Challenging Myself

The major purpose of this blog is to be a medium through which I can improve myself as a writer. Speaking of consistency (previous post), I'm making the effort to be a more consistent writer. Therefore, I'm going to challenge myself in several different ways to stretch myself as a writer. None of these will be perfect attempts, most of them will probably be pretty sketch but I'm still learning. I think if you and I can stick out this learning phase, everybody will benefit; I know I will.

So I noticed some things about my writing that could use some tweaking (I've been doing some heavy noticing lately). First of all, I tend to be really sober and rather dark when I write. Probably because I find it easiest to transpose my serious thoughts into paper. I also find that being really sober is the easiest way to create emotion in my writing. For example, whenever I try to portray emotion in a piece, nine times out of ten, that piece deals with some kind of death. I'm not obsessed with death by any means, but when I write, it comes out alot. Maybe I should change that. Maybe I should leave it. 

That brings up the first challenge I'm issuing myself: find a different way to create emotion. Let's have a piece where nobody dies. As easy as that sounds, its not. Not for me. That's why its a challenge. 

Challenge number two: Point of view. I tend to write in the first person alot. Third person occasionally, but mostly first person. The challenge? Write a piece in the SECOND person. It'll be weird for sure, but I'm determined to take you, the reader, on a journey you never thought you would take. We'll see how that goes..

Challenge number three: Write a piece about a significant event in my life. Why? First of all because my professor said it was a good idea. Second, because it'll challenge me to paint an accurate picture of what happened. I know what happened; I was there, I lived it. But I need you to feel and see and hear  the same things I did. That's the challenge. And lastly because, if it's an event worth remembering, then it's one worth writing about. Even if it's just for me.

So yeah, that's all I've got. If you got any other creative writing exercises for me to try let me know. Comment on the Facebook page or directly on the post. Or you can email me if you really want to. I'm posting all the links and such at the bottom of this post. I have no timeframe or any idea when I'll get around to these challenges, but I'll have you know that I'm working on them mentally all the time. Keep your eyes open and you might see these challenges within some of my upcoming posts. 

One more thing, I've gotten some good feedback on the little bit of Sci-Fi work I've slapped on here. I still have six more weeks in the Sci-Fi class so there will be a few more of those popping up (assuming I don't completely bomb the assignment). After the course is over, I might continue the sci-fi thing. I never really put much thought into it before the class but now I really enjoy it. Whether I'm any good at it only time will tell. But I'm learning. 

Thanks for reading and supporting; really puts the wind in my sails. Keep it up!

BrainsOnThePage/Facebook.com

My email --> Jordyw713@yahoo.com

Consistency

Definition

1) steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form

2) agreement, harmony, or uniformity among the parts of a complex thing

Something that I've noticed about myself that needs to change. I am an erratic person. I'm not consistent. I'm not consistent in my personality, my emotions, my habits, my work ethic.. It's not good. Being two different people is not only hard to do, it's very taxing. I can't do it and I shouldn't be doing it at all. My inconsistency includes small things like feeling great one day and awful the next, to the two very different sides of myself, to the drastic fluctuation of my level of productivity, depending on the setting.

Example: At school, I'm not a great student. I put in the work, I study, I do my homework just like everybody else. I get decent grades, nothing special; I do what I have to do. At home, exact opposite. There's nothing due so I do nothing. Eat, sleep and video games. I don't do squat. And it's awful. Partly because I'm exhausted when I get home and partly because I'm really good at doing nothing. 

Character should not be swayed by circumstances or situation. Situations will always change, but I should not. My surroundings should not determine or sway the way I act or how I feel. Self-improvement, self-discipline, excellence, integrity - these aren't things you do for one day and then call it a night; it's continuous, ongoing, a part of who you are. To be successful, I must be consistent; to achieve goals, I must be consistent; to better myself, I must be consistent; to be happy, I must be consistent. I want to be one person, the same person, no matter what goes down. That's the goal.

Baby steps.

Ten things about consistency:

1. Consistency creates momentum.
2. Consistency is a habit that can be practiced and learnt.
3. Consistency breeds credibility.
4. The person who takes action every single day toward the attainment of their goal will always triumph over those who do it every once in a while. Always.
5. Many think consistency is purely a matter of willpower, and that people who are consistent have some kind of special ability to endure. Not true.
6. Surprisingly, doing something every day or nearly every day is actually far easier to sustain than doing it once in awhile.
7. Motivation is not enough. A person waiting for inspiration limits achievement to times when conditions are desirable. And conditions are rarely always desirable. 
8. Creating healthy rituals will take you further than desires and passions.
9. Consistency will induce failure at some stage, which in turn provides valuable feedback, which ultimately leads to better results.
10. Consistency is more about sustainability than it is about speed.