The Science & Art of Writing

The Super Amazing Secret To Eliminating Distractions While Writing

6/26/2015

Do you often find yourself easily distracted?

If you are a writer the answer is YES! Don't worry my lovelies -- there is a way to make sure you are never distracted again. No, not snake-oil. You will have to practice this technique but after a few times of doing so...you will laugh at how silly you were before.

Visualize yourself in your favorite movie theater. You look up and watch as an amazing film plays on the massive screen. Then it happens...some asshole in the row ahead of you stands up and begins to scoot to the isle. This big moving silhouette blocks your view, grrrrr!

The world is split into two kinds of people. The first kind will start yelling "Hey you, down in front!" Huff, puff. "You are ruining the film!"

The other kind of person just stays focused on the movie screen and pays no attention to that silhouette. A silhouette can pass on by and you can still watch and enjoy that film.

That's it.

Distractions are only distractions if you CHOOSE to pay attention to them.

If you try to fight them you give power to them and you are choosing to be distracted. But if you treat them like the silly silhouettes and shadows that they are and stay focused on the film....meh, no problem.

A small shift in mindset creates massive results.

Too many artists waste time and energy fighting silhouettes. Let them be there, pay no heed, just do your damn job and let the fools fall to the side.

When you are writing just keep your eyes on your character. Watch them like a hawk. Watch them and follow them as if they were a kidnapper who has your baby and is running away.

If you were chasing a kidnapper who has stolen your baby you would NOT stop to say hello to an old friend, or go do the dishes! No! You would chase after them with such focus you would give no fucks about anything else.

The other great thing about letting your characters lead you when you write is you don't have to make a bunch of decisions. You only have to make one -- follow that character. Write down everything they do as they race after their goal.

So stop CHOOSING to pay attention to the silhouettes and start following your character.

vielen Dank,

Jess Hinds
The Crass Shaman

This article was written while while flying to Berlin. Remember, there are 24 usable hours in a day.

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Why Being Selfish Is Good For You (and everyone else)

6/13/2015

Just remember - doing only what you want when you want and being an asshole are two different things.

How often do you feel the painful drag of obligation? If you are anything like me five years ago -- Too Fucking Often.

Do you find yourself feeling resentful of people you love when doing kind things for or with them?

Do have the unending need for freedom screaming from your bones?

Do often beat yourself up for feeling selfish because, even when you do put others first you feel you would rather be somewhere-anywhere else?

Guess what -- you need to get selfish.

That's right. You need to throw everything down and commit to only doing what you want to do when you want to do it - fuck everyone else.

Five years ago, filled with anxiety, depression, self loathing I decided to do this, and you know what I discovered? The moment I decided I would only do things I wanted to do...I started doing a lot of awesome new stuff. But more importantly I did a lot of the same stuff. Only this time I didn't have that drag of obligation, there was no resentment. Most importantly I realized I really actually am a very selfless person by nature...when I allow myself to be selfish.

In fact the first thing I did was start teaching for free and outline a scholarship for artists from my hometown.

That's how I got rid of that nagging "you're so selfish" voice that would ruminate round my head fifty times a day.

Most people are not selfish, we become that way (and miserable and cold) when our reasons for doing things come from obligation rather than true desire.

So go forth - Be Selfish - only do what you want -- and see who you really are.

NOTE: If you are a psychopath, please disregard this blog post. Please do contact me as I would like to ask you many questions. No judgment - just curiosity.

NOTE NOTE: If you do this and discover you truly are a selfish dick....good. At least now you know and if you want to you can do something about it.

Jess Hinds
The Crass Shaman

Change One Word - Change Your Life

6/5/2015

You don't HAVE to do anything. You CHOOSE to do things. You choose to get out of bed. You choose to not work out. You choose to go to work. Stop saying you "have to" do these things.

Stop lying.

Granted you may not like what happens if you chose not to go to work. But it is still a choice.

Why the hell does this one little word matter?

A lot of crap comes with the words "I have to". It makes you feel as if you have no control. Yuck. It reminds you of when you were a child and you were told where to go and what to do all day long. Saying "I have to" is confirming for yourself that you have a life that is not what you want it to be, it breeds discontent.

So stop lying and making yourself feel like shit.

Replace "I have to" with "I choose to".

It's the truth. Even if a thief has a gun to your head you have the choice to hand over your wallet or not to. Aside from your body's automatic systems you choose everything you do.

Say the following two sentences out loud; "I have to go write." then "I choose to go write." -- Feel the difference?

"I choose" makes us feel in control. It reminds us that we do indeed have a choice. It also allows us to feel proud that we are making the right choices.

When you say "I choose to go to work today" you feel good knowing that you are being a responsible adult and a reliable co-worker and a dependable employee or boss.

Wouldn't you rather feel powerful, proud and in control rather than immature, disgruntled and out of control?

Try it for a week. Every time you catch yourself saying "I have to..." (either out loud or in your head) - stop - and replace it with "I choose to" and watch how one little word changes your story, your emotions, your energy, your choices, your life.

Namaste Bitches,
Jess Hinds
The Crass Shaman

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The Super Amazing Secret To Eliminating Distractions While Writing

Why Being Selfish Is Good For You (and everyone else)

Change One Word - Change Your Life

Jessica Hinds

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