Authors Tools Blog

If you’ve been a regular visitor to this blog, you’ll notice some changes. When I upgraded to the latest and greatest WordPress version, I found that my theme was no longer compatible. Right now I’m playing with themes.

I haven’t found a theme with all the features I want yet. I may have to design one or have one designed for me. I have to determine how much of my time I want to put into the project. It might be more cost effective for me to have someone else take over the project so I can spend my time on  high payoff activities.

The failure of my old theme is a reminder that things are always changing, especially in technology. Just when you get comfortable with something, it changes. A client of mine recently told me that every time she gets really good at using the Facebook interface, they change it. She thinks they are monitoring the time she spends on the site and using that to schedule their next upgrade.

One of the most unhelpful changes I’ve seen recently is the number of emails and forum posts that have links that aren’t “hot” or clickable. You can’t click on the link to see the webpage anymore.

Read the rest of “Have You Noticed Unclickable Links In Emails?” »

It’s March already! How did that happen? Before you know it, the 1^st quarter of 2010 will be over. Are you closing in on completing 25% of your writing goals for the year?

I was talking with a client the other day about her lack of progress toward her goals. She has fallen into the trap that plagues many writers. Maybe you also hold some of the same beliefs.

You have to have a block of 2 uninterrupted hours in order to work on your current WIP.

The truth is that you need to chunk down your work into bite-sized pieces. Most of us don’t have the luxury of large blocks of time. Instead,

• Plan to write the opening of your next scene.
• Write an outline of the next conversation between your main characters.
• Draft the description of the physical setting of your next scene.

You have to be seated at your computer to write.

We all have bits of time we can use to advance our writing.

• Carry a voice recorder (maybe your MP3 player) to grab notes, or even sentences, paragraphs, or scenes for your WIP.
• Take a note pad everywhere you go. Jot down those thoughts or add actual text to your work. (Editing as you type into your computer is an added benefit.)
• Print out a few pages to take with you. Send some spare minutes editing.

You don’t have the support of your family.

If you don’t take your writing seriously, neither will your family.

• Make writing a priority in your life. Grab those brief moments and WRITE.
• Ask your family to give you 15 or 30 uninterrupted minutes. Make those minutes count. Lavishly praise your family when they manage on their own for the alloted time.
• Let your family see how happy writing makes you. (If it doesn’t make you happy, reconsider why you are doing it.)
• Focus on the positive things your family does to support you.

One way to find ways to make your time productive is to discover what motivates you.

Are you deadline driven?

• Set a date to submit your manuscript to an editor or agent.
• Plan to enter a contest.
• Commit to a date to give your critique group your next chapter.

Does competition get your juices flowing?

• Set up word wars with your friends. (See who can write the most words in a set amount of time.)
• Have a word war with yourself. Can you set a new personal record?
• Join a book in a month, book in a week, or other group challenge.

One way to make sure you are meeting your writing goals is to state your goals openly. Twitter is a great place to do that. You can use #writegoal, #wordwar, #wordathon, #amwriting and many more writing related hashtags to share you goals and gain support from others.

Examine your life and see how you can slip writing into short spaces. As you are able to do more writing, you’ll find that more spaces open up. Writing breeds more writing.

Get up earlier when you have some quiet time. Stay up later. Find a schedule that will work for you.

Please leave a comment about how you are meeting your writing goals.

Write on!

Lynn

This week I’ve been sick, REALLY sick, sicker than I’ve been in years sick. Well, you get the idea.

Like you, I set my goals high for the year. I jumped into the Ezine Articles 100 articles in 100 days challenge. I was on-track with my articles. I’d outlined a series of blog posts. Then WHAM!

A dear friend reminded me that sometimes we need to give our bodies a chance to catch up with our minds. If we don’t slow down, our bodies find a way to force us.

So, I’ve been cocooned, wrapped up in my soft ,cuddly robe, usually with my soft, sometimes cuddly cockatoo, resting, healing, and skimming. Since I’ve been unable to concentrate on too much for too long, I’ve been watching SHORT videos, listening to SHORT audios, and scanning articles and blogs.

While I’ve been ingesting snippets of information, I’ve been getting ideas and taking notes for my own work. I’ve gotten ideas for blog posts, articles, teleseminars, audios, and videos.

I’ve posted comments on some of the blogs I’ve read. This is a great way to build relationships and connect with new readers. I love becoming part of conversations all over the net.

As my energy returns, I’ll be able to write the articles and posts that I’ve planned. That is much easier than trying to come up with ideas and write at the same time. While I’ve rested, my mind has been busy at work fleshing out my notes. I will still be able to keep up with the 100 article challenge.

The lessons I’ve learned are

• Listen to your body.
  • Slow down before you HAVE to.
• Take time to relax and gather new ideas.
  • (Smell the roses too.)
• Write down all your ideas.
  • The palest ink is stronger than the best memory.
• When your energy starts returning, use it to heal first.
  • Jumping back to work too fast leads to relapse.
• Even if you can’t talk, you can still maintain relationships.
  • Emails, blog comments, forum posts, Twitter, and chats all work well without using your voice.
• Sometimes it’s better to be still and listen.
  • Give the universe a chance to bring you what you need.

Even though this illness has delayed my planned teleseminar series, I’ll be better prepared for it when I can talk again.

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How do you make your downtime productive? Leave a comment and share your techniques,

Write on,

Lynn