEVER been a person who’s like self-help books. Or any type of nonfiction book, really. But when I started building my business, I needed to start branching out - taking some chances on new things. 

Who doesn’t want to be told over and over again that they can do it?

This whole trend started, for me, with Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo, which I actually pre-ordered because I was so excited. You can read my review of it here. After that, I was in love because it’s not just reading. It’s action. It’s positivity. It’s successful people knowing that I, too, can be like them (and after writing that it seems kind of lame. But you know what? I stand by it!)

I stumbled across You are a Badass at the end of last year and put it in the Amazon cart. Where it sat for months and months. But I finally purchased it at the beginning of the year. I’m not kidding that I read it in less than a week. I couldn’t put it down! 

Since then, I’ve purchased her other two books and I will preorder her new book that’s coming out soon. And I’ll love all of them because I’m hooked. I think if you give it a chance, you will be, too.

Why Writers Need this Book

This is a great book for everyone, but writers can specifically benefit from it because it begins to create a new version of success in our minds and starts pushing out that old stale mindset of success & failure. 

It’s also just a huge confidence boost, which I find helps most writers and creatives! After all, who doesn’t want to be told over and over again that they can do it.

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.

2. Read the book & do the exercises. I bet you’ll fly through it and want more. Try it and see!

3. Practice your new badass mindset. This has been so fun! Honestly, sometimes with new mindsets it’s hard or almost feels like a drag to learn. But THIS, this is like being a better, less scared version of you. Super empowering, and honestly just a good experience all around. You’ll notice a difference right away. 

4. Get Help if You Need It If you read the book and aren’t sure where to start, or if it gets you fired up to start RIGHT NOW (this happened to me), I can help! I work with writers just like you to plan & strategize their writing projects. I am also a confidence coach, which means that I am constantly empowering and encouraging my clients and other writers - with less profanity. If you’re intrigued or READY TO GO, you can click here to read more about my 1:1 services. Let’s get you that badass life you want!

My challenge to you is to read the book with an open mind and take action right away. 

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

Interview with an Author: Angela Jackson-Brown

Our July guest author is Angela Jackson-Brown. Keep reading all the way through for a giveaway opportunity with her new book!

Angela Jackson-Brown is an award winning writer, poet and playwright who teaches Creative Writing and English at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. She is a graduate of Troy University, Auburn University and the Spalding low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing.

She is the author of the novel Drinking From A Bitter Cup and has published in numerous literary journals.  Angela’s play, Anna’s Wings, was selected in 2016 to be a part of the IndyFringe DivaFest and her play, Flossie Bailey Takes a Stand, was part of the Indiana Bicentennial Celebration at the Indiana Repertory Theatre.

She also wrote and produced the play It Is Well and she was the co-playwright with Ashya Thomas on a play called Black Lives Matter (Too). In the spring of 2018, Angela co-wrote a musical with her colleague, Peter Davis, called Dear Bobby: The Musical, that was part of the 2018 OnyxFest in Indianapolis, IN.

Her book of poetry called House Repairs was published by Negative Capability Press in the fall of 2018, and in the fall of 2019, she directed and produced a play she wrote called Still Singing Those Weary Blues. Her new novel, When Stars Rain Down, to be published by Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins, is forthcoming in 2021.

Tell us a little about your writing journey. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I have dreamed about writing stories since I was first able to hold a crayon in my chubby little hands. I would write the words I knew how to spell and then I would get my daddy to write the “big words” in my head. I would put on elaborate shows with my baby dolls, creating alternate universes before I even knew that was what I was doing.

Was there a certain point you remember where you felt empowered to call yourself a writer? Or have you always felt like you were a writer?

I felt empowered to call myself a writer when I saw Maya Angelou’s face on the back of her book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Up until that point, I honestly didn’t know Black people wrote books. Yes, I was empowered by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and Louisa May Alcott’s books, but those characters didn’t speak to my experiences as a little Black girl from rural Alabama.

When my first Black teacher, Mrs. Kennedy, showed me Dr. Angelou’s book, I felt free to be me and truly step into the idea that being a writer was a possibility for me.

So, for the longest time, I just thought my scribblings were strange or different and not reflective of what my reality could be. When my first Black teacher, Mrs. Kennedy, showed me Dr. Angelou’s book, I felt free to be me and truly step into the idea that being a writer was a possibility for me. After discovering Maya Angelou, I went on a quest to discover other Black writers like Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, and the list goes on and on. All of these writers fed into my desire to write as well.

Where did your idea for your novel, Drinking from a Bitter Cup come from?

This novel was personal. Although it was fictional, so much of what the protagonist, Sylvia Butler, experienced, mirrored my own. This book was truly me “writing what I knew” as opposed to writing a story about someone whose life experiences were radically different than my own. I even set the story in places I knew like my hometown of Ariton, AL and surrounding towns like Ozark and Dothan. I felt safe writing about those places because they were so real to me.

What inspired your poetry collection House Repairs?

House Repairsis my autobiography in verse. Poetry, for me, has always centered around my pain, and in some cases, my happiness; but it always represented my emotions on steroids. So these poems span my lifetime. I don’t know if I will ever have another poetry collection because these poems seemed to tell everything I had in me to tell about my life experiences and my view on life in general.

Poetry, for me, has always centered around my pain, and in some cases, my happiness; but it always represented my emotions on steroids.

I wrote about being given up for adoption. I wrote about being adopted by a woman who didn’t ever truly “see me.” I wrote about a loveless marriage, and finding love for the first time. I wrote about my phenomenal son and about my journey to self-love and self-discovery. So, I ask myself, what is there left to say about Angela? It’s all in this book.

Describe your writing and/or creative process.

Because so much of my writing now revolves around contracts and deadlines, I try to be a very disciplined writer. I still find the pleasure in writing because with or without a contract, I would still write. But now that I know that writing is also my “business,” I have to treat it as such, which means I schedule my writing into my day and I keep my butt in the seat until I accomplish what needs to be accomplished for that day.

I write with an outline, which allows me to stay focused. I always start with the research…sometimes spending months getting to know my characters and researching the historical details I need to make my stories resonate with an audience.

What creative or procedural differences, if any, are there between working on a novel versus a poetry collection?

For me, my poetry has always been emotion driven. It is seldom that I can just sit down and write a poem. Usually something happens or some memory is triggered and as a result of that, I write. With the novels, I am far more tactical. I can get an idea, and then plan out. I still utilize emotions, obviously, but the emotions are far more in check with the novel writing than with the poetry writing.

Was there any research involved in your creative works? If so, could you tell us about how that occurred and how it was (or not) different from academic research?

There is always research involved in my writing. Whether it be about the current events taking place when my novel is set, or researching what clothes my characters would be writing, or what restaurants or department stores they might eat or shop at in the book. I always begin my process with research because it allows my stories to feel more real to me, which means they will feel more real to my readers.

I don’t know how any writer can write without doing an extensive amount of research. The research is what makes the stories real.

Academic writing for me has always felt a little distant or esoteric. Even as I did the research for academic papers, I never really felt connected to the research like I do when I am researching details for a short story or a novel or even for a historically based poem. I don’t know how any writer can write without doing an extensive amount of research. The research is what makes the stories real.

Describe your biggest writing obstacle(s) and how you overcame it.

I am my biggest writing obstacle. I know people talk a lot about “the muse” or “writer’s block” but I truly think those are constructs that writers come up with to absolve themselves from the fact that they are the ones who either jump start or stall their writing process. On the days when my writing is not working for me, I know it is usually because I didn’t do the work necessary to get myself into a good writing space.

Sometimes that means getting good rest or making sure my writing environment is conducive to good writing (clean desk, candles, no distractions, etc.). Other times it means I do the work ahead of time like outlining or free-writing so that I can actually connect with my characters on an intimate level.

Could you talk a little bit about the publishing process? How does it work, how long it typically takes, etc.

The publishing process is different for every project and really it depends on who your publisher happens to be. My first book, Drinking from a Bitter Cup, was published by a small publishing house called WiDo. They are a family owned publishing house and I was able to pitch my book project to them without an agent. I did not receive an advance from them and I was responsible for the marketing of my book. They handled the editing and distribution, but I had to be the one to make sure my book got the attention it needed.

The publishing process is different for every project and really it depends on who your publisher happens to be.

Likewise, when I published my book of poetry, I published with a small press called Negative Capability Press. They consisted of a handful of people,so again, I had to be responsible for getting out and promoting my book, which is the case with any publisher, but the larger the publishing house the more likely you will have financial support from them to promote your book in a significant way.

My upcoming novel is going to be published by Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins. I was fortunate enough to get an advance that allowed me to go from teaching full-time to part-time for the next year or so. This is invaluable because it frees up my time to be able to give sustained attention to writing my next book and promoting the book coming out in the spring of next year. So, receiving an advance is one big difference but I also had a phenomenal agent this time around, Alice Speilburg, who fought for me, and because of her diligence, I can take some time to just focus on being a writer. 

Since you have published work in more than one genre, how do you decide which creative project to work on next?

Deadlines are driving me right now. I just submitted my revised draft of my next book to my editor at Thomas Nelson, and I am working on completing my second novel with them. AND I am working on a book proposal for a nonfiction book that my agent will be pitching in the next few months. But all of those projects are driven by deadlines. I have to finish things on time in order to keep up on all of these writing projects I am juggling.

What is the part of your published work(s) or writing process you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my drive. I deal with a lot of anxiety and depression, and yet I have found ways to write myself through and around both of those demons. I taught myself from an early age that my emotions are not the boss of me. Of course I have bad days, and of course there are days when the writing is not easy to access, but I never give up trying. I always strive to at least put one word on the page.

I taught myself from an early age that my emotions are not the boss of me.

My mentor/friend, Katy Yocom said, “Strive to write one sentence per day. That way you know you will always have an attainable goal.” That is what I do. Most days, I do much more than that, but if I don’t, I still know I had a good writing day. I think that is why I can write while in the midst of a panic attack. I can channel good energy when I need it. If I couldn’t do those things, I wouldn’t finish any of my projects.

Tell us a little bit about your forthcoming two-book series that was just announced? How exciting!

Thank you for asking. My next book is called When Stars Rain Down and my book after that is tentatively titled Political Choices. I am excited to work with the incredible HarperCollins team. It has been a dream come true so far. Both books involve characters from the fictional town of Parsons, Georgia. When Stars Rain Down is about a soon-to-be eighteen year old Black girl called Opal Pruitt. Through Opal’s eyes we get to see the racial disharmony and the sense of community that exists in Parsons.

The story is set in the summer of 1936 during a terrible drought. The lack of rain, the hot weather, the fiery tempers all culminate in a racist explosion that affects the Black and white community for generations to come. The second novel is still a work-in-progress but it involves one of the minor characters mentioned in When Stars Rain Down. It is a political drama and a love story. It also tries to address and acknowledge some of the racial disharmony referenced in When Stars Rain Down.

How do you typically promote your work and find your audience?

I have a strong presence on social media, so that is one way that I connect with my audience. Social media has become an invaluable tool for writers to reach audiences that before they may not have reached. Also, I depend on word of mouth. I actively seek out opportunities to speak or teach and then, there are wonderful people like you who give me a platform to share and talk about what I do. So to you, I say, thank you. We couldn’t do what we do without bloggers and other social media advocates.

Social media has become an invaluable tool for writers to reach audiences that before they may not have reached.

What do you want the world to know about you as an author?

I want them to know that I take the written word very seriously. I labor over every word, every phrase, every sentence, and every paragraph. I think about my readers and try to give them a story that will sit there in spirit long after they read the final page. If I can do that, then I know my writing was not done in vain.

What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

Write because you can’t imagine not writing. Writing for publication is a good goal, but your primary goal should be you write because it frees your soul.

To Enter the Giveaway

1. Pre-Order Angela's book, When Stars Rain Down here to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate at Irvington Vinyl & Books!

2. Sign up below to be entered to win FREE access to my brand new 8 week intensive writing program launching in September AND FREE 1:1 writing & creative confidence coaching from me!

If you would like to purchase Angela Jackson-Brown's novel, Drinking from a Bitter Cup, you can find a copy here.

If you would like to purchase Angela Jackson-Brown's poetry collection, House Repairs, you can find a copy here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

3 Easy Ways to Add Creativity to Your Writing

This month’s theme is bravery and facing our fears, so what a better way to talk about that than a deep dive discussion of creativity - where everything starts for writers!

What is Creativity? 

Have you ever actually thought about what creativity means? I’ll be honest, I hadn’t really until quite recently because it’s kind of something that seems to naturally happen. 

Does it feel like that for you, too? 

It’s funny because when I was young, I would ask my mom what a word meant and she would send me straight to the dictionary to read for myself. I hated it! But now when I think about abstract concepts like creativity, I appreciate her stance because I love looking up words. 

So that’s what I did. 

According to the dictionary, creativity is, “the ability to use and produce or use original or unusual ideas.” 

Your idea can be unusual - a new twist. A creative take. 

I think what surprised me the most was the word unusual, because as writers, we’re pretty familiar with what an original idea is, right? But unusual is not something we typically think of. I love it, though. Because I’m sorry to say, but the chances of finding a truly original idea are slim. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t have a good or worthy idea that has been used in a different way, though. Your idea can be unusual - a new twist. A creative take. 

Need Creativity

Why Do We Need Creativity?

Over the years it’s become abundantly clear that creativity is not only important, but something we NEED in a non-negotiable way. 

We need creativity for 3 main reasons: 

Expresses Our Imagination

Those of us who live creatively for most of our lives understand the need to express our imagination somehow. Whether through writing, painting, sculpting, composing - whatever it is that fulfills your desire to create. It allows us to get out of our own head and let out our innermost thoughts and dreams, even if (or maybe especially when) they seem nonsensical. 

Makes Life Exciting

Can you imagine life without books and music, or even video games? Someone dreamed up and created all those things! When we express creativity we make our lives exciting. We learn, we create beautiful fun things that never existed before. 

When we express creativity we make our lives exciting.

Creates Positive Change

Everything humans have ever invented has taken creativity to think it up and put into action. The wheel? Lights? Electricity? The internet? All started out as an idea in someone’s mind. And when they came to existence it made our lives easier and better! Innovation and unusual ideas are often the very same ones that create the best changes. 

Use Creativity

What Happens When We’re Creative? 

I think it’s safe to say that every writer has had a creative idea, and probably also a moment they remember when they figured out what they wanted to do with it. Or at least what they thought they wanted to do with it. 

Sometimes writing is an unwieldy beast that takes on a life of its own, so it may not always turn out exactly how we think it will.

Sometimes writing is an unwieldy beast that takes on a life of its own, so it may not always turn out exactly how we think it will. A prime example of how creativity works for writers! 

When writers are in a great creative zone, though, there are several awesome things that happen: 

Write More

We write MORE, and sometimes faster! When we have that unusual idea and we’re so excited because we know it’s creative, we want to dive in and write all the things we can about it. Creativity is an amazing catalyst for writing (we don’t have to mention the secret fear that we will almost immediately forget that brilliant idea.) 

Creativity is an amazing catalyst for writing.

Write with More Confidence

When we feel creative - sometimes we call it being inspired - we tend to write more confidently. We don’t question that dumb thing the villain just said to the hero. We don’t waffle over that one sentence in that one paragraph that seems weird. And you know why? We’re ready to move on the idea now - we don’t have time to worry about the small things. Plus, we can always come back to later. 

Take Risks in Our Writing

Last, but certainly not least, is that because we’re writing more, and confidently, we take risks. We might try a new form, or write an inappropriate innuendo when we never “normally” do that because normal is kind of thrown out the window for this particular creative idea.

Heck, if you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be writing a YA novel I would have laughed. But I had the one spark of an idea that stuck around and here we are! Best risk I’ve taken in my writing, hands down. Wouldn’t have happened without creativity!

3 Ways to Add Creativity to Your Writing

3 Easy Ways to Add Creativity to Your Writing

I say this as lovingly as possible, but sometimes we get into a rut with our writing, even when we do feel creative and inspired. We get to a place where it “makes sense” for our characters to say their catch phrase again, or do their oddball mannerism, even when average humans might react differently. 

Creativity is all about being innovative and unusual, and so sometimes we need to make an effort to spice things up in our writing.

Creativity is all about being innovative and unusual, and so sometimes we need to make an effort to spice things up in our writing - kick start that innovative idea so we remember to write like we started and not how we “think we should.”

Here are 3 easy things you can try if you’re feeling like your writing might need some creativity and pizzazz: 

Add Description 

This idea doesn’t sound innovative at all when it’s listed in a discussion of creativity, but in writing, description is what allows readers to imagine the people and surroundings and paint that picture in their minds. Good description can be epic. 

So to get your creative wheels turning, try describing a specific place within your story world. Whether that’s your main character’s favorite spot, a villain’s lair, or even a firsthand account of what the main character sees when they wake up in the morning - take some time and paint that picture with words. 

Good description can be epic. 

You can also describe an odd facial expression. This is one of my favorites, not just because I enjoy facial expressions, but also because it’s tricky! It really challenges you to think about the way we talk about people’s faces and the way they move. As someone with a very expressional face, an expression definitely does not always feel the same as it looks to someone else! 

You can also describe an event from the point of view of someone who wasn’t there. For example, your main character’s best friend witnessed something crazy on the subway and relays it to your main character. Try to write the subway scene again, but have your main character telling someone else about it. This will challenge you to think about memory and detail in a different way. 

Have a Conversation with Your Main Character

This is probably my favorite of all the activities because I like to chat. It’s incredibly helpful for creativity, though, because really, while I do write the story, it’s the characters’ story not mine. So, when I’m stuck, I have a conversation with them. 

There’s lots of different things you could ask, but I like to ask what they want to do. So, I pose the question and then think about what my main character would say if I met her in real life. Sometimes she’s sassy (because when do I write women characters that aren’t), but more often than not she’s helpful. Thinking about her from this aspect breaks me out of the mindset of what I have to do as the writer and focus more on what she needs to do as a character. 

While I write the story, it’s the characters’ story not mine. So, when I’m stuck, I have a conversation with them. 

You can also ask your main character what they like about their story. Now, if you’re in a Game of Thrones situation where everyone keeps dying this might be harder! But for most of us, you might be surprised what kinds of memories you can think of from your characters’ point of view. Chances are, they will probably like similar things that you enjoyed writing. Or maybe they like the complete opposites! 

On the flip side, you can also ask them what’s boring about their story. This is super helpful if you’re not sold on an idea because if your main character thinks their own story is boring, there’s a possibility that everyone else might also think that, too. Or maybe it’s just the way it was written. Either way, you can use the thoughts of your main character to fine tune how you talk about their world. 

Write a Fun(ny) Scene with Your Main Character

This activity is a fun one because you’re getting to laugh, and you’re doing it on purpose. Write something funny or just really fun with your main character. Take them to an amusement park, or on a road trip. Or an experience so funny they snorted coffee out their nose. 

Write a fun or funny scene even if it’s not part of the plot. Not everything you write will make it into a final draft, and that’s okay! Thinking outside the box will help get your creativity going, even if your character isn’t going to do it during the main action of the story.

Can you really say you’re not feeling creative if you’re imagining the kind of curtains mole-people would have in their house holes? NOPE.

Write something fun or funny with your main character even if it’s utter nonsense. You want her to grow wings and fly like an eagle over her town? Go for it! Dig under the ground and start a community of mole-like people? Have at it.  It doesn’t matter if it’s the craziest thing you ever thought - it might not even be part of the story! But can you really say you’re not feeling creative if you’re imagining the kind of curtains mole-people would have in their house holes? NOPE.

These funny scenes are to help you get going, so they don’t even have to actually happen! If you end up loving it and want to make it part of the book, you can always make it part of a scene where your main character dreams it. Easy peasy, but also super fun. 

Next Steps

Creativity is necessary for all of us! As writers, we’re pretty familiar with the feeling, but even when we’re trying it can be hard sometimes. That’s when you can break out the easy strategies and add some description, talk to your main character, and/or write a fun scene starring them. 

Creativity is necessary for all of us!

The cool thing is, you don’t even have to be stuck or have a work in progress to try these ideas! You can use them at any point to kick start your creativity. 

Now that you have these tools, what do you do with them? 

1. Read your current work in progress Go read what you’ve been working on and see how it feels to you. If you don’t yet have a work in progress, try doing one of the strategies to start a new project!

2. Try one of the 3 ways to get your creativity flowing! Have some fun with your writing and try out the strategies! You’ll have fun, you’ll be writing, and all will be well with your creativity. 

3. Get Help if You Need It If you love the idea of these strategies and want to work on them further with someone else, I can help! Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to brainstorm, plan, and be an accountability partner (who gives funny comments) to help them make the progress on their writing that they’ve been dreaming about.

My challenge to you is to try one of these strategies during your next writing session. 

Have you used one of these activities before? Or have you found something else that jumpstarts creativity? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

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3 Reasons SMART Goals Work for Writers

Now that it’s the second half of 2020, you might be thinking about your goals. I know I am! It feels like last time I blinked I was setting my ORIGINAL 2020 goals. 

Unbeknownst to all of us, this year has been a wild ride! 

We’ve had a pandemic, killer bees (for a hot minute), and the quick growth of a major social & civil movement.

While the whole world has been at home for 5 months, our priorities have shifted, to say the least.

While the whole world has been at home for 5 months, our priorities have shifted, to say the least. We’re living in a different world than we did at the beginning of this year, so it makes sense that we might need to adjust our goals now so we can finish out the year with some semblance of sanity.

At least that’s how I feel at this point.  

How do you feel? Are you ready to think about how to set achievable goals for the rest of this year? Heck, maybe even the rest of this month? 

SMART Goals definition

What is a SMART Goal?

Last time I talked about setting goals was way back in January when I told you I don’t set resolutions. Since we’ve had all of these changes, I’m sure glad I didn’t! 

But while I talked about how to set goals, I didn’t include the SMART system. I typically like to be a little more holistic with my goals, but under the present circumstances, the SMART goal is pretty dang appealing. 

Here are the elements of a SMART goal:

SMART Goal Element 1: Specific

Make your goals simple, specific, and clear. 

To help you be specific, remember the 5 “W”s (and an H) most of us learned in writing class all those years ago: 

Who needs to be involved to make the goal happen?

What do I need to achieve? 

When do I need to complete this goal? (More on this in the time-bound step.)

Where do I need to be to complete the goal? (i.e. Do I have to be in a specific place?)

Why is this goal important to me?

How will I complete the goal? Will I have to contend with limited resources?

SMART Goal Element 2: Measurable

Make sure your goals are measurable - that you actually have a way to tell when you’re making progress and when it has been completed. 

Ask yourself questions like: 

How will I be able to tell I’ve made progress? 

How will I know the goal is achieved? 

SMART Goal Element 3: Achievable

This part is super important - we don’t want to set goals we can’t complete! Your goal should test your limits, but should be something you can actually achieve. 

Ask yourself questions like:

Do I have limited resources to achieve this goal? For instance, money or time.

What are the concrete steps I need to take to make this goal a reality? 

SMART Goal Element 4: Relevant

This goal isn’t going to be the only one in your life, so it’s important it relates to other things you’re working on, too.

For instance, you don’t want to set seemingly opposing goals like “I want to learn to relax more” and “I want to get a second job to make more money.” It’s probably going to be hard to relax more if you’re also working more.

Ask yourself questions like:

Does the timing of this goal fit the other needs in my life?

How does this fit in with the other goals in my life? 

SMART Goal Element 5: Time-Bound

For most of us, our natural instinct is to do things “when we can,” but this is not a great mindset for achieving goals. In order to make progress and achieve our goals, it’s important to set a deadline for ourselves so we actually work on it. 

Ask yourself questions like: 

What can I start doing today to work on this goal?

When will I work on this goal every week/month/quarter? 

When do I want to have the goal completely accomplished? 

The foundation of the SMART goal system  was developed by many talented individuals in the organizational performance field.

The foundation of the SMART goal system  was developed by many talented individuals in the organizational performance field; however, George T. Doran was the first one to name the SMART & write it down as such in 1981.

Can we take a moment to say thank you to George and those before him who developed these ideas?!

The particularly appealing parts of SMART goals, for me, are the measurable & time-bound pieces. It can be hard to quantify our creative life using these parameters, but it’s also incredibly doable and empowering!

What’s the Difference Between a “Regular” Goal & a SMART Goal?

Before we dive into why SMART goals are a fantastic tool for writers, I wanted to touch on what makes a SMART goal different from a “regular” everyday goal. 

The things that are most different between goals and SMART goals:

Specific

No one means to set a vague goal, at least not most people. But because the SMART goal asks you to be hyper-specific, it means that you can actually see progress and that you can actually accomplish the goal. 

Instead of a goal like “I want to be a better person,” which is good but vague, a SMART goal might say something like “I want to volunteer at lthe local food bank to become a more helpful citizen in my community.”

Measurable

It’s great to have big goals - I preach that over and over! - but it’s less of a goal (and more of a dream) when you can’t measure what’s happening. 

We need that deadline to encourage us to actually do the work and get the goal completed. 

Using the same example from above, “I want to be a better person,” a SMART goal would be more measurable if it said, “I will become a more helpful citizen in my community by volunteering at the local food bank so I can meet people with different life experiences and learn from them.”

The SMART goal here can be measured by the hours volunteered and the amount the individual purposefully interacts with the people s/he is serving. 

Time Element

The time element is probably the most helpful part about SMART goals, at least for people like me who struggle to balance all the priorities life has in store for us. We need that deadline to encourage us to actually do the work and get the goal completed.

In the example above, “I want to be a better person,” the SMART goal with a time element might look like, “I will volunteer at the local food bank once a week for the next 6 months so I can meet people with different life experiences and learn from them.”

Why Do SMART Goals Work So Well for Writers? 

First of all, are you as excited about SMART goals as I am? I hope so! If not, that’s okay, too. That doesn’t mean they aren’t incredibly helpful for writers just like you!

Why does this system work for writers? 

First, you can actually see progress as you write because the goals are measurable. As you’re working on your writing goals and doing the writing, you can see your progress on the page.

Setting a deadline creates the kind of pressure that encourages you to finish your epic fantasy novel at all instead of just letting it sit in a file cabinet by your desk.

Second, you’re creating accountability to yourself. By setting a deadline, and maybe telling someone about it, you create a situation in which you need to be accountable to actually doing what you set out to do. You also know going in that your goal is achievable, which makes checking your progress pleasant instead of something you dread.

Finally, setting a deadline and having measurable progress creates a little pressure! Not the kind that says you have to finish your 1,000+ page epic fantasy novel in 90 days, but the kind that encourages you to finish your epic fantasy novel at all instead of just letting it sit in a file cabinet by your desk.

How Can Writers Set SMART Goals? 

The first time I read about SMART goals I was not sold on how this could relate to anything creative because at first glance it doesn’t seem like it leaves a lot of room for creativity. 

But the more I read about them, and the more goals I set, SMART and “regular,” the more I’ve realized SMART goals are DEFINITELY the way to go with writing! 

The more I read about them, and the more goals I set, the more I’ve realized SMART goals are definitely the way to go with writing! 

If you, like me, are wondering what that looks like, I wanted to walk through an example because it can be tough to see how creativity can be measurable or relevant when you’re first starting out. 

I also created a worksheet to help you out! I figured since I muddled through it I could make it easier for you. You can get that by clicking here.

So, let’s start with the basic goal of “starting and completing a writing project” and walk through the steps to make it SMART. 

Writing SMART Goal Step 1: Specific

Starting: Starting and completing a writing project

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel.

Writing SMART Goal Step 2: Measurable

Start: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel. 

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter at a time.

Writing SMART Goal Step 3: Achievable

Start:  I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter at a time.

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week.

Writing SMART Goal Step 4: Relevant

Start: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week.

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week, which will allow me to still have time to spend with my family and work on other creative projects. 

Writing SMART Goal Step 5: Time-Bound

Start: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week, which will allow me to still have time to spend with my family and work on other creative projects. 

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel within the next 6 months by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week, which will allow me to still have time to spend with my family and work on other creative projects.

Do you see how SMART goals could help you with your writing?

Do you see how SMART goals could help you with your writing? It seems like it would be counter intuitive to structure your creativity, but as it turns out, having deadlines and being able to see progress is actually a huge and positive game-changer.

Next steps

Next Steps

Now that you know why SMART goals work for writers, what are you going to do with that info? 

There are multiple steps you can take: 

1.Download the free Writing SMART Goals Worksheet! It’s almost always helpful when someone else builds a fill-in-the-blank worksheet to help us take action, and I’m so excited to give you another tool! It’s a pretty sweet setup, if I do say so myself, and I am going to be using it to set my own SMART goals this month as we finish out 2020. 

If you want the SMART goals worksheet, click here or fill out the form below to get your worksheet for free right now. What’s the worst that could happen? 

2. Set Some SMART goals Take some time and use the worksheet to set brand new shiny SMART goals! Or, take your goals from the beginning of 2020 and revamp them SMART style. 

3. Practice Being Accountable Once you’ve gotten your SMART goals written (and posted where you’ll look at them every day), practice making measurable progress on them every day/week/month. Whatever goal you set, keep showing up to do the work and being accountable to yourself. 

4. Get Help if You Need It If you are struggling with setting goals for your writing, or you just want some help, I can be that person for you. Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to set goals, strategize, and be an accountability partner for their writing projects. 

My challenge to you is to take action today. Get the worksheet and take a few minutes TODAY to set a SMART goal for your writing. 

Have you heard of or used SMART goals before? Did you use the worksheet to set new SMART goals? I’d love to hear about your goal-setting process! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

5 Simple Steps to Stop Feeling Like a Failure in Your Writing

I’ve read a lot lately about and from writers feeling like a failure in their writing. The questions are typically: 

Is this normal? 

What do I do? 

How do I keep writing? OR How can I get back to writing?

How do I make this go away?

I totally get it because I’ve been that person. I’ve set writing goals that I pretty much watched fly by and said “Well, that sucks. Now what do I do? How do I get back on track?”

The amazing thing about writing is that it’s very much a process. It’s a cycle we go through, so even when something happens that pushes us out of our normal writing habits, we always have the option to dive back in. 

The amazing thing about writing is that it’s very much a process.

The big question is how to be confident doing that when we really feel like we failed. Or that we are a failure as a writer.

Why Do We Feel Like a Failure in Our Writing?

There are several places where fear of failure develops from:

• School/Education

• Bad Experiences

• Media Portrayal of Writers & Writing

• Incorrect Impressions of Failure & Success

If you’re interested in reading more about how each of these plays a huge role in why writers have negative writing thoughts, check this out. 

At the same time we’re developing this fear of failure, we’re also forming our vision of what success looks like. As children, we start off with wonderment when we can do things like color in the lines in our favorite coloring book - it’s a great success! Gradually as we get older, we stop celebrating these small victories and only celebrate events like weddings or birthdays (and sometimes we sadly even forget or skip those). 

The truth is, though, that anytime you make progress it’s a success.

The truth is, though, that anytime you make progress it’s a success. Small progress is still progress! It’s not a one size fits all scenario. 

Between our fear of failure and our weird relationship with success, it can be a huge struggle to figure out how to feel balanced with our writing. It can certainly make us feel like we’re failing as writers and creatives.

Sometimes we also feel like failures without the fear aspect. We’ve done something already but it’s just “not good.” Or maybe we tried to finish a project and we couldn't and we don’t know why. 

For writers, feeling like a failure often comes from things like:  

• Missing a deadline

• Not being able to follow through on a creative idea

• Having an idea and not knowing where to start.

While they often feel like the end of the world, these events are all temporary. They all have a fix or a workaround. None of these things defines a writer unless it becomes a regular habit. And, if/when that bad habit occurs, it’s usually because of an already existing notion of failure we developed long before now. 

Our feeling of failure begins to merge with a fear of failure that’s been with us since we were kids. 

It can become a vicious cycle! If we can’t achieve a “big” success milestone with our writing (or if we do but it’s not fast enough) , we often internalize that as a permanent part of who we are instead of recognizing it as a one time event. So our feeling of failure begins to merge with a fear of failure that’s been with us since we were kids. 

How crazy is that?! It’s super disheartening, to say the least. 

An important truth: Failure is an event, not a person. YOU cannot be a failure because you are a person. 

The great reality about failures is that they come and go. As much as we are uncomfortable in the moment, and the following moments, tomorrow is a new day - a new chance to learn and grow.

How Do We Change Our Feelings about Failure? 

If you’re reading this and you’ve felt like a failure in your writing (especially recently), I’ve got good news for you!

You can change it! 

Let me tell you how. 

There are 5 simple steps you can follow to start getting your writing and creative confidence back today. Because these steps work so well (I use them in my own writing life!), I created a pretty great checklist for you so that you can use them over and over again. You can get that here.

But, more on the steps! They are:

Step 1: Acknowledge Your Feelings & Write Them Down

We all have feelings because we’re people, so whether or not you like it or want to admit it, you have some kind of feelings about writing. The first thing you need to do to stop feeling like a failure is to acknowledge that your feelings not only exist, but are legitimate. You’re allowed to feel like that. 

Let yourself think about it and write those feelings down on a piece of paper.

So let yourself think about it and write those feelings down on a piece of paper. Don’t sugar coat it, either. You’re not doing yourself any favors by not acknowledging how you actually feel. 

I know it’s hard, and for some people who aren’t open about their feelings, it might feel weird or embarrassing. I’ll reassure you here that it’s NOT, but in the case you feel like that (your feelings are valid!), I won’t tell anyone you’re writing down your feelings as long as you actually do it so you can help yourself. 

Deal?

Step 2: Figure Out the “Why” of Your Feelings

Once you’ve written down your feelings, you need to dig in and find out why you feel like that. The biggest places negative feelings usually come from are comments that have been made to us by other people and experiences we’ve had. These aren’t the only places, but they’re definitely on the top 3. 

Knowing this, really take the time to think about why you feel like this about your writing. Keep in mind that this might be a little painful, so tread softly, but be truthful with yourself so that you can begin to heal from this feeling of failure. You still don’t need to tell anyone about it if you don’t want or aren’t comfortable - do it for yourself.

Step 3: Shift Your Mindset to Believe in Success

You’re doing great! 

This stuff is far from easy, but I can tell you’re invested in yourself. And you are SO worth that investment! Since you’ve already figured out how you feel and why, you now need to start shifting how you think about failure. 

To shift your thinking, you need to decide what you could think about your writing and creativity that’s positive.

We now know that failure is an event and not a person, which means you can’t be a failure. To shift your thinking, you need to decide what you could think about your writing and creativity that’s positive. How do you want to think about these important aspects of your life? You know what you felt before, but what could you think instead?

Step 4: Practice Your Success Mindset

Since you have these shiny new thoughts about your writing & creativity, it’s time to put them to action! Practice does make perfect, right? Or so they say. 

While we don’t need perfection, which isn’t realistic, we can start to create good habits that will help us on our path to success. Success doesn’t usually just show up, it takes time and dedication - effort on our part. Forming habits and continually showing up to practice them ensures that we will, in time, succeed. 

So having decided on the “what ifs” of your writing, think about how to make them a reality. What steps can you start taking and making time for that will help you get to your ultimate end goal(s)? 

Step 5: Write a Rainy Day Note for When You Fail

Before you do step 5, you should take a celebration dance like no one’s watching (and no one is...probably) because you’re doing it, my friend. You are tackling these feelings of failure and changing your creative life for the better. 

How great is that? 

I’m so proud of you! 

The last step to stop feeling like a failure in your writing is to write a rainy date note for yourself for when you fail.

The last step to stop feeling like a failure in your writing is to write a rainy date note for yourself for when you fail. Because you will. Everyone does. But that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for it by remembering how you feel right now. 

So for the final step, spend some time writing a positive and encouraging note to yourself about why you worked through these steps. What was the purpose? What do you need to hear on a rainy day when it seems like everything you touch fails?

Do this exercise because it really works. I have a rainy day note I use when I’m feeling like I kind of suck, and it works every time without fail. I know it sounds cheesy, but who cares if it works, right? 

Next Steps

First of all, I’m so glad you visited and I hope the steps are so helpful to you. Even if you’re skeptical, give them a try - I think you’ll be surprised at how well they work. 

These steps are so simple, but so powerful!

These steps are so simple, but so powerful! I don’t know about you, but I love getting on board with simple things that make my life better. 

So now that you have the 5 simple steps to stop feeling like a failure in your writing, what do you do next? 

It seems to me you have some pretty great options:

Download the Free Checklist

I love a good checklist, and I ESPECIALLY love this one. Not only is it pretty, but it’s also super helpful. You get the 5 steps in an easy-to-use format, AND you also get some bonus reminders about how to stop feeling bad about your writing & creativity. Double win!

If this sounds awesome to you, or if you’re a little intrigued, click here or fill out the super quick form below to get your checklist for free right now. What’s the worst that could happen with a free checklist?

Keep Practicing Your New Success Mindset

After you get the checklist (or even if you don’t), keep practicing your new mindset. Being able to change your own mind is such a powerful tool! But it takes practice, so spend the time creating those new thoughts and habits in your life.

Write!

Embrace the process and just keep writing.

I will always encourage you to do the thing that scares you, especially in writing. Now that you’ve decided you want to change your mindset, though, it’s even more important to write - practice, fail, succeed, do it all over again. Embrace the process and just keep writing.

Get Additional Encouragement if You Know it Would Help

Last, but certainly not least, if you like these steps and you’re trying to use them but still want or need a little bit of additional help, I can give that to you. Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to encourage, uplift, and help them make the progress on their writing that they’ve been dreaming about but struggling with.

My challenge to you is to download the checklist and start on these steps TODAY. You’ve got this!

Have you used the steps? Or maybe other or additional steps to help yourself feel good about writing? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

What is an Unstoppable Dream-Getter?

I talk a lot about Unstoppable Dream-Getters here at Capturing Your Confidence, and for a good reason! Everyone has the potential to be one. 

This month, all new blogs will be focusing on bravery and facing our fears. What better way to start off the month than reflecting on what it means to be an Unstoppable Dream-Getter?

What exactly IS an Unstoppable Dream-Getter? 

Characteristics

Characteristics

An Unstoppable Dream-Getter, or UDG for short, is someone who: 

Is brave and courageous. They stand up for what they believe in, and what’s right.

Is bold. They take risks that scare others, even when they may be afraid. They aren’t reckless, but they valiantly leap out of their comfort zone when they see an opportunity.

Is proactive. They don’t wait for something to show up for them or for miracles to be handed down on a silver platter. They look for places to learn and grow every day. 

Is passionate. They love what they do and their determination to share that with the world is second to none.

Is strong. When they lack support, they keep going. They don’t let off the cuff criticism keep them from pursuing their dreams. On the contrary, it fuels the fire. 

Is stubborn and resists taking the “easy” way out. They don't opt for shortcuts when hard work and elbow grease are foundational.

Is reliable, and can be counted on to show up and bring their A game. They don’t half-ass their work because they know that’s a waste of everyone’s time.

Is empathetic to others and knows that loving and caring about others is key to success

Actions

Actions

An Unstoppable Dream-Getter (UDG) is someone who: 

Creates. They write, draw, sing, or whatever other creative outlet expresses a sliver of their soul to the world.

Makes decisions. They analyze the situation and make the best call with the information they have. Indecision does not paralyze them. 

Admits their short-comings. They are not perfect because they are human. What makes them different is their desire and effort to acknowledge and grow these areas to be better.

Gives themselves grace to fail, but doesn’t sulk and let the failure define their path.

Laughs at themselves and takes embarrassment with a grain of salt. They know they are more than their mistakes.

Encourages others, who in turn, encourage them. By promoting positivity, they grow their own self-beliefs. 

Draws boundaries and holds strong to their convictions. They know they can only truly control their own behavior, not that of others, so they don’t waste their effort with unrealistic expectations.

Manages their stress to make the most of opportunities. They might be a worrier at heart, but they develop ways to put their worry into productive planning. Sometimes UDGs need help, and they reach out to get it. This is an exhibit of strength because they have figured out their limits. 

Actively learns at every possible turn. They learn something new every day, and not only recognize that, but value it highly. 

Asks for help when they need it, even when they might not like the answer. Even when reaching out to ask makes them incredibly uncomfortable. They face their fear and use the power of a support network to succeed. 

Wants to see others succeed alongside themselves because they know that there is strength in community. They grow personally, but know deep down that they are only one small piece in a very large puzzle. They also know that all the pieces - themselves included - play a very important role in the puzzle. After all, a puzzle is only complete when all the pieces are in their places within the larger picture. 

Values input on their hard work and effort. They may not naturally be good at accepting criticism, but their desire to grow outweighs their pride. They do not need to be “the best” - they just need to be their personal best. 

Doesn’t make rash, in-the-moment decisions when their livelihood is on the line. They don’t “rage quit” jobs without savings. They don’t give their boss the finger in the parking lot. They dig in and find a way to use their strengths to get out of the situation. 

Opens themselves up and shows their vulnerabilities in service of others. They are real. They are open. They are honest. They tell the truth, even when it’s not easy or popular. 

Refuses to believe they can’t. They might be physically unable, or seemingly out of reach of their dreams, but they are creative and resourceful. There is almost always more than one right way to get somewhere, and a UDG searches until they find it.

Qualities

An Unstoppable Dream-Getter (UDG) is someone who: 

Is a confident go-getter who does the things that scares them most because they know they can. They are more than their anxiety and fear. 

Is flexible and willing to adapt, even when it is a new learning experience.

Has an indomitable spirit. They may bend or shutter under pressure, but they know that storms are only temporary trials, not permanent obstacles. They dig in and adjust their sails - they may even batten down the hatches to survive - but when they do, they come out stronger and more energetic than ever. 

Doesn’t give up! They stick with their dreams through thick and thin - hard and joyous - times. But they know that we live in an ever-changing world that we have to account for. They can figure out when to pivot. 

Rests assured in the knowledge that they can make good decisions and be bold to get to their dreams. They don’t crack under pressure, they lean in and rise to the occasion. They openly face their fears and persist in growing in the face of adversity.

Isn’t fearless, on the contrary. They are sometimes terrified in aspects of their life. 

Isn’t better than anyone else, nor is necessarily a genius. They are normal human beings! What makes them special is their attitude and work ethic. UDGs are persistent and tenacious. They keep an eye on their big dreams, even when the dreams seem unreachable. 

Unstoppable Dream-Getters are so incredibly important because: 

They are irreplaceable and often wear multiple hats. They rock those hats even when it’s a bad hair day. 

They keep the world on its toes through their art and inner-beauty. They create. They do. They succeed not because someone showed them how, but because they decided that not-succeeding wasn’t an option. 

They may falter, and sometimes doubt their path, but they steadfastly show up day after day because that’s how it’s done. There are aren’t miracle fixes or products that can replace the persistent hard work of a reliable UDG. 

When they fail, they take a breath, get their head on straight, and get back up to try again. They do this until they succeed, even when they feel they aren’t progressing. They readjust, improvise, and find another way.

This is what it means to be an Unstoppable Dream-Getter.  

Are you an unstoppable dream-getter? Do you want to be? Reach out to me on social media or via email at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com to learn more about how I can help you get to your big creative dreams. It's what I do.

Interview with an Author: Dr. Joyce Huff

Our June guest author is Dr. Joyce Huff.

Joyce Huff teaches Victorian British literature at Ball State University. She co-edited the long nineteenth-century volume of Bloomsbury’s Cultural History of Disability. Her essays have appeared in collections such as The Fat Studies Reader, Bodies Out of Bounds, and Victorian Freaks, and in journals such as Nineteenth-Century Gender Studies and Fat Studies. Her poetry has appeared in Gargoyle and on the Library of Congress’s Poetry 180 website.

Tell us a little about your specialty studies.

I am interested in the representation of human bodies in literature, particularly in those bodies with proportions, features, or functions that challenge socially constructed norms about what bodies should be and do.

I am interested in the representation of human bodies in literature.

My work examines the role of literature in the construction of these societal norms and asks why certain bodies have historically been stigmatized and how we can create more just, equitable, and diverse ways of envisioning bodies. Although my main focus is on Victorian British literature, I have also written about freak shows, diet crazes, and airline seating, and I am currently researching the diary of a nineteenth century graverobber.

Tell us about your writing journey. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yes. For me, writing is a way of working through ideas. I use writing to process my experiences, thoughts, and emotions. When I send out something out to be published, I hope that it will contribute to a larger conversation and also that others will be moved to respond with their own ideas, so that the discussion will continue to grow.

Can you explain a little of the background on how you became an editor for A Cultural History of Disability in the Long Nineteenth Century?

A Cultural History of Disability in the Long Nineteenth Century is part of a six-volume refence set that covers disability history from the ancient world to the present. The idea for the project came from the general editors of the set, Robert McRuer and David Bolt, both scholars I greatly admire.

While excellent collections on the history of disability already exist, most of the essays within them focus on particular places and isolated moments in time: how blindness was understood in Ancient Greece or the development of sign languages in 19th-century Europe and America.

This set has the much more ambitious goal of providing an overarching perspective on disability history.

This set has the much more ambitious goal of providing an overarching perspective on disability history; each volume contains chapters on the same eight topics (such as mental health issues and mobility impairment) with a general overview at the beginning of each volume.

I was very fortunate to be asked to participate in this project, and even luckier to get to work with my co-editor, Martha Stoddard Holmes, whose book Fictions of Affliction: Physical Disability in Victorian Culture, has had a huge influence on my own work.

Are there other books you’ve authored or collaborated on? If so, can you tell us a little about them?

This was my first, and it was so exciting! I have published chapters in other people’s books, but this was the first time I got to see my name on the cover.

How does the process of collaboration work between multiple editors? How does it differ from working on a piece of your own?

Working with Martha was a wonderful experience. Writing can be lonely sometimes, and I find that doubts can creep in when you are working alone. It was lovely to have someone with whom I could talk through ideas and who would give and take encouragement and constructive criticism as the project developed.

Writing can be lonely sometimes, and I find that doubts can creep in when you are working alone.

Our goals for the project were very compatible, and our strengths complemented each other well. For example, I tend to have more fun at the beginning of a project, whereas I think Martha enjoys the end stages more. I learned a lot from her about how to finish things, which is something I always need to work on.

What was your process for putting the collection together?

Martha and I sought out experts on each topic to write the individual chapters, and we co-authored the introduction. I was so pleased with the group of writers that we assembled, many of whom have inspired my own research and teaching.

We gave feedback on multiple drafts from each author, while the general editors provided feedback to us on the collection as a whole.  Martha and I divided up the drafting of the introduction according to our research interests and then shared sources, added to each other’s drafts, and edited each other.

When we pulled the sections of the introduction together, we found that our writing styles meshed so well that we had to color code blended drafts to remember who wrote what!

Academic writing, and oftentimes creative writing, requires a lot of research! Can you describe a little bit about how the research process works with your writing?

Because I feel that writing is joining a conversation, I write best in response to other authors. I often compose with a book open on my knee, alternating between reading and writing. Because my work is historical, I also do primary source research, examining written artifacts from the time period under consideration.

The best part of research for me is finding “hidden treasures.”

The best part of research for me is finding “hidden treasures.” Once, I asked to see a book at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. I was told that the book wasn’t in the computer system. I followed the librarian to a basement with a massive card catalog and located the card, which was handwritten in cursive. According to the card, I was the first person to request the book in over a hundred years.

Describe your biggest writing obstacle and how you overcame it.

Writer’s block. Overcoming writer’s block is an ongoing process, one that you have to keep working at – or, at least, I do. You have to just show up at the page and trust that the writing will happen, which is hard.

There are several works on writer’s block that I’ve found helpful. Probably my favorites are Julia Cameron’s The Right to Writeand Patricia Goodson’s Becoming an Academic Writer.

What is the part of the book (or process) you are most proud of?

One of the best parts of working on this book was how much I learned in the process. My own research focuses on British literature and culture, but, for this project, I needed to think more globally. Because of the scarcity of sources in translation, we ended up focusing on the English-speaking world, which, in the nineteenth century, covered more than a quarter of the globe.

One of the best parts of working on this book was how much I learned in the process.

I particularly wanted to learn more about disabled populations who were not part of the white majority that dominated the Anglophone world. One book I found very helpful was Dea Boster’s African American Slavery and Disability: Bodies, Property and Power in the Antebellum South, 1800-1860.

I also learned a great deal from all of the chapters that our authors submitted. Because I knew almost nothing about the history of stuttering, reading the chapter on speech dysfluency, written by Daniel Martin, was especially illuminating for me.

Do you have plans for another book or additional published writing in the future?

Yes. I am working on the manuscript of a book tracing the history of some of our current attitudes about fatness back to their nineteenth-century roots.

Do you, or would you ever consider, doing creative writing? If so, how do you think that differs from your academic writing?

Though academic writing is my main focus, I occasionally write poems. You can read one of them on the Library of Congress website here and I have a few more coming out in the Spring 2021 issue of Gargoyle.

I write poems when I have an emotional response to the material I’m researching.

I write poems when I have an emotional response to the material I’m researching, but it would not really be relevant to my goals in writing an academic work. Poetry is the perfect form for working through those feelings.

What do you want the world to know about you as an author?

I really want people to start rethinking the narrow limits we have created to define socially acceptable embodiment. Human bodies are very diverse; they come in a range of colors, sizes, configurations, sexes, sexualities, and abilities. I see that diversity as, not simply normal, but also valuable. I hope that my writing will lead other people to think more deeply about that.

What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

If I had it to do over, I would have started writing and sharing my writing with others earlier.

I postponed writing until later in my life, and, when I started, I waited too long to show my work to other people and seek out their feedback and advice. If I had it to do over, I would have started writing and sharing my writing with others earlier.

If you would like to read Dr. Huff's collection A Cultural History of Disability in the Long Nineteenth Century you can request your local library purchase it for their reference collection. Purchases can be made here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

10 Picture Prompts to Start Summer with Writing Inspiration

We’ve officially made it to summer! I can’t tell whether this year has gone incredibly fast or slower than any year before it. 

What does it feel like to you? 

Summer is typically a joyous time where kids are home from school and the swimming pools are open for business! Late night movies, team sports, and reading lists abound. Well, usually, at least. 

This summer will be different than all the rest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still get inspired to write!

What is a Picture Writing Prompt and How Do I Use It? 

Before I share pictures for summer writing inspiration I wanted to quickly describe how to use them. 

If you haven’t done a picture writing prompt before, it’s fun and you’re going to love it! 

All you have to do is look at the image and write a story about it.

All you have to do is look at the image and write a story about it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, or a certain word/page count. It’s simply meant to inspire your creativity and get you writing. You don’t even have to think of a subject if you’re using the picture! How cool is that? 

The Prompts

Below are 10 images to spark your creativity. Use them however they are helpful (and fun) for you!

Try writing a short story, poem, or essay. Or if you’re feeling really inspired, you could write a novella or novel! 

1. Toes in the Sand

Toes in the Sand

2. Pure Joy

Pure Joy

3. Holding Hands

Holding Hands

4. An Abandoned Historic House

An Abandoned Historic House

5. A Natural Throne

A Natural Throne

6. A Statuesque Windmill

A Statuesque Windmill

7. Stormy Skies

Stormy Skies

8. Hidden Treasure

Hidden Treasure

9. Secret Stairs in the Woods

Secret Stairs in the Woods

10. Road Less Traveled

Road Less Traveled

BONUS: Brother Love

Brother Love

If you use one of these prompts, please consider sending your writing to rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com - I’d love to see it!

Who knows, maybe I’ll feature your words on my blog (with your permission, of course!)

I’d love to hear about your experiences using picture prompts! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

3 Ways to Conquer Fear of Failure

You're a writer, right? Or you want to be. But you’re not sure if you can. Or if you’re good enough at words to really make it. 

Maybe you’ve been told you’re not “writer material.” Or maybe you’ve never quite gotten up the bravery to share your words with others. 

Does this sound familiar? 

Hi there! This was me. For A LONG time. 

Why? 

Fear, mostly. That still sounds bizarre to me sometimes because in general, I don’t consider myself a timid person. Like at all. But dang it if I wasn’t making excuses about my writing that all led to the same thing: I was afraid to do it because I was afraid to fail. To be wrong. To be “bad.”

Fear of failure is definitely problematic. But it’s also something we can work on. 

Even if you haven’t had doubts about your journey to be a writer (which is seriously awesome, and I’d love to pick your brain about how that happened), chances are you’ve probably had some experience with fear of failure that’s stopped you from doing something you wanted to do. 

Here’s the thing, fear of failure is definitely problematic. But it’s also something we can work on. 

Negative thoughts writers tell themselves

Negative Thoughts Writers Tell Themselves About Writing 

As a writer, brand new or experienced, you’ve heard at least one of these thoughts. Probably more - they’re super common. 

I’m just not that good at writing./I suck at this. 

Writing is hard, I probably won’t ever finish writing a book. 

People won’t like my writing even though I worked so hard. I’ll be too upset.

I’m boring, who cares about what I have to say? 

I’m a failure, who would want to read my writing? 

Of course, there are so many variations of these ideas that yours might sound a little different (there’s a laundry list for most of us). 

WHOA. 

Is it any wonder we worry so much about writing when this is our narrative? 

Where do negative thoughts about writing come from?

Where Did These Negative Thoughts Come From? 

If we have all of these wildly negative thoughts swimming around in our brain (most of which are completely untrue, by the way), where the heck did they come from? How did they get there? And why in the world do they play such a big role in our current writing realities?! 

School/Education

For many of us, school is the first place we learn to write. We’ve probably all seen some version of our paper covered in red ink - there’s even an ongoing red ink debate about it! It used to be the common belief that all of this “correction” would help students learn to write the “right” way. As it turns out, all it really does is frustrate and intimidate students. 

We internalize early on that needing a lot of changes means we didn’t do well.

We internalize early on that needing a lot of changes means we didn’t do well. We feel it’s a sign of “bad writing” when we have to make changes to something we already worked so hard on. In this context it makes sense we would be afraid to send our adult writing to readers if we feel like we’re going to get that dreaded feeling of having to change everything we just poured a little of our souls into. 

Students also regularly tell me about flippant comments on their writing that just tank their writing confidence. I’m talking about the comments that say things like “This is bad,” or “You’re not a good writer,” or even more vague “Not impressed.” Having been on both sides of the table with writing (the student and the teacher), I don’t think that many teachers realize how damaging this commentary actually is. It’s not meant to be outright hurtful (at least I would hope not), but it definitely is.  

Bad Experiences

Without question, the thing I hear most is that someone, at some point, gave the writer bad feedback (or said something mean that had nothing to do with the actual writing) and that bad experience soured the individual’s whole feeling about writing. 

I’ll be the first to admit that this happened to me. And I let it. 

Working with students and other more established writers, I have been absolutely stunned by the sheer number of incidents people have told me about. Some of them are more mild, like mine, but some of them are just gruesome and I wonder at the strength of the writer who has pushed through and been successful despite those experiences. 

Media Portrayal of Writers & Writing

If you’ve seen any movies or shows about writers, there are several ambiguous stereotypes that almost always appear. Sometimes the overarching plot is about a spectacular failure and then the writer rising from the dust to be wildly successful. 

Writers can be successful and support themselves just fine as long as they learn the skills they need and are willing to work hard like everyone else.

Probably the most damaging stereotype (which is the most common) is of the starving artist writer who refuses to get a more lucrative job and is seemingly okay with being broke living in a gross apartment over a mildly successful restaurant as long as they get to write. The best (worst?) part about this is that they are great writers, but no one notices. 

Eye roll. 

Writers can be successful and support themselves just fine as long as they learn the skills they need and are willing to work hard like everyone else. If the movies are the only way you’ve seen writers’ lives, though, you probably have a hard time not worrying that this will happen to you if you want to be a writer. 

The fear of being stuck not being able to support yourself is real and valid. But it shouldn’t be more scary being a writer.

The fear of being stuck not being able to support yourself is real and valid. But it shouldn’t be more scary being a writer. In general it can be scary being an adult who wants to feed themselves and live in a place that doesn’t suck. 

Incorrect Impressions of Success & Failure

I’ve talked about this before because it’s important. We have kind of a messed up view of both what it means to be successful and what it means to fail. 

If we’re going by the film scenarios, we feel like success is the first scene: a spectacular fail followed by a magnificent and unprecedented win. Usually that win is fame or a lot of money. On the other hand, we feel like failures if there’s any chance of us being the writer in that restaurant apartment, even if it means we work a “regular” job and save money for something better. 

The first problem is that these are extremes. Like anything else in life, there’s more than one way to be successful. It’s not always about the money and the fame. Sometimes (a lot of the time, actually) it’s about the smaller milestones. 

The other problem is that people can’t be “failures” because a failure is an event. Just because you don’t reach your goal doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it means you failed to reach your goal and you probably need to reset your expectations or readjust your actions and try again. That one event does not define you as a person (unless you let it). 

Overcome fear of failure

3 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Failure 

It seems like a lot is working against us, doesn’t it? It doesn’t really help us knowing why we have fear of failure if we don’t knowwhat to do about it. 

The best thing about being a creative human is that you are able to flex and adapt when you need to! The fix you need right now is to work on your fear of failure and keep writing. 

This is what you need: 

1. Reset Your Expectations of Failure & Success

We talked a bit before about failure and success, so I won’t belabor this point too much. Remind yourself of 3 things when you are feeling afraid: 

1. Failure is an Event, Not a Person

2. Small Progress is Progress

3. Hard Work Wins in the End

Writing is a skill, not a talent, so when you work hard and keep pushing past small failures, you will improve. It’s not an if, it’s a when. What’s holding you back here is the concept that failing is the be all and end all. 

Hard truth? We all fail. You will too, but that is OKAY. Keep working on it, think about what it would mean for you to be successful, and you will be just fine. 

2. Do it Anyway! 

I’m a big fan of doing things that scare you. You can read about it here, if you want more details on how to do that - it’s easily one of my top 3 favorite things to write and talk about. 

As you take a leap of faith and write through your fear of failure, keep in mind that practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you will get. Don’t get stuck in the trap where you think you have learned all there is to learn - I can assure you that you haven’t. No one has! And that’s one of the beautiful things about creating with words. It’s ever-evolving and we get to keep learning along the way. 

Don’t let daunting tasks dissuade you from writing.

When you are feeling afraid, take the time to acknowledge that your feelings are there and that they’re valid. Writing is hard! Creating things that have never existed before is daunting! You are allowed to feel afraid. 

That being said, don’t let daunting tasks dissuade you from writing. Accept that we are scared of some things, that’s fine, and then USE that to fire yourself up and get excited. We grow when we do things that make us uncomfortable, and writing is an excellent opportunity to be uncomfortable without having to share that with the world. You’re not obligated to share anything you write if and until you are ready. Keep that in mind and dive right into that doubt. 

3. Be Willing to Be Vulnerable

This may (or may not) be surprising, but when we put our words on paper and share with others, we are showing vulnerability. And that’s a GOOD and NECESSARY thing to do. 

I won’t lie to you, this stuff is SCARY - probably the most intimidating thing you will do as a writer is throw yourself at a reader’s mercy wondering what they’re going to say about the work you poured over for so long. But, if you’re going to be a strong writer, you need to be able to put yourself and your work out there. 

If you’re going to be a strong writer, you need to be able to put yourself and your work out there. 

Get criticism, hopefully of the constructive nature (don’t choose your first readers willy nilly) and use those comments to make your writing better. In the end, we’re all just trying to be the best creators we can be, right? 

Writing is, in one way, both one of the hardest and easiest things we do. It seems natural for many of us to dump words on the page - emotions, dialogue, scenes, you name it and we probably write it. But, what people rarely tell you is that sometimes these thoughts and imagined ideas are hard to deal with. And even harder to share. 

If you let it, fear of failure will run your life. Not just in writing, but in all areas. It just so happens that writing is a means of meaningful expression for writers, and so when we get stuck in the comfort zone we don’t get to do what we’re passionate about. We stop writing and try to convince ourselves that we don’t need it, or that we don’t really want to do it (even when it’s obvious it’s all we want to do). 

If you let it, fear of failure will run your life.

To face your fear of failure, reset your expectations of success & failure, do it the heck anyway, and be willing to be vulnerable with people who can help you be better. 

My challenge to you is to start with Do It Anyway and work from there. 

Did you try the strategies? Or do you have some of your own strategies you’ve used to face fear of failure that grips writers everywhere? I’d love to hear about them! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.