TAYLOR’S TIPS for a more productive you…
They say old habits die hard. Is it true?
Back in the day, when I was a youngster, Mom put tall glasses of milk on the dinner table in front of each of us four kids.
And I was a chugger. I had a male cousin my age and we’d have these contests. I could always drink mine down faster than him. Ha! But that didn’t serve me well at the dinner table. Mom got mad at me when I’d empty my entire glass of milk before I even started eating my dinner and then I wouldn’t eat much because my tummy was full.
Perfect food went to waste. So what’s a mom to do? She took away the glass of milk. Gave it to me after dinner. Perfect solution, right? Except that I grew up not drinking anything at all during dinner and that old habit remains to this day. I’ll pour myself a glass of water, or milk, or there will be something served to me in a restaurant and I won’t even think of drinking it until I’ve finished my meal.
Is this a bad thing? Not really…except if I would drink before or during my meal maybe I would slow down, and possibly not eat so much. So in some ways it is detrimental.
What can I do? I try to be consciously aware to take sips during my meal. But still, that old habit dies hard.
What about other habits? Maybe some of these haunt you:
- You don’t start a writing project because you’re afraid you’ll mess it up.
- You write and write then won’t show it to anyone.
- You read over what you wrote and trash it, thinking it stinks.
- You finish a project but get caught up in edit mode for way too long.
- You think you have nothing worthwhile to say so you don’t even begin.
Any of those sound familiar? What can be done? First, consciously admit that you need to work on it. Take a stab at changing first your attitude and then your actions toward that old habit. In time, you can change it…one sip at a time!
Hugs and love, and blessings on your work.
Follow your dreams…
B.J.
http://amzn.to/1H3PxWy
What’s Going On:
I’m so excited to be teaching two wonderful classes at this conference: Writing for Guideposts and the Guideposts Contest, and Make $$$ Selling Personal Experience Short Stories. I already heard from two of you who will be there: Julie Lavender and Paul Nichols. Can’t wait to see you both. Anyone else going to make it?
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This review is from: P MS to a T: the winning formula for writing nonfiction short stories that sell
5 out of 5 Stars
By Amazon Customer September 7, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Humorous, concise, authentic and encouraging
I met B.J. Taylor at a 2016 writer’s conference in Florida. P MS To A T reads as though I’m sitting face to face with her; humorous, concise, authentic and encouraging.
This little book is like opening a giant treasure chest filled with golden nuggets of writing strategies that I’m eager to apply to everything I write.
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B.J. Taylor
bj@bjtaylor.com
www.bjtaylor.com
www.bjtaylor.com/blog
Charlie Bear says HI!
Hey, BJ, good thoughts, especially your exhortation to “consciously admit that you need to work on (a negative habit … which requires) changing first your attitude.” I’m probably like many writers in that I tend to avoid facing the truth about my lack of organization or procrastination. Can’t change it if I won’t face it.
It’s nice to see you’ll be teaching at a conf. back in the untamed wilderness of the towering Kansas mountains (I was born in KS/raised in OK, and know how hard it can be to convince outsiders that the American Heartland is, uh, interesting, in its own way … kinda …). I know you’ll do well; you’ve got a strong niche. For sure, people are real nice back there and they’ll take good care of you.
Sam,
How nice of you to reply and to reassure me about the conference in Kansas City with that sweet way that you have. Thank you so much!
Warm regards,
B.J.
BJ, thank you for this! You are a blessing and I appreciate your wisdom. I think of you often when I know it’s time to set a goal. You inspire me! Love you, friend!💙
Shawnelle,
And I think of you when I write authentically and without fear. ;o)
Blessings!
B.J.