David Stoddard - the Unmotivated Motivational Writer

You Are An Unusual Bird

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:37:00 +0000

Why, yes I Am.

The title comes from a chapter heading of a book I had years ago where the reader (survey taker) would take a survey (I gave that away already), and the results would lead you to an animal or 2 or 3 of some kind.

The book was "The Animal In You." I was a penguin.

Now I truly don't think it was because of how I was dressed. (have never worn a penguin suite or a tux for that matter).

And I don't think it was because of my swagger (as if they called that a waddle or something). I'm guessing because of it's flightlessness, they knew something about my only flying twice in my life at the time. (to Florida and back home when I was 14).

Attempting to think back to so many years ago with the book, I did agree with what it said. I am guessing there was a much better bit of reasoning mentioned in the book which is a lot better than my saying, yup, that's about right when it came to me.

I like to think the unusual part was more of a "you're not like other folks." (Yes, Michael Jackson's Thriller video came to mind where he tells his date that he isn't like other guys - to which she says something like I know. that's what I like about you).

This past weekend, I went to Chicago to help my GF move stuff back home. I drove the 15ft truck back to the Lou. (More on that at a later time. But let me just say I have more respect for those who drive the big rigs as well as the smaller trucks I was driving. And when you are on the road with the trucks, understand they don't have a rear view mirror and they really can not see you pull out to go around them. So be careful out there).

Back to this blog post.

I know the Chicago part has almost nothing to do with this post about being unusual. Well, yet it does. We went to Navy Pier on Friday and to say there were different people there would be an understatement. There were unique people, different people, unusual people and yet totally the same to everyone else.

So where am I going with all of this?

I don't really know. It all made sense when I picked up the camera and took a picture of the TY Beanie Baby penguin who was resting on my bed. So I guess I am leaving that up to you.

What comes to mind when you hear the word unusual or different, or strange. Are they interchangable words? Do they mean the same to you now as they did when you were a kid? Do they mean the same to you and your kids today? Or do your kids have the same interpretation of the word you may have had back in the day?

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Wish You Were Here

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:19:00 +0000

A Writer's home away from home.

I can dream, can't I? And yes, I do appreciate those who take screen saver pictures for computers.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Happy New (fiscal) Year! Horray! Yippie!

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:50:00 +0000

I know. It just doesn't have the same excitement without the chill in the air (Missouri boy here), the smell of cheap champagne in the air (cheap Missouri boy here), "Auld Lang Syne" blasting in the air (old school, cheap Missouri boy here) and glitter puddles all over the floor. (You thought I was going to say something about "in the air" again. (Tricky, old school, cheap Missouri boy here).

Well, enough about me.

But, as for me, I like how the "fiscal" year provides a break in the "real" year. It gives us a chance to look back over the past six months (shorter than a whole year), and see what went right, what went not-so-right or those few (we hope) things that just totally went left instead of right.

Well, enough about me again.

How about you? Take a few moments. (Note: No one really knows how long a "moment" is, so it's up to you how long you do this). Think back, look back, skim back, track back over the past 181 days (if you are reading this on July 1, 2011) and see what you accomplished, hoped to accomplish, never thought you could accomplish and maybe just need to work a bit more on in order to accomplish. (Please, don't, I mean really, don't send the comma police after me).

Let's start this New (fiscal) Year with a gentle kick by knowing we did some stuff right already, and we are going to do even more right stuff rightly. (Note. Don't always try to figure out what I am typing. It makes sense to me and and it will to you as well if you are drinking that cheap champagne mentioned above).

This is our year... (and by year, I mean the next 182 days or so. Don't worry. We'll do this again in 6 months or so, and then that will be our year as well).

So what are you waiting for? We have a celebration to attend to. Then we get back to whatever it is we were doing before I so rudely interrupted, um, whatever it was you were doing.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Why We Did What We Did

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:56:00 +0000

Following 9/11, Jack Buck's poem at the at Busch Stadium provided us with needed encouragement to go on, to look ahead, and to be ever vigilant.

Last night's news about bin Laden being killed brought this speech to mind - nearly 10 years later.

Our thanks to those who wear the uniforms - for doing what they do.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Opening Day In Cardinal Nation

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:03:00 +0000

It's that time again here in the Lou where folks wear red, unofficially take the day off, and just go crazy for the Cardinals. (Yup, I too found a red shirt to wear as well. I don't know what folks around here would do if you were not wearing red - but I wasn't going to take any chances).

This town does it well. The Cardinals do it well. Sure, it might be just a lot of hype for something which will go on for 162 games and be done with sometime in October, but it's a celebration of another season, a new beginning and another symbol of sorts that things are going to be awesome.

So what does this have to do with writers and motivations and projects and stuffs that need to be done?

It's just an idea, a thought, a suggestion to celebrate the start of whatever it is you may be working on, taking part in, becoming or whatever.

Make it an event

You don't have to have the Clydesdales parade around, but I guess you can get your dog to run around after a laser pointer spot on the floor. (Don't do it folks, someone can get hurt).

So my suggestion as mentioned above is to celebrate the start of your next project, your next phase in your life, your beginning steps of writing that book.

Lastly, here is a video of the Clydesdales inside the current Busch Stadium in 2007 presenting the World Series trophy.

Go Birds!

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
http://www.djstoddard.com
http://about.me/unmotivatedmotivationalwriter
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Price Check On Aisle 3 Please

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:36:00 +0000

For the length of time I have been out here on the Internets, (and not just in this single sitting), I've learned that I have no more of a clue today than I did back in the days BG (before Google).

Part of the problem (if it is a problem) is that today, there are so many voices out here. Some giving advice and helpful ideas. Others giving things more in the realm of what-were-you-thinking or I-told-you-so.

Whichever the case, I am once again in my own little world of going with the flow. And by that I mean doing something by the seat of my pants without really thinking, wondering, planning in this spur of the moment - moment.

For many moons, I have been reading Joe Konrath's blog, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing. He has been a consistent voice for those interested in publishing. It is because of him and his own experiment that I am doing the same sort of thing with regard to my 2 ebooks of writing prompts, "200 Writing Prompts" and "3 Simple Words."

As stated above, I am just winging this. So if Amazon's and Barnes and Noble's systems haven't quite completed doing what they do to make the adjustment, they will soon... Both ebooks will be available for 99¢ (at least for a little while, maybe even longer).

So if you have ever had this thought of "Damn, I want to write, but where do I begin..." Now is your chance.

For Barnes and Noble fans, here's the link to them. David's books at Barnes and Noble.

The Time Is Now

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:34:00 +0000

(Flickr Photo by Neal).

Author Note: I was going through past articles and things this past week and came across one which for some reason felt new to me (though it was written a few years back).

I know when this was written, the time to get off one's tail and get going in a positive direction was NOW (Then). But now, reading it again today, I can't help but thinking that now is just as good of a now as then was as a now.

The article is an excerpt from "The Time For Me Is Now" as well as from "The Unmotivated Collection."

So for now, here is The Time Is Now...

The Time Is Now

by David Stoddard

This is it. This will be MY year. Now is the time. No more wishing for things to happen. No more feeling sorry for myself. No more planning and planning and planning and even more planning. No more false starts. No more waiting for someone else to make me happy. This will be a year filled with shining moments.

And I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna start right here and right… after I read this column.

During the past few weeks, I've been able to "talk" with different people. Many folks have written me about plans for the coming year. And I couldn't help but notice how much of a sincere belief many of them have in what they are thinking of doing.

There are some who are starting a business which they have always thought of doing, but for some reason didn't think they had the time or the talent to do. Several have started business type activities in the past, but perhaps didn't quite feel interested enough in what they were doing or didn't see positive results fast enough.

There are others who have begun to see that there is hope for a better life out there. Maybe they've been waiting for others to do things or make the decisions for them, but after waiting and waiting, have gotten to the point of now is the time. They understand that no one is going to do it for them, except themselves.

Even more are getting involved with their community or different groups of people with similar interests. Working with people at a job is one thing, but being involved with those striving to make the world a better place can be so much more rewarding.

A couple of people have said they are going to take those art classes or car maintenance classes which they have always wanted to take, but never did. One or two have said they are planning on going back to school.

I've also talked with people who have so many ideas of what they would like to do or get involved with or take up or be a part of, but they just don't have the time (so they say). I admit, sometimes there just isn't time to do everything, but that doesn't mean you can't get started with something.

As we've seen throughout our lives, when we begin something, (especially things we don't really care to do) things have a way of taking on a life of their own. It can become difficult to stop or get out of. Kinda like being the family taxi. All you had to do was do it one time, and it becomes yours seemingly forever.

Doing something you like to do, can work the same way. Maybe you start off with something as small as making an ornament or a decoration for a gathering. If enough people talk about it enough, it might be the push you need to do more of that.

Maybe you just want to get out of the rut of waking up, go to work, come home, go to sleep, wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep…. Taking a class might be an answer. You don't have to join a whole group or anything, just get out and try something different. The added benefit besides what you might learn is you never know who you may meet. You never know how or when your life can change.

For those with the motivation to do what you've always wanted to do and feel this is the year, best of luck to each of you. For those on the fence, go ahead and test things out a bit. See what life might be like on the other side. For the rest who are wondering and wondering, the best time to do it, is now.

Because, if not now ………. When?

The article can also be found in "The Time For Me Is Now" at Amazon or in "The Unmotivated Collection" for the Kindle at Amazon or the Nook at Barnes & Noble

Unmotivated Motivational Moments (#001)

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:18:00 +0000

Getting Started For Writers And Others

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Snow Came Back To Visit. Grrrrr

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:26:00 +0000

Ok Sun, It's now up to you to melt some of this stuff. I've done my part.

Download now or watch on posterous

snow_day.wmv (1497 KB)

How To Expertly Expect the Unexpected

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:16:00 +0000

(Expectations image courtesy of Roland via Flickr)

1. Understand, It Happens.

2. Find the benefit or learning opportunity

3. If lemons, make (you know the rest)

4. If it's too good, go with it anyway (you probably deserve a break)

5. Go with the flow... But

6. Be ready to adjust your course as needed.

7. Celebrate it.

8. Honor it.

9. Believe in what you are doing and why you are doing it.

10. Keep on rockin.

Time To Reassess Our Expectations From The Beginning Of The Year.

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:40:00 +0000

(Expectations image courtesy of Roland at Flickr).

Welcome to February. I know some of you got to this moment in time before I was able to post this. That just makes you an overachiever. Congrats on that.

Today as I folded up the January page of the calendar to reveal a young zebra with it's mother (could be father, uncle, aunt, older brother or sister, cousin, or just maybe that nice zebra from down the hill across from the Jones' ranch, who's to say,) I welcomed a new page titled... F E B R U A R Y (shocking, I know).

1/12th(ish) of the year has past, and looking at the stickies in the picture you see, I can't help but wish I had done something like that instead of just taking last year's ideas and moving them to the New and Improved notebook for 2011. Sorry, there really isn't a new notebook. Just went into my corny advertising pitch voice for a moment there. I didn't expect that.

What I did expect was listing ways of updating expectations and putting them into a sort of plan. A strategy. A set of steps worded in such a way that there is a chance they make sense and are helpful when action is taken.

Since that didn't quite happen, here is a short list of ideas from the top of my brain to the screen of your computer of what to do in order to move forward in a realistic manner this year around.

See where you are - This is where you must start from. There is no way around it. Now is the time. This is the moment. This is where it's at. (and not trying to steal a popular beer's new tag line, but...) Here We Go.

See where you've been - If you're like me, you haven't tracked your progress over time from year to year. But maybe it's time to start. Pick an area. Write down your past situation. Give it a place. Date. Time.

See where you're target is this year - Get it in mind. On paper. On screen. Written down. Printed out. Posted everywhere. See it. Live It. Be it... even though you may not be there yet.

See the steps on the way to your target - Follow a path of short actions. Trace the landmarks. Keep them close. Keep it simple. Keep them real. Keep them relative. Keep them so you'll do them.

See yourself as successful - Yes. Cliché moment. Act as if you have already achieved what you are after. (Just don't spend the millions from the lottery until it's actually in the bank).

Finally, as a bonus step, Be The Ball.

Lazier Than My 3-Word Prompts. I Like That

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:19:00 +0000

There I was a few days ago roaming the web of the world that is wide, searching for items I would deem personally useful in my search for the answer to whatever questions I had that I didn't even know I had at the moment. WHEN!!!!!!!

I came across a quite fitting site of writing motivation. http://www. Oneword.com.

This is so perfect. Except I had the fleeting thought of my own “3 Simple Words” I had written. I thought I had the ultimate in unmotivatedness when it came to ideas to write about.

Now I find this.

One word. That's it. You get it each and every day. And.... Get this.... You write about it for just 60 seconds. A single minute. .00069444 percent of a given day. (Why yes, I did just feel as if I was in an infomercial).

I thought to myself, Damn! I can handle writing for that long on a given topic without drifting off in some tangent totally unrelated to where it started.

The first word I got was ROCKET. My mind quickly went to a Kiss song of the 70s where they sing of put your hand in my pocket, grab onto my rocket. There I was avoiding writing about that (though no one would see what I was typing), and coming up with something stupid about whoever named a rocket a rocket.

That then went on to naming things and how that happens. Which then (obviously) lead to naming children (I don't get it either). Which then lead me to running out of time as I was just about to name the exact nominees for the Academy Awards. WOW!

Overall thought is it's a great site to get you writing quickly on something. It's pressure in 60 seconds. (And no, I can't prove if anyone can or can't read what you are typing on site for that minute), but it helps to think no one can.

Go for it. Give it a try. See what you come up with.

Here is your first “word.”

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz.

If you need help with pronunciation, here is Big Bird to assist.

25 Lessons - And We're Only Getting Started

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:17:00 +0000

I've been reading a bit lately. Which is good. It keeps me from having to sit down and write something. So it must take something to get be back to the keyboard typing stuff that matters.

And this time it's Lorenzo Dominguez's book “25 Lessons I've Learned About Photography.... And Life.”

I owe it to friend, all-around-awesome-guy and human behind TerrificYorkies.com, Terry Riffey for pointing me toward this ebook. He knows of my motivational background and he has been a photographer for many a year, so the 2 individual aspects of ourselves related to Lorenzo's book. (yes, I'm sticking with that as a reason).

Now, I know it's hard be believe that I haven't finished reading it, (meaning I'm pretty awesome at not finishing reading much of what I read), but it's not my fault THIS TIME. Lorenzo writes of having the option of staying home one night and reading a book or 2 on something he is interest in, or going out with his camera and DOING something, getting out, living. (So I've been busy shoveling snow and ice, tossing down salt to help with the ice melting procedures and doing a few other time-consuming / living life kinds of things instead of sitting back and reading more of his book (But I shall get back to it). Probably even before I hit publish on this post.

28 minutes pass

Oh, sorry. Was reading there. Ummm, where was I?

Ahh, the book. I am on lesson 7 of the 25.

The one which has stuck with me the most to this point is “Use Your Imagination”. I won't go into the details (mainly because I don't necessarily remember them as much as how they affected me). This was the first chapter to make me want to print small posters of quotes and paste them around the office.

Use your imagination is a reminder to use the creativity each of us has (and yes, believe it or not, we all have our own imagination. It helps make possible what we and others feel might not be possible. And it makes living just a bit more fun. Read the book. You'll see what I am saying.

As for me, I need to get back to doing something. Too tired to shovel more snow. (Yes, I should fight that lazy feeling), but right now, writing what I have in my mind right now is more important than just doing whatever.

It's Your Turn...

What will you do to get back to living once you are done reading this post?

To Be Or Not To Be Productive

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:56:00 +0000

I've been my usual unmotivated self for the past while when it comes to this thing here called a blog. But I am using my normal excuse of being busy with other things in life as a... (well) excuse.

But that's all about to change (he says in a deep penetrating, I really mean it this time, kinda way). Ya see... in the process of getting through day by day and doing other things, (read surfing the Internets in an effort to find something useful or just time-consuming), I came across Sage Cohen's new book "The Productive Writer" - Tips & Tools to Help You Write More, Stress Less & Create Success.

Now granted, I am only just a few pages into the book, but I already feel motivated to - at the very least - continue reading her book. Yes, yes. I will get around to the exercises, activities, writings and other related "stuffs to do" and do them. After all, that's why I bought the book in the first place.

And you - dear, kind and gentle reader, shall be the beneficiary of my upcoming vast amounts of productivity in the days and weeks and months ahead.

And for those who (as a result of my upcoming vast amounts of productivity) end up feeling as if you are totally the opposite of a beneficiary, then you can just blame Sage.

(See, my productivity has already increased).

Now get out there and be productive. (or take a nice nap. The choice is yours).

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Make It New

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Last year, I made this calendar with quotations from different writers thinking to myself that it would inspire me during a given month.

Well, here it is, December 1st, and it finally has done it's trick. The thing that I had hoped to have happen during the previous 11 has finally snapped something in my brain. (hopefully not in a bad way)

The quote is from Ezra Pound and the title of one of his books in 1935, "Make It New." Which of course I had no idea when I picked the quote all those months ago who Ezra was or that "Make It New" was a book. I just liked the quote.

Make it New

It can mean to take the ordinary (or in the case of Scott Ginsberg's presentation, the rare), and make it spectacular.

It can mean to take what once was and modernize it for today's world

It can mean to go back in your mind and remember all those ideas you had once upon a time, dig out the things you are interested in, appreciate, want to be involved with, enjoy or whatever and make those things happen. I'm kinda goin with this one for now.

I am glad the quote comes up in December. After all, January 1st is when we do those traditional New Year's resolution things which we often come up with the day before while we think of partying and champagne drinking (but I digress).

With the quote hitting home a month early, there is time to work it, get the details, ideas, plans, inspirations and the like and work with them prior to just jumping in on the 1st of the year.

So what will you make new?

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Most Often Used Words Mean What?

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:04:00 +0000

I was just messin around with http://www.wordle.net/ using the primary page of this blog (prior to this post, of course). It is interesting to see the words which are used more than others.

Things - They are the basis of so many, well, things.

Time - It seems like it goes by so quickly and sometimes never ends.

Ones - Kinda jumped out at me. Not sure why except it is about one's own thoughts I suppose.

Just - Just do it. Just get started. Just get outta your way.

Done - What does it mean to you?

NOTE: Click on the picture to see a larger view.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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Honoring Those Who Serve

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:27:00 +0000

They were the ones just doing the jobs they were asked to do.

They were the ones who were told to jump. And their response was how high. They were the ones who have been asked to do things we civilians could barely imagine. They are the ones who have honored, served and protected our nation.

They are the ones who on a given day would travel half-way round the globe to a strange and far-away land in hopes of providing a better world.

They are the ones whom through their courage, actions and sacrifices have given us so many freedoms we have today. The freedom to choose, the freedom to dream, the freedom to be all we can be anytime, anyplace.

They are the men and women who over years of service to the country have left an indelible mark on our history and in our minds. Be it through their own choice to enlist in the service because of a sense of duty, or because of being drafted in a time of need, these people have shown just what dedication, commitment, service, bravery and passion are all about.

This weekend, there are parades, meetings, conventions and other gatherings in honor of them and what they gave. And rightfully so. In a way, it's a shame we only honor them one day a year.

But there are others who are a part of this as well. The families who stayed back at home holding down the fort when the soldiers went off to do their jobs. The wives and husbands and parents and children and friends who did the best they could to keep going, never knowing what was to come.

Quite often, they had no idea what was going on, what their family member was doing, where they were heading, when they would be coming home. It's difficult to know what would be better, not knowing as things were in the past, or seeing what is going on because of all the media coverage we have today.

As men and women head off to parts-unknown, there will be countless others waiting for their return. They will continue to take care of children, go to work, write letters, watch the news, go to sporting events and try to live life as best they can.

Once all is said and done and our soldiers return home, we'll all be able to rest a little bit easier. Because like the veterans before, they are doing what is expected of them, they are doing their jobs the best they know how, and they will hope to leave the world a little better of a place then they found it.

Thank you… all of you.

A Brief Moment of Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:57:00 +0000

It's sometimes amazing (maybe just in my mind) of how much you can actually accomplish if only you sat down and went ahead and did it.

I have been wanting and needing to put together samples of the available ebooks for some time ever since I actually downloaded the samples from Amazon for the kindle app. There was just not that much there to satisfy my own need to see what the ebook would be like.

Because most of the ebooks are short, the samples Amazon provides just didn't seem to cut it for me. So I have added sample .pdfs for anyone and everyone who might wish to just see what the pretty covers are hiding.

I have them all on a Google site link from the blog homepage. Or you can just click here to get to the page where you can download each sample. (Just click on the cover to download).

Happy reading or prompting or thinking or imagining or taking a nap or lining the bird cage (should you print them out).

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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3 Simple Words - Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:51:00 +0000

Sometimes when doing things (often rare for me, but it happens), I end up putting something together which is really about something related but not ready yet. Then I end up putting said thing out there before the other thing is ready, and then as luck would have it, a 3rd thing needs to be done, just to make the 1st completed thing halfway accurate about the 2nd thing which isn't done yet.

Alas, thing #3 (this post) had to be done just to mention thing #1 (this video), which is about thing #2, which is still in the works - The next writing prompt ebook "3 Simple Things." Which by the way, comes out sometime in October.... Stay tuned.

So, anyway, all of that said (or typed and maybe read), here is the short video.

Enjoy!

--David

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
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Totally In The Moment Of Lacking Time Management Skilz

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:59:00 +0000

You know him, you love him.Cyril Northcote Parkinson. He is the very person named Parkinson who Parkinson's Law is named for.

In short, the Law states that Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

In my case, non-work activities and actions are doing a super job of filling this huge time void between when I first signed on to do stuff for the event and the actual date of the event itself.

I highly recommend taking part in activities that have nothing to do with much of anything when it comes to things you need to be working on.

On second thought, perhaps my way of getting things done (or not done) may not work as well for you.

Maybe you like getting things done ahead of time because...

You like getting things done ahead of time.
You just know something else is bound to come up.
It gives you time for tweaking - you crazy tweaker, you.
You like sitting back while the rest of us are stressing out at deadline time..
You've always been the busy little bee, haven't you? Go ahead. Admit it.

Oh, sorry. Got a bit carried away there.

As for me, I've almost always been a last minute doer kinda guy. No matter if I had to write a term paper, put together a video, or squeegee the countless things that needed squeegeeing, it would do them pretty close to when they were due. Hey, it's a living.

Why did/do I do that?

Assures there is less time to stress about if something was wrong.
Gets whatever it is done in a shorter amount of time.
I can get back to more exciting activities not related to anything. (see earlier in this post).

Despite this, I have on occasion been reminded the benefits of working on things early on and getting them done. Usually that happens after I realize that whatever it is I'm working on is going to take a lot longer than (not) planned.

Take this post for example. If I had gotten started on it earlier, planned it a bit better, maybe I would have been able to come up with a better ending to this post than this.

This is the end of this post.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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200 Writing Prompts Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:55:00 +0000

I had a few minutes to kill today, so I thought to myself, why not put together a simple book trailer for the 200 Writing Prompts ebook. Hey, movies have trailers, why not books.

So here is something I tossed together. Take a look.

Found On The Web - Living Life, The Game

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:54:00 +0000

In the process of roaming the web, I came across this "game" if you will which just seems so fitting to what this is all about.

The folks at Uncommon Goods have the "Living Life Game." To me, looking at the larger picture, this seems to be something that could be the perfect thing I could use to get my mind thinking of things to do instead of just letting life pass by.

So why not start your own list of possible things you could be doing. Take the game and run with it.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
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Search And Ye Shall Find... Something

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:46:00 +0000

Note: I came across this posting from several years ago on a separate blog I had started (and wrote in for about two months). I post it here because not only do I need something to post and this is easier than writing something new, but it is still how I am at times even today.

I was digging around stacks of papers last night searching for the columns I had written for the Alton Telegraph a couple of years back.

I came across old magazines, papers with scratched out notes, past issues of the newsletter, printouts of ebooks, and even a few quotes I had come across over the years which were in sheet protectors. I made those for my own bits of inspiration over the years.

But in the process of my search, I came across a small collection of pages. Ramblings of sorts which I vaguely remember writing some 5+ years ago. They were written at a time when I wasn't necessarily sure of what in the world I was doing. Some would say this hasn't changed much since then.

I wrote of writing. What it was, what it meant, how I started to do it despite really not liking English classes growing up, and even why I didn't do it even though I felt that is what I was meant to do.

I wrote of my own expert status of being indecisive. I still think it has something with being a Gemini (and born on a Monday none the less).

I wrote of the future and what it could be, should be, but not quite what I intended to make it be.

In the end, I never found the prints of the columns I was looking for. But in some strange way, I found something even more important. Those pages reminded me of who I was, and that I am still that same person. But it also allowed me to see that I am different as well. Older, maybe wiser in a sense, but still always searching for the answers for a better tomorrow

I've got a question...

What have you been searching for?
Something to do?
Somewhere to go?
Friends?
A good job?
That lost sock from the dryer?

Or something more important...... yourself).

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
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A Never-Ending Question

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

It’s a popular open-ended question which has helped change the world, make the seemingly impossible, possible. It has helped bring the unmotivated into leaders. It has helped creative people who may have been blocked for lengthy periods of time, come back with fresh views, ideas, aspirations and more creative ways of doing what they do.

What if… is the starting point to countless questions in any given area. And it works for writers as well. For me, and for this list, it’s about getting ideas and sitting one’s tail in a chair to actually write again.

What if…
   1. …I got up 30 minutes earlier?
   2. …I would exercise for just 10 simple minutes a day?
   3. …I bring the tools of my trade with me everywhere I go?
   4. …I would edit those pieces I wrote 4 years ago and sent them out?
   5. …I sold something I wrote?
   6. …I could sit myself down and actually write every day?
   7. …My teachers were write when they said I wrote well?
   8. …My teachers were wrong then they said my writing sucked?
   9. …I could make writing more a part of my job duties?
10. …I go to the park, bring a voice recorder, talk about what I see, feel, smell and hear?
11. …while I am still at the park, I recorded my thoughts about what I wanted to write?
12. …I recorded ideas I had for possible greeting cards, bumper stickers, buttons and the like which I could send off to some places, or even design myself for Cafe Press?
13. …I just sat and recorded ideas I had for different books, booklets, articles, chapters, plays, videos, blogs and poems?
14. …I would just write instead of wondering What If…?

What are your What if… questions you have asked yourself over the years?
--David

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Pick up the Kindle version of 200 Writing Prompts
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That Pretty Much Sums Up A Lot

noreply@blogger.com (David Stoddard) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:42:00 +0000

I sat down to write this post about 5 some-odd hours ago. (and they were some of the oddest hours).

What has taken so long was redoing the whole look of the blog. It brings me back to those days when with a web site, I would change this and that and another thing way too often. And now that same thing is coming back with this blog.

So that's why I am sitting here now saying Huh? What in the world am I doing this again. For those who have been following for the past many years off and on, you have seen the transitions. For those who want to see what I had done (and again, looking back at some of these, I say Huh?) click on the Wayback Machine and see for yourself.

Feel free to enter other web addresses to see what they looked like years before.

So as I look at today, I did get some stuff done. And in a few minutes, I will sent this post to just add 1 more thing to my vast accomplishments of the day.

Now get out there and get yourself something completed. Just don't take as long as I did.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer www.djstoddard.com
Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard or Facebook
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