Saturday, January 16, 2021

It's a Journey, Not a Destination by Julie Hennrikus

LUCY BURDETTE: You all have heard about our crime writers organization, Sisters in Crime, right? It was launched by nine women in the 1980's when they realized male writers were getting the lion's share of reviews. And reviews=sales. The group was formed to support women crime fiction writers and now it has over 3000 members. Both Hank and I have served as president of the national group and we've all been involved at some level.

On New Year's Day, SinC sponsored a write-in hosted by our friend Julie Hennrikus aka Julia Henry. The idea was you can set the tone for your year according to what you do on that first day. So I attended, and then wrote 500 words in half an hour (yay!), and thought Julie did a great job. So I asked her to visit today to explain her thoughts to you....


 JULIE HENNRIKUS: Like so many writers, I wear a lot of hats in my life. I write the Garden Squad series as Julia Henry. I’m a certified life coach. I offer classes for performing artists and writers to learn the mechanics and mindset needed for their creative journey. And I’m an arts administrator.

On January 1, I wore all of the hats at once when I hosted a webinar for Sisters in Crime. As part of a new series for members, the write-in is partly a writing seminar, and partly an opportunity for a group of people to write together online at the same time. 


The talk I have before the write-on was geared toward writers, but the messages can be applied to any creative journey. Here are my five tips to help make 2021 work for you.


Remember your writing journey is ongoing. What I would tell my younger self, and what I tell folks I coach, is this. When we’re on a creative journey that has stops along the way, but the journey doesn’t stop. We’re never done. Did a draft? Great. Now’s time for edits. Got your first book published? Congratulations. Celebrate! I’m a huge fan of celebrating. Then get back to work.


Set an intention for the new year. How do you want to feel about your writing journey, or your life, during 2021? Now, given that, what choices do you need to make? One of my intentions is to have more fun in 2021. Every day I think about that intention and check in. What would be fun? Doing a dance? Working on a new knitting project? Trying a new recipe? Zooming with my nieces? Listening to an audiobook? Intentions should be thought about daily, and not put off until the future.



Set goals that inspire, but are achievable.
Here’s the thing about goals. They need to feel like a reach, but not be impossible. Impossible goals set you up for failure, which means you’ll quit. If you need more time, take it. But keep working toward your goal.


Carve out time mindfully. I do a lot of time management talks, and like to remind people that we all have 168 hours a week to live our complete lives. That includes eating, sleeping, working, playing, writing, exercising, loving and more. In order to support a writing practice, you need to carve out time to write. You aren’t going to find the time if you don’t. I suggest that folks put writing time in their calendar every day. Some days it may be an afternoon, others it may be a half hour. By making the time, you’re telling the muse that you’re showing up. Showing up is when the magic happens.


Progress over perfection is my favorite phrase. I tell my coaching clients that their first draft is going to be terrible. That’s part of the process. But until they get that first draft, they can’t get to the next one, which will be better. Perfectionism is a block, and it’s usually based on fear. Be grateful that your subconscious is protecting you, but then keep going. Embrace progress, don’t look for perfect.


Thank you, Jungle Reds, for inviting me on the blog today to write about writing, one of my favorite topics. Readers, did any of these ideas speak to you?



BIO: Julie Hennrikus writes the Garden Squad Mysteries for Kensington. The most recent in the series, Digging Up the Remains, was released last August. She also writes as J.A. Hennrikus and Julianne Holmes. www.JHAuthors.com She just launched a Writing Journey membership that includes monthly coaching calls. That, and other classes are on YourLadders.com She blogs with the Wicked Authors, and is the acting executive director of Sisters in Crime. @JHAuthors 

63 comments:

  1. This is very interesting, Julie . . . as for what ideas speak to me, I’d have to say both set an intention for the new year and set achievable goals . . . I’m not particularly consistent with the whole goal-setting thing . . . I should try to be better about it . . . and the idea of setting an intention for the new year intrigues me . . . .

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    1. Joan, I find that the intention setting has helped me anchor what I'm doing. Setting an intention or two is a great exercise.

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  2. All good things to remember in every aspect of life, not just writing. Thanks for reminding me today.

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    1. Thanks, Mark. I agree. So much of what I talk to artists about are life lessons.

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  3. Thanks for the great advice, Julie. I think carving out time mindfully is what speaks to me the most. I too often find myself having not made time to write a review I intended to or to read more of a book I'm reading. I think if I mindfully put aside the time in my day for a certain activity, I would happily accomplish more of what I wanted to. Setting an intention for the New Year would have to be a baby steps and flexible thing for me. Learning from last year that you never know what the year will bring, I think I'd rather set an intention monthly.

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    1. Monthly is great, and smart. We've all seen how things can go sideways. I've started to create a writing appointment on my Google calendar every day, and then I move it around as needed. But it's an appointment I make with and for myself.

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  4. Hi, Julie. I'm trying to build a visual arts practice, and carving out time mindfully + progress over perfection are my two biggest stumbling blocks. I'm a very baby beginner at this new art I'm learning, so I constantly compare my work to that of far more accomplished artists - so I forget that progress in baby steps *is* my goal right now. And that makes me reluctant to schedule time specifically for making work, even though I know I will enjoy myself once I get started. Do you know the book "Art and Fear?" It is terrific, and the authors write about these themes as well as others; I find it really helpful to go back to.

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    1. Kerry, first of all, congratulations for exploring a new path. I hope that you're giving yourself props for doing this work. And thanks for the book recommendation. An artistic practice is only about the journey, IMHO. Product is a by-product. You're getting comfortable with the practice, and you're willing to be an apprentice. How great is that? Best of luck on your journey.

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  5. This is very helpful, as was the write-in. Trying something new in my writing, and disruption in my writing life, and this dreadful year we have all had? I find I have to get back to basics even though I am not a new writer.Your wise advice is spot on.

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    1. exactly Triss! even though some of us aren't new writers, we're discombobulated and I found Julie's suggestions very helpful..

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    2. Triss, I find that every book gives me a moment of "have I lost it?". I'm also trying to push myself. Being kind to yourself, especially with upheavals, is critical. Best of luck with your writing!

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  6. You did a splendid job kicking off the writing year for SINC, Julie. I agree with all those points.

    I've definitely set an intention to have more fun. It's been a grim year, even though my family has stayed healthy. I took an online salsa dancing class a couple of weeks ago hosted by the eco farm where my son lives and works. It was so much fun! I want to do more.

    I know the importance of carving out time. That's not an issue for me with my writing or exercising, but many other things (other ways to be creative, cleaning, even reading sometimes) fall by the wayside because I don't set them on my calendar.

    My late and wise friend Annie was a big believer in intention and in expressing gratitude (celebrate!). Thank you for reminding us of both.

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    1. I LOVE that you took a salsa class. And I'm with you, my pleasure reading hasn't been a priority and needs to be. Annie was so wise--gratitude is the cornerstone.

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  7. Julie, that write-in is a great idea and you have provided some great tips.

    Me, I am a RECOVERING PERFECTIONIST. It started with my ambitious parents who always pushed me in school. If I got an "A", they would say why did you not get an "A+"? One of my first bosses at Environment Canada was an absolute perfectionist. Not surprisingly, she also was the sole female division head in an directorate of 110 public servants, so that probably played a role.

    Looking back now, I realize we pushed and worked so hard to try and achieve that elusive perfection. She agonized if we found a typo in our final technical report after it was published. I realize now that extra 3-6 months we spent "perfecting" our work was a waste of time.

    My motto changed from SEEKING PERFECTION to SEEKING EXCELLENCE, and that helped a lot in terms of not putting excess amounts of stress and expectations on my shoulders (and that of my team).

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    1. GRACE: Such a good modification to make from perfection to excellence. Well done! I learned a lot about 'good enough being good enough' during my years of solo contract work (writing and editing). Clients always wanted -- needed -- to find something to change in my work in order to have their stamp on it that I soon realized that spending my time perfecting the piece for my own eyes did NOT guarantee the client would agree.

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    2. What’s the saying—great is the enemy of good.

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    3. Grace, perfectionism is a disease that many of us have. "I realize now that extra 3-6 months we spent "perfecting" our work was a waste of time." That speaks to me, and is the reason to let go of perfectionism. In my coaching life, I talk to a lot of folks about how fear often disguises itself as perfectionism, particularly for creative people. Fear of rejection or comparison. Good luck with your recovery--I find mine is ongoing.

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    4. Amanda, working with clients brings on another layer to the conversation, doesn't it?

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    5. JULIE: Yes, client expectations can add more pressure. But in my case, the perfectionistic tendencies were self-imposed and re-enforced by bosses and/or fellow team members.

      It has been hard for this Type A workalcoholic to change her ways. Even now in retirement, I find it hard to SLOW DOWN AND RELAX. Fortunately, the stay-at-home pandemic situation this past year has helped clarify what is most important in my daily schedule.

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  8. I like that they can be applied to real life as well as writing. I like setting goals that are achievable. And intentions are great because they align with setting goals.

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    1. Agreed, Dru. Aligning your goals with your intentions is so important. My intention of fun in 2021 has definitely impacted some of my goal setting.

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  9. I attended your New Year's Day event! A great way to start the new year. I always have writing to do, even if it's a grocery list. If I hit a roadblock, I switch projects.

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    1. Switching projects is a great way to reconnect with the muse. Though I find that when I'm slogging through the first draft of a book, I need to ignore the other ideas that are tempting me. Thanks for being there New Year's Day!

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  10. All good tips! Hard to chose among them.

    There must be something in the air this year. I, too, have chosen the have more fun intention. I'm back at my crocheting and try to find something fun on a daily basis.

    Grace, your motto of Seeking Excellent is really resonating. I auger myself into inertia by seeking perfection, and really, there are erasers on pencils. My job is to do the very best I can and polish that.

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    1. KAIT: Thanks, I hope this new motto will help others, too. It took me getting close to burnout at work in my mid-30s before I realized there had to be a better way.

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    2. I love this, Kait: "there are erasers on pencils"

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    3. "There are erasers on pencils" is a wonderful reminder. I've picked up my knitting again. I definitely think that 2020 changed the air flow.

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  11. I love the practice of setting intentions, which I do every new year by making a vision board. The process (journey) is more important, really, than the product (destination). And I definitely subscribe to 'progress over perfection'. Didn't some ancient Greek say, 'Don't let perfection by the enemy of the good'? It's really good advice.

    Thanks for visiting here today, Julie. I'm taking your advice on board and running with it...

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    1. Thank you, Amanda. I haven't done a vision board in a while, and now you've given me the prompt to do a new one. I find them very helpful.

      I so agree--the journey is the point. If we delay happiness or joy until we're "done", then we're missing an opportunity to enjoy the present. And counting on a future that may not show up.

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    2. Julie: Exactly what you say. Yes! And when we're in the present moment we can better discern the milestones along the way and we can better see the side roads that will be good and interesting to travel down.

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  12. What a good reminder for us to sit down and get after it, Julie! I was thinking about my weekend, and making a to-do list. I'll have to rethink those chores in terms of my intentions, and work in a little fun. For instance, I intend to work on my manuscript, and I equally intend to stop doom-scrolling The Washington Post, so I have more time to work on my manuscript.

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    1. I've been doom scrolling Twitter, so I understand the temptation. I hope you do work in some fun, and have some good writing time. I've found that the more mindful I am about my time, the more content I am with my day. Happy writing!

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  13. You are so wise. I always talk about achievable goals—that’s how I can best succeed, is my conquering small increments. Because it’s all about math—of you keep adding, you’ll inevitably be done.

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    1. Thank you! Hank, you are so right. It's all math, and small steps get you there. We all need to learn to trust that.

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  14. Thanks for an interesting post, Julie.

    The "progress over perfection" idea speaks to me, too. I have struggled with perfectionist tendencies over my lifetime. In addition to it inhibiting my work, I find it has kept me from fun sometimes, too. Even though I cognitively recognize that one has to start as a beginner at any task, I have had a tendency to try new leisure activities and drop them quickly because it isn't very much fun being a beginner. I haven't yet decided what new skill I want to learn this year, but I have decided I want to learn one, and I know I will need to muscle through that period where it isn't fun when you're not good at it.

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    1. Susan, for years I wanted to tap dance, and every time I'd take a class I'd quit because I was so bad at it. I still don't tap, and my knees are shot so not sure I ever will, but I dance regularly. I agree--our perfectionism gets in the way of the joy of the doing. Such a good thing to get rid of, because joy is the point.

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  15. I loved the write in and these thoughts!

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  16. Thank you for your judicious advices Julie.
    I must remember that my writing journey is ongoing. I look like a smoker trying to stop. Sometimes it takes many tries. I tend to write and stop and write and stop but the desire always there, I may be able to go forward someday.
    It may also help to seek progress over perfection.
    Grace's seeking excellence may help too.

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    1. Grace's advice is terrific. I have found, through my own writing and working with theater artists, that once you've been bitten by the creative bug, it never goes away. You can ignore it, but it will feel like something is missing. Better to pursue a creative journey, however imperfectly, then ignore the muse. You never know what's going to come out of exploration.

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  17. Great advice, Julie. My advice is usually: "Just hold your nose and write." But you say it much better.

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    1. You helped me understand that writing is hard work, and will always be hard work. But there's joy in the journey.

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    2. I quote "hold your nose and write" all the time.

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    3. I quote Nora Roberts' "Bad words are better than no words" all the time. I should have it stamped on my forehead...

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  18. When I was working I used to say that goals should make you queasy and green, but not actively puking. That was my way of saying difficult and challenging, but not completely impossible.

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    1. Queasy and green, but not puking. An excellent barometer!

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    2. haha, only you Barb would put it in those words!!

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  19. Julia, thanks for the pep talk this morning! Now I'm going to go write down those intentions!

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  20. Love ALL of this! I'd say more, but it's time to go put down some bad words!

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  21. This is fabulous! Just the shot in the arm I needed as I am so far behind right now (world on fire!) that my goals have been slipping. Progress over perfection! I love it. Thanks, Julie! Also, I'm a huge fan of your work and am delighted that you're so productive!

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  22. Julie, I love these, and as I'm STILL procrastinating over my goals and intentions for the year, it's perfectly timed. One thing I have learned is when you want to reach your destination, you take time to look at the map first, so this weekend, I'll do some planning for the upcoming year.

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    1. I agree about looking at the map. Though sometimes exploring a new route can be refreshing. Have a good planning weekend, Julia.

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  23. Julie, “showing up is where the magic happens”...thank you for the reminder. Echos of law school: “show up prepared, stand up, grip don’t lean, deliver your argument, shut up, sit down. But most of all SHOW UP.”

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    1. When I decided to run a half marathon after a lifetime of slothdom, I read a lot of books about training. One phrase that stuck with me was/is "the courage to start". That's part of the showing up, I think. Love the law school advice.

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  24. J.A. Hennrikus, welcome to Jungle Reds. I have been working on my novel in progress and we are having a chat with our writing teacher on Sunday morning.

    Diana

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