Tag Archives: productivity

Being a (Productive) Stay-At-Home Writer

Writing Process & Tips, , , ,

I originally posted this back in July 2012 for my critique group’s site, but I wanted to share it here because I sometimes find myself falling off the writing wagon and need a reminder. Hopefully, I’m not the only one . . .

I think many writers relish in the idea of a secluded place to work; a long retreat, free from interruptions and time to master our craft. However, this concept never seems to end well for Stephen King’s writer characters. Before you head to a vacant mountain hotel, or a remote cabin in upstate New York, consider these work-from-home tips that won’t involve axes, poltergeists, or dead bodies.
The Stanley

First, Take Care of Distractions

I’m easily distracted, whether it’s something shiny or a pile of laundry. Sometimes, no matter how determined I am to get several pages written, even small things can veer me off the creative path. Working from home poses a plethora of distractions that can keep you from settling into work mode. Combat them by dealing with those things before you flip on the laptop. Wake up early and take care of that load of laundry, pile of bills, or a sink full of dishes. Schedule your chores and writing time. Perhaps designating one day to household tasks can enable you to work the rest of the week. Another distraction is the internet. Aren’t you curious about your blog stats, Twitter updates, or the latest viral Facebook video? If you don’t need internet access to write, then turn it off. What about noises? One word: Earplugs.

Get Organized

Treat yourself to a shopping spree at an office supply store. They say if you buy great workout gear, you’re more likely to get your butt to the gym. Same goes for writing. If you want that fancy pencil holder, get it.  Do what you need to do to create a productive work environment. For my first book, organization was critical for me since I had 93 dead guys to keep track of. I bought a few file boxes with hanging folders and together, my label maker and I went to town. Each inmate had his own folder containing absolutely everything pertaining to him: transcripts, newspaper articles, and even critiques from my writers group when I submitted his story to them. If your work is disorganized, you may not feel motivated and driven. Get the right tools to help you.

Go To Your Room

If I had known how much I could have accomplished as a kid when my parents sent me to my room, I’d have a seven-book series by now. Today, I treasure alone time in my room where instead of plotting revenge on my sister, I actually get quality time to write. Claim your own space, whether it’s a room, a corner, or a table. Your area should also consist of only what you need to write. Don’t work at a desk where you pay bills, or do other hobbies. You need to focus on writing. My area is the guest bedroom. I found a small desk at a flea market, painted it and parked it by the window. The closet, situated behind the desk, houses my weapons of writing: reference books, research, and all those extra office supplies I stocked up on. (You can never have too many Post-Its.) Make the space inviting—but only to you. You need to be left alone, so politely inform your spouse, your kids, and your dog (who’s holding the leash in his mouth) to not bother you while you are in this special space of yours. 
redrum

Break it Down

I tend to freak myself out thinking about the amount of work I have ahead of me. Nothing like a bit of fear to kill your motivation. I must remind myself to take baby steps. I tackle one task at a time, sometimes two. If your project feels like deciphering the Dead Sea Scrolls, then break it down. Work on one scroll at time—or half a scroll. Don’t put more pressure on yourself than you need to. Shoot for a certain number of pages a day to get done. Maybe it’s one chapter at time, or one article a day, or the introduction of your book proposal. You will feel more accomplished and productive if you take on only what you can handle that day. When I applied this method, I had those scrolls deciphered in no time.

Reward Yourself

What does your little heart desire? (Think small for this, okay?) Maybe it’s a new book, a nice bottle of wine, or going to the theater to see a movie. Now, choose the task or project you need to do and set a deadline. When you meet that deadline, reward yourself. I know this may sound simplistic, but it works. Yes, you could give yourself the reward anyway, but show some willpower, because trust me, that reward is way less satisfying if you truly didn’t earn it. Write your deadline and reward on a board or post it on the refrigerator to keep you motivated. Get the family involved to help support you on your journey because it’s even more rewarding when others can share it with you.

With a bit of creativity, it’s possible to be a productive writer without fleeing to deserted beach house, or a lonely cabin in the mountains.
Secret Window

I’ve Been Jarred

Writing Process & Tips, , , ,

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It’s obvious by my last blog post that I’ve had some trouble being productive. My lack of productivity really stems from the fact that I’m a bit out of sorts (a nice way of saying disorganized). This realization is particularly disheartening for me because I LOVE organizing things. My label maker and I are like this:

crossedfingers

And the idea of going to The Container Store gets me hot and bothered (and I swear I hear heavenly trumpets and cherub chatter when I walk into one). Sadly though, this unnatural desire to organize and label my life, has not translated to the projects and tasks portion of my life. Sometimes I stare at the list on my white board until I’m blue in the face, unable to decide what I need to work on, and more often than not, I’m distracted by chores and other “house stuff” that needs my attention. I then turn to Pinterest for consolation and there goes my afternoon.

So my dear friend Kerrie, who is the director of the Northern Colorado Writers (it helps by the way, to have friends in the writing community to keep you going–glom onto those people) gave me the idea of sorting these tasks/projects into different jars. She too, is going to try this tactic. The idea is to write down what needs to be done on separate pieces of paper and devote time each day to “Jar Tasks.” Whether it’s 30 minutes or two hours, pick something from a jar and do what it says! If you have a couple of hours, pick one thing from each jar—it’s up to you.

My 4 jars: Illustrating, Writing, Home and Fun/Reward. Here’s a little sampling of my tasks . . .

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Now, I quickly learned that there are rules to this game. Yes, I know, no one likes rules, but if you want this to work, you have to play by the rules. The beautiful thing is you can make up your own, but might I make a few suggestions:

1.) Take care of projects that have a deadline first. These are things that have to be done a.s.a.p. As part of the Creative Team for the NCW Writers Conference in April, I have several things that need to be done, so I have to make sure I devote time each day or each week to those projects. Other things include working out, practicing guitar, and meditating. Be sure to schedule those things before anything else.

2.) Don’t put things in the jars that you’re not prepared to work on that day, week, or month. If you need to purchase items for a certain task, make sure you have those things ready to go should you pull that card out of the jar. If you don’t think you’ll be able to do that task the second you pull it from the jar, don’t add it. Stick to the things you are prepared to work on.

3.) You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. Most parents are familiar with this saying . . . and it goes for adults too! If you get “clean toilets” then by George, you’re cleaning toilets. You can bitch and moan, but limit it to a minute and just get ‘er done.

4.) If it’s a reoccurring task, throw it back in the jar. No need to write ten of “write a blog post.” Merely toss it back in when the need for another blog post arises.

See? That’s not too bad, right? I do find it rather sad that I seem to have more items in my ‘Home” jar than the others, but I have a feeling that a trip to The Container Store will make it all better. Kerrie and I vowed to keep this up until the end of January, so wish me luck. I’d also love to hear some of your ideas and if you’d tried a similar method. Did it work? Or did you find it mildly satisfying to smash the jars against the wall?

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