What's between you and your writing goals?
identify the hurdles then write through the resistance
This week I taught a seminar about writing goals. We discussed what we wanted to accomplish, but more importantly, we addressed the underlying hurdles keeping us from actually pursuing said goals:
Fear of rejection.
The unpleasant feelings associated with putting ourselves out there.
Imposter syndrome telling us that we’re not real writers. That we need to learn more or do more of something we’ve already done to prove that we’re capable of writing the thing we know in our hearts we’re ready to write.
This is when goal-setting gets interesting.
We can make all the 10-step plans and outlines, read all the books about writing, and take all the writing classes, but we can’t accomplish our writing goals without identifying and then jumping over our hurdles. Or maybe we should just stop getting in our own way in the first place?
Accomplishing our goals can feel frivolous while our country collapses around us. I reminded students that we need artists, writers, and musicians now more than ever.
Use your voice.
Resist.
Just. Fucking. Write.
Here’s a screenshot with prompts to help you accomplish your writing goals:
What keeps you from your writing goals? And yes, this question is intended to be a writing prompt, too. Write about why you’re not writing.
Pitch Your Writing
My new column, Behind the Pitch, launched last week. Click here to read how I turned a viral Substack into an essay for Business Insider.
Monthly Column Topics Include:
Media Placement - Learn how to get quoted as an expert on your topic or get an essay/article published
Podcast Placement - Review my pitch templates to become a podcast guest
Store Placement - Learn how to pitch a physical product (books, card decks, food and beverage, etc.…) to bookstores and specialty stores
The Whole Confidence Thing - Mental health-informed tips to boost the confidence needed to write the damn pitch. I’ll also share healthy coping skills for rejection, imposter syndrome, and more.
Nonprofits Need Your Support
Our latest episode of Recovery Rocks discusses the nonprofit crisis under MAGA 2.0. The new administration is cutting off financial support for nonprofit organizations that support diverse communities, including the LGBTQA+ population, who struggle with higher rates of addiction than the general population. Banning the language of gender and equality has put people’s lives and sobriety in danger. Lisa and I discuss the need to support nonprofit organizations that serve at-risk populations. Consider donating, volunteering, speaking up, and even buying coffee for a cause!
Support nonprofits like Road Recovery1, Big Vision NYC, Gay and Sober, and New Alternatives.
Shop the Road Recovery Coffee Collection
Make calls to your government representatives through 5Calls.org
Upcoming Classes
🃏Create + Pitch Your Own Card Deck March 19th 7-9EST. Sign up here.
📚Book Proposal Boot Camp May 20th-June 24th 7-9 EST. Sign up here.
💻DIY PR: Platform, Pitching, and Press Releases for Writers, May 14th-June 11th, 7-9ES. Sign up here.
XO,
Tawny
Full disclosure: I do contract work for Road Recovery.
Need to imbibe all of this