Overthinking Your Writing? Be Like Jackson

Our topic at the SFF Seven this week is: How do you stop overthinking your writing? The accompanying photo is of Jackson, who makes a practice of overthinking absolutely nothing. I’m tempted to say “Be like Jackson” and end the blog post here.

But, seriously, the key to not overthinking your writing is … stop overthinking.

I know that’s not helpful, but it is an important skill to acquire. Conversely, it’s important to purge yourself of the idea that thinking is necessary for writing. As an intuitive writer, I do everything I can to maximize intuition and minimize conscious thought. The more I think, the slower I write. I know this about myself, but there’s a pervasive idea out there that writing comes from thinking.

This gem was going around Twitter/X the last couple of days:

We won’t dive into how much of a dipshit this guy is, including a misguided impression that writers are somehow not into opportunities that allow us to pay the bills. What’s key here is that he believes you have to have an outline before writing, that you have to THINK it out. Spoiler: you do not. I am living proof of it and a total advocate for being that opportunist. Let the story come to you.

Something to keep in mind is that overthinking is a form of perfectionism, which can be paralyzing. Therefore, any techniques for killing perfectionist tendencies will help here. Basically let go of expectations and the need to make the story perfect as you’re writing.

Relax. Let it flow.

Be like Jackson.

First Cup of Coffee – December 30, 2021

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - December 30, 2021

December 30, 2021

Jeffe Kennedy

How to ensure that setting goals isn't "setting yourself up for failure," more on our relationship with observing ourselves with compassion and scientific distance, and what this has to do with knife-throwing. 

The blog post I mention is here (https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2021/12/29/adjusting-those-variables-for-the-new-year/).

You can order FIRE OF THE FROST here (https://jeffekennedy.com/fire-of-the-frost) and DARK WIZARD here (https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard). You can preorder , GREY MAGIC here (https://jeffekennedy.com/grey-magic) and THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here (https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-princess-and-the-raven-king).

If you want to support me and the podcast, click on the little heart or follow this link (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jeffekennedy).

You can watch this podcast on YouTube here (https://youtu.be/iAnXbtJFe3U).

Sign up for my newsletter here! (https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r2y4b9)

First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

Support the show

Contact Jeffe!

Find me on Threads
Visit my website https://jeffekennedy.com
Follow me on Amazon or BookBub
Sign up for my Newsletter!
Find me on Instagram and TikTok!

Thanks for listening!



First Cup of Coffee – May 3, 2021

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - May 3, 2021

May 03, 2021

Jeffe Kennedy

Craft is heavy on my mind - with thoughts inspired by a talk on making design excellent and weighing that against cost-benefit-risk paradigms from my science background. What does it mean that God is in the details?

The video on design that I mention is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdH8Kuku9tA).

You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/JShMTSy_8no).

First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

Support the show

Contact Jeffe!

Find me on Threads
Visit my website https://jeffekennedy.com
Follow me on Amazon or BookBub
Sign up for my Newsletter!
Find me on Instagram and TikTok!

Thanks for listening!



First Cup of Coffee – November 16, 2020

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - November 16, 2020

November 16, 2020

Jeffe Kennedy

The dangers of thinking that 110% effort is possible - and why it's really okay to give some things 80% or even less - and how perfectionism can interfere with productive creativity. AKA: why I'm not buying a ring light.

If you're interested in learning more about my Productivity Mastermind services, you can read up here (https://jeffekennedy.com/mastermind).

First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

Support the show

Contact Jeffe!

Find me on Threads
Visit my website https://jeffekennedy.com
Follow me on Amazon or BookBub
Sign up for my Newsletter!
Find me on Instagram and TikTok!

Thanks for listening!


First Cup of Coffee – September 11, 2018

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - September 11, 2018

September 11, 2018

Jeffe Kennedy

Taking a walk today with Jackson, a preemptive strike against his autumn restlessness, and talking about the domestication of cats and dogs (as one does), along with worldbuilding and perfectionism.https://mcpigpearls.blogspot.com/

Support the show

Contact Jeffe!

Find me on Threads
Visit my website https://jeffekennedy.com
Follow me on Amazon or BookBub
Sign up for my Newsletter!
Find me on Instagram and TikTok!

Thanks for listening!