A pie-chart epiphany

When is a writing habit not a habit? When it's grounded in something more concrete and becomes part of you. Habits that support your self-concept and values can strengthen a foundation that ensures success.

Values come from beliefs about yourself and the world around you, and are influenced by your culture, experiences, peers, and family. Values can guide your thoughts, which, in turn, determine your behavior. When your values are clear, the definition of yourself becomes clear. This recognition of who you are can also help you set and meet your goals.

Spending time in support of your values feels right. Although they can be unpleasant to others, tasks like outlining and research can feel like heaven to a writer. Implementing my writing habits seem natural because it reinforces the idea of who I am.

Recently, a student gave me the gift of seeing life not as a line, but a space to establish and support our values. When I look at life as a circle (think pie chart), the focus is clear: The higher the value, the bigger the space.

Draw your own circle, and divide it into the important aspects of your life. These areas might include family, work, writing, exercise, spirituality, friends, and relaxation. The more important the item, the larger the space it should occupy.

When you look at the slices of the pie (division of time), your values become clear. If your values and time spent aren't equal, then adjust your schedule. Once you identify your values, then you can devote more time to activities and behaviors that support those values. Writers will be able to maximize their writing time, and minimize time spent doing the things that just don't matter. And it will feel right.

Mary Horner teaches communications at St. Louis and St. Charles Community Colleges. She recently had a pie-chart epiphany.

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5 comments and writing habits., goals, Pie-chart epiphany, time, values

Where is the Tension?

I feel like I've written about tension before. But I swear to you, I searched through the Muffin's blog posts, and I can't find a specific post about this topic; so if you remember better than me, please send me an email!

I bring up making sure tension is in your novel today because I recently had a conversation with one of my WOW! novelist students about tension in her novel. She has a great voice. She has a great story idea. She even started in the right place, in my opinion, and her action is spot on. But TENSION was missing. She needed to add a time element to her novel--this main character had to get himself on his correct path to the future in a "certain amount of time" or "the worst thing in the whole world" would happen.

And that wasn't happening in the beginning of her novel...yet.

Think about some novels or movies where time/age is an element. Some that immediately come to mind: Speed, The Giver, and even Hunger Games--you can't be in the Hunger Games until you are 12, and then once you are there, your time limit is: everyone has to die before you.

Think of novels where a wedding is on the horizon--there's a deadline--all the problems in the novel have to be solved before the wedding.

Or amovie where someone is terminally ill. That's another kind of deadline that can cause great stress, tension, and page-turning in a novel.

Think about real life. We work on deadlines all the time--in our personal and professional life. So it is natural that novels also need these deadlines in them.

Do critique partners say that your novel is good but something is missing?

Do you have some kind of time element in your plot to cause more tension?

If not, think about adding one. If you do have one in your work-in-progress or have a published book with one, please tell us in the comments below. We want to learn from you!

Margo L. Dill is a writing coach, editor, children's author, and instructor, living in St. Louis, MO. Her next novel writing class starts on Friday, May 4. To find out more information about Writing a Novel with a Writing Coach, please click here.

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5 comments building tension, Margo L. Dill, novel planning, plot a novel, time

Gifts for Writers

If you’re anything like me, you’re in the weeds of holiday gift buying. My Amazon cart is full, and my checking account is dwindling.

Presents are permeating my mind and, I must admit, I’ve even given some thought to the writing-related gifts I’d like this holiday season.

Last month, I offered ways to thank the writer in your life. This month, I thought I’d offer gift ideas for that same special someone.

The first idea that comes to mind is books specifically geared towards writers. These could be books with publishing advice, books that help with structure or development, or books that provide support with world or character building. I have several and usually get updates of my favorites every year. They are a treasure trove of information, and I’m always happy to receive them.

Want to support your writer’s daily work? Why not give them a notebook where they can jot down ideas. While most writer use computers to write their books, many writers continue to keep a pocket journal for those spur-of-the-moment inspirations. A quality, leather notebook, or small, pocket-style journal are a great way to support and inspire their work.

Whenever agents and editors give advice to writers, it’s to read – widely – in their specific genre. Yes, we all have kindles and books on tape, but there is something about receiving a brand-new book in your favorite genre that can spark even the most tired of writers. Help them write by giving them the gift of writing.

If you’re willing to give them a more expensive gift, consider giving them the gift of a writer’s retreat. These retreats occur all over the United States, and offer a wonderful opportunity for them to connect with other writers, to get feedback on their work in progress, and to network with people in the writing and publishing industry.

The best and most valuable gift I can suggest for a writer is also the simplest: give the writer in your life time by themselves to write without interruption. Maybe promise to give them one hour each day of uninterrupted time where they can focus strictly on their writing. For many of us, finding the opportunity to write in our crazy lives – without kids, without spouses, without phone calls – is the best gift we can receive.

So, as you start your holiday shopping this season, consider giving the writer in your life something they can really use to help them further your goals.

Have any great ideas for writers? I’d love to hear them!

Bethany Masone Harar is an author, teacher, and blogger, who does her best to turn reluctant readers into voracious, book-reading nerds. Check out her blog here and her website here.

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5 comments author retreat, Authors, gifts, gifts for writers, journal, time, writing books, writing gifts, writing notebook, writing retreat

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

The Power of Daily Writing

by Kelly L. Stone

One of the most powerful actions you can take to establish writing as a habit in your life is to carve out time to write every day for at least 30 days, and make a commitment to write every day for that entire 30 days. Even if it’s just 15 minutes a day, if you make the short-term commitment to do this, you will soon have a deep understanding of a very important concept: there is power in daily writing!

Daily writing leads to success, no ifs, ands, or buts. That’s because it forces you to focus like a laser on your work in progress and hone your writing skills whether you feel like writing or not. This in turn influences your subconscious mind to help you start thinking of yourself as a writer (or reinforces that belief) and that in turns affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors toward writing. Writing begets writing. Daily writing begets writing success.

Success is predicted by how you think, feel, and behave toward your writing goals. A person who has success-oriented thoughts and who feels confident in her abilities will naturally take daily actions that bring about her desired outcomes. She will feel enthusiastic, motivated, and dedicated to those outcomes because she thinks, feels, and acts her way toward reaching them, and she does the things every day necessary to achieve success.

This is the case with writing. An aspiring author who thinks positive thoughts and believes in herself will touch her craft daily, which will generate the enthusiasm and motivation to set goals. She will then cultivate the dedication required to take steps to reach those goals over a long period of time. She will write every day or take action every day toward her writing dream. She will act in methodical, self-disciplined ways that bring about desire outcomes. She will think, feel, and act in ways that stimulate enthusiasm, motivation, and dedication for achieving success as a writer as she defines it.

You can be that writer. Even if you have gotten off-track with your efforts to become a successful writer, it’s never too late to start again! Through daily writing, you can generate the enthusiasm, motivation, and dedication needed to work toward your long-term writing goals. You can create for yourself what is known in psychology as a positive self-fulfilling prophecy, which is a belief system that sets you up to succeed!

***

Kelly L. Stone (www.AuthorKellyLStone.com) is the author of a women’s fiction novel, GRAVE SECRET (Mundania Press, 2007) which Romantic Times Book Reviews called “powerful” and “well-written.” She is also the author of the TIME TO WRITE series for writers: TIME TO WRITE: No Excuses, No Distractions, No More Blank Pages (Adams Media, 2008), THINKING WRITE: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind (Adams Media, 2009) and LIVING WRITE: The Secret to Bringing Your Craft Into Your Daily Life (Adams Media, 2010). She is a sought after keynote speaker and workshop presenter at writing conferences across the country and offers online classes, critiques, and coaching services to writers. Contact her at Kelly@AuthorKellyLStone.com.

Make your writing a priority and join Kelly in the WOW! Women On Writing Classroom!

EmpowerYour Muse, Empower Your Writing Self starts September 3, 2012.

No MatterHow Busy You Are, You Can Find Time to Write! starts October 8, 2012
 

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4 comments finding time to write, Kelly L. Stone, making time to write, making writing a priority, online writing classes, time, WOW Classes, WOW instructor

Friday Speak Out!: Why Did I Wait?, Guest Post by Nancy Julien Kopp

Why Did I Wait?

by Nancy Julien Kopp

I always wanted to write, but I allowed Life to get in the way of my strong desire. First came college where time for extra things proved very limited. Then I began teaching emotionally disturbed children which left me totally drained by day’s end. Later I told myself.

Suddenly, I carried title of wife and mother of young children. I pushed aside the desire to write and consoled myself with When they are both in school. That day arrived, but along with freedom came several community volunteer opportunities, which I felt compelled to accept. My husband’s job involved me in many social events. More time lost.

Then one day, I found myself in a new town, both children on their own, no friends, no meetings, and I claimed boredom as my number one occupation. Flipping through a magazine, an ad stopped me cold. It claimed I could learn to write for children through a correspondence course.

Here I sat—fifty-three years old and bored. If not now, when? I set the magazine aside but thought about the ad all evening. The next day, I did some checking on the school and it seemed legit, so I sent in the aptitude test. My husband laughed and told me they’d take anyone who would pay the fee. “Maybe,” I responded.

I spent the next eighteen months taking the course and loving it. I wanted to write books for middle grade children, so the content proved perfect.

Flash forward nineteen years, and I’m a published writer! My first acceptance came from a children’s magazine, but I soon started to branch out into other kinds of writing—fiction, creative nonfiction, inspirational, poetry and finally, articles on the craft of writing. As time moved on, I realized my strength in writing lay in nonfiction, both the creative type and articles to help others learn to write. So that’s where I’ve pursued publication.

At seventy-two, I’m pleased to have a long list of my published work. I haven’t written the Great American Novel, but that’s alright. I’m in nearly twenty anthologies, myriad ezines, senior newspapers and magazines. I blog about my writing world, and I never stop trying to improve my writing. My work is not in the high dollar magazines, but I’m satisfied with the smaller markets.

Nevertheless, I often ask myself Why did I wait? If I’d started writing in my twenties, or even my thirties, I might have done even more. I wrote an article a few years ago called “Is It Too Late?” which has been published several times. I interviewed writers who began writing after the age of fifty. Every one regretted waiting.

So, if the busy life of a young career woman, wife and mother causes you to push your writing time aside, think again. Make time for writing in your life. When you’re a grandmother, who knows what fame you may have achieved. Go for it, and make in now!

* * *
Bio: Nancy Julien Kopp has been published in many anthologies, the most recent being Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping The New You and Flashlight Memories published by Silver Boomer Books. Her creative non-fiction, poetry and articles appearsin many ezines, magazines and senior newspapers. She is a longtime member of writersandcritters, an online critique group for international women. Nancy blogs at www.writergrannysworld.blogspot.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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6 comments Friday Speak Out, Nancy Kopp, time, writer inspiration

Queen of Multitasking

I'm writing this article, watching TV, talking on the phone and drinking my coffee. I've always done more than one thing at a time. I believe myself to be the Queen of Multitasking. In fact, it's hard for me to only do individual tasks. Just the other day I was scanning the aisles of Walmart, reading my shopping list and talking on the phone. To my friend I said, "Lettuce." She asked, "Let us what?"
People can't multitask very well, and when people say they can, they're deluding themselves," said neuroscientist Earl Miller. He said, "The brain is very good at deluding itself.
You're not paying attention to one or two things simultaneously, but switching between them very rapidly."
At a lab at the University of Michigan, researchers are using an MRI scanner to photograph test subjects' brains as they perform different tasks. Two red items were shown to the man, so his brain searched for which one was larger. Then the subject was shown a green item; the brain had to decide which item was more important. The MRI showed the brain pausing before responding. It had to store information about the red item and search for what information it had stored about green items before deciding to focus on the green. 

           Miller says, "Part of the brain that does this is called the "executive system." It's a bit like one of those cartoon conductors telling the orchestra: louder, softer, faster, slower. You come in here. You be quiet for a few measures."  
   


  Peter Bregman tells about a study which showed that people distracted by incoming email and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQs. What's the impact of a 10-point drop? The same as losing a night of sleep. More than twice the effect of smoking marijuana.
Doing several things at once is a trick we play on ourselves, thinking we're getting more done. In reality, multitasking slows our productivity down by as much as 40%. We don't actually multitask. We switch-task, rapidly shifting from one thing to another, interrupting ourselves unproductively, and losing time in the process.
We need to learn to do one thing at a time. Otherwise, we are putting too much stress on our brains, and this keeps us from concentrating on what we are doing. If we devote more energy to doing the single task at hand, we will have more energy to finish that task. 
How not to multitask is a difficult task. Realization that you need to channel your focus is your beginning. It is better to set aside small chunks of time to work on a task then  to do several things at one time and not finishing any of them in a timely or efficient fashion.


Some multitasking is inevitable:

• Bouncing baby on your hip as you fix dinner.
• Yelling at kids while driving.
• Playing fetch with Fido while reading a novel.
• Tending to Farmville while talking (texting) on the phone. 

Multitasking is not thinking of one thing and doing another. My mind works out many plot problems while I'm sweeping the living room. Multitasking is doing one thing and then switching, to another task and then coming back to the first. 
To finish this blog, I turned off the TV and hung up the phone. I finished it in half the time it normally takes me to write a blog. I am less stressed—okay, I am still somewhat stressed—over the tasks that I need to accomplish before the day ends, but I feel good about my accomplishments so far today.
What multitasking chores do you do at the same time? How does this effect your writing? Would you have less stress if you concentrated on only one at a time?


Resources:
Photo Queen:  http://www.librarising.com
Photo Conductor: http://www.thestarpress.com

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11 comments blog, Cher'ley Grogg, chores, concentrate, finish, multitasking, queen, stress, switch, tasks, time, writing

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

Stop Making Excuses!

I'm a "brewer." Once I get an idea in mind for an article or story, I like to let it simmer, let it steep and build until I have the perfect blend, like a delicious cup of tea.

Honestly, it's procrastination at its best - or worst - depending on how you look at it. Once I get the initial sentence down on paper, I have no problem letting the words spill onto the page.

(Smartphone just dinged. Gotta check my Facebook message. BRB.)

Perhaps it's perfectionism. Maybe I'm trying to string together the perfect sentence filled with beautiful imagery and bold action verbs.

(Hubs just walked in and asked if I planned on serving breakfast today or if I was going to make brunch.)

Or, maybe I need to learn to better manage my time.

All writers need to find the right balance between writing and life's other obligations. Often, we complain that we can't find time to write.

(Excuse the interruption. I'm checking Twitter right now because a building is on fire in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, just a block from our oldest daughter's apartment. Phone call confirms she's okay.)

Sometimes, we need to learn the difference between finding time and making time. Need help? Here are a few of my favorite ways to boost productivity:

• Identify time wasters and get rid of them. Facebook, Twitter, email can suck you in, and before you realize it, you've lost minutes (or hours) of time. Limit the amount of time you spend on social networking and perusing the inbox. Your WIP will thank you.


• Devise a plan to add writing time. Some writers are up writing way before daylight breaks. Adding an hour or two in the morning may seem like a grand solution, but waking up early means you're also taking away precious pillow time. Make a plan to wake up 15 minutes early, or a half hour early a few mornings and see if it helps your routine. Personally, I like to stay up late at night and write like a mad woman once my husband is entrenched in bed and snoring like a baby. The key is making a writing plan and sticking to it.


• Mark your territory. When I first began freelancing a decade ago, I wrote from my dining room table. I'd spread all my materials across the table and write. When I was finished, I packed up stuff until the next time. Now, I have an office, and even some days, I prefer to get out of the office and move to the kitchen table or the living room sofa. The point is, you need a space to write. And then, you need to use it.


• Multi-task. Sometimes, I'll write a paragraph, leave the office, walk into the kitchen and perform another task. I'm still thinking about my project, but when I'm stuck, this technique allows me to get some daily tasks accomplished while I contemplate my next word, sentence or paragraph.

I made time to complete this blog post. And now, I'm staring at my to-do list and planning the remainder of this writing Sunday.

(Oh look, Grown Ups is on pay per view.)

Make time to write. Make a commitment to your writing. Your craft will thank you.

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's writing at her website. Photo by LuAnn Schindler.

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3 comments finding time to write, LuAnn Schindler, time, time management, writing time

Oops, I Did It Again!

by LuAnn Schindler

So...imagine my surprise when I check Google calendar this evening at 7-something and see that I am The Muffin's blogger today. Oops! When I checked Google calendar last week, it wouldn't load in my browser, and I figured I would check it later. Combine that with the hectic holidays and guess what, the surprise is on me. It happens. I'm only human.

Do you find yourself doing the same thing when it comes time to write? Do daily tasks and life's hurdles stand between you and scheduled writing time? It happens to me all the time, but I schedule office hours and for the 99 percent of the time, I stick to it. It isn't always easy, especially since my husband works on his family's dairy farm, I substitute teach (I start a six-week stint on January 5), I coach competitive speech (at the high school I taught at for five years before I got married...and it is 60 miles from our house), and we strive to find "our" time.

The important thing is that no matter how busy you find yourself, you must make time to write. This is especially true if you depend on writing to help pay the bills! Five minute spurts will become my normal routine in just a few days, but with careful planning and a supportive husband, I will still meet my deadlines.

And now, I'm off to open presents with my grandson and two of my daughters. They just arrived for our holiday celebration, and tomorrow brings the final festivities for this holiday season.

I need the break! And then, back to writing.

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2 comments LuAnn Schindler, time, time management, writing time