Karen Brown Tyson

Author: Karen

The Best Tool Professional Writers Use Yet Never Talk About

If there’s one thing writers dread, it’s “writer’s block.” We get stuck, not knowing where to go next with our story. But there’s a tool that the pros use to help keep the creative juices flowing. Today’s post, written by Cory Milles, highlights one of the best tools writers can use, regardless of experience.

It’s called The Board, and it’s the most powerful and efficient way to organize your story, allowing you to get to the part you like the most: writing it! The board comprises the 15 beats of the Save The Cat!® Beat Sheet, key moments your story should hit.

Writers have been using this tool for decades, and now it’s even easier with the Save The Cat!® Story Cards.

The Story Cards include both Beat Cards and Scene Cards, which let you plan the story at a glance, and then go into more details as you flesh it out. Here are five reasons the pros use the Story Cards to avoid writer’s block and create stories that resonate.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

1. Chart your character’s journey of transformation.

We don’t want to send our heroes out into the great unknown without knowing their final destination. All stories are about transformation, and the Beat Cards let us make sure that the hero is slowly changing throughout the story, from Opening Image to the Final Image.

2. Make sure your story hits the right moments.

Our brains are wired to receive stories in a certain way. When elements are missing, we know it. The Beat Cards help us to ensure that our story is hitting each beat when it’s supposed to. If our story needs to develop the Debate section or the All Is Lost moment, the Beat Cards help us realize this.

3. Maintain conflict throughout.

Conflict is what makes a story interesting. Because each scene is basically a mini-story, the Scene Cards help us keep this in focus. On each card, we can track what the hero’s goal is, what their opposition is, and visualize the conflict the scene has. More conflict means the story will keep moving, which means the audience will be fully invested.

4. Track emotional change.

There should be an emotional shift with each scene, whether it’s from positive to negative or vice-versa. The Scene Cards help us ensure that as the hero gets closer to or farther from their goal, they’re put on a roller coaster of emotions; that will help the audience experience that, too.

5. Be flexible.

Sometimes we’re not sure where to land a specific scene. Would it go better at a different time in the story? The Scene Cards allow us to experiment with different variations by just moving a card. It might open up new ideas, or it might confirm our original thoughts. But either way, it gives us the ability to try new things with our story to make sure it’s the most powerful it can be.

Once writers learn how to use The Board

Writers are amazed at how much easier it is to plan and write stories using The Board. The Save The Cat!® Story Cards are a writer’s best friend, eliminating “writer’s block” from their vocabulary and giving them the freedom to focus on the story they were born to tell.

Want to learn more?

Make plans to join the Save the Cat!® Storytelling Webinar presented LIVE by the best-selling author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, Jessica Brody, on April 10, April 17, and April 24. As a guest of this blog, enjoy a 50% discount when you use the code wow50 at check out.

About Cory Milles:

Cory Milles has been teaching writing for over a decade. In his spare time, he writes Young Adult novels that seek to capture the power of story to transform his readers. When he’s not writing, teaching, or listening to his collection of movie scores, he can usually be found reading more on the craft of writing. He is an editor of Save the Cat!® Goes to the Indies and the author of New Miller’s Grove, Legacy, Paradox, Redemption, and Reboot.

About Save the Cat!

Save the Cat!® is the bestselling story methodology introduced by screenwriter Blake Snyder in 2005 with his first book, Save the Cat! Snyder’s acclaimed ideas, methods, and software have provided thousands of writers with the resources they need to develop their screenplays and novels.

March 23, 2021
How to Write An Amazing Nonfiction Book with a Busy Schedule
“My dream is to write a book one day.”

I hear this a lot from students, colleagues, neighbors, people at the grocery store. After graduating with my undergraduate degree in English, I used to say the same thing.

But like lots of people, I had a busy schedule. I had my job as a corporate communicator, graduate school (twice), a family and church commitments.

Working full-time and being a writer can be tough. The idea that all writers have lots of time to sit in coffee shops all day and write books is a myth. Don’t get me wrong; I know some professional writers run successful writing businesses.

But the people I’m referring to have full-time jobs doing something other than writing. They’re mothers who run a busy household or entrepreneurs trying to get their business off the ground. No matter what their job is, they all ask the same question: “How can I write a book with my busy schedule?”

Today’s post kicks off a series of posts on how to write your first nonfiction book with a busy schedule. I offer a few tips I used to publish my books, but I would love to hear any advice you have to offer in the comment section.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

1. Figure out what you want to achieve with your nonfiction book

Before you start trying to write the first chapter, you need to know why you’re going on this journey in the first place. Since you have a busy schedule with many commitments, it’s important to figure out your book’s direction before you start writing.

Start with the end first, then make a list of questions to answer about your nonfiction book like:
- What’s it about?
- What’s it called?
- Who is the reader?
- How long will it be?
- What’s the book’s structure?
- Do I have to write every day?
- Where will I write?
- How long will I write?
- How can I create a consistent writing practice?
- How do I carve out time in my schedule regularly?
- How should I structure my days to make time for writing?
- What key information can I include that will make the book unique, educational, or amazing?
Whether you’re writing on a topic you’re passionate about or you’ve chosen to tell someone’s story, getting clear on your overall end goal is an excellent place to start. When you know what you want to achieve with your nonfiction book, it becomes easier for everything else to fall into place.

2. Design an action plan you can visualize

Once you’re clear on where you want to take your nonfiction book, the next step is creating a book-writing action plan.

An action plan is a checklist outlining the tasks needed to complete a project. Your book-writing action plan should also include:
- The goal for writing your nonfiction book
- The steps you need to take to reach your goal
- A list of people you need to meet or interview throughout the writing process
- Deadlines and milestones you need to reach
- Resources you need along the way.
- Healthy breaks to ensure self-care
- Measures to assess your progress
To bring your action plan to life, use an Excel spreadsheet, flowchart, Gantt chart, or table. You can also use a web-based, Kanban-style tool like Trello or a task management tool like MeisterTask.

3. Create a consistent but flexible writing schedule

No matter how much you love writing, there will always be other things you may need or want to do. Things like hanging out with family and friends, or staying late at work, will likely disrupt your writing life at some point. It’s important to create a consistent but flexible writing schedule.

Creating a schedule means dedicating time to write your nonfiction book. First, look at your calendar and determine what time and on which days you can write. Next, decide how long you can write during each writing session. Don’t plan to write for three hours every day if you only have 30 minutes to write on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Set reasonable goals.

Scheduling time means “setting time aside,” it may not be a perfect time, but it’s a start. Writing on a part-time schedule may not always go as planned. But despite your sometimes hectic circumstances, it’s important to stick to your writing schedule.

“But you don’t need the perfect setup to do the work. For example, I’ve written five of my books completely on airplanes.” Seth Godin

4. Make the most of small bits of time

So what about the days when your schedule gets thrown off track? If you work full-time or have other responsibilities such as family or school, you know that sometimes unexpected things happen. On those days, be flexible but determined about making time to write. Take advantage of the 5, 10, or 15 minutes you have waiting at the doctor’s office or sitting in the carpool line.

There’s a lot you can do during these small windows. While it may not be actual writing, non-writing activities are just as important. Use your small bits of time to work on your book’s finer details like the introduction or acknowledgment pages. Compile additional research that can enhance your book.

Keep a notebook or journal with you at all times to record your writing. Once you return to your laptop, add the information you added to your notebook or journal.

5.  Commit to giving up a few things while you write your book

Writing a nonfiction book is time-consuming.  The harsh reality is that something has to give. If you used to spend hours binge-watching the latest episodes of your favorite show, give this up. Spending countless hours scrolling through social media won’t help either. Come to terms with the fact that you will need to give up a few things while writing your nonfiction book (see also ‘What Is Narrative Nonfiction?‘).

You may also need to say no to a few requests. When I was writing my books, I made a point to cook dinner for my family, go on dates with my husband, and support my son at swim meets. I also made time for God by reading my Bible, never skipping church, or neglecting my volunteer assignments (see also ‘7 Easy Tips On How To Improve Your Bible Study Skills‘). But sometimes, I said no to taking on extra volunteer assignments when other parents didn’t show up at the swim meet. Instead of cooking for the pot-luck dinner at school, I ordered from the Olive Garden (and that decision made lots of hungry people happy).

Don’t be afraid to give up some things or say no to a few requests.

Ready to start writing your nonfiction book?

Who knows where you could be this time next year if you start writing your nonfiction book today? Writing a nonfiction book on a part-time schedule is possible. Busy writers the world over have developed the discipline necessary to write, and you can too. By following the steps outlined, you’re well on your way to making your dream of completing your first nonfiction book a reality.
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March 16, 2021
How to Bend Time to Fit Writing into Your Busy Life
Do you wish you could somehow bend time to fit writing into your busy life? If so, you are not alone.

I meet many new, aspiring writers who want to or have attempted to write. However, whether it’s their full-time job or other commitments, they cannot seem to squeeze writing into their day.

I know what it’s like to want to write with a full schedule. As a corporate communicator, I used to dream of writing. But after a busy day full of projects and meetings, I sometimes found it hard to write after hours.

This post pays homage to time-crunched people with full-time jobs — either in the home or outside the home – who dream of writing after hours. Today’s post highlights some productivity tips on how to bend time to fit writing into your schedule. While I don’t tout these tips as a panacea for all of your writing pains, they can help you make time to write.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.” – Charles Buxton

Bend time by dividing tasks into 3 categories.

Like a lot of writers, I am guilty of underestimating time. I used to think, ‘This shouldn’t take too long to write,’ or ‘I have plenty of time to write this piece of content,’ only to run short on time in the end.

But once I took time to study time, I learned to see time differently.

There are lots of great books on time and project management. One example, Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey, challenges readers to bend time.

First, it’s important to understand that we work on projects, not just ideas. Yes, we start with an idea for a book or the idea to start journaling. But eventually, the idea turns into a project or a habit once a plan is developed.

As we consider how best to manage our time while writing, we can apply three concepts, which include:
- Chunking. Split projects into logical, achievable parts.
- Linking. Join chunks together.
- Sequencing. Link chunks together into a logical order.
Below is an example of what these three concepts look like as part of my blog writing process.

Use blocks to manage your time each week.

Once I started to apply chunking, linking, and sequencing to my writing process, I decided to deal with my relationship with time.

I’ve always been fascinated with time — finding time, making time, being on time. As a professional communicator and writing coach, I help clients plan their time, find better uses for their time, and make timelines. When it came time for me to focus on my writing, I had to find a time management system that worked for me.

I went through several systems before I settled on managing my time in blocks. Time-blocking is the process of planning every part of the day, then designating specific time blocks for tasks and projects.

I realize this may seem like a lot of writing (see also ‘How To Write A Lot‘) and planning. But once I filled my calendar with the tasks and projects I needed to work on for the day or the week, it was harder for other things to creep into my schedule and rob my time.

To manage my time blocks, I use the PomoDone App. This app is an easy and fun way to track my time blocks using the Pomodoro technique. The app includes a countdown timer and allows you to connect to your Trello project management board.

If you want to drill down further, Gilkey suggests dividing your time into four basic blocks.

Limit your focus to one project at a time.

As part of your writing time, you may have several writing projects you want to complete. Outside your full-time job, if you dedicate eight hours a week to work on writing eight projects, you may think that’s doable. But is it really?

If you spend eight hours per week working on eight different writing goals, you could make a dent in each writing project. But if you’re left with a computer or notebook full of unfinished projects, narrow your focus to one writing goal at a time.

Now, I realize you may be a multitasking genius with more than one writing goal on your list, but hear me out. If your after-hours writing time is limited to four or eight hours per week, consider working on one writing project from your list for one, two, or six weeks.

Shortly after I decided to start my blog, I decided to write my first book. As you could imagine, both were time-consuming. Before moving to my book-writing dream, I got the website set up then put it on the backburner. Then, I decided to focus my attention on writing my book. Once the book was published, I returned my attention to my website and blog. With both writing goals complete, I launched the book and the website at the same time.

Once you complete your one goal, move on to your next goal. Achieving each goal one at a time is motivating. As you check off each goal, take a moment to celebrate and reflect. Before you know it, you will achieve your writing goal.

Please don’t get frustrated by the amount of time it takes to write.

When you only have a short amount of time to write, it’s easy to get frustrated by how long it takes you to complete your writing projects.

Recently I attended a webinar where the instructor asked everyone to list their most important writing goal. As each person shared their answer, many writers added how disappointed they were about how long it took them to write a book or get their writing out into the world.

If this is you, don’t get frustrated. Outside of everything you have to do each day, there are only so many hours in a day for you to write. Embrace the time you have to write, no matter how small.

But if you want to know how you’re spending your time, you can always use a time tracker.

Use a time tracker to list everything that needs to get done each week or your writing goal. List the top things you want to get done each week and each day. Third, make time to write – even if you only have 30 minutes to write.

Summary

To bend time to our advantage when writing, we divide writing tasks into three categories — chunking, linking, or sequencing. As we add our writing projects to our weekly schedule, we can apply focus blocks, social blocks, admin blocks, and recovery blocks. And unless you work as a freelance writer or communicator, you should try to focus on one project at a time, especially if you work a full-time job.

The bottom line: I’m busy; you’re busy; everyone is busy. But if we want to write, we have to make time to write.

I’d love to help you as you take the next steps in your writing life. To get started, complete this form and make a 30-minute appointment to talk about your current nonfiction writing project and needs.
March 5, 2021
6 Powerful Time Management Solutions for Time-Crunched Writers

Are you a time-crunched writer looking for ways to manage your writing life?

If yes, you aren’t alone.

Many writers crunched for time look for ways to fit more time into their writing routine while eliminating distractions.

For this reason, it’s good to find a few time-management tools to help you enhance productivity.

In today’s post, I highlight some useful time management tools that will help you eliminate the noise, eliminate distractions, and manage your writing projects more efficiently.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

RescueTime

Do you often end up scrolling through Instagram for hours, and when you glance at the clock, you can’t believe how much time you wasted?

RescueTime is here to rescue you from this feeling. This app records the exact time you spent on each activity. At the end of the day, you can identify the things that take up too much of your time.

This app can also help you set achievable writing goals and give you insight into where your time went.

MeisterTask

MeisterTask is an intuitive tool for project management and task management that helps you organize your writing to get things done. The tool allows you to manage your writing projects, to-do lists, and checklists in one place. I like that it helps me create electronic and flexible Kanban boards. I also like that it allows me to share information with my students or other writers.

Doris

If you have limited time to write, it can be quite hard to juggle everything. You forget deadlines, and all of a sudden, it dawns upon you that you’ve missed the deadline. There’s no feeling worst than this!

With Doris, you can list all your tasks and set them in order of priority by drag-and-drop. It’s a free website that you can easily sync across your devices and keep track of all your deadlines without having to worry about them.

OmmWriter

If you are one of those writers who easily get distracted while writing, OmmWriter helps you stay focused. It frees your screen from distractions, so you only focus on what’s right in front of you. It also offers relaxing music to make writing more productive. I used this app to write my first book, and it worked great. It’s available on Mac, PC, and iPad, so it will follow you everywhere you go.

Toggl

This app lets you keep track of your time on a particular writing task. This is quite helpful in understanding your strengths as a writer. You can also use this app to stay organized and stay in control. If you work with clients on an hourly basis, you can use Toggl to send reports to your clients for invoicing.

Focus Booster

Focus Booster is another fantastic tool many part-time writers love. It works on the Pomodoro Technique – 25 minutes (or more) of work followed by regular 5-minute breaks.

Focus Booster tracks your time and makes sure that you take a break. So, it helps you stay refresh your focus and rejuvenate your energy every twenty-five minutes. Thanks to this technique, you won’t ever feel burned out as a writer.

Find time management tools that work for you

There are lots of time management apps and tools to help writers. Explore as many options as you can and pick things that work for you. But don’t try to apply too many. With a few time management and productivity tools, you can manage your writing life effectively and reduce time anxiety.

February 18, 2021
10 Awesome Tips on How to Overcome Time Anxiety When Writing
Do you always feel like there are not enough hours in the week to make a dent in your writing projects? This is called time anxiety.

Unlike productivity shame, where you feel like you haven’t done enough, time anxiety makes you feel you never have enough time to reach your goals. For a writer, this could feel like never accomplishing your dreams of becoming a successful blogger or author.

For most writers, especially those who have full-time jobs where they can only find time to write early in the morning or late at night, it’s easy to feel a sense of time anxiety. After all, you only have a limited amount of time to get anything done.

But you can overcome time anxiety when writing.

This post will share 10 tips on how you can manage your writing time (see also ‘What Should be Included in Your First Draft? 9 Easy Writing Tips‘) to overcome time anxiety.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.

Stephen Covey

Understanding How Time Anxiety Affects Your Writing

Time anxiety centers on the feeling of not having enough time. As a blogger or weekend writer with limited time to write, the feeling of anxiety can be overwhelming. Also, the feeling of always being crunched for time may leave you thinking there’s no use in even trying to write if you can’t finish writing a blog post before you go to bed. Before you know it, you’re unable to move forward.

But before we can deal with time anxiety, it is important to understand how it affects your writing behaviors and mindset. For example:
- Daily: When time anxiety invades your daily writing routine, you may feel stressed because there is not enough time to finish writing one or more content pieces.
- Future: If time anxiety from your daily writing routine persists, you may feel your actions will affect your future writing projects. For example, if you don’t finish writing one chapter each day for seven days, you won’t be able to move forward in writing the next seven chapters of your book.
- Existential: This form of anxiety makes you feel as if you only have a small amount of time to live your dream life. An example would be feeling your life will be incomplete if you don’t finish writing your first book before turning 30.
So many writers, myself included, have dealt with some form of anxiety. However, if you are a time-crunched writer, there is a way to break free from feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

Apply the Basics When Dealing with Time Anxiety

When looking for solutions on how to overcome time anxiety when writing, we must first apply the basics, which include:

1. Adopt a flexible writing schedule

While I recommend having a set writing schedule, I also know that life happens — children get sick, cars breakdown, etc. Determine more than one time during the day when you can write. If you miss your morning writing routine, can you write for 30 minutes at lunch?

2 Build habits that work with a changing schedule

Use regular habits as triggers to help your writing stay on track. For example, if you want to write every morning, pair your writing session with your first cup of coffee/tea/water of the day.

3. Remove distractions

If your writing is crunched for time, don’t let unnecessary notifications distract you. Use an app like RescueTime to block distractions, like the Instagram notifications that let you know who’s online.

4. Be realistic about how much time is needed

It’s easy to think we can get a task done in a short amount of time. If you can’t write a blog post in less than 3 hours, don’t schedule 30 minutes to complete it. Give yourself enough time to give your writing the attention it deserves.

5. Prioritize important work

For days when your writing session is limited to a short amount of time, work on the most important tasks. If you’re on a deadline to turn in a guest blog post by the end of the week, don’t spend time brainstorming your next book (see also ‘How To Brainstorm A Story‘). Prioritize your most important writing tasks first.

Additional Tips Beyond the Basics

6. Track your time

How many times have you convinced yourself you could fit one more thing into your day before bed? We’re all guilty of thinking we have more time than we really do. But the truth is:
- There are only 24 hours in a single day
- You can’t stop or slow time down
- Your writing time cannot exists outside your schedule
Therefore, it’s important to track your time. Use a time tracking sheet to record everything you want and need to get done each day. This helps you understand where you can find time to write.

7. Don’t overestimate the time you have to write

Once you figure out where everything fits your schedule, don’t overestimate how much time you have to write. For example, if you get home from work at 5 p.m. and you need to cook dinner, do laundry, walk to the park with your children, get your children ready for bed, and don’t plan to edit your 50,000-word book before bedtime. Be realistic about how much time you have and what you want to accomplish.

8. Become a ‘Satisficer’ instead of a ‘Maximizer

Psychologists believe there are two types of decision-makers — satisficers and maximizers.

The satisficer makes decisions based on their current situation. The maximizer tries to make a choice that will give them the maximum benefit in the future. So the writer who is a satisficer may use their 20-minute waiting time in the carpool line to accomplish one writing task for the day. A maximizer may use the 20 minutes in the carpool line and pull an all-nighter to finish 10 writing goals.

To reduce stress, become a satisficer. This will help you avoid burnout while continuing to your writing goals forward.

9. Determine what success looks like

For each of your writing sessions, determine what success looks like before you start writing. When writing my second book, Tine to Reset, there were days when I didn’t feel like writing. Rather than blowing off my writing time, I would set a small goal like write at least one hour or one page. Once I accomplished my small goal, I felt I had a successful writing session.

10. Don’t forget self-care

Once you get your writing time under control, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Get some rest. Setting the alarm early in the morning to meet your deadlines, pulling all-nighters to get things done, struggling with time management can wear you down. With the right amount of sleep, you will feel energized throughout the day. Also, make sure you eat right and make time for exercise.

In summary

Feeling time anxiety is common. But it doesn’t have to control your writing life. You can overcome time anxiety by understanding how anxiety affects your behavior as a writer. Apply basic strategies in how you manage your writing time. Finally, you can manage your relationship with time by coming to grips with how much time you have and what you want to accomplish. In the end, it’s up to you to decide how to move forward. You can overcome anxiety to go on to produce your best work.
February 16, 2021
How to Be a Successful Writer Despite Having a Full Schedule

Do you ever wonder how you can be a successful writer despite having a full schedule? Have you ever caught yourself thinking, Oh, I wish there were more hours in the day! Or maybe, I wish I didn’t have to waste time sleeping; I could fit in more writing time.

If you think like this, you’re not alone.

I can remember a time when I worked full-time as a corporate communicator. I had a family to take care of and volunteer assignments at church that I was passionate about completing. My schedule was full.

The idea of working on any fiction or nonfiction project (see also our article on narrative nonfiction) was a dream. I made time for everything except my writing life. Until I one day decided to manage my time differently to give my writing the attention it deserves.

Once I learned the processes I needed to plan and control my time, I published two books. Today’s post outlines some of the steps I took to manage my time to become a successful writer. Feel free to share what works for you in the comment section.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

In order for real writing to take place, I had to claim space in my day.

Claim Space in Your Day

Before I took control of my writing life, my schedule was full. There never seemed to be any time for me to write the kind of books I wanted to write. Until I decided to make time. In order for real writing to take place; I had to claim space in my day.

If you’re like me, you have appointments in your schedule. But what about the things that aren’t on your schedule? Walking the dog, doing the laundry, or checking on your mom, are all things you plan to do but may not be on your schedule. To claim space in your day to write, you need to know what you are doing.

Try this

Use a time tracker to list everything that needs to be done each day. Next, list the top three things you want to get done each week and each day. Third, find time to write – even if you only have 30 minutes to write. Finally, keep the tracker handy to add any unexpected things that come up throughout the day.

Identify the Blockers

The next step in managing your writing time is identifying the critical problems or blockers that keep you from writing. Think about the things that take time away from your writing. Don’t list items that require you to spend quality time with your family or God. Instead, think about the time you spend surfing the web or checking Facebook for hours.

Exercise

To dig deeper into why you’re not writing consistently, use the 5 Whys to get to the bottom of the problem. Ask yourself five times why you’re not writing like you want, digging deeper each time you ask why. While the process is called 5 Whys, you can ask yourself four or seven questions. However, five questions usually get you to the root cause of the problem. The goal is the identify and address the blockers preventing you from being a successful writer.

Focus on One Goal

Now that you know your blockers, it’s time to make a list of the things you need to accomplish. For example, if you decide to build your author platform with a new website, using SiteGround or Bluehost. While there will be several things to do before you launch your site, you cannot do everything at one time.

To deal with time-anxiety while writing, channel all your focus on one goal. If you try to cook or babysit the kids while writing, you may not accomplish your goal. Instead, when you’re writing, focus on writing—nothing else.

Exercise

Before you start writing, identify one goal you want to work on during your current writing session.

To deal with time-anxiety while writing, channel all your focus on one goal.

Use Writing Sprints

To get the most out of my writing time, I like to use short bursts of writing. For my writing sprints, I like to use the Pomodoro technique. If you suffer from productivity dips while writing, this technique is the perfect one for you. You take a five-minute break after every twenty-five minutes of work. This keeps your focus fresh, and you won’t burn out.

Tool

While I have used a variety of timers, I’m currently using the PomoDone App. This app is an easy and fun way to track your writing session using the Pomodoro technique. The app includes a countdown timer and allows you to connect to your Trello project management board.

A Successful Writer Minimizes Interruptions

Have you ever sat down to write, and your phone starts ringing? What about when the doorbell rings? Or the kids decide to start fighting over a toy?

Such interruptions make writing stressful. You look at the clock and realize that you’ve been staring at a mostly blank screen for the past three hours but still didn’t get anything done. Unfortunately, you didn’t factor in the time you wasted in dealing with interruptions. Therefore, before you sit down to write, try to eliminate as many potential distractions as possible. Part of being a successful writer means minimizing or eliminating distractions.

Tool

To eliminate interruptions that pop up on your computer or mobile phone, use apps like RescueTime. Not only does RescueTime block distractions, but it also helps me understand where my time is going while I’m working on my computer.

Pat Yourself on the Back for being a Successful Writer

After all your hard work to control and manage your writing time, take a moment to reward yourself for being a successful writer. If you want to feel happy and enjoy your work, you should associate it with rewards. This will motivate you to incorporate more time management strategies into your writing sessions. Remember that rewards don’t mean that you have to eat chocolate or treat yourself to ice cream only to end up gaining extra pounds. Instead, take a walk, watch your favorite movie, or grab coffee with a friend.

Even that fleeting feeling of accomplishment is a reward. You managed to transfer that empty, ugly blank page into something meaningful. Once you are done with the work, pause and enjoy the moment.

Becoming a successful writer takes energy, focus, and time.

In Summary

You have a lot on your plate; most successful writers do. Nobody understands this better than me. But your writing is important, and it deserves time to grow. On your road to being a successful writer, be intentional about how you manage your writing time. Don’t allow unnecessary distractions to derail your focus and knock you off track from accomplishing your goals. As you move forward, remember to reward yourself. If you miss the mark a few times, don’t be hard on yourself. Your hard work will pay off on your way to becoming a successful writer.

February 11, 2021