Consistency Over Perfection: The Real Path to Writing Success (Part 2)

In this episode of "Pass the Mic" by Resilient Voice Media, Gabi interviews Jenny Quinlan, an experienced writer, editor, and book coach. Jenny shares her journey, discussing how she overcame procrastination, perfectionism, and self-doubt to help writers succeed. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, community, and consistent habits, highlighting her Winning Writers Club, which supports writers through accountability and encouragement. The conversation offers practical advice for overcoming creative blocks and stresses that progress comes from taking action, embracing imperfection, and connecting with supportive communities. Jenny's story inspires writers to trust themselves and keep moving forward.

 

Building Consistent Writing Habits (00:06:18) Jenny explains the importance of consistency, breaking writing into manageable steps, and developing a regular writing routine.

Jenny's Early Career & Natural Strengths (00:08:46) Jenny shares her journey from struggling writer to editor, and how her diverse experiences contributed to her current career.

Proudest Career Wins (00:13:12) Jenny highlights key achievements: starting her business, public speaking at conferences, and leading a major industry event.

Navigating Industry Changes & Business Pivots (00:21:39) Jenny describes reaching a business crossroads, diversifying her services, and adapting to changing industry and client needs.

Burnout and Setting Boundaries (00:25:40) Jenny talks about experiencing burnout, phasing out book cover design, and learning to set boundaries for self-care.

Overcoming Self-Sabotage (00:30:58) Jenny details her strategies for tackling procrastination and perfectionism, and the importance of accepting "done is better than perfect."

Building Self-Belief and Support Systems (00:33:05) Jenny explains her independent approach, the role of self-belief, and the value of supportive friends and clients.

About the Winning Writers Club (00:39:13) Jenny describes her membership community's focus on mindset, consistency, productivity, and accountability for writers.

What Makes Jenny's Community Unique (00:42:10) Jenny explains how her group differs by emphasizing mental support, creative well-being, and mindset over just craft or marketing.

Mindset Work for Writers (00:45:28) Discussion on the necessity of mindset work for writers, and how underlying beliefs impact creative success.

Advice for New Writers Facing Fear (00:45:56) Jenny offers practical steps for beginners: do some learning, avoid over-preparing, and start writing to build confidence.

Powerful Quotes from the Episode

Jenny, 00:15:56, 'That was another big win for me—having the courage to say yes, I'm going to try this, because that was a pretty big step outside my comfort zone.'

Jenny, 00:30:02, 'For me, my two biggest sabotages were procrastination and perfectionism, both rooted in fear.'

Jenny, 00:31:50, 'Having a real conversation with yourself about who you are and why you are that way can really help you find the confidence to overcome some of those sabotages and do what you really want to do.'

Jenny, 00:36:06, 'Sometimes when you tell somebody what you're doing and they're not in the know, they can say things that discourage you, even if they don't mean to.'

Jenny, 00:45:56, 'The truth is that anyone can write a book. Maybe not a good book, but anyone can write a book. So what you have to do is start.'

Jenny, 00:48:21, 'If you don't start, you've got nothing. So get started. Make a consistent effort to write. Make a commitment to yourself to reach that goal.'

 

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