Today I would like to tell the story of a woman I admire for many reasons. For purposes of this blog, we'll call her "Sophie." This amazing woman is a gifted artist and loyal friend. She has also struggled with her weight on and off over the years. She knows, just as you and I do, that the number on the scale is directly proportional to the amount of food she eats and exercise she does. But that knowledge didn't help when she was faced with a tempting bowl of ice cream and the opportunity to relax in front of the television after a hard day of work. 

Recently, Sophie turned to Weight Watchers for help. By using a combination of online and in person meetings, she was able to find the discipline to stick to an eating and exercising lifestyle that allowed her to lose six pounds the first week. While after that the pounds dropped at a rate of about two to four a week, she was feeling better and that bolstered her desire to stay on track. According to Sophie, the missing piece in her previous attempts was the accountability of weighing in, facing others on a regular basis who had her best interests at heart and the tools available to make progress easier.

That is what a MasterMind Group can do for your writing. You already know how to write. You have to sit down and type. But focusing can be difficult when so many other priorities compete for your time. When the laundry is calling your name or the Facebook keeps popping up with alternative ways to spend your time, knowing that you are going to be sitting in a room, reporting on your progress is often enough to keep the momentum going. When a true block comes up, you know who to call to get feedback on the best way around it. And when that acceptance letter comes in the mail, you know who is going to be there to celebrate with you. By focusing on how it will feel to complete your story, novel or screenplay, you will find the small sacrifices required to achieve your dream much easier to make.

Now it's your turn. Set a goal for how many pages you want to write this week. Call a friend who will hold you accountable and celebrate your success. Or check out the Writer's Secret: MasterMind Your Way to Publishing Success for a step-by-step guide on how to set up, run and leverage your group to reach your dreams. 

And remember, we are always here for you. Feel free to drop us a line with a goal you would like us to ask you about next week, a trick you use to stay on track or to share your tip for slimming down the timeline to authorhood. And feel free to use the daily prompts to get your fingers warmed up. 

Yours in Writing

Chief Nudging Officers

Jennifer Sander and JT Long