From 'Someday' to 'Today'.💭🌆🏃‍♀️🔨

Published: Fri, 08/02/24

Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.

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The "Why?" Trap

I started asking myself why I wanted to be a writer early on. I don't think I was more self-aware than the average kid; I seemed to gain an inordinate amount of joy from reading. Isn't it crazy that, by accident, I knew what I wanted to do? I just didn't realize that I could do such a thing? I wasn't about to let anything stop me, though - youthful exuberance was at play, and what I didn't realize was that I had a jump start on most people.

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Live today, not tomorrow or yesterday.

When I got old enough to understand that my path to being an author would involve choosing myself and going the self-published route, I spent little time philosophizing about why I wanted to tell stories. At that time, it was an exciting period in London where black authors had the opportunity to tell their stories and people wanted to read them. But when I sat with other writers in coffee shops or libraries, many were concerned about how they came across to the public, scribbling down profound reasons why they needed to write. But you know what? That notebook stayed empty of any actual stories.

🌠 Enter the Character Creation Challenge! 🌠

Every unforgettable story starts with compelling characters. This month, we’re inviting you to breathe life into a new character fit for a speculative fiction universe. Whether your creation belongs in the corridors of a spacecraft, the depths of an enchanted forest, or the bustling streets of a dystopian city, we want to see what you can imagine!

Challenge Details: Create a character based on the theme of "Survival in a Strange World". Your character should possess traits that make survival possible in unusual or harsh environments. Think about abilities, skills, personality traits, and physical characteristics that would help your character thrive.

How to Participate:Character Description: Submit a detailed description of your character (300 words max). Include their name, age, appearance, abilities, background, and how they cope with the challenges of their world.
Character Art (optional): If you’re artistically inclined, feel free to include an original drawing or digital artwork of your character.

Judging Criteria:

Originality: How unique is your character?
Relevance to Theme: How well does your character fit the survival theme?
Detail: How vividly and thoroughly have you described your character?
Creativity in Abilities: How interesting and fitting are the character’s abilities?

Prizes:

🥇 First Place: A feature in our next newsletter, a $25 bookstore gift card, and a chance to write a guest post or interview about how you came up with a character in the Character Creation Challenge.

🥈 Second Place: Your First Line Hook featured in my newsletter and a $15 Amazon gift card.

🥉 Third Place: Your First Line Hook in one of my Facebook posts and a $10 Amazon gift card

Submission Deadline

Get ready to Create a Character that will thrill and excite readers. DM me on Instagram at @AntonMarks_Author. Be sure to get your submissions in by 31th July 2024.

Sound familiar? Maybe you're not trying to write a book, but I bet you've got something – a business idea, a fitness goal, a creative project – that you're always talking about starting "someday."
Here's the kicker: Constantly asking "why" can be a sneaky form of procrastination. It feels productive, but it's just spinning your wheels. Let's not get it twisted.
You do need a "Why".
I believe that the more profound the reason 'Why' is the more you will strive to achieve that goal. But once you have it and have refined it, then it will do what it should.
Keep you on point.

The Dread - The symbolic Negusa Negast.

In the Days of Dread - Futuristic Thriller.

The Power of "When"

Let me introduce you to a little concept I call the 'When Revolution.' It's an empowering idea: Instead of asking why you want to do something, ask yourself when you will do it. This shift in perspective puts you in the driver's seat, making you feel in control and proactive.

"When" forces you to get specific. It's the difference between "I want to start a podcast someday" and "I'm going to record my first episode this Saturday at 2 PM."

In my sci-fi stories, characters don't save the world by wondering why they should. They do it by taking action at the right moment. And guess what? Real life ain't so different.

The Magic of Micro-Commitments

Here's where it gets good. You don't need to block out five hours daily to pursue your dreams. Start small. Real small.

When I finally got serious about writing, I didn't commit to cranking out ten pages daily. Nope. I promised myself I'd write for 15 minutes every morning before work.

Fifteen minutes. That's it. But here's the thing – those 15 minutes were non-negotiable. Rain or shine, hangover or dreary-eyed, I was at that keyboard.

And you know what happened? Those 15 minutes often turned into 30 or an hour. But even on the days they didn't, I still made progress. Slow progress, sure, but progress nonetheless.

Embrace the Suck

Now, let me be real with you. When you start something new, you will be garbage, and that's okay.

Remember my first attempts at writing Jamaican patois? Man, it was rough. I grew up using the dialect, but transferring it to the page was something else. It was difficult.

But here's the secret—I kept going. I wasn't focused on being good; I was focused on showing up and doing the work.

The Retrospective Why

Here's the funny thing about "Why" - it often becomes apparent only after you've done the "What" for a while.

These days, I can wax poetic about why I write speculative fiction. About how it allows me to explore complex social issues through the lens of imaginary worlds. About how it gives voice to marginalized perspectives in a unique way.

But you know when I figured all that out? After I'd already written two novels and a handful of short stories.

Your "When" Starts Now

So here's your assignment for this week: Pick what you've wanted to do. That thing you always say you'll start "someday." Now, instead of asking why you want to do it, ask yourself: "When am I going to start?"

Be specific. Set a date and a time. When that moment comes, show up and do the work, even if it's just for 15 minutes.

Don't worry about being good. Don't worry about the end goal. Just focus on showing up. Remember, in your life story, you're the main character. The main characters don't sit around wondering why they should start their journey. They lace up their boots and take that first step.

Your journey starts when you decide it does. So, my friend, when will that be?

Until next week, keep dreaming, doing, and pushing those boundaries – both in this world and all the imaginary ones.

Until next time, keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground.

Peace, love and power.

Your boy, Anton Marks

Be Your Own Hero.