Skip to main content

A question about self-discipline

Captain’s Log, Stardate 08.23.2006

Self-discipline: So y'all know I've been struggling with this for at least a year now, in relation to my writing, exercise, diet. And I'm still struggling.

So now I come to you guys for more help. How the heck do you discipline yourself???

I've been trying this new thing where I don't check e-mail until the evening so that I'm forced to do work all day. It's going okay, but I don't always fight the temptation to open my e-mail.

So??? Any tips for someone like me???

TMI:

Writing: Speaking of tips, I posted another synopsis-trimming tip on my Story Sensei blog. If you guys have a question for me, just e-mail me.

I'm working on the new story. Using Donald Maass's WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK to find more conflict, obstacles, turning points. This book totally rocks.
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Camy, I struggle with self-discipline all the time. I find that I respond best to short-term goals. An all-day resistance is just too much for me! :)

I tell myself, "Work on this until 10:00. Then you can get up and get a glass of water. Work on this till noon; then you can go check Camy's blog." If I made myself wait until 5:00 or 8:00 at night, I'd go crazy! Start with baby steps. Write one paragraph, then get up and run around the house to get your energy back up.

Or just give in to the temptation. Ack! I didn't just say that! :)

Sarah
Wed Aug 23, 07:50:00 AM 2006
Jennifer Crosswhite said…
Sarah makes a good point. The harder something is, the small portions you need to break it into. Sometimes only 15 minutes. It's enough to make a difference.

The other thing I would add is to be sure to write down your goals and to be sure to reward yourself. It can be something as simple as checking e-mail or blogs or time to just relax and read. Whatever works for you. I try to make the reward big enough to inspire me, so if I have something I'm really struggling with, I'll make the reward something I really, really want.
Wed Aug 23, 08:50:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
Here I thought *you* had some tips on self-discipline.

Why do we all struggle with that so much--at least most of us: Self-discipline and procrastination which go hand in hand? I know very few people who have their life managed so that they get things done promptly.

Sorry, don't have any advice. If I did, I'd take it myself. For me the best self-discipline comes with necessity. If it *has* to be done, then I'll get it done. Otherwise I'll just dawdle at it. Pathetic, isn't it? I'll have all sorts of excuses as well, e.g., I have to spare my arm, it's been hurting far too much. Or, I can't concentrate because everything is so noisy. Or, I'm too stressed out to do a proper job. And it is all true but I still wish I'd get things done in spite of the limitations.
Wed Aug 23, 11:25:00 AM 2006
Georgiana Daniels said…
Like Sigrun, if I had any advice I'd take it too! But here's something to think about: pick your battles. For me it's hard to spread my self-discipline around. I have to pick the 1 or 2 priorities that I'm going to focus on, and do it. Still I fail sometimes, especially in relation to food, but I have a few victories too.

I just got the Maass book, and I'm almost afraid to read it, because then I'll see how many MORE problems my book has, and have to do something about it! Maybe ignorance is bliss? Seriously though, I've read the first few chapters, and they are fantastic.
Wed Aug 23, 12:55:00 PM 2006
Myra Johnson said…
Camy, what I've been trying lately is using a timer. Whenever I'm working at my desk, I set it for 35 minutes, then TRY not to look at it again until it beeps. Then I get up, move around, stretch, make 2-3 trips up and down the stairs, check e-mail, or whatever, for 5-10 minutes. Then back to work and start the timer again. It's not long enough to break the creative momentum, but just enough "something else" to get the juices flowing again.
Thu Aug 24, 08:22:00 AM 2006
Trish Ryan said…
Hey Camy, I've been struggling with this for almost a month now! I write down goals and can almost hear God laughing! Here's what finally worked - I prayed, "God, you know what needs to get done, so please make sure it happens!" Then I had a bizarre urge to get up at 5am this morning, and had my most productive writing session in a LONG time.

I keep reassuring myself - it doesn't matter when or how it gets written, only that it does!
Thu Aug 24, 01:19:00 PM 2006
Heather said…
I realize tht you are partly talking about writing in this regards and I can not admit to any form of discipline yet in my writing. In fact I just had 5 kid free hours and 3 more kid free husband free hours and have done everything but. However, as far as the rest goes, I went through an incredible Bible study that really helped refocus my heart on the Lord and less on food. Setting Captives Free. The Lord really used this study and the mentor they give you to help me through and prepare me for some difficult things that came right after. The study is free to join and was absolutely eye opening. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with self-discipline. I realize I sound like a commercial but it was the most Biblical approach that I have found to weightloss and excercise (they also have one for smoking and just about every other addiction.)

BTW I realize the html tags might not work but if you don't want to copy and paste, I do have a link to it from my site as well.
Thu Aug 24, 06:46:00 PM 2006
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

I’m done

Captain’s Log, Stardate 05.17.2006 Blog book giveaway: My Thursday book giveaway is THE PREACHER’S DAUGHER by Lyn Cote My Monday book giveaway is BLIND DATES CAN BE MURDER by Mindy Starns Clark . You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. I’m done. At the beginning of the year, I made a goal of three books this year. That’s four months per book. I started this manuscript January 15th. I finished in the wee hours of May 17th, so it took me about four months, a day and a few hours. Yay me. I’m going to bed now. Yes, this is the espresso maker on the right, and a professional coffee grinder on the left. By the espresso maker, I mean the one I promised to my long-suffering husband if I got a book contract, as a reward for letting me quit my biotech job and write full-time.
15 comments
Read more

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day ...
32 comments
Read more

Romantic guys

Captain’s Log, Stardate 10.13.2006 Heroes: I’m a TV junkie, I admit it. I’m hooked on the new series called Heroes. (It’s like X-Men, but before they realized their powers and came together to become the X-Men. And without the funky costumes.) Okay, regardless of the X-Men type storyline, one of the heroines—a high school girl—is talking to a boy she likes, the quarterback of the football team. He’s sweet-talking her and being very flattering. She says he doesn’t really know her very well. He goes into this romantic spiel about how he notices she draws unicorns in the margins of her notes in class, etc. Now here I pause the TiVo and turn to Captain Caffeine. Skeptical Asian wife: “That’s so un-guy-like! How realistic is it for a typical guy to say something eloquent and romantic like that?” Captain Caffeine: “It sounds romantic because he’s the quarterback of the football team.” Confused Asian wife: “What do you mean?” Captain Caffeine: “If he were a computer geek, he would sound like...
15 comments
Read more

ICRS Tuesday

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.11.2007 I started the day with a great meeting with Al Hsu , an editor at InterVarsity Press. We discussed Asian Americans—fiction, non-fiction, the church, family. He’s been in publishing for many years and is very wise. We had a great discussion. I also met his wife Ellen, who’s totally nice and is also into card-making! I wandered the floor and happened to meet Robin Jones Gunn. She asked if I’d eaten yet, and since I hadn’t, said to join her for lunch. On the way to lunch, we met Mark Mynheir, and he gave me a copy of his book, got The Void . Isn’t that cool? Robin has so much wisdom. I loved having lunch with her. She gave me such good advice, both professionally and spiritually. I hope I’ll get a chance to have lunch or dinner with her at the ACFW conference in September. I met up with agent Steve Laube, and walked with him to his next meeting, but on the way we were hailed by Cec Murphy and agent Jeff Dunn. Jeff had been the first editor to request...
12 comments
Read more

Ironman

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.12.2008 I realize I’m late in posting this, but I just saw Ironman a couple weeks ago and it was FABULOUS! It was the most entertaining movie I’ve seen in a long time. I even liked it better than Mr. and Mrs. Smith (although that flick is a close second). I think because the acting was great. Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow were fantastic. I especially liked how the Pepper character is an older woman with more maturity than, say, MaryJane in Spiderman . Pepper was strong, intelligent, and relatively cool under fire. And did you guys catch the Easter Egg at the end of the credits??? Awesome!!!
9 comments
Read more