Hey Everyone – I’m going to bigfoot myself to announce that I’m teaching an online writing-productivity class starting 10/31. It’s great for any writer (creative, academic, business, etc.) trying to boost his or her output, overcome procrastination and perfectionism, and/or finish a project. (Actually for anyone with those goals, in any 
field, but the examples and discussions will all be writing-focused.) The classes are four weeks long, and the format is bloggish, so you can be located anywhere. Normally $50, but the host, SavvyAuthors, is offering a discount of $5 just for Juicers—so $45. Click here to register. (Note: the class dates are wrong on that link but rest assured you will be registering for my class.)
More info below the fold. Another perk, btw, is that we typically get many romance writers in the class, and they are interesting people who tend to occupy the sweet spot at the intersection of “kind and supportive” and “publication focused.” (Oh, and in case you’re interested, here’s a piece I did a few years back on romance fiction and social justice.)
In other news, JT and I are hitting the road again and I’d love to meet up with any Juicers in either New York City (Nov 21 – 23) or Montclair, NJ (Nov 25-26). (Pre- and post-Thanksgiving.) Please email me at [email protected]. (Also email me if questions about the class.)
Illustration: gorgeous Kintsugi pottery by Lakeside Pottery Studio in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Per Wikipedia: “Kintsugi (“golden joinery”), also known as Kintsukuroi (“golden repair”), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum… As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.” Hillary’s note: in other words, Kinsugi exemplifies the virtues of nonperfectionism, one of the main topics we’ll discuss in class. (Image reproduced with kind permission of Morty Bachar and Patty Storms.)
Online Class – October 31 – November 27, 2016 (four weeks)
What: The 7 Secrets of the Prolific writing productivity class
For Whom:
- For all writers, including creative, academic, business, and nonprofit writers.
- For writers around the world, in every time zone. (See Format section, below.)
- For writers wishing to boost their writing pace, overcome obstacles to productivity, and bring a “stuck” work to completion. And, finally,
- For writers who wish to write joyfully and enthusiastically.
Content: We will cover these topics:
- Nature and causes of, and solutions to, procrastination (week 1)
- Nature and causes of, and solutions to, perfectionism (week 2)
- A method for rapid and joyful writing; also, techniques for finishing your work (as opposed to getting stuck in the middle) (week 3)
- How to overcome toxic rejections/criticisms (week 3)
- Time management: methods for “creating” time for your writing; also, how to recognize and stop overgiving (week 4)
Benefits:
- An immediate increase in your writing speed and an immediate decrease in your writing-related pressure and stress.
- A new method for writing that offers maximum speed, ease, and effectiveness.
- The abilities to: (1) quickly recognize and overcome barriers to productivity and success, (2) avoid and recover from traumatic rejections, and (3) create more time for your writing.
- Gains that will continue (and build) throughout your writing career. And,
- Mastery of principles and habits (antiprocrastination, antiperfectionism, resilience, time management) whose benefits extend well beyond your writing, to many areas of life.
Where: SavvyAuthor.com. SavvyAuthors classes are cheap, convenient, and fun; and you never have to worry about parking.
Format: I post two lessons and one or two homework assignments each week, and we spend the rest of the week discussing them. Everything stays posted so there are no time constraints, and you can be located anywhere in the world.
You’ll get lots of individual attention from me, and lots of support from the other students.
Cost: $45 for Juicers (normally $50). To register. (Note – the date is wrong on the discount page, but don’t worry – you’ll still be registered for my class.)
JJ
I’m out of the area when you’re here. Too bad- I’d like to meet some Juicers. I’ll be heading south in December to FL. Maybe there are some of you down that way.
The class sounds good.
Hillary Rettig
@JJ: Thanks! And where do you live in when you’re not in FL.
JJ
@Hillary Rettig: I’m in CT metro area. Often in MA. In FL I stay I St. Pete. You?
Hillary Rettig
@JJ: I live in Kalamazoo, but only for the past three years. Before that, ten years in Boston (all over Boston), and before that NYC and Ithaca.
I will be driving through MA in March, so perhaps we can meetup then. (Although I must say, I wouldn’t mind a Meetup in St. Pete. Like around February. :-)
Hillary Rettig
I have to leave the thread now but will check in later – or feel free to email me with questions.
PaulWartenberg2016
NaNoWriMo is coming up, peeps.
I heartily encourage you to sign up for free to write a 50,000 word novel during November.
I’m trying – one more time – with hopefully enough power under my wing to get that pesky first novel done.
I’m a Municipal Liaison for the Lakeland Florida region. We’ll be hosting a ton of write-ins across Polk County during November.
Also, I am struggling to finish up a self-published novel I wanted to demonstrate with my library class on self-publishing. I spent 20 bucks on the cover might as well get my money back on it… ;)
lowercase steve
From the same culture that brought us wabisabi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi). Neat.
Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]
Ah Kintsugi! I actually do a little bit of that. It is a lot of fun, but the laquer that you use (Urushi) contains the active ingredient for poison ivy/oak. Once the laquer cures it’s ok, but be careful with the uncured stuff, wear gloves!
Also, here’s a great little video on some of the history and philosophy behind the art of Kintsugi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUTQkaSSTY
R-Jud
I’ve got a stuck middle-grades fantasy novel (completed draft but needs whittling down) and a stuck screenplay (ditto). The joy has been sucked out of writing for me for a good year now. The online course sounds great; I’ve registered. Thanks for the heads up and the discount!
Jeffro
Whenever the next open thread’s ready, PBO just called DJT a whiner…
…gawd am I ever gonna miss this guy!
Hillary Rettig
@PaulWartenberg2016: NaNoWriMo is great – the emphasis on quantity over quality is exactly write, and exemplifies nonperfectionism.
I wrote a bunch of articles to help NaNoWriMo and AcWriMo people: http://www.hillaryrettig.com/how-to-finish-your-nanowrimo-novel-and-have-fun-doing-it/
The class might be a good fit for you!
Hillary Rettig
@lowercase steve: thanks – I should have remembered that. it’s an interesting case because even though the point is impermanence and egolessness–both congruent with nonperfectionism–minimalism itself can be a strong impetus toward perfectionism and getting it exactly right!
Hillary Rettig
@R-Jud: wonderful! look forward to seeing you in class.
Hillary Rettig
@Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]: I will check out that movie! And I had no idea about the lacquer. Talk about suffering for your art…
Similar to encaustic painting, I guess. I love it, but the process can be pretty toxic to the artist.
Mnemosyne
@PaulWartenberg2016:
I’m going to cheat and use NaNoWriMo to help me get on track with my novel-in-progress that needs to have a first draft done by March. I can’t keep up with the word counts (bad carpal tunnels can’t handle it) but I do want to get into the writing every day habit.
Also, Hillary, you should email TaMara and ask her what she and I were emailing about. It was related, but she’s super busy with the house and puppies right now, so she was worried about having enough time.
lowercase steve
@Hillary Rettig:
Oh yeah…concentrated urushi is unpleasant stuff. Be careful.
Hillary Rettig
@Mnemosyne: do you use an ergo keyboard? I find that’s essential. (And I still am worried about CTS, Fortunately, I only have golfer’s elbow, which is not as serious. (Although pretty ironic, since I’ve never golfed.)
I will email TaMara – thanks.
PS – if you don’t mind my saying so, using nanowrimo to finish your novel isn’t cheating, it’s smart and resourceful.
PPS – Microsoft’s ergo keyboard is excellent and not too expensive.
Mnemosyne
@Hillary Rettig:
I have terrible ergonomics at home — I write on my laptop on the couch. Once I have my office/craft room in order (I have someone helping me with that), I’ll be able to use my desk again. It looks like Microsoft has a wireless ergo keyboard, so that would probably work with my laptop.
Hillary Rettig
@Mnemosyne: Seriously, and with all respect*, I would get ergonomic asap, both for your health and the health of your project.
*as my friend Jerry from Bensonhurst taught me to say!
Miss Bianca
ooh, I may have to consider this…just in time for NaNoWriMo, too!
ETA: Paul beat me to it! : )
the Conster, la Citoyenne
This is how deeply in shock all of these mediocre white male conservative pundits are right now, about Hillary Clinton.
Elizabelle
Gently priced, and I iz a procrastinator. Think I will sign up for the class. Thanks, Hillary.
And I love the mended porcelain/pottery. It’s beautiful in its own way. Tire of our use and throw society.
Jeffro
Ack, I think FYWP did it again – anyway, when the next Open Thread rolls around, a spectacular dis
Hillary Rettig
@Elizabelle: wonderful! see you in class.
Miss Bianca
Re the date confusion – when exactly are the classes scheduled for?
ETA: My local writing group is planning to get together every Monday eve in November for NaNoWriMo.
tokyo expat
One of my major sources of writing procrastination is Balloon Juice! I get totally sucked into the comments here, because I love the community even though I mainly lurk. But, in the back of my mind I often have a little voice saying “get back to writing!” That voice is talking to me now.
I’m a member of Savvy Authors. They have a lot going on. Hilary is also correct about romance writers. They’re an interesting bunch from former retired military to scientists to teachers to stay-at-home moms. Many of the chapters offer a ton of workshops for writers. If anyone is interested in a Scrivener class check out San Diego RWA chapter November workshop. OIRWA also has 5 classes or so going each month.You do not have to be an RWA member to take a class.
JAFD
Should be an interesting week – the 18th-20 will be the Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention – http://www.philcon.org – with C.J. Cherryh (Prinicipal Speaker), Dave Seeley (Artist Guest of Honor), and L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Special Guest).
Would like to catch the Boonton line or the Bloomfield Ave bus to Montclair, but may get T’giving and weekend invite… so maybe NYC on Tuesday?
Productivity – am a big guy, thinking of getting one of the More keyboards – http://www.morekeyboard.com – big keyboard for big finger people – anybody have any experience with these ???