Karen Brown Tyson

Tag: #writer

3 Helpful Strategies on How to Deal with Writer’s Block
Your deadline is approaching, but you are out of ideas. You are staring at a blank page, and you can’t seem to write another word. You’re trying to start or finish a chapter in your book, but the words are not flowing. More than likely, it’s writer’s block.

Defined as a brain state or a psychological inhibition that stops your creative flow and hinders your writing process, the subject of writer’s block has been widely discussed forever. While there are no direct studies on writer’s block, it can be associated with the brain sections that help in language development, brainstorming, and critical thinking.

According to an article in Seattle Central College, writer’s block is actually ‘creative block’—a biological inhibition that stops the brain from making connections and writing creatively.

But here’s the thing, writer’s block is nothing new. Nor is it impossible to overcome. There are millions of creative works in the world to prove writer’s block can be defeated. As a writer who has faced writer’s block more than a few times, I want to share the 3 easy strategies I use to deal with writer’s block. 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.

Understanding Writer’s Block

In his book titled, The Daily Writer: 366 Meditations to Cultivate a Productive and Meaningful Writer’s Life, Fred White outlines five different types of writer’s block, which include:
1. Procedural: This type of block causes the writer to say, “What do I do now? Where do I go from here?” For fiction writing, this may mean not knowing how a character should move forward. Nonfiction writers (see also ‘What Is Narrative Nonfiction?‘) working on a memoir may get stuck trying to figure out the level of detail they want to include.
2. Creativity: When it seems like you have run out of ideas, you may be facing a creativity block. All types of writers are subject to face this block.
3. Psychological: All of the times when negative self-talk, like you’re not good enough to be a writer, crept into your writing session.
4. Distraction: Allowing normal tasks — phone calls, laundry, email, housekeeping — to get in the way of writing.
5. Procrastination: Suddenly, everything is more important than writing, and you promise yourself you will write again once everything is under control.
If you have experienced one or more of the blocks from this list, keep reading to find out the 3 easy go-to strategies I use to deal with writer’s block

3 Helpful Strategies on How to Deal with Writer’s Block

#1 – Analyze Your Creative Climate

Whether helping clients or students solve problems, I encourage everyone to analyze their situation. Finding a solution to deal with writer’s block requires the same level of attention.

First, think back to when you had a great writing session where you accomplished your goal and your creative flow was high. What were the conditions like?
- What time of day were you writing?
- How long were you working?
- What was your environment like?
- Were you on an internal or external deadline?
- What else do you remember?
Next, think about a time when you experienced a block while writing. What was your creative climate like during that time?
- What interrupted your writing?
- How long did it take to start writing again?
- Did you have a goal for your writing session?
- Did you stop writing to do research?
- What else do you remember?
Compare both lists. Can you identify the type of writer’s block you deal with most often? For me, the distraction block is my biggest problem. Therefore, I try to reduce distractions before I start writing, like moving my phone across the room. Come up with a list of solutions for each type of writer’s block you deal with so you can go back to the time when you’re most productive during your writing session.

“What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’”

Maya Angelou

#2 – Create a When-Then Plan

If you deal with the procrastination block, create a when-then plan to get back to writing. A when-then plan helps you associate your desire to write with an action. Here are a few examples:
- When you write for 30 minutes, then you will go for a walk.
- When you finish the laundry, then you will write for 15 minutes.
- When you get up at 5 a.m., then you will spend 45 minutes writing a blog post.
Before you start writing, be specific about what you want to accomplish with each writing session. Use regular tasks that are already part of your normal day as your trigger. However, if your ‘when’ doesn’t happen because something unexpected comes up, decide on the time and place to write the next day.

#3. Find Creativity through Non-Writing Activities

Many other creative activities can help you get your creative flow back. Try painting, crafting, cooking, or driving—anything that helps you feel relaxed and stay focused. Some people also like to listen to music to ease their anxiety and feel more energetic. Learn other ways to find creativity when you feel uninspired.

When you return to your writing session, allow the non-writing activity you experienced to influence your creativity. For example, to inspire my creativity, I like watching the shows like Chopped and Project Runway. Watching the contestants on both shows make something out of a few ingredients or materials is fascinating to me. Here are a few more tips on how to find inspiration.

“I don’t believe in writer’s block. Think about it—when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn’t it always manage to fix itself the night before the paper was due? Writer’s block is having too much time on your hands. If you have a limited amount of time to write, you just sit down and do it. You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

Jodi Picoult

In Summary

Another way to deal with writer’s block is to keep writing. Set small goals for yourself. For example, give yourself the target to write 50, 100, 300, or 500 words on a topic or just one page of the chapter. Once you get there, reward yourself. If you have time, push yourself a little more and keep writing. The more you write, the more motivated you will feel to complete your writing project. For more tips on how to beat writer’s block, check out these 11 awesome tips.
February 9, 2021
8 Absolutely Achievable Mindset Shifts You Need as a Writer
“Many people fail not so much because of their mistakes; they fail because they are afraid to try.”

George Foreman

As a writer, you fight. You fight procrastination. You fight writer’s block. You fight with the fear of failure and the fear of success.

Your writing career may not be too different than a boxing ring, and the way your mind works will determine how the fight goes. The good news is that you can win every fight by changing your mindset.

For years, I wanted to write books but always fell short of my goal. Until I decided to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset to write my first book, Time to Refresh.

A growth mindset will help you look beyond the obstacles and find opportunities to take you closer to your writing dreams. For that reason, here’s a list of eight absolutely achievable mindset shifts you need as a writer.

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.

[bctt tweet=”Your writing career may not be too different than a boxing ring, and the way your mind works will determine how the fight goes. The good news is that you can win every fight by changing your mindset.” username=”KBTWrites”]

Building a Growth Mindset—The Problem

When you look at best-selling authors, famous writers, and successful bloggers, you feel intimidated by their expertise and accomplishments. Looking at their masterpieces, reading their ravishing reviews, and seeing their name everywhere makes you doubt your abilities.

The more you question your skills, the less you grow.

Remember: Your mindset determines your failures. Your mindset determines your success. A mindset shift is important in reaching your goal.

Building a Growth Mindset—8 Absolutely Achievable Mindset Shifts, You Need to Write

1. Inspiration instead of Intimidation

Imagine you are a thirty-year-old guy or girl, sitting in a lonely room, reading about best-selling authors who wrote their debut novels when they were in high school or an author who has won dozens of awards.

You may feel envy and intimidation.

Let every success story you read inspire you. No matter how late or early you start your writing career, your beginning and your circumstances are different from others. Likewise, your failures and successes will be different from others.

2. Action instead of Procrastination

Procrastination is every writer’s enemy. When it comes to procrastination, most people associate it with poor time management. However, it is a deep-rooted problem that triggers several psychological, neurophysiological, and social factors. Twenty percent of Americans deal with procrastination.

You cannot fully get rid of it; however, you can see a visible difference when you make actionable plans and set sustainable writing routines. Keeping track of your progress also helps in dealing with procrastination.

3. Persistence instead of Exhilaration

You were happy today, and in your excitement, you finished writing two chapters. Good? Yes and No!

You can indeed work more when you feel happier and more energetic. But, this can slow you down in the long run. There will be days when you don’t feel exhilarated or inspired. Depending on your mood and feelings will limit your progress.

To make your writing dreams come true, you need persistence instead of exhilaration. Make writing a routine you follow irrespective of what happens around you.

4. Change instead of Disappointment

If you cannot follow the routine you made or cannot complete your assigned tasks, don’t be hard on yourself. Most people feel disappointed and start doubting their attitude or abilities.

It would be best if you accepted these little failures as reminders, motivating you to change. A mindset shift involves making changes as needed.

5. Lesson instead of Fear

The fear of failure can stop you from trying. Likewise, the fear of success can make you self-sabotage your success.

Your fears can bring anxiety, feelings of guilt, and depression.

Don’t let your fears control you. Fight them. Learn lessons from your failures and don’t deviate from your path. Stop beating yourself up for your mistakes and find ways to overcome the obstacles.

6. Self-Affirmation instead of Self-Doubt

Don’t rely solely on receiving affirmation from others. As part of your mindset shift, practice self-affirmation by writing positive reminders or statements to encourage or motivate yourself.

Here are a few affirmations you can use on your journey. Use the ones that resonate with you or write your own to support your current writing project.
1. I am confident in my ability to write.
2. I permit myself to learn more about writing as I go.
3. I give myself time and space to write.
4. I am proud of myself when I finish writing, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
5. I allow myself to grow into the writer I want to be.
6. I will not judge my writing or myself harshly.
7. I will not hold on to feelings of doubt or fear.
8. I take time to love and care for myself as a writer.
9. My mind is full of creative and bright ideas to support my writing.
10. I am at peace with who I am as a writer.
7. Credit instead of Criticism

When you work as a writer, be prepared to receive criticism from others. The truth is no one likes negative comments. However, different people react to critique in different ways.

When you are still struggling to be a writer or failing to write as well as you imagined, negative feedback can make you feel disheartened and want to give up. It may also lead to Imposter Syndrome. Imposter Syndrome is a psychological pattern that makes you doubt your abilities and think of yourself as a fraud.

As part of your mindset shift, think of criticism as feedback to help you work harder, write better, and become more successful.

8. Now instead of Later

The biggest growth mindset shift you need is to take action. Now.

It is not easy to change your mindset. It takes time and effort. Take small steps to move away from things that discourage you. So you can move closer to the things that inspire you. When you stay focused on your goal, you can overlook your failures and start a successful journey with a growth mindset.

In Summary

I hope this post inspires you to apply these eight absolutely achievable mindset shifts you need as a writer. More importantly, I hope you see you are not alone in your struggles with mindset. I used to let my mindset hold me back from accomplishing my writing goals. Until one day, I made a mindset shift. One I did, I never looked back. This week, I’m proud to say that I launched my second book, Time to Reset: A 21-Day Devotional to Renew Your Mind After Being Sidelined, Disappointed, or Knocked Off Course. And, as I tell my students, ‘If I can do it, so can you.’
February 2, 2021
3 Great Ways to Promote Yourself as a Writer
3 Great Ways to Promote Yourself As a Writer

I am so happy to present today’s guest blog post from Mike O’Mary on three great ways to promote yourself as a writer. Mike and Kathleen Meyer are Co-Founders of LitNuts, an e-newsletter that brings the “Best of the Indies” to booklovers. Mike is also an author and owner of Dream of Things, an indie press that published 13 books from 2009 to 2016, including two titles that sold more than 20,000 copies, 3 NYT Bestsellers, 3 Hoffer Award winners, and one book that was optioned for a film. I hope you enjoy it. Please share your thoughts in the comments.

[bctt tweet=”You’ve written a book. Now what? Here are three ideas to consider.” username=”KBTWrites”]

You’ve written a book. Now what?

Ideally, you’ve thought about the “now what” before and during writing the book. That’s because most publishers will want to know about your “platform” when you inquire about publishing your book with them.

Your platform is your following — on your website, blog, social media — maybe even some people you know!

If you’re a “subject matter expert” who decided to write a book, chances are you already have a platform or a following that you can leverage to help promote your new book. If not, you’re going to need to do some work.

I’m not going to talk here about the usual things. You can read elsewhere about creating a website and blog, and social media accounts. I’m going to focus instead on some “surround” efforts you can pursue to help round out and promote your platform.

Writers Groups

If you’re not in a writers group, find one and join it. The Authors Marketing Guild has a good list of writers groups. If you’re already in one, make the most of it.

I joined the Chicago Writers Association many years ago and have reaped the rewards ever since. The benefits include everything from something as simple as being able to network with other writers to publication opportunities, a review service, and more. Here’s a complete list of benefits from the CWA website:
- A personal user-friendly webpage on CWA’s official website to promote your writings and happenings
- Access to CWA’s official e-group where members share publishing, writing, and marketing information
- Opportunity to participate in CWA author reading and book signing events and industry expo booths, including the Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair and our own, Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference.
- Opportunity to participate in our Speakers Bureau.
- Opportunity to participate in our book review service, Windy City Reviews.
- Opportunity to enter your book in our Books of the Year Contest.
- Opportunity to enter our members-only writing contests.
- Opportunity to be published in our Write City e-zine and Windy City Writers blog.
- Interaction with other writers.
Even though it’s a Chicago-based group, you can join CWA from anywhere. But you should also see what’s available in your area. The California Writers Club, for example, has 2,000 members and 22 chapters spread across the state. So if you happen to be in California, you should be able to find a chapter near you.

Offer Something of Value

I love creative writing, but until I retired earlier this year, I also did executive communications (speeches, presentations, annual reports, etc.) to pay the bills.

One of the things I learned in the business world is the concept of providing “something of value” (SOV) as a way to cultivate relationships with clients. It could be as elaborate as organizing a free conference for clients, but it could also be as simple as finding and sending an insightful article to prospects.

As an author, you can do the same. What can you provide that will be of value to your “clients and prospects” (i.e., people who might buy your book now or sometime in the future)? Chances are you’re a “subject matter expert” on something! Or again, maybe you share interesting information with clients. Here’s an example:

Kathleen Meyer, Co-Founder of LitNuts

Kathleen Meyer and I currently publish LitNuts three days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The focus is mainly on indie books, and we don’t want to detract from that. But we always include a brief introduction to:
- announce the winner of that day’s prize drawing
- share a literary quote, and
- offer something of value.
Most recently, I came across an article about 12 ways to cope during stressful times. It didn’t tie directly to books (although reading a good book is a great way to reduce stress!). Still, I felt it might provide some value to our subscribers – and maybe also simultaneously strengthen and deepen our relationships with them.

Mike O’Mary, Co-Founder of LitNuts

Use Blog Tours and Guest Blog Posts to Promote Your Platform

A blog tour is a great way to promote your book and yourself as an author. I’ve used several blog tour services, and I believe a WOW! Blog Tour is one of the best values and most effective marketing tools you will find to promote yourself as an author.

You can also reach out directly to book bloggers and offer to write a guest blog post as a one-off. That’s where “something of value” comes into play again. It’s not just about promoting your book; it’s about providing something of value to people who might later decide to do business with you in the form of buying your book. (Full disclosure: That’s exactly what I’m trying to do right now! I’m hoping that by providing you with something of value – in this case, suggestions on how to promote yourself as a writer – then you might later say to yourself, “Hey, that Mike O’Mary guy is all right. Maybe I’ll give his newsletter a try.”)

Tip of the Iceberg

We can all agree on how important it is to pursue your writing dreams. Once you do, the things I’ve talked about today represent just the tip of the iceberg on how to promote yourself as a writer and should be strategies you consider for your overall marketing plan. Good luck!

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November 5, 2020
How to Be More Creative When you Feel Uninspired
It’s hard to be creative when you feel uninspired. If you are a writer, blogger, professional, or any type of creative, you know what I mean.

Since the start of the year, my creative flow has been moving along nicely. As a result, I was making progress towards my 2020 vision. However, the world suddenly came to a halt. Before I knew it, my state was under a shelter-in-place order. And, while I appreciate the plans put in place to save my life and the lives of others, the truth was that I felt cut off from the world.

All of my well-thought-out plans had to wait while I watched the world around me change. Without hesitation, I turned my attention to taking care of my family, friends, and neighbors.

After helping people find the information they wanted or the food and supplies they needed, I realized I needed to get back to my 2020 goals.

But how? My mind was consumed with the world around me. As a result, my creative flow took a hit. I had to find my creative groove.

This post outlines the seven steps I took to regain control of my creative flow.

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.

How to be more creative when you feel uninspired

Turn to other writers for inspiration.

Reading books by other writers is a great way to find inspiration. While I am a big fan of mysteries, I decided to explore a variety of genres. One of the books it turned to was a DiAnn Mills romantic suspense novel, Fatal Strike. The story is about a killer on the loose in Galveston, Texas, using a fatal injection of snake venom to take down law enforcement officials.

Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills

This book got my creative juices flowing. Here’s a list of the other books I read:

Our Witness to the World: Equipping the Church for Evangelism and Social Impact by Tony Evans

The Esther Anointing: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Courage, and Influence Kindle Edition by Michelle McClain

Heal Your Self With Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody.

Poilâne: The Secrets of the World-Famous Bread Bakery by Apollonia Poilâne

Use the cross-fertilization method to find inspiration

No matter what type of writer you are, it’s essential to feed your creative curiosity by listening to others. The cross-fertilization method involves listening to someone from industries or professions not related to yours. The key is hearing different perspectives on business or life.

Therefore, I found an article in Entrepreneur magazine highlighting Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia’s plan to revamp Dwayne’s career. Their strategy: rethink everything! The article was so inspiring. As a result, I developed a new presentation to help people prepare for the next chapter of their lives (see also ‘How To Plan For The Next Chapter Of Your Life‘).

Entrepreneur Magazine April/May 2020

Shift your writing space

Do you write in the same place every time you write? In the early days of building my writing routine, I would write in the same place. However, once I was in quarantine, I felt unmotivated to write in the same place every day. For inspiration, I tried writing in different areas around my house. It worked! Moving from one side of the room to the other helped me to explore new ideas while writing.

Adobe stock

Join other writers virtually

If you cannot collaborate with other writers face-to-face, take advantage of opportunities to meet virtually. I am a big fan of Jeff Goins and his writing journey. On Friday, March 20, Jeff held a free digital meetup for writers and creatives. Using Zoom, Jeff encouraged everyone to work on one thing they had been struggling to start. Being in the virtual meeting room with other creatives was so motivating. I actually finished writing a client blog post ahead of schedule.

Use mind mapping to brainstorm new ideas

A mind map is a chart that visually displays ideas. While some people like to create mind maps using notebook paper and pens, I like using an online mind mapping tool called MindMeister. Once you decide which tool to use, here’s how mind mapping works:

1) Write the topic in the middle of your paper or screen.

2) Draw lines that point away from the center. Each line expresses one thought or idea related to the subject. Use keywords to write these ideas onto each line.

3) From each line, add more ideas. There is no limit to the number of levels in a mind map.

4) Use pictures, colors, and icons to help bring your map to life.

Mind mapping was an excellent way for me to explore new ideas. Below is one mind map I started for a book idea.

MindMeister is a great mind mapping tool.

Write Your Way Free

Freewriting is a good exercise to get the creative juices flowing. During a freewriting session, I set a timer for a certain amount of time like 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off, I give myself a 5 or 10-minute break. When I write for 45 minutes, I take a 15-minute break. During a freewriting session, I sometimes write about a specific topic or use a writing prompt. With freewriting, I don’t worry about editing, grammar or punctuation. From start to finish, I just write and don’t stop.
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Keep a gratitude journal

I am a firm believer in the power of journaling. Not only can journaling help you deal with your emotions, but it can also help change your mindset about every aspect of your life. Being in quarantine was an excellent opportunity for me to write about a variety of things. Writing in my gratitude journal helped me put everything in perspective. I was able to write about the things that I was most grateful for like waking up every morning. As part of your journaling practice, you can use loose-leaf paper or a regular notebook. I love using a variety of journals and notebooks, including the Erin Condren Petite Gratitude Journal.

Erin Condren Petite Gratitude Journal (see also ‘2023 Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner: A Comprehensive Review’)

My time in quarantine has taught me the importance of cultivating creativity. Staying creative for life requires the constant pursuit of new ideas and fresh viewpoints.

What do you think? How are you nurturing and cultivating your creativity?

Share your thoughts in the comments section.
April 22, 2020
How to Energize Your Writing to Improve Productivity
Do you ever wish you could energize your writing to improve your productivity?

Sleepless nights, fatigue, and feeling tired can take its toll on anyone, including writers. Despite how you feel, the blog post, the article, and the book still have to be written by the deadline.

To stay on track, I have tried lots of things over the years. If you experience WWT – writing while tired — here are 12 tips on how to get more energy to improve your productivity.

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 preparing to write

TIP #1 – Get Some Rest

I realize for some people, getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done. For me, all I had to do was make a few adjustments in my bedtime routine. First, I try to go bed at the same time every night, Sunday through Thursday (I stay up a little later on Fridays). Second, I downloaded Calm, a relaxation, and meditation app, which offers soothing music and bedtime stories to help me sleep. Finally, I use the Moonbow Bedphones, wireless sleep headphones that allow me to lay on my side without feeling the pain of an earbud in my ear. My sleep routine helps me get the rest I need to avoid feeling tired.

TIP #2 – Practice Mindful Eating

The next thing I did to avoid being tired was to deal with my eating habits. While on vacation, I decided to watch Dr. Mark Hyman talk to Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and their family about their health. Talking to each family member, Dr. Hyman explained how their gut health was affecting their energy levels. It was fascinating. I never considered how much the health of my gut could impact my energy.

In talking to my doctor, I confirmed that my overall health is fine. But I know I go overboard sometimes with sugar. So I decided to make adjustments to my eating habits to see if my energy level could improve, and it did. Dr. Hyman offers great advice in his books, Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? So I changed my eating habits to include more vegetables, fruits, and nuts, and less processed foods and sugar. As a result, I lost ten pounds, and I have more energy throughout the day to get more writing done.

TIP #3 – Make Time to Exercise

Exercise is an excellent way to get the blood circulating through your body and boost energy. Whether in the gym or at home, squeezing in a workout isn’t too hard for me. After years of being overweight, I changed my daily routine to include an early morning workout between 5 and 9 a.m. When I can’t get to the gym, I grab my yoga mat, towel, and exercise ball at home. There are lots of apps and 15- or 20-minute workouts on YouTube.

Not only does working out help improve my health and energy level, but it helps me think about my writing assignments for the day. While on the treadmill or the elliptical, I often develop ideas for books or blog posts. During breaks, I capture my thoughts in the notes app on my smartphone.

TIP #4 – Clear the Clutter

I never knew how exhausting clutter could be until I tried to write. While a messy desk may mean that some of us are geniuses, it’s a distraction for me. To avoid wasting energy during my writing time, I take the following steps.
1. Don’t create piles. Rather than letting mail pile up on my desk, I’ve learned to throw away or file documents.
2. Avoid making your desk a storage bin. I use to leave everything on my desk. Now I like to keep it clear and clean after each writing session.
3. Declutter each week. Since I decluttered my writing space, I try to schedule weekly cleaning sessions.
4. An organized home office is your key to finally getting things done. Check out Darla DeMorrow‘s book, The Upbeat, Organized Home Office: Five Simple Steps to SORT and Succeed for an Organized Mind.
On your writing days

TIP #5 – Write When You Have the Most Energy

Even with a good night’s sleep, I realize that my energy levels are different throughout the day. By reading the book, The Power of When I learned that timing is everything. The author explains chronotypes, a classification of the general timing of my biological clock. After taking Dr. Michael Breus’ Bio-Time Quiz, I discovered I am a lion – someone who is an early-riser ready to tackle anything in the morning, but tired by the end of the day.

Armed with this information, I now know that I get more writing done during the time when I have the most energy. So I work on blog posts, client assignments, and my book during the morning hours and save other activities like social media and website maintenance for the second part of my day.

TIP #6 – Use Writing Prompts

Sometimes it’s hard to get into the flow of writing. Avoid wasting time and energy by freewriting. During a freewriting session, you set a timer for a certain amount of time, like 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off, give yourself a 5 or 10-minute break. When I write for 45 minutes, I take a 15-minute break. During a freewriting session, you can write about a specific topic or use a writing prompt. As you write, don’t worry about editing, grammar, or punctuation. From start to finish, write, and don’t stop. Here’s a free practical guide on writing which includes a copy of my writing prompts to help you get started.
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TIP #7 – Set a Time Limit on How Long You Will Write

I used to think I had all day to get my writing done. Part of this thinking came about as a result of me attending graduate school online, outside of regular work hours. Sometimes the only time I had to write a 17-page paper was at night and on weekends. But those days are gone. For my writing business, I learned that I stayed focused and energized when I set a time limit for each writing project. Before I begin writing, I decided if my session will last for one, two, or three hours.

TIP #8 – Take Breaks When Writing

Once I set my writing time for each project, I determine when I will take a break and for how long. Studies highlight the benefits of taking a 15-minute break after working 90 minutes. But you can work for shorter periods and still take breaks. For example, if I write for 30 minutes, I take a 5-minute break, but if I write for 45 minutes, I take a 15-minute break. The length of your break is up to you. But remember, your break should not carry you away from your writing session.

TIP # 9 – Take a Walk

While on a writing break, I like to take a quick walk. Sometimes I walk around the building or library where I am working or down the street if I’m at home. A walk not only helps me stay active, but it also allows me to think about what I am writing. By the time I return to my writing, I feel better, and I have a few more ideas for the content I am working on.

TIP #10 – Take a Nap

Studies show there are benefits in taking short naps during the day. There are three types of naps which include:
- Planned napping where you take a nap before getting sleepy.
- Emergency napping happens when you are suddenly so tired that you cannot continue until you take a nap.
- Habitual napping involves taking a nap at the same time every day.
Sleep experts believe a 20-30 minute nap improves alertness. However, a nap taken late in the day could negatively affect your regular nighttime routine.

TIP #11 – Write While Standing

I realize this may not work for everyone, but I like writing at a standing desk. Studies show that using a standing desk can reduce stress while improving energy levels. While working at my standup desk, I use a floor mat to reduce pressure on my legs and feet. I don’t usually stand all day. By the afternoon, I try to take a seat, move around, or run errands.

TIP #12 – Try Writing in Different Places

Nothing energizes my writing sessions like a trip to my local library. Once I find a writing space near, set up my laptop, and plug in my headphones, my brain switches to ready-to-write mode. By the time I leave, I have accomplished my goal.

How do you find energy when writing?

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January 30, 2020