Yet I've been sitting here staring at my computer for 2 weeks now.....my files are open, but I haven't managed to get anything done. Well, okay, I wrote 162 words the other day. Progress? I guess...technically. Good progress? Not really.
I always have the hardest time starting new projects (well, I started this one a while ago. I'm 20k into it, so this should be easier, but it hasn't been). I think it's because I tend to be a "big picture" person and the thought of all the work ahead, all the obstacles, is daunting.
I actually realized I wasn't following my own advice as I was looking at birthday cakes for my son. He's a Star Wars nuts. Wants a Star Wars cake. I found an R2D2 cake online. It looks crazy hard.
I thought "yeah, it's awesome, but there is no WAY I can make that thing!" And then I looked at the steps. Broken down one simple step at a time, it doesn't look that hard. I mean if you look at each piece individually, it really doesn't seem so bad. I think I could probably do it. Granted, it probably won't look that good LOL But still, I think I could pull off a decent looking cake.
So...I think I need to apply that logic (that I am so fond of telling other people) to my writing and quit be overwhelmed. I just need to take things one little piece at a time. One word, one sentence, one paragraph at a time. And maybe I can get writing again :)
How do you tackle overwhelming tasks?
4 comments:
I moan and moan internally and put it off like I can. Finally, I do the thing and then just get it done.
All or nothing for me, usually. Probably need to learn to do more of the bit by bit aproach.
Great post, Michelle! And I totally agree. Sometimes the big picture can be a little overwhelming. When I'm faced with stuff like that my friend always tells me to tackle the project like I'd eat an elephant: one bite at a time. ;)
I just buckle down and jump in, because I'm nuts like that.
However, that cake looks awesome. That would have blown my mind as a kid.
Oh the curse of being "big picture" people!! I get great ideas and write them down. I have files and files of them. But to sit down and actually grit my teeth and dive in? Yeah...therein lies the problem.
But, like building R2-D2, each little piece, broken down, doesn't look so bad. I remember my psych professor saying, "You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time". The elephant is our novels. One bite at a time. One page. One word. Heck, one letter. Whatever it takes.
Good luck with that cake!!
Jen
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