“Every accomplishment large and small begins with the same decision: I’ll try.”
                - Ted Key

Stay Strong

In our daily writing habits it is important to stay strong, to keep a steadfast pace, and to not allow any distractions to subtract from our desire to reach our goals. Like the track-runner, we must keep a continuous pace on our path to our destination, and push ourselves with every racing ounce of blood to that which we want. Let us all take that same determination into our daily lives, and without a doubt, our productivity will increase.

“Without unbroken advance there is no such thing as accumulation of positive forces.” – Bahnsen, Dr.

“Your attitude is everything. Believe in yourself and trust your material. To be a successful writer, write every single day, whether you feel like it or not. Never, never give up, and the world will reward you beyond your wildest dreams.” – Alex Haley

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach

“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill . . . great works are performed not by strength but perseverance.” – Dr. Samuel Johnson

Stay Focused

There are, of course, going to be distractions, regardless of how timely and well-planned you are. It’s hard to stay focussed on your work when the phone is ringing, the kids call your attention, errands have to be run, and you have a 12-minute bladder. These things are difficult to plan around. But there is a time for writing in your writing life, so, take it when you can and stay focussed on the task at hand. If you have a deadline to make, don’t allow that fact to take precedence in your efforts. Instead, clear your mind, focus on your item of interest, and get going.

“Success at the outset is imperative. Failure is apt to dampen the energy of all future attempts, whereas past successes nerve one to future vigor.” – William James

“Your focus determines your reality.”  – George Lucas

“The marvellous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were not limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.” – Helen Keller

Stay Positive

When we have those ups and downs, sometimes we get caught up in their flow. Like the tide, life is going to present us with low points as well as high points. This should, by no means, determine how productive we are or how valuable our work is. Negative circumstances are always going to come around once in awhile. The important thing is not those circumstances but how well you rise above them. The way we do that is by staying positive. There is so much more to life than just getting by.

“The stuff of which masterpieces are made drifts about the world waiting to be clothed in words.” -Thornton Wilder

“A positive attitude determines a positive result.” – Alex Haley

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Writing is at its best – always, always, always – when it is a kind of play for the writer.” – Stephen King