Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Manifesto




Writing is a rollercoaster affair of highs and lows.

Quite often, the deep insecurities threaten to overpower us and we struggle with many challenges such as: staying focused, the ever-changing market/industry, negative book reviews, the sense of isolation, building an online writer’s platform, writer’s block, rejection after rejection, to name a few. But insecurity is part of the human experience. During these moments of doubt and fear, you need a lifeline...  a manifesto will give you direction and boost your spirits. It should be displayed in a prominent spot, where you can see it everyday!

What is a manifesto?

Wiki How states: “a manifesto is a statement of your intentions, which can consist of only a few words or many pages of text. Its scope may be limited to a particular role or period of your life, or include your goals and aspirations for your entire life. Many people find it useful to compose a manifesto, believing that such a document will help guide them in making decisions and keep them focused on their goals.”
Here is an example of a writer’s manifesto, taken from K.M. Weiland’s blog, Helping Writer’s Become Authors.
                                                             
                                              http://platformthing.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/a-wordplayers-manifesto-by-k-m-weiland.jpg

Have you written a manifesto? Where is it displayed?

21 comments:

Frankie Miller said...

I like the idea of a manifesto for writers.
I wish I'd thought of setting a 'life goal' many years ago instead of drifting around in the ocean.

Lisa said...

Thank you! I really like this manifesto. I have a few things on my desk top that I read every day. One is from Ray Bradbury, a favorite author of mine, "Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way."

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I guess I need to get on that!

Birgit said...

I have not written one but it makes sense to do that even in general

Anonymous said...

I love this! What a great inspiration to read every day. I need to do something like this.

Elsie
AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge

Unknown said...

Hmm. No, I don't have a manifesto per se... but I do have core values that I apply to writing as I do everywhere else in my life. One is to follow my bliss (Joseph Campbell!). Two is do what you love and the money will follow. Three gets more and more spiritual. The Great Spirit is a creator and wants me to create and succeed. I am protected. I am guided. I am always well... these sort of mantras I meditate on and say to myself all the time. I used to suffer from panic attacks and fear over everything which has led me to create this enormous web of intentions. It has helped enormously. :D

debi o'neille said...

I love this manifesto. Thanks for sharing, and I'm proud to be the newest follower of this blog. You have great blogs, you know.
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I never thought of creating such a thing for myself. I've always been so internally driven to write I've never considered needing to see it in writing in front of me. Now getting my butt in gear to exercise on a cold rainy day like today is something I could use a personal pep talk for.

Julie Flanders said...

Love this! I'm going to print it out as a reminder for myself. Thanks for sharing.

cleemckenzie said...

Manifesto is such a magnificent word. It elevates what your intentions to a very high level. Great idea. I think I'll make me one of those.

Anonymous said...

I have no written a manifesto but there is a Doctor Who poster on my wall with a great quote (had to go look it up)

"The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant."

The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.

Unknown said...

I feel the universe telling me something today. Staying motivated has long been my downfall. Reading that manifesto, I felt a twinge of shame as I realized my motivation has too long been tied to how people respond to what I'm doing rather than how I feel about what I'm doing.

This comment may not fit your post but I wanted to thank you for the moment of clarity I desperately needed today.

Chrys Fey said...

I love that Writer's Manifesto! I need to create one for my life goals.

My favorite part of the Writer's Manifesto was "Write Scared".

Jerralea said...

I love this! I need to create one for me

I like the ending line of the Manifesto: Love what you do. Write with Joy.

Pretty much sums it up.

Panda in Chief said...

I've been working on my manifesto, or to be more accurate, "Pandifesto" about embracing your inner panda. Alas, it has been put to the side, but only temporarily, as my inner panda need to come out.
Visiting from the A to Z from http://yourbrainonpandas.com :o)

LuAnn @ BackPorchervations said...

Pinned the graphic and added it to my "creed" page at the blog.

LuAnn Braley
AJ's Hooligans @AtoZChallenge
Back Porchervations

Michelle Wallace said...

Thank you to everybody who visited and commented!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I'm deep into writing right now, trying to finish a WIP. Just broke 86K. Feel a bit of a slump, and then I read this manifesto. Wonderful! Thank you, Michelle.

Heather Musk said...

This manifesto is great, my favourite being 'Build a lifestyle that nurtures and supports your writing.'
I've been working hard at this for a long time and finally feel I'm getting somewhere.
Another great post for A-Z!

Bevimus said...

Can I adopt that manifesto? It needs to be hanging on my wall, reminding me to just write.

Gossip_Grl said...

I am a couple of months late in reading this post. Love the post and the manifesto. I need to adopt the Don't Just Start Stories. Finish Them- as I have started yet another. I consider myself the hoarder of stories. I guess some may say that I am a also a procrastinator. I am a mere hobby writer who has never published a story.
http://iknewiwould.blogspot.com/