So, I hope in my brief absence, you all have been doing your own Weekday Warrioring. I’ve really been enjoying reading people’s comments about what y’all are focusing on now, etc. Thanks for sharing.

I haven’t been the best warrior these last few days although I have written every single day and I try to remind myself that that is positive movement forward and nothing to be ashamed of! There is something to be said for staying in the story every day even if all I add is 5 words.

This got me thinking about what has kept me from writing. I’ve certainly had time. It’s possible that having too much time on my hands has made me less productive, but also I think it’s easy as a writer to self-destruct.

I don’t write because I’m worried that what I write won’t be good enough. Or I don’t know where I’m going. Or I don’t want to finish a scene because after that I won’t know what to do next. There are a variety of reasons.

One of the things I’ve been struck with most lately is how it’s almost more difficult to write the more I learn. When I first started writing, there was this sense of ignorant bliss. I thought that because I was a generally intelligent person I could figure this whole writing thing out. And to a degree, I think that’s true. But the more you learn, the more there is to think about and the more that can paralyze me.

So, this post “How to Build a Positive Attitude About Yourself As a Writer” struck a chord with me today. The post takes negative writerly thoughts and shows you how to reframe them.

Examples:

Thought: I strive for perfection in writing

Reframe: Nobody’s perfect…but I can be competent at what I do. I’ll strive for competence.

Thought: I intended to write today and I’ve puttered around instead: I’m a failure

Reframe: Everybody procrastinates when writing: it’s natural. I just need to expect it and plan for it.

What are some of your negative thoughts and how would you reframe them? I’ll jump in in the comments section.