contents of table YOU ARE HERE 7 Why We Become Afraid 10 My Story 17 P S Some Thoughts about Capitalism or For Fun vs For Money 24 PLAY 31 Claim a Creative Space 33 Claim Your Time Creativity Appointments 40 Freewriting Not Just for Writers 45 Brainstorming 49 Building an Attention Collection 55 PLAN 65 Intentions What Do You Want to Do 66 Deadlines When Do You Want to Have It Done 73 Outlines Yes No Maybe So 79 MAKE 85 Failure Nothing to Fear 87 Resistance and Procrastination 94 Warmups 100 Change of Scenery 105 Movement Break 107 Make Something Else 109
Dessert First 111 Self-Doubt a k a What Am I Even Doing 113 The Trouble with Expectations Yours 117 The Trouble with Expectations Other People’s 120 SHARE 123 When 125 How and with Whom 126 Then What 130 PLAY AGAIN 135 Rest and Boredom 136 Field Trip 143 Do Something You Are Very Bad At 150 Talking Back to the Voices in Your Head 153 IN CONCLUSION FOR NOW 158 FOR FURTHER READING 162
THIS WAY go go go up LAUNCH you ARE HERE
My name is Sara and I’m a writer I’ve been writing fiction for over twenty years and have been doing it as my primary job for the last dozen years or so Along the way I’ve learned some things about the business of publishing and the craft of writing I’ve taken planes trains and automobiles to interesting places to talk about my books and to teach other writers I’ve met some of my heroes and made new friends I’ve spoken with readers as well as booksellers teachers librarians and parents who love to help young people find their next favorite book All of this has been gratifying and unexpected taking me places I never thought I’d go But some of the most interesting stuff I’ve learned has been about myself I knew that I’m resourceful and creative that I love stories that I have a vivid imagination and that I love writing But what I didn’t know before about myself but know now is this No matter how much I love writing it is always extremely difficult to get myself to sit down and do it I’m terrified of being criticized but I always manage to live through it I really enjoy being around other writers and artists and all types of creative people and I love having them as friends But I also experience a lot of envy of other writers and artists even and maybe especially my friends 7
