4 Ways to Find the Energy You Need to Write

 

It doesn’t matter who the writers are that I’m talking to. It might be my critique group. It might be my accountability group. It might even be my students. If someone is having troubles getting their writing done, they will blame it on time. And that makes a certain amount of sense. There are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. We can only get so much done. 

But long before most of us run out of time, we run out of energy. Think about the language that you use when you hit that low. You say you are run down, you don’t have any . . . energy. To find the energy you need to write, try these 4 things.

Monotask 

Is that a word? I’m not sure but I like it. Focus on one thing and do it well. When we multitask, we very rarely do several things at once. Instead we bounce from one thing to another and each transition uses up some of our energy and focus. When you write, just write. Don’t try to squeeze it in while you are making dinner or doing housework. And don’t have Facebook, Twitter, or your e-mail open while you write. Focus. 

Reduce the Decisions You Have to Make 

Every task, every decision uses some of your energy. Look for decisions that you can streamline. In our house, that involves what we have for dinner. The nightly debate is exhausting. “What do you want?” “I don’t know what do you want?” To avoid this, we plan a weekly menu. We always have a few extra meals in the freezer in case no one wants homemade General Tso’s and sesame green beans, but usually we stick to the menu. It’s amazing how much more energy I have when we don’t spend that time butting heads. What’s for dinner? Look on the menu! In your household meals may not be a problem but it would be a huge help to lay out your kids’ school clothes for the week. 

Move 

I’m not telling you that you need to run a mile every day. But do get up and move. Some sources say you need to do this every 90 minutes. Others say every 30. But the point is that you need to get your blood flowing. When you do, you’ll find that you have more energy and better focus. Me? I walk around the block, get on the rower for 10 minutes, or at least run something out to the composter or recycling and spend some time goofing around in the yard. 

Write What You Love 

I love writing nonfiction largely because I love to do research. There’s a reason a friend jokingly calls me the Credible Hulk. But writing nonfiction isn’t going to energize everyone. For some people, the only choice is romance or picture books or poetry. Don’t select a project just because you think it will sell. Writing something you don’t love is going to drain away all that energy you’ve found. Write something you love and you’ll feel excited and energized. 

Not that I’m saying writing is easy. Spinning stories from thin air is a lot of work and requires a lot of energy. Find the energy and you’re much more likely to find the time. 

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 27 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins April 5, 2021) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins  April 5, 2021). Her new course, Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work will begin on June 7, 2021).

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8 comments energy, energy management, finding energy, time management, writing time

3 Ways You Can Set Yourself Up to Write

Write every day. That’s the advice that we are so often given but how do you squeeze writing in around your day-to-day activities? It doesn’t matter if you are dealing with children who are distance learning, working remotely yourself, or just dealing with day to day household tasks, it can be way too easy to put your writing off. You finally get a moment to write and . . .

Nothing. The words simply refuse to flow. Here are three things that you can do to help the words flow when you have time to write.

Have a Ritual. Setting up a writing ritual may sound strange but I’m here to tell you that it works. When I am doing a hard copy edit. I’m usually working on a deadline which means that I need to get it done now. What is my ritual? In the dining room, an area where I don't normally work, I set out my print manuscript, a pencil, a fresh cup of coffee, and a specific candle. Even on days my mind is scattered, when I smell that candle, I sit down and get to work. 

Have a Plan. Know what you are going to work on. Don’t wait for the Muse to come along and drop something in your lap. Instead, develop a plan. For some people, this plan can be really general. “Today, I am going to draft a picture book about bees.” For other people, it has to be a bit more specific. Not only do you need a project, you also need an outline.  Don't worry if what you need differs from project to project. For fiction picture books, I just need to know what manuscript I’m working on. For nonfiction picture books, I need an outline.

Stop in the Middle. Throughout July, I’ve been working on the same project, a cozy mystery tentatively titled Send in the Sopranos. I have written on this project each of the last 21 days. I’ve learned if I stop at the end of the scene it is hard for me to get started the next day.  I find myself waffling over where this new scene takes place and which characters are in.  If I stop in the middle of a scene? Then I can read the last few sentences and mentally drop back into the scene.  Soon the words are flowing.  Yes, some days this flow is a trickle but even that is something. 

Even if you can’t write every single day, these three techniques will help the words flow when you sit down to write. Yes, even the ritual, and I have a licorice-scented candle to prove it.

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 25 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins  August 3, 2020) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins August 3, 2020). 

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5 comments daily writing, writing prep, writing ritual, writing time

Friday Speak Out!: How to Drop the Preamble and Get Writing

by Katey Schultz

I used to be a big fan of taking my time. I loved free-writing morning pages by hand in my journal, then reading a few stories by a favorite author, then thumbing through old story drafts before actually starting to write new material. But becoming a new mother forced me to drop the preamble, and it’s working.

My decision to “drop the preamble” began one January at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, which hosts a week-long, by-invitation, artist residency called Pentaculum. In 2017, I attended with my 7-week old infant son. Without the pressures of work deadlines, each time my son napped, I turned immediately to the blank page. I never knew how long I’d have to write, so I didn’t waste a moment. To my surprise, I found I could be highly productive, without the preamble.

The first thing you need if you’re ready to write anytime, anywhere, without the preamble, is a willingness to play. To be imperfect. To simply delight in the few minutes you grab to type into your phone while in line at the grocery store, or the fifteen minutes you journal before bed (even as your eyes are half-shut), or the chores you skip on Sunday afternoon in order to finish a revision on that story you’re determined to submit to a contest. When you give yourself permission to play, you take some of the pressure off of yourself, and guess what? Often, your writing improves.

For me, sometimes play takes the form of a concrete, singular task. I might set a word count goal for myself (400 words in 1 hour, say). But if I’m tired or uninspired, word counts are too intimidating. I’ll work with existing work instead: Revise one scene. Re-read one draft and make annotations for revisions I’d like to tackle during my son’s next nap. However you feel that day, that moment, make the decision swiftly, and get to the desk. Keep it light. If it gets heavy, walk away and come back after later.

The second thing you need in order to be productive without the preamble, is gentle accountability. Not phone alarms or deadlines or “if this, then that.” But a simple, pleasurable way to check in with a greater literary community at regular intervals, so that the conversation of writing stays present in your life. Writing is hard enough. Enjoyable, yes, but also--let’s be honest--hard work. So many writers I mentor make it harder for themselves by acting as their own biggest bullies. But bullying doesn’t help in any sustainable way.

Live webinars are, even to this Luddite introvert, a surprisingly effective way to feel supported (rather than isolated), without taking a lot of of your time. If you’re new to “dropping the preamble,” I suggest a livestream class because the accountability--however gentle--is, in fact, real.

Community helps writers know they’re not alone. That others are eager to learn. That others set goals and fall short, or set goals and exceed them. That, for those of us in this for fun and the long haul, the slow and steady approach is what’s going to help us find our best words. We can drop the preamble, and still find a way to be beautifully imperfect. We can still be successful and have fun--with a touch of gentle accountability--all at the same time.

* * *

Katey Schultz's story collection, Flashes of War, was awarded IndieFab Book of the Year and received a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America. She has won more than half a dozen flash fiction contests, been awarded writing fellowships in 8 states, and is currently seeking a publisher for her novel set in Afghanistan. Her newest online program, Airstream Dispatches: a worldwide book club for writers, brings together a group of dedicated creatives who want accountability, craft-based instructional writing prompts, and the community of other writers to feel supported and "seen." Explore her online classes, ecourses, and writing at www.kateyschultz.com. 

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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8 comments Friday Speak Out, Katey Schultz, live webinars, preamble, productivity, writer inspiration, writers' community, writing accountability, writing goals, writing productivity, writing time

Who Needs a Schedule?

I want to go out on a limb here and say...YOU! You need a schedule.We all do. If you have a schedule-phobia, then you might have stopped reading by now. If you're vigorously shaking your head no, then just bear with me for a few more hundred words and let me tell you why I think everyone needs to find a schedule that works for them.

You will write more.
If you have a schedule, you will write more. I haven't done an official study, but I have talked to enough writers and have been a writer long enough to know this is true 95 percent of the time. (Estimated statistics there--we are not math geniuses after all.) Usually, if you have given yourself a scheduled time to write, this also means that you've made writing a priority. And if you've made writing a priority, then you're writing more and on a consistent basis.

Without scheduled writing time, writing might be the thing on the list that occurs when you get around to it. We all know that many times those list items never get finished.

It doesn't have to be a typical schedule.
If you are NOT a schedule person, and you are still with me, then thanks for hearing me out. You see, scheduled writing does not have to mean that every day at 5am, you are going to wake up and write. There are all different types of plans that work for people--the point is really to have a planned writing time and stick to it. This is why several novelists have taken my "Write a Novel with a Writing Coach" class because the way the class is set up, it makes writers stick to a schedule. The schedule is: every Friday, they must turn in a chapter or 15 pages to me. So before Friday then, they have to plan writing time to get this assignment finished--some people do it the weekend before and revise during the week. Others write at night when their children go to bed. Some do it on their lunch hour.

Maybe you have a critique group that meets every three weeks. So your schedule is--I have to have two chapters to turn in every three weeks. Therefore, how much time do I need to write these chapters before that date? Maybe it's not the same time for you every day, but you know you'll need ten hours before that three week deadline, and you work your writing time in that way.

Having a schedule saves you time.
One thing I have started doing is before I get up from my computer to do anything (get a snack, go to the bathroom, put a load of laundry in), I open up the next thing I'm going to work on or I type a line for the next paragraph or chapter, etc. The point is: planning ahead of time what you are going to do saves you time. So, even if you have to make your writing schedule day by day because you have a totally hectic life, thinking about WHEN you can have planned writing time the very next day and WHAT you will work on helps you use your limited time wisely; and (I sound like a broken record) you will be more productive.

If you are a schedule person, tell us below how you use a schedule to work your writing into your life. If you are not, then let us know--does this post drive you crazy?

Margo L. Dill is a writing coach, editor, author and teacher, living in St. Louis, MO. You can find out more about her writing and coaching business here and her books here. 

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6 comments daily writing schedule, Margo L. Dill, motivation for writers, writing coach, writing time

Friday Speak Out!: You will do anything to save your kids or your partner, but what about your writing?

by Karen Wojcik Berner

I ran out of the house as my timer blared Sencha signaling the beef burgundy in the crock pot was done. Not boeuf bourguignon mind you, just plain, old Americanized beef burgundy over egg noodles. It was Wednesday, after all. I had twenty minutes to pick up my son from football practice and shove some beef burgundy in my mouth before I retraced the same route back to the high school for Open House Night.

My husband drove while I scanned my son’s schedule, noting every other class was on the second floor. I anticipated a night of running from class to class, covering a school large enough for over 3,000 students, when he uttered words guaranteed to strike fear in my writerly heart.

“I need to work from home more.”

“What?”

I had just started a new freelance assignment the day before. It was going to be perfect. My son would be gone all day at school. My recent college graduate would be working. My husband would be at the office. The house would be mine again. Mine to structure the schedule. Mine to control the noise level, the vibe, the pace.

“The commute is killing me. I can’t afford to lose two hours a day in the car.”

Over the past sixteen years, literally every time I have begun a new project or a new novel, one (or both) of the kids would get sick, my father would call me every day right as I sat down to write, or my husband would start working from home again, which meant conference calls for the entire day, his voice booming throughout the house, and rendering me incapable of a solid thought without IT terminology creeping into my head.

Every. Single. Time.

My stomach sank. As the most flexible and only female of the group, I usually ended up putting their needs first, and my writing would be pushed aside until it swelled up and I exploded.

After Open House, I vowed this would not happen again. My job was every bit as important as theirs. I would fight for my writing space. I’m sure many of you have been in the same situation. But, how do we do this without World War III breaking out at the dinner table?

Our negotiation is a work-in-progress. Most of the time, he takes the upstairs office to contain the conference call volume, while I work at the kitchen or dining room tables. When I have interviews to do, we switch. Other days, he might go to a local coffeehouse for a few hours, like I did when I was writing my first novel, or he works outside when the weather is good.

The key is negotiation. Remember, your writing is important. Period.

What strategies are in place when you and your partner work from home? How do you deal with managing your time to write?

* * *

Karen Wojcik Berner writes contemporary women’s fiction. An award-winning journalist, her work has appeared in several magazines, newspapers, and blogs, including the Chicago Tribune, Writer Unboxed, Women's Fiction Writers, and Fresh Fiction. She is a member of the Chicago Writers’ Association. When not writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her youngest’s football or lacrosse games, discussing the Celts with the oldest, or snuggling into a favorite reading chair with a good book and some tea. For more info, please visit www.karenberner.com.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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9 comments Friday Speak Out, juggling family and writing, Karen Wojcik Berner, sharing a writing space, Writing Space, writing time

The Best and Simplest Time Savers of the Year

The New Year is just beginning and I’ll bet you’ve got all kinds of wonderful resolutions or goals or word counts or…

Yeah, okay. I haven’t quite got ‘round to figuring it all out, either. But one thing I did figure out last year helped me in short term and long term time management. It’s just a few organizational tricks, so simple that I managed to stick to ‘em all year long. And I’ll bet you can benefit from these handy little time-savers, too.

First, I instigated the “Monthly Writing Notes Method” and presto! I found time to read lots of great blog posts and articles about the craft and business of writing.

Here’s how this little gem works:

1. Open a Word doc and title it “Writing Notes, Name of Month.” (I keep the doc open every day, all month long.)
2. Copy the url of the link that looks interesting and paste it into the file.

Yep, that’s pretty much it. Later, like when I’m watching a football/baseball/basketball game on TV, I’ll open those notes and spend a little time catching up on my writing reading. ‘Course, if you have a fancy-shmancy smart phone, you can save stuff and read whilst you’re watching the kiddies at their live sporting events. (Don’t act like you watch the entire game. You know you only watch your own kid.)

I’ll also dump titles of books I want to read or quotes I love or an idea for a blog post—anything that I want to save but can’t get to right at that moment. But when the moment comes around—like when I need to order library books—there’s the info at a snap of my fingertips. No more wasting time, looking for where I saw that link or racking my brain to remember something.

Next, I have a few tips for cleaning out the inbox. You can read all the details here, or you can just follow the old “if I haven’t read it in 60 days, it’s probably not that important” trick. Just read the timely stuff and then dump the rest.

See how I’m saving my writing time on a daily basis? And cleaning out my inbox? And organizing my tips and information and ideas?

So simple. (But you have to actually do ‘em. Here’s wishing you a 2016 absolutely brimming with writing time!)

~Cathy C. Hall

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2 comments Cathy C. Hall, organization tools, time-saving tips, writing time

Writing Time

Recently a new writer asked me how I work. Am I one of those people who writes in snatches of time? Or do I plan out blocks of time?

I started to explain that I write in short bursts, squeezing it in . . . and then it hit me. I used to write around nap time and snack time and play time. I was really good at flying through a page and getting it down fast. Sometimes I still work that way, but not most of the time.

For 9 months out of the year, I know I am going to have from 7 am until 3 pm free, Monday through Friday. I’m a big block of time writer and I didn’t even realize it. Yeah, I can be really observant that way.

How do you write?

Some people have full time jobs. This means that they have to squeeze writing time in wherever they can. Some get up early to write. I have never been one of these people because I am not a morning person. One of my friends, a school counselor, wrote her first novel 15 minutes at a time on her lunch breaks sitting in her car.

But not everyone can write in these short bursts. They need longer blocks of time. This might mean sending the kids out in the yard with your husband. Or, you could schedule a writing weekend. One of my friends rents a cabin once a year. That way she has not only hours at a time but days.

The thing that I’ve found most important, even when I don’t realize that I’m doing it, is to be flexible. When my father was in the hospital, my several hours a day disappeared. I wrote standing up in the ER, in his hospital room and waiting for him to get out of X-ray. Not only was I writing in short bursts, I had to be mobile.

What worked for you last month might not work this month but that’s okay. Find the solution that works for you right now. Then when things change, come up with a new one. We all do it even if we aren’t paying attention at the time.

--SueBE

Sue is the instructor for our course, Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins on January 11, 2016.

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1 comment flexibility, writing habits, writing time

What Does It Take To Have a Writing Retreat?

Two weekends ago, I was lucky enough to go on a writing retreat at Conception Abbey, Missouri, which is about 90 minutes north of Kansas City. For those of you who have never heard of Conception Abbey, it's a Benedictine Monastery with an extremely nice and inexpensive retreat center, and this is where SCBWI-MO holds our Advanced Writers Retreat. But while I was at this extremely peaceful place, I wondered if this is what writers need to be on a retreat. Do we need to get away from it all to write, and if so, what does the retreat venue have to have?

I've been on several retreats--from a lovely lakehouse to a hotel in the middle of a busy city. To be honest, the one thing a retreat gives you that you don't get in your day-to-day life is the expectation that you are SUPPOSED to be constantly working on your work-in-progress. You are not supposed to stop to take the kids to school, feed and walk the dog, clean the bathroom, go to the grocery store, or prepare dinner for your family. There's no guilt--you are retreating to write. But what else does a retreat really need?

Here's what Conception Abbey provided me:

1. Fewer distractions: Some of you will not believe this, but there was no TV in my room and no Internet either. My phone could be used as a hot spot when I needed the Internet, or I could go to the library to use theirs. But the biggest factor was no TV. I don't watch that much at home, but in a hotel, I tend to turn it on. No TV, no chance to turn it on. The rooms were also so inexpensive that each of us got our own, which is so nice because if we need quiet or fewer distractions to write, we had it! Plus, I had arranged someone else to take care of my four-year-old and dog, so right there, I had a bunch of time! 

2. Other writers: But writers need other writers to bounce ideas off of and maybe even receive some useful feedback. I had this at the Conception Abbey retreat, too!  I rode across Missouri with three other lovely writers and then had a critique group I met with each night, as well as eating meals with writers who are all trying to do the same thing--use retreat time to write. Plus, and this is not really a need but it was nice, everyone at this retreat was writing for children or teens!

3. Food: You have to keep yourself energized on a retreat--you need to eat. At the Abbey, someone else prepared our meals three times a day,  and we just showed up and ate them. This was amazing! It was like being back in college, but with MUCH BETTER FOOD! Plus our regional adviser bought chocolate, and there was plenty of coffee to go around. You don't need someone to make meals for you, although it is so nice, but you do need to think about food BEFORE you show up to the retreat, or a lot of your writing time will be spent on: What am I going to eat and how am I going to get this food? When my critique group goes on retreat together, we just each take a meal--plan it, buy for it and cook it that day. So you are only doing one meal, instead of six for the whole weekend, etc. My advice: think about this BEFORE you arrive! 

I hope at some point this spring, summer, or fall, you have a chance to go on a retreat, even if it's just for 24 hours. And for goodness sakes, if someone says to you, I have a house in the country that you can use for retreat or I need a dog sitter for the weekend when I'm gone--handing you a retreat opportunity with little effort or expense, snatch it up! 

Margo L. Dill is a children's author of three books and a writing instructor. Her next class is Writing Children's and Teen Short Fiction which starts on May 13 and instructs on how to write short stories for this audience for publication and contests before you have a novel or picture book published. To find out more about the class see the link above; to find out more about Margo, please visit Margo's website.

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3 comments Margo L. Dill, SCBWI, work in progress, writing retreat, writing time

I Walk, I Talk

There's been lots of heavy breathing in my writing lately. No, I'm not writing 50 Shades of Purple, Pink or Blue. But I've found a new way to squeeze some extra writing time into my life.

It all started when I stepped on the scale ( I know, you're thinking that was a mistake right there!). Well, that annoying scale showed me a number which I am not fond of so I decided to shoot for a different number (a smaller number, obviously). So I began walking. But it quickly became obvious that many days it was either write or walk. I already had limited writing time and I was going to cut into that for walking?!

So I figured out a way to do both. Unlike most people I don't listen to music when I walk so I decided to write while I walk. Well, talk. I bought a voice recorder that is about the size of an mp3 player for around $25 and now, as I walk I talk. Sometimes it's just ideas but more often I re-read something I've been working on before I head out. Then I "write" changes or new paragraphs as I walk. Yes, I look like I'm talking to myself but the neighbors already know I'm a little crazy!

I've found it's a great way to work on dialogue. After all, when you're actually saying the words aloud it's easy to hear what doesn't sound natural.

Of course there is a little huffing and puffing on the recordings (especially on the hills) and I do have to transcribe everything to my computer but it's better than not writing at all. Plus I lost 4 pounds!

Do you have any tricks for squeezing extra writing time into your life?

Jodi Webb is a blog tour organizer for WOW-Women on Writing and would love to hear about your book and promotional needs at jodi@wow-womenonwriting.com. Right now she's looking for June dates for a tour of Michelle Dim-St. Pierre's Pinnacle Lust. She blogs about books at Words by Webb and Building Bookshelves. 

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5 comments tips for writers, writing time

Just How Fast Can You Write an Article? (7 tips on how to speed up your blogging time)

by Karen Cioffi

I don't know about you, but I can take a while to write an article, usually an hour and then some. Even if I have an idea, I still try to add extra value into the article by doing a bit of research and getting 'social proof' to back up what I'm saying.

A number of bloggers / marketers say they can write an article in 20 minutes. I’ve heard this said a number of times. Supposedly, 20-30 minutes is average for them.

Mulling it over, I came up with 7 tips to speed up your blog writing, while still keeping it optimized.

Tip #1 Keep a list of ideas (and information)

I’ve been keeping lists for years. And, with information permeating every nook and cranny of the internet, there’s never a lack of new ideas.

For quick research, keep files with links to articles on specific topics that you come across.

Tip #2 Use keywords

While you need to use keywords, don’t go crazy researching them. If you’re in a rush, just think of what you’d use to search for the topic you’re writing on.

Tip #3 Use bullet and numbered points

People love list articles. They’re easy to read and quick to scan.

In regard to writing time, using numbered points helps you organize your thoughts and content. This makes for quicker writing.

Tip #4 – Add graphics

Yes, you need graphics. As with Tip #1, keep a file of graphics you can use as the occasion arises. I have separate folders with images, targeted video codes, and so on.

Adding graphics may add some time to your article, but it’s time well spent.

Tip #5 Editing time

This writing task is a must. Your writing is a reflection of you and your skills – make them shine.

Tip #6 The article length

Word count is a conflicting theory. There are many bloggers who say to give the reader more value with longer pieces of 1000 words or more. Others say to keep it around 400 or 500 words.

I’m in the middle. I say write the article as it comes out for your own blog.

If you’re trying to cut down on writing time, keep it shorter.

Tip #7 End it when it’s ended

Once you write and edit the piece, end it. Don’t keep going over it. This is one of my trouble spots. I’ll keep adding to it or tweaking it one way or another. This is just a waste of time. Don’t do it.

What strategies do you use to speed up your writing time?

***

Karen Cioffi is a former accountant who is now a multi-award-winning author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, editor, and author-writer online platform marketing instructor. She founded and manages Writers on the Move (a marketing group), and presents online writing and marketing workshops and webinars.

Karen has published 12 writing and marketing eBooks, the most recent, Article Marketing: Increase Website Traffic with Properly Formatted and Search Engine Optimized Content.

In addition to this, Karen’s website, Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing, was named Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012.

Join Karen Cioffi's upcoming online class, Become an SEO Writer in Just 4 Weeks. Visit our classroom page for details and enrollment.

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6 comments article ideas, article writing, blog topics, faster writing, Karen Cioffi, online class, optimizing your writing website or blog, WOW class, WOW instructor, writing time

The Pomodoro Technique: Time Management for Writers

Do you wish that you were a more productive writer?  If so, you aren’t alone. 

Lately, I haven’t been accomplishing as much as I would like.  At first, I blamed the fact that I just finished a work-for-hire project -- I researched and wrote a book on the Ancient Maya in five short weeks.  Afterwards, I just didn’t accomplish much.

That said, I’ve had almost two months to recover, but the results have been unimpressive. With my son off school, too young to drive, and on swim team, I’m not home for long stretches of time.  Sometimes I manage two hours.  Other days, I scrape together a half hour here and a half hour there.  Either way, I’m not getting much done.

Then I read about the Pomodoro Technique. This is a time management system based on the kitchen timer.  You set the timer for 25 minutes, work throughout that time, and then take a five minute break.  Follow this with another 25 minutes of work and another break, and so on. 

The Pomodoro technique challenges you to do several things:

• Figure out, accurately, how many Pomodoro (25 minute time periods) a task takes.
• Work on concentrating, ignoring outside distractions, for one Pomodoro at a time.
• Block out the time that you need to get a job done.
• Work these time blocks into the time you actually have available to work.

I’m not certain how this is going to work long term but in just a few days, I’ve noticed a drastic increase in my productivity.  In part, this is because I’m realistically considering what I can get done in 25 minutes.  With this do-able goal in sight, I sit down and write whether I have 30 minutes to work or 2 hours. 

The ultimate test will take place during the upcoming week with the arrival of Boy Scout Camp. While my swimmer is at camp, my days are free to write. That should be good but with a long stretches of time, I have to be careful not to fritter it away so that I accomplish nothing or push myself too hard, too fast so that I burn out and quit working. 

Fortunately, the Pomodoro technique also encourages you to take longer breaks every two hours.  The thought is that you can put in a productive day if you manage your time and give yourself necessary down time. 

If you want to learn more about the Pomodoro system, visit their web site or Google Pomodoro Technique.  

--SueBE

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5 comments time, time management, writing time

Finding Time to Write: 5 Ways that Writing in December is like Baking Christmas Cookies

Finding time to write is never easy. Many of us work, we manage households and there is always something that needs to be done.

This becomes even more difficult during the holidays. We still have to do all of our normal activities, but there are now also holiday tasks (shopping, gift wrapping, socials, concerts, and even more cooking and cleaning).

Yet, you can still work writing into your schedule once you understand the 5 ways that writing in December is like baking Christmas cookies.

1. Planning Required. You can’t accomplish either one of these tasks if you don’t plan for them. For Christmas cookies, this means making a grocery list and shopping. In terms of writing, it means deciding ahead of time what to write and planning accordingly. This might mean simply knowing what is going to happen next in your story. Have what you need to write and then. . .
2. Make Time. Your plan won’t do any good if you don’t make time. “I’ll do it when I get a minute” isn’t good enough. Actually block out a period of time on your schedule, but be realistic. Making a batch of cookies from dough to baking may take more time than you have in one evening just as your morning activities may not allow you to write an entire chapter. You will have to . . .
3. Break It into Do-able Steps. For cookie baking, this might mean making the dough one night and baking another. For your writing, how you do this will depend on what you are writing but it could be as simple as dedicating yourself to writing two pages of prose or three lines of poetry each time you work. Add these small chunks together day after day and you will have accomplished something worthwhile.
4. Try Something New. Sometimes we need to try something new and now is the perfect time. If you have roughed out your novel, you may not be able to rewrite amid the hustle and bustle. Now might be a good time to try your hand at the craft activities you’ve been wanting to write or the no bake peanut butter bar recipe hanging on your frig.
5. Plan to Share. Your family is more likely to help if they get to sample both cookies and your writing. When I read my son pages of my middle grade novel, he wanted to know what happened next. I wouldn’t tell him. He had to read the finished pages. This meant that if I ended at a cliff hanger he actually wanted me to go back to my writing.

Writing in December isn’t easy, but it is doable if you go at it with a plan.

–SueBE
Author Sue Bradford Edwards blogs at One Writer's Journey.

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2 comments daily writing schedule, finding time to write, writing, writing time

Friday Speak Out!: Find and Protect Your Writing Time, Guest Post by Lisa Tiffin

When I started writing professionally, my boys were four-year-old twin dynamos. No longer taking regular naps, they needed plenty of supervision and mom time. I loved every minute of my giggly, wiggly pre-school boys, but I was committed to developing my writing skills and worked hard to find time to write.

To get those articles, essays and fiction pieces completed, I formed a late-night writing habit. Once everyone – husband included – was safely tucked in for the night, I would start up my computer, check my to-do list and start tapping away. Even an hour or two at night helped me stay on track though I often stayed up past midnight with more than my share of 2 a.m. sessions. My husband helped out by setting out breakfast before he left for work, buying me a few extra minutes of sleep each morning.

As the boys grew and we decided to homeschool them (no school-hours writing sessions for me!), I had to continually refine and protect my writing time. When I decided to write my first novel, I hired neighborhood teens a couple days a week. The girls would come and entertain the boys with Play-Doh, crafts, outside time or games while I sat nearby in my office, churning out page after page.

Now that my twins are busy teens, my laptop is indispensible! It comes with me as I truck the guys to tennis lessons, art classes and bowling practice. I either find a nearby coffee shop or a quiet table at practice to work on drafts, revisions and even Web copy. And on days without lessons or activities, the boys know I’ll be in my upstairs office for the afternoon.

With all my persistence in protecting my writing time and treating it like a professional, they’ve come to respect my work as well. They know if the door is closed they’ll have to come back later, or if my fingers are flying over the keyboard they’ll have to wait for me to finish out my thoughts before interrupting. Sometimes I reinforce this notion of mom as a professional by sharing news of a particularly good paycheck or feather-in-my-cap article placement, but for the most part my family respects my writing time and seems proud of my accomplishments.

So when people ask me how I have time to homeschool my children, freelance for the newspaper, publish essays and articles, provide business copy and still have time to write fiction, I answer honestly. I sit in the chair and write. I find time in between family activities. I protect my time just like any professional would. And if I can do it raising homeschooled twins, you can, too!

* * *

Lisa Tiffin is a freelance writer and children’s author. In addition to starting a new blog aimed at helping homeschool parents teach writing, she recently published her first middle grade book, Theft of the Star Tracker. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and twin sons. Learn more at www.lisatiffin.com.

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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2 comments finding time to write, Friday Speak Out, homeschool, Lisa Tiffin, making time to write, writer inspiration, writing time

A Writer's Thanksgiving

‘Twas the morning of Thanksgiving, and under the door,
Wafted the aroma of the turkey I’d bought from the store.
The table was half-set, and I heard the parade,
While I typed like a fiend towards NaNo word counts I’d made.

When out of the kitchen I heard such a clatter,
I sprung from my desk to see what was the matter.

The dog was wolfing down pie, a toaster was beeping—
And all of a sudden, a kid’s book idea came creeping.
I’d file it away, and as I pulled out the burnt toast,
I thought Happy Thanksgiving! Now I've got a blog post.


For some of us, if not most of us, writing has to come in between. Between the day job that pays a regular income, and the too-short weekends to catch up on everything else. Or between fussy babies finally napping—and kindergartners just home from school. And on days like Thanksgiving, between a turkey roasting in the oven, and the guests arriving way too early.

It’s quite a challenge to fit writing time in while the craziness of life swirls all around you. But you know what? I’m grateful for the experiences and the people who swirl in that lively soup. That’s where I get inspiration, ideas, and the impetus to “write it out.”

There was the Thanksgiving I served a raw turkey to my mother-in-law and parents—and learned how to write about asking for help. On another Thanksgiving, I had a baby howling with an earache and a toddler complaining of a bellyache and a husband sitting alone at a beautifully set table with a bowl of black olives and a turkey. It was all so absurd, I laughed out loud—and wrote about the foibles of trying to have the perfect family holiday.

Yep, I’m thankful for Thanksgiving. It’s served up a fair share of writing along with the cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. But honestly, every day is brimming with writing possibilities, and I’m thankful for that cornucopia that tumbles around me.

Oh! And I’m thankful for you, the readers who take the time to stop by and say hello. I so appreciate you squeezing me in, between washing the dishes and hubby asking for leftovers. But now you really should be off. Writing—and pumpkin pie—wait for no (wo)man!


~Cathy C. Hall

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8 comments Cathy C. Hall, Inspiration, thanksgiving, writer's thanksgiving, writing time

Writing with the Kids Home

As summer temperatures heat up, some writers heat up as well, typing like mad until they have to go back to their day jobs as teachers. Yet there are many other writers whose writing comes to a halt because they are Moms.

Maybe it’s because my family needs my income. I’ve never said, “I can’t write because the kids are home.”

If you’ve used this excuse, I’ve got something to say. If you genuinely want to write, it is possible even with the kids home if you are willing to follow these four steps.

Commit. The first thing that you need to do is commit to writing even when you aren’t home alone. You are a writer. Writers write. You are not neglecting your children by writing. You’re a Mom not a cruise ship activities director. You do not need to fill their every waking moment. They will survive on their own for short periods of time and they will learn to amuse themselves. Commit to the idea that you can write even with children around. This step is essential. Repeat it until you mean it. I am a writer. Writers write.

Talk the Talk. Lay things on the line for everyone involved. Explain that you are going to write. Because this is work, it is not optional and they must give you this time. Period. All requests during work time will get an immediate NO. Snacks. Movies. Swimming. The park. No, no, no, and (do I need to say it again?) no.

Help Them Find Something to Do. If your kids are used to sailing along with you as activities director, they won’t amuse themselves with grace or dexterity. Ask them what they plan to do while you write. A movie or the Playstation almost always work. Maybe they’d like to read or play a game. If your kids are particularly clever, they may announce that they are bored. You can’t say no to that, but you can always bring out the Jar of Joy. This is a sarcastic name for the chore jar, the perfect anecdote for boredom. Ask my son.

Do It. Decide how long you are going to write. If you normally don’t write with the kids home, this is going to be a learning process for everyone. If you have younger children, start with a shorter time, maybe 15 minutes. Set a timer and get to work. Don’t check Facebook. Don’t pop over to your e-mail. Write.

How do I know this will work? I’ve been writing since my son was an infant. He gave up naps at 3, but I didn’t give up writing. Why? Because I’m a writer and I’m not neglecting anyone if I take the time to do it.

–SueBE

Author Sue Bradford Edwards blogs at One Writer's Journey.

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4 comments finding time to write, writing time, writing with children

Friday Speak Out!: Juggling for Writers: Why Two Hands and A Good Head Are Enough, Guest Post by Kelly Thompson

Juggling for Writers: Why Two Hands and A Good Head Are Enough

by Kelly Thompson

As a kid, I thought jugglers had an extra pair of invisible hands. That had to be how they could keep so many things in the air without dropping something or knocking themselves senseless. The only juggling I did then was tossing two ping pong balls in one hand. Oddly, Ringling Brothers never called, and my circus career was over before the age of 12. Which is why it’s strange that I’ve grown up to be a professional juggler.

I don’t use flaming clubs, and have only thrown a bowling ball straight up in the air once (it was an accident…really). My trick? I’m a juggler of words.

I average about 60 hours of writing a week with four balls in my juggling act: a full-time day job in advertising and public relations, a part-time radio job that includes copywriting, a personal blog about writing and radio, and at night and on weekends, I write fiction.

Transitioning between multiple writing gigs during the course of a single day can be a challenge but not an impossibility. Here are some tips to help you keep all the balls in the air:

Regroup and recharge. If the subject of your writing is different from day to night, your brain has to make the transition between the changing styles. At the end of the work day, take a mental break and focus on other things for an hour or two. That allows your mind to downshift from the day’s writing projects and gear up for the night shift.

Stake your territory. If you write in a traditional work setting like an office, you probably have little control over distractions (visitors, phone calls, emails). When you have the opportunity to be the queen of the castle, wherever you’re working, don’t be afraid to rule. Tell others you don’t want to be disturbed, close the door, turn off the cell phone. Make the writing your priority, whether it’s for an employer or for yourself.

Do your chores. Spending a large part of your time writing can be tiring, and there will be times when you won’t feel like doing it. Even if you’re aren’t actively writing, you can still be productive. Doing research, conducting interviews, outlining your story, brainstorming your characters - they’re all important parts of the writing process.

Every juggler misses a catch or takes the occasional hit. The secret to getting better at anything is to simply keep at it. The first tosses might be shaky but once you find your rhythm and focus, sliding from one daily writing job to another will be as easy as a one-handed, double ball toss. And as entertaining, too. Welcome to the writing circus, friends!

* * *

Kelly Thompson is a writer and broadcaster living in Pierre, South Dakota. She posts weekly on Hot off the Wire (http://thompsonkelly.wordpress.com/), her personal blog about writing, radio and life, and contributes frequently to So then SHE said… (http://dobberpuhlthompson.wordpress.com/

), a blog she co-authors with a fellow writer.

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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2 comments Friday Speak Out, juggling work and writing, Kelly Thompson, writing time, writing tips

Finding Balance?

Is your life balanced? Do you have time for everything equally: writing, family, work, health/exercise, home, and friends? Do you have time for yourself? According to Alaskan Dude on www.flickr.com, these three performers called Barely Balanced perform tricks like the one pictured to the left at Renaissance festivals; they made balance into their profession. If we could only do the same. . .

I bring this up today after listening to one of my favorite teachers, Dr. Debra Peppers (who has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame) speak on Friday night. She said that one of the key elements to living a happy, fulfilled life is finding balance. I would have to agree with her. But it is easier said than done.

In my life, I feel like there is always something else I should be doing. When I am writing, such as working on this blog post right now, I can hear my husband playing with my seven-month-old daughter and ten-year-old stepson in the other room, and I think, I should be in there, right? But then if I went in there, I would be thinking, While he has them occupied, I should be in the other room getting some work done or dusting. I just spent a bunch of time yesterday with my family at the zoo, so it makes sense that today would be more of a work day. Right? So, it is about finding balance, but it's also about being okay with the balance you find. I wish there was a way to turn off my brain and enjoy each moment I am in MORE.

Even in my writing life, it's hard to find balance between blogging, novel writing, freelancing, editing clients, and so on. I have at least three or four tasks I want to accomplish each day in my writing world, and I am sometimes up until well after midnight (with getting up at 5:30 or 6:00 with the baby) to get them finished.

So, I wish I had some answers for you because I know I am not the only woman writer struggling with this issue. What I try to do now is take each day and divide my time between the things I have to get accomplished. I try to remember that the most important thing is my family, and then the second most is that I have to earn money, so my family can do fun things. With those two goals in mind, I try to find balance.

But I would love to hear if you have some tips for balance--especially if you have found the solution to this problem. Heck, before you know it, we may be just like the Barely Balanced acrobats above.

post by Margo L. Dill; http://www.margodill.com/blog/

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8 comments finding balance, Mom writers, writing time

I Won’t Write Today

"You can't say, I won't write today because that excuse will extend into several days, then several months, then...you are not a writer anymore, just someone who dreams about being a writer." - Dorothy C. Fontana

Earlier this week, co-WOW woman Robin did a post on handling life's
challenges and staying on course with your writing. I loved her description of being in a “ bus-runneth-over state” at the time of writing. I am so there right now and got the tire tracks on me to prove it!

While I’ve continued writing assignments and projects---I’m participating in Script Frenzy this month---the above quote applied to my journal writing. In fact, I hadn’t journalled in a little over six months. While there are some who have lengthy periods of time between journal entries, I’m not one of them. Days, weeks, a couple of months at the most. Journalling serves as a catharsis for me, but seemed like ‘the bus kept running over’ me. My “I won’t write today,” stretched days, weeks, months and I saw some of my writing suffer.

Then one day last month, I spotted my journal near my bed, still new, waiting to be opened. That day I wrote, releasing months of pent-up crap. Ideas started to flow. It was lovely.

By the way, Fontana has some serious street cred. Better known as D.C. Fontana, she’s written numerous episodes for various Star Trek shows including the original series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and so on. She’s also written for The Waltons, children’s shows such as Land of the Lost and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe; Six Million Dollar Man and Dallas. Imagine if she decided not write!

Ever said “I won’t write today?” Share how that turned out for you.

By Jill Earl

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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3 comments I Won't Write Today, Jill Earl, making time to write, writing, writing time

Why Entering Contests Boosts Writing

When I took my first fiction writing course in college, the professor compared our weekly writing assignments to a contest. On Mondays, we received a word count and a theme. During class time, each of us roadmapped a perfect plot, played with character development, created a distinct mood.

On Friday, we handed our (usually) handwritten stories to the person on our left for their consumption (or condemnation, depending on the student). Occasionally, we'd read aloud to the rest of the class. By the following Monday, professor would select a winning story of the week and share it with us.

I never won. But, this method of instruction - hours filled with nothing but writing and honing the craft - provided one of the greatest lessons about the writing contests: competition develops writing skills.

Why should YOU enter a writing contest? I'll share four lessons I learned:

1. Guidelines offer focus. Writing within parameters forces you to focus on your message. Word baggage is eliminated and the piece forms a tightly-written story. A theme provides focus, but it does not limit your imagination. Creativity in plot and word choice are limitless! Even genre-specific contests let you stretch your writing prowess by crafting a new world or twisting history.



2. Attitude is everything. Did I stop writing when I didn't win in class? Heck, no. I never gave up. Instead, the competition and my lack of "prized success" pushed me to develop my craft by tuning in to what wasn't working in my stories. I never viewed those works as failures. They just weren't what the instructor was looking for. A positive attitude makes a difference, and I was positive to continue trying!



3. Contests give writers permission to write. If you're set on entering a contest, you've given yourself permission to schedule time to write. Sometimes outside forces control the amount of time we dedicate to our craft, but knowing you have a deadline and plan to enter your best work gives you the say-so to make time to write.



4. Writing increases confidence. I've entered several poetry contests and I've experienced some success. It's a confidence boost! Even when I didn't win the grand prize, I made fantastic discoveries: what judges are looking for, what writing styles do or don't work, how other writers approach the challenge. These lessons also boost belief in my work.

Entering a writing contest may be a big step for a writer, but it's an action that will enhance your writing.

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at her website. Graphic design by LuAnn Schindler

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8 comments attitude, confidence, Contest, contest entries, focus, focusing, lessons learned from entering contests, LuAnn Schindler, permission to write, time, writing contest, writing time

Friday Speak Out!: Keeping the Holiday Spirit from Crushing Your Writing, Guest Post by Joy Paley

Keeping the Holiday Spirit from Crushing Your Writing

by Joy Paley

We’re coming up fast into the thick of the holiday season. After Thanksgiving hits, I sometimes feel that I’m constantly surrounded by family and friends non-stop until the new year. Some parts of this are great, like feeling inspired by old friends I haven’t seen in a long time and getting a dose of my mom’s words of wisdom. Other things aren’t so hot, like being cooped up in my childhood home for a few days too long, with my nearly deaf dad who likes to watch TV constantly at full volume.

Another frustrating thing I’ve discovered is how the holiday season can throw my writing for a loop. Traveling and staying in hotels means my schedule gets knocked out of whack. Cooking, cleaning, and preparing for guests means less free time and more stress. And, being around my family so much can generate all sorts of interesting inner turmoil that I thought I’d suppressed around the end of adolescence (what writer doesn’t have family issues?!). All these things can conspire to keep me from writing. Over the past few years, I’ve developed these tricks to help me maintain my work through the holiday haze.

• Stick to your schedule: Grab it and hold on like a crazed Wal-Mart shopper on Black Friday. Whenever you prefer to write, be it in the morning, evening, or whenever, make that period sacred. Explain to your family and friends that writing is like a muscle you’ve got to keep from atrophying. Even if all you can think about is anticipating Grandma’s usual “So how is this writing “thing” going anyway?” speech, sit down at your typewriter, computer, or notepad and put some words down. Even if what you write makes you cringe, maintaining the writing impulse is crucial.

• Write a certain number of pages per day: Different writers have different “normal” amounts of writing for a session of work. Whether you’re usually churning out a couple of finely tuned paragraphs or blasting through ten pages of rough draft, recognize where you’re at in a project and set a daily holiday goal. Make it attainable, and do your best to make it happen regularly.

• Find a good workplace: No matter where you’re traveling to, seek out a place where you can do some writing when you arrive. This will keep you from having the excuse, “Oh, I can’t write in our hotel room because the kids are watching TV!” or something similar. Work in the hotel lobby. If you’re staying at a friend’s or family member’s, locate a café or library nearby. Don’t let new surroundings keep you from working.

• Give in to the holidays: If the holidays have got you totally stuck on your current project, set it aside. Start a new story about a protagonist modeled on your crazy aunt who always gets soused at Christmas dinner. Write a poem about your annoying nephew’s expensive presents. Even though it might not be your next masterpiece, it will help get the holidays out of your brain and onto paper, so you can move on to something else.

• Journal, journal, journal: Use your family and friends as fodder. Write down their mannerisms, ridiculous dialogue, and unlikely anecdotes to use as details in some future project. Writing down the holiday scene will distance it from you and let you take a step back from the holiday fervor.

* * *

Joy Paley is a freelance writer based in Berkeley, California. She gave up chemistry research to write about science and technology issues, and she enjoys making the ethical and social aspects of science accessible to the public. In her free time, she enjoys writing fiction and personal essays. You can read her career musings on Pounding the Pavement. She also writes on the subject of technical schools for the Guide to Career Education.

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Leave a Comment Friday Speak Out, holiday writing, Joy Paley, writing time, writing tips