by Alena Wendall, @alenawendall
It’s February! Two months into a new year! How are those new habits? Goals?
If January didn’t go as planned. I want to encourage you to evaluate what went right and what went wrong, make some adjustments, and keep going!
Take it one step at a time. Like you I’ve tried to implement good helpful habits or systems, to help me reach my goal of finishing my current wip by April. I’ve implemented the items below. Some of them are no-brainers, but some are new to me.
We all know the basic tips to avoid distractions.
- Time:
- Put it in your calendar. Keep the appointment with your dream!
- Set a timer. Open your document, grab your coffee, and when you sit back down, start your timer and write!
- Eliminate Distractions:
- Let those around you know you are off-limits for the next X amount of time. (hour, two hours, morning etc.)
- Put your phone on vibrate. Better yet, leave it in another room.
- Shut off the internet. Research later!
- Find a quiet spot, or a loud spot (whichever works for you).
I wanted to point out that what works for one person may not work for you. I can work in large amounts of noise if I don’t know anyone. A coffee shop works for me, but for another friend, it’s too distracting. Some people can ignore their phone and leave it on next to them. Not me, I put it on silent and across the room.
Writing-On-The-Go
Maybe you don’t have the luxury of being able to sit down and write this week. Maybe you need to write on-the-go. There is one week in February that this is my only option.
In this case, keep your phone close and dictate your scenes into the notes app on your phone. Or find an app that works for you. There are plenty of them out there. I haven’t mastered this, but my friends have completed whole chapters in doctors’ offices, at lunch, and at kid’s games.
While, I haven’t conquered whole chapters. I have several notes on my phone with the ideas for upcoming scenes. Later I upload them, so I have more to start with than just a blank screen.
Word of Caution! If you are a suspense writer and get an idea about where your hero or heroine uncovers the dead body — you might not want to dictate that scene in line at the grocery store.
Have You Tried Writing Sprints?
Try joining a writing sprint. You can write with others online for a set time. It helps with motivation, knowing others are writing, and it gives you a set start and stop time. One of my friends finished her rough draft with the aid of writing sprints during the month of January.
I hope these tips help! I’m off to join a writing sprint!
Blessings!
Writing as Alena Wendall, Alena Tauriainen pens contemporary Christian romance novels that always end with a happily ever after. By day, she partners with her lifelong mate Clyde, to run the family HVAC business. She manages both business and family life with four lovable but crazy kids. She is the Retreats Coordinator for My Book Therapy. She is represented by Rachelle Gardner with Books & Such Literary Management. Visit her at alenawendall.com.