Not Applicable

Okay confession time. I love paperwork.

I don't mean I just like filling in forms and filing and alphabetizing...I mean I LOVE paperwork. So the term "Not Applicable" [or the shortened version NA] is one you'll hear me say often.

Think about when you fill in a form and it asks you a question. You're given the choice between Yes-No-Not Applicable.

I have to be honest, I usually try to find a way to make it applicable to me. I'm such a student of nuance [probably because I'm a writer] that I need to feel that various things apply to me.

Example:
You own a farm. Yes-No-NA

Well, technically I don't really own a farm, however, my neighbor is a farmer and we do have cats outside that catch mice, two dogs and 4 ducks. So, I'd have to say "All of the above.


This spills over in to my life. When someone asks me to help our or participate in activities I try to find a way, somehow. Yes, it means I can get over-committed, which then leads to frustration, but I don't want to feel like I'm missing something. My mom tells me that even as a toddler I would be up from early in the morning until 11pm or later [without a nap] because I never wanted to miss anything.

And then in my stories....AHHH. I dump so much in to my stories that sometimes the poor reader must stop and say "I think I could have figured that out without you pointing out the obvious!"

So think about the term NA as you do your writing, marketing and platform development. As you're writing and editing your story, keep a file titled "Deleted Scenes" and if something is NA then REMOVE IT. Put it in your deleted scenes folder, and move on. Your story will be better for it.

If you're trying to create a marketing platform or strategy, understanding NA will keep you from wasting precious time and marketing dollars.

Don't be like I am when I fill out forms, reluctant to choose NA on anything. Be merciless and give an honest assessment of where you are, where you need to be and how you'll get there. Doing so will save you precious time and precious marketing dollars.

Embrace the NA.

I have to go. I have writing to do.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter