Phoenix Living

Some of you at this point are sailing along on the crest of early NaNoWriMo success, at least as defined by the daily wordcount standards set up by the event. We’ve already discussed patting yourself on the back, and don’t forget to do that today too! But Human brains are funny funny organs, and for some of them, the self-sabotaging button doesn’t kick in until after that first flush of success surges through the body and mind.

I’ve known several people throughout the years with varying manifestations of what I would call a fear of success. Sometimes, it’s because one just never got sustainable support on completing projects during the formative years, and hasn’t yet figured out how to learn those tools as an adult. Maybe the perception of some sort of obligation or responsibility (whether real or not) that comes along with success is the paralyzing factor. Or perhaps you succeed at the beginning stages and take a look at the “dreaded middle part” that scares so many artists, don’t know what to do next, and freeze up. There are other possibilities–creative, sometimes neurotic, funny funny organs, brains.

So how do you avoid this tragic fate being yours? Well for one, remember and repeat as necessary that it really is ok for you to make your goals. It doesn’t mean you’re also now responsible for the metaphoric equivalent of curing cancer and creating a sane and palatable national health plan. Learn what motivates you; are you more a “carrot” type or “stick” type? Play to your strengths and what you know of your own motivations when structuring your writing routines. It’ll be a heckuva lot healthier than trying to force your own bouncy brain into someone else’s writer jello mold.

I could go on, but these posts have been rather one-way so far this week; is there anyone out there reading along that wants to join in on this discussion? How do you get yourself to feel good about the milestones you make, or is it even a struggle for you? (Some people have no problem with this area.) Note that this post can apply to other than writers, for anyone wanting to discuss.