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unfinished projects

Several piles of different sized and multi-coloured notebooks are stacked high into various piles then squeezed into a small vertical white cupboard with a few shelves

Do you have too many active writing projects?

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Jo VanEvery

This post is part of a series on Optimizing Focus. Finding it hard to focus is normal. Self-flagellation does not work to improve your focus. Furthermore it takes time and energy that takes you away from your writing; it is another distraction. I firmly believe that you can approach your work compassionately rather than violently. […]

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A typewriter with the word "Goals" typed cleanly in the centre of the paper in classic serif typewriter font.

Setting effective goals

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

My approach to planning is very process focused. I encourage you to make time to do the important work and to notice how your projects are moving forward. I do this because what I see happening when people set goals increases stress, leads to overwork, and doesn’t actually support their best work. Things like: negative self-talk […]

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Process vs Product

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

I have an ambivalent relationship with goals. I know they are important but I find setting specific goals with an output and a deadline stalls my work rather than motivating it. I see that a lot of you struggle with similar issues in your writing. This post uses a long analogy to my own process […]

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Letting go of unfinished projects

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Jo VanEvery 3 Comments

Every once in a while my knitter friends have a friendly contest for finishing UFOs (UnFinished Objects, a.k.a WIPs or Works in Progress). Sometimes there is a prize for finishing the oldest UFO in one’s possession. Do you have UFOs on your desk or in your files? conference papers you meant to turn into articles […]

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