Are you or
are you not a writer? Writing can be a humorous past-time or it can be your
vocation. If it is just a humorous past-time then there is probably no pressure
to finish a manuscript and all that goes with it; if it’s a past-time then
there probably is nothing keeping you from this distraction. If writing is your
job, or if you want it to be, then you need to find a way to be consistently
productive. All too often writers are easily distracted by life which is the
very thing we need to be cognizant of and observe in order to write, but we use
these distractions as a reason to procrastinate and erroneously label it Writer’s Block.
Decide what
it is that takes you away from your writing the most and explore alternatives.
Quite possibly the distraction is necessary such as family obligations,
employment, or even checking email and social media status in order to keep up
with marketing and promotion. Some of these things you cannot change, but you
can put a limit on the time you use up. How much time do you need to check your
emails? Set a realistic but miserly time allotment. Do the dishes and vacuuming
really need to be done before you sit to write? Can you break up the absolutely
necessary chores and do those in chunks alternating with chunks of writing?
Some things cannot be changed time wise such as a 9 to 5 job, but can you make
sure to come home immediately after work and get to work writing? Set up a
schedule that will allow you the time to write AND do your essential tasks;
keep a record of the actual time things take and modify the schedule as
necessary.
How often
are you diverted by needless or annoying distractions? Do social phone calls,
unexpected visitors, perceived hunger pangs, or even favorite television shows
call you away from your writing goals? You can turn off your phone, hang
do-not-disturb signs, DVR the television show, and ask for your family’s
cooperation to allow you uninterrupted time to write. Don’t make the assumption
however that you are going to write for 8 hours straight without a break, even
the corporate world doesn’t plan its day that way and it winds up being less
productive. Use your break time to raid the fridge, chat on the phone, watch TV
or indulge yourself in some other non-writing activity, but keep a written record
of time off versus time on the job.
Evaluate your time card and be honest, if you were an employer would you be
happy or annoyed with your employee’s performance.
Still feel
like you are battling Writer’s Block
or are you really just running out of time to write? What triggers your writing
ability and disability? Some people like to report their writing progress
publicly or self-impose deadlines, but if stress makes it harder to write then
you only wind up hurting yourself. Sometimes walking (literally) away from the
blank page will help your mind get that second, or first, wind that you need.
Exercise is another way to get inspired. Once you start writing avoid editing
along the way, editing takes a whole other mindset and you don’t want to
disturb the creative mind once it is flowing. Some people find routine rituals
will help them write such as playing music, wearing a feather boa, sitting at
the library with your laptop, reciting a nursery rhyme, or anything that will
work for you.
Writing
Exercise: Write a (pretend) letter to an
actor/actress that you would like to star in a movie made of your book – or
story idea. Convince them that this would be THE role of a lifetime.
Writing
Prompt: Set your timer for 5 minutes
exactly. Write, or type, ANYTHING for those 5 minutes – Do NOT stop. It doesn’t
matter if you are writing a disjointed list of sentences or the makings of a
story, you can be writing a grocery list or a to-do list – the main purpose is
just to keep writing. STOP when the timer goes off even if you feel like you
want to keep going, STOP even if you are in the middle of a sentence.
Challenge: List the vital points of a story you want to
write, do not include how your characters get to each point, only what that
goal is. Think about what critical steps your characters must take in order to
reach the end whether it is a Happy-Ever-After or a hint of a sequel.
