Your First Step to Success
Recently my six-year-old son won a slinky from Chuck E. Cheese. It wasn’t long before we tried to do what they do in the commercials. That’s right—we headed for the top of the stairs. We tried. And tried. At best the slinky walked down a step or two, then died. Dead slinky. “Dang,” I thought, “Maybe this is something they do with CGI. Maybe it can’t happen in real life.” But my son was determined. Then it happened. He grabbed the top ring of the slinky, slammed it down to the next step, and off it went. Live slinky! Fifteen steps all by itself. I’m not kidding. Now, hit the slow-motion button. My son and I are ecstatic. Eyes the size of pizzas, cheering, wild smiles. Utter elation. My son jumped. Now hit pause. See him? His hair is straight up. Mouth open. Hands in the air. Legs all over the place. Got that image? That’s you too. If you keep trying the first step. My First Step My first step is blogging every week. In a few weeks I will have kept it up a full year. What’s the dream I want to realize? Eventually I would love to offer products and services via this blog that provide additional income. It’s a long haul. I’m in touch with people who have experienced real success, and it’s easy to get discouraged. I compare what I’m doing to what they’re doing, and honestly I get depressed. Then the alarm rings at 4:30AM, and I think, “Do I really want to do this? Again?” Happened this morning, in fact. But something keeps drawing me here. I realize more than ever that I am called to this work. I can’t not do it. I may write shoddy stuff or otherwise screw up a million different ways, but I have to do this. Blogosphere, you’re stuck with me. What Is Your First Step? What is the first step you need to keep trying? Writing a weekly or daily blog post? Asking some friends for advice? Applying to that program? Going to the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays? Writing a chapter a month? Connecting with so-and-so? Buying a URL? Writing a guest post? Offering your speaking services? Writing a book proposal? Go ahead, share it. My first step is _______________ (comment below to fill in the blank) This post is adapted from my book, DO YOUR ART: A Manifesto on Rejecting Apathy to Bring Your Best to the World. Pick up a free copy by subscribing to this blog below or in the sidebar. ~~~Tweetables~~~ What’s your first step to success? @ChadRAllen will help you figure it out… <Tweet this!> Want to learn something profound from a 6-yr-old and his slinky? Check it out…<Tweet this!> What do you and a Chuck E. Cheese slinky have in common? Thought you’d never ask…<Tweet this!>
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Incredibly Productive Meetings
I’m pleased to be guest-posting at the Accidental Creative blog today. Here’s the beginning… We’ve all been there. You show up to a meeting and it takes 15-20 minutes to get the necessary technology up and running. Or the agenda is unclear, so everybody’s spinning their wheels. Or you don’t understand your role within the meeting. Or the goals of the meeting are fuzzy. While meetings can go bad in an endless variety of ways, one thing is common to all bad meetings: they’re a colossal waste of time. Sadly, if a typical month includes a number of meetings, this wasted time amounts to a massive chunk of our lives! We need a solution. Read the rest in my guest post at The Accidental Creative blog.
Wisdom for Artists from Steve Martin
photo credit: Whistling in the Dark via photopin cc
How to Do More of the Work You Love and Less of the Work You Hate
We go and we go and we go. “Watch this,” we seem to say. “I’m fast. I move. I get it done. See?” But how much of our work comes from a deep sense of calling? How much of our activity stems from our core, our creative center? How fulfilling is our work? And how much of it is just so much busy tedium? The fact is, if we fail to engage ourselves in meaningful work, we get tired and cranky and drained. All of us have an innate need to contribute our best to the world. If we’re not doing that, we get depressed! DO YOUR ART I wrote a short book to help, and I’m giving it away. It’s called DO YOUR ART: A Manifesto on Rejecting Apathy to Bring Your Best to the World. I want to help people identify meaningful work—what I call your art—and take steps toward doing more of it. DO YOUR ART uses stories and a series of four questions to help you do more of the kind of work you were meant to do. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative and the forthcoming Die Empty, wrote, “Chad’s manifesto delivers a simple but profound truth: you have unique art to offer the world, and deliberate action is the only path to making it happen. A wonderful (and welcome) kick in the pants!” Gary Hansen, author of Kneeling with Giants, wrote in his Amazon review, “This is a wonderful book for all who need a nudge to discover and pursue their passion. . . . It is more than a manifesto. It is the invitation to a life-changing process of creativity.” HOW TO GET IT FOR FREE The ebook version is free. Simply subscribe to this blog using the form below or in the sidebar, and I’ll send you a link to download a free PDF. NEXT STEPS First, I encourage you to grab a copy of DO YOUR ART. This little book could change everything for you, and you can read it in less than 20 minutes. Just enter your info and you’ll get it right away! Second, I’d love to know what you think of it. Drop me an email. Finally, if you find the book helpful, will you please share it? Really I don’t mind. Send the link around or share this post. I want to help as many people as possible. Tweetables Want to do more of the kind of work you were meant to do? PLEASE read this! . . . <Tweet this!> Popular blogger @chadrallen is giving away a free ebook. It’s worth your time! . . . <Tweet this!> Want a free ebook on how to do more fulfilling work? Visit here. . . . <Tweet this!>
10 Things Nonfiction Writers Can Learn from Fiction Writers
I’ll never forget the first time I went to Times Square. My friend and I were just out of high school. We went to New York to see as many Broadway shows as we could fit into our three-day weekend. Arriving in the evening, we checked in, threw our bags in the room, and ventured forth. Neither of us said much, we just knew we had to get to the center of it all. When we rounded the corner at 46th and Broadway, the whole world opened up to me. Everything was light and color and movement. I was powerless but to stop and stare. I saw there the convergence not only of roads but perhaps of all the cultures that ever existed, all the people who ever lived. In some ways I can still divide my entire life between before I went to Times Square and after I went to Times Square. When you begin using elements of fiction in your nonfiction, the transformation can be equally profound. You can go from writing relatively dull prose to writing that has depth and color, writing that lights up the imagination. Writing that draws readers in and keeps them wanting more. So what are these elements of fiction? Following are 10 things nonfiction writers can learn from fiction writers: 1. The best reason to write anything is to provide an experience that is superior to everyday life. The best reason is not to convey information or teach or express yourself. Those reasons take shape and assume their proper place when they are subordinate to the goal of providing a meaningful experience for readers. 2. The importance of first lines cannot be overstated. They either welcome readers in or throw up roadblocks. 3. The power of narrative is powerful indeed. Tell stories. Tell lots and lots of stories. Make them sufficient in length to make your point, and not any longer than that, but tell them. It’s almost cliché anymore to point out that what we all remember from any sermon we’ve heard are the stories. The rest evaporates. 4. A key question is this: Is it filmable? If it is, it will engage our imagination. And if our imagination is engaged, so are we. 5. “Omit needless words.” Thank you, William Strunk and E. B. White. 6. Bring us into an experience. Don’t write at a distance. “As soon as I hear the word about in someone’s writing,” writes Natalie Goldberg, “it is an automatic alarm. ‘This story is about life.’ Skip that line and go willy-nilly into life in your writing.” You can’t bring us into an experience unless you yourself go into it first. 7. The writer is an experience architect. This goes back to my first point a bit, but here I have in mind the superstructure of your book, seen best perhaps in your table of contents. Your table of contents is a window into the experience your book provides. This is true not only on the level of how interesting your chapter titles (and sometimes chapter subtitles) are but also in terms of how your content flows, the progression of your ideas. 8. Just keep writing. Novelists seem to understand better than other writers that sometimes you have no idea what to write. But you sit down, you write anyway. It is in the writing that we see what’s there. No shortcuts. No escape. 9. It’s all about the characters. People relate to people, so as often as you can, help us do that. 10. Drafts upon drafts upon drafts. Make sure you give ample time to the editing process. In fact, I’d say the first draft should be about 30 percent of the process. That means 70 percent of the process is editing and rewriting and other adventures in the art of draft making. What do you think? Do you agree? What else can nonfiction learn from fiction? And do you see ways that these elements can enhance what you’re working on? Tweetables “The power of narrative is powerful indeed.” And other lessons for nonfiction writers… [Tweet that!] “It is in the writing that we see what’s there. No shortcuts. No escape.” [Tweet that!]
Why Some People Make More Progress Than Others
Sometimes life feels aimless. We go through our days wandering or, worse, floundering. And of course some of this is just part of the human experience. It’s normal, and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up too much for it. But if it goes on for too long or if it’s too pervasive, life itself begins to feel pointless. We wonder: What’s this all about anyway? And we meet people, don’t we, who seem to be making real progress. They seem to be “gettin’ it done.” And while we’re happy for them, in a weak moment we might imagine ourselves doing not very nice things to them—keying their car or strangling their cat or rethinking our position on water-boarding. I want to offer a relatively simple way to add more direction to your life. Anyone can do this, it’s inexpensive if it costs anything, and it really does make a difference. As with everything in life, it all comes back to the movie Pretty Woman. OK, not everything in life comes back to Pretty Woman, maybe not even most things, but this comes back to ten seconds at the very beginning of the film. And it just so happens that somebody posted a YouTube clip of these ten seconds. Enjoy: So here’s my question: Who is this guy in your life? Who’s asking you the most important questions, questions like: What’s your dream? What’s energizing or inspiring you? What are you working on? What do you need help with? And how intentional are you being about engaging this person or people in your life? We all need a creative partner or two or five. And it is important that we are regularly meeting with these folks, asking them the big questions and letting them ask the same of us. I’ve written elsewhere about how important my friends are to me, and how important we all are to each other. We certainly have accomplished a lot more together than we’re likely to have done otherwise. This doesn’t have to be a big deal. You could simply call a friend and ask her to come over for coffee. Then ask her if she’d be willing to get together, say, once a month, to go through a few questions. Tell her it’s your way to stay on track, to keep moving toward the things that are most important to you. Give it a shot because here’s the thing: we were never meant to do this thing alone. The whole project is about relating with others—giving and receiving, talking and listening. I’d love to hear how it goes for you. I want to end this post with an opportunity for you to think “out loud” in the comments about which questions would be most helpful to you. Which questions will help you make progress? Go ahead: What are the questions you want someone to ask you regularly? Tweetables: Want to know the X factor in creative work? Check this out . . . [Tweet this!] Feeling directionless? Here’s some great advice . . . [Tweet this!] Hey, not every blog post includes a clip from Pretty Woman. Check it out! [Tweet this!]
The One Thing I Really Wish Aspiring Writers Would Take to Heart
Earlier this week I was listening to a conversation between Michael Hyatt (@MichaelHyatt), author of Platform, and Stu McLaren (@StuMcLaren), a startup entrepreneur. At one point in the discussion Stu emphasized the importance of knowing your audience’s pain. What is your audience’s need? What is the problem your audience has that you can solve? And I thought about you, the readers of this blog. What’s your pain, I wondered. It probably varies from person to person. A publishing insider isn’t here for the same reason as an aspiring writer. But my sense is that most of you are writers who want to get published. Whether you’ve been published before or not, you want a publishing contract. That is your pain. That is the problem for which you are looking for a solution. Am I right? If so, here’s what I want to say to you. That’s the wrong problem. Let’s say I could wave a wand and give all of you a contract. Done. You have it. It pays a modest advance of, say, $5,000. We pay half of this when you sign the contract and half when you send in an acceptable manuscript. Wow. Amazing, right? A real publishing contract with a real publisher. But so what? I’m telling you: If you don’t have the right combination of concept, writing, and platform, your book will go out there and sell 2,000 copies or less. What’s the point of that? Sure, 2,000 of your extended network of friends and family picked up the book and maybe they even enjoyed it. But that’s not why you wanted a publishing contract, right? I mean, what’s the point of all that work to see a couple thousand people buy (and not necessarily read) your book? I don’t say this because I want to make your life more difficult or make you angry or because I don’t care. I say it because I do. I don’t want you to have the wrong goal—a goal that ultimately will disappoint you. So what’s the pain behind your pain? You want to help people, right? You have something to say and you want people to hear it. You want a boost to your ego (be honest). You want to raise money for a cause. You want to pay some bills. Those are all legitimate needs, even the ego one. But selling 2,000 copies or less will not help you significantly with any of these legitimate needs. What will meet these needs is the hard, hard work of coming up with a great concept, honing your writing skills, and building a platform. This is day-after-day, for-the-long-haul work. It means investing your own money to get better at each of these. It means connecting with others to learn from them. Here’s what I think the right goal is for aspiring writers: to get publishers to come after you. (Want to tweet that?) If you have a sweet concept, writing that sings, and a platform that helps you reach thousands of people, you won’t have to beg for a contract. It will come to you. In fact, publishers might very well fight each other to sign you. That’s your goal. And that, friends, is what I hope this blog is all about. I have a question for you, and I really think this question is key for anyone who wants to get published: What’s the pain behind your pain? If you did get published, what would you like to see happen? ~~~ If this post was helpful, would you help me share it? I’d be grateful. Writers, what’s the pain behind your pain? This post via @chadrallen helped me figure out what mine is. http://wp.me/p2FgGq-eC [Tweet this.] Why getting published will NOT make all your dreams come true. Time for a reality check via @chadrallen. http://wp.me/p2FgGq-eC [Tweet this.]
Taking Your Questions for Agents, Editors, and Authors
Gary Neal Hansen (@garynealhansen) came up with a great idea the other day. He suggested asking you for questions that you’d like me to ask agents, editors, and authors. This is all part of what I’m calling the Living Legends series, where I interview an agent, editor, or author about anything from self-publishing to building a platform to . . . well, that’s where you come in! So go for it. Drop a question you’d like me to ask in a comment, and I’ll see what I can do. It might be helpful if you let me know whether your question is for an agent, editor, or author. Thank you. By the way, last month I interviewed agent Chris Ferebee (@caferebee), and a lot of people found it helpful, including me! Check it out here. ~~~~ Have a Twitter or Facebook account? I would love your help getting the word out… Hey, editor @chadrallen is interviewing agents and editors. What questions do you want him to ask? http://wp.me/p2FgGq-eu Tweet this! Got a question you wish you could ask an agent or editor? Let editor @chadrallen know here: http://wp.me/p2FgGq-eu Tweet this!
I Would Love Your Help Deciding on a Cover!
I have mentioned here in the past that I am working on a manifesto. It’s coming together, and I’m having a blast with it. I’d like to share two possible covers with you and hear which one you like better as well as any other comments you might have. Thank you!
The Most Counter-Intuitive Advice You Can’t Live Without
A counselor friend recently enrolled in a program to learn a particular kind of therapy. I asked him how it was going, and he told me he loves it. “Get this,” he said, “Our first homework assignment is to practice ‘exquisite self-care.’” “What?” I said. “Isn’t that a little self-absorbed?” “I know, right? That’s what we all thought when the prof told us to do it,” my friend answered, “but she was serious. Whatever ‘exquisite self-care’ is for each of us, that’s our homework. It’s been amazing.” He went on to explain that we can’t take care of others until we take care of ourselves. If we do, we end up freeing others to do the same. It’s counter-intuitive advice because we’re so accustomed to hearing how important it is to do for others. But if we do for others without taking care of ourselves, we end up angry and tired. It’s not sustainable. [Tweet that!] Since having this conversation I have been trying to practice exquisite self-care, and my friend’s right, it is amazing. I’d like to offer some observations about what exquisite self-care does and does not mean. Then I’ll offer a couple practical ways to implement the practice. Exquisite Self-Care Does Not Mean… Being selfish It’s all about you Permanently isolating yourself Getting a massage every day Exquisite Self-Care Does Mean… Taking your mental health seriously Wholeness Doing what you need to do to be truly present with others Eating well, drinking lots of water, getting good sleep, and laughing with friends Making sacrifices for the sake of others Limiting work that bores or drains you Doing your art Taking risks and exposing yourself to new things Doing things that may look selfish but actually refuel you for fully engaging with other people Loving others Getting a massage every now and again! Pursuing a nourishing rhythm of life Having tough conversations when you need to have them Having the capacity to lean into the pain of those around us Helping others take care of themselves Getting away to pray or meditate or dream Taking the long view on what is best for you How to Practice Exquisite Self-Care Practicing exquisite self-care does not have to be difficult. Simply ask yourself regularly throughout the day, “What does exquisite self-care look like in this moment?” Then follow through. If you’re trying to make a decision, ask, “What would exquisite self-care have me do in this situation?” Then act. ~~~ If you found this post helpful, I hope you’ll share it: The most counter-intuitive advice I can’t live without…and you can’t either! via @chadrallen http://wp.me/p2FgGq-ea [Tweet this!] Want to change the world? Start by taking exquisite care of yourself. via @chadrallen http://wp.me/p2FgGq-ea [Tweet this!] How could you practice exquisite self-care in your life? What difference do you think it would make?