Sometimes our characters need permission to move forward in their relationship so we nudge them along with a kiss. I needed some nudging at the beginning of 2015. But the other kind of kissing met my needs better than the romantic on page character kiss. You know, the ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’ kind of kissing?

With the advent of smart phones and tablets I’ve been tempted to try apps, calendar here, write to do lists there, learn Scrivener and Evernote, and then try and sync my life through my devices. Sometimes it’s worked and sometime it hasn’t. The consistent result for me?

Frustration.

Frustration interferes with my ability to write well. Getting lost in the minutia and not getting enough good write time keeps me from getting projects done. So, frustration finally drove me to the kiss I needed.

Simplicity.

I am back to a small paper calendar where I can write notes, keep my lists and track my writing tasks and progress with paper, pen or pencil. With or without Wi-Fi, I might add. I’m going to content myself with Word for now and not try to drop an ongoing project into a new program. I’m not giving up on ever adding the electronics or new programs, nor am I declaring myself a pen and paper purist. For now, I’m adjusting so the writing gets done. It’s my desire to be a productive writer and I am clearing the clutter I’ve put in my mind and on my desk. So I can write.

Are you struggling with similar issues hindering your writing progress? Here’s my suggestion. Look back to times in your life when you were productive in a way that worked well for you. What made your days hum? Did you have a code system for your projects and calendar? Did a certain style of paper planner or calendar work best for tracking projects? Pull out some of those old skills and tools and give them another try. New isn’t always best. It’s just new. Sometimes old methods get the job done with less hassle.

Just as you give your characters permission to kiss to set them on the path toward true love, give yourself permission to simplify your writing process. At the end of the day, how we accomplish our writing goals isn’t nearly as important as getting the work done.

~*~

Donna K. Rice writes women’s fiction and is represented by Sue Brower of the Natasha Kern Literary Agency. She’s a licensed minister, conference speaker, and estate planning attorney. She also works with GenderSave, a nonprofit seeking to empower women and girls at risk from gendercide practices in India. Contact Donna at donnakrice.com.