10 Minutes of Writing Significantly Increases Productivity

I've been trying to sneak in an extra ten minutes of writing every day...and am very pleased with my results. Even with a measly little ten minutes out of my day, I have the possibility to start preparing the bones of an article or essay, add a scene to my screenplay, prepare a revised version of a rough draft of an article, or even just write a cover letter for a WIP.

The one downside that I've encountered in this endeavor is that I have to give up doing something else in order to have those additional ten minutes for writing. This means that I've missed out on participating in the giveaway on the WM blog for a couple days, have not done much tweeting in the last few days, and have had limited FB time.

While I know that tweeting less and giving up FB for awhile could actually be really helpful in increasing my productivity, I really enjoy participating in the WM back to school giveaway and hate to give it up. (Not to mention, that I've learned A LOT through participating, and have stumbled across some awesome blogs that I'm now following.)

So...

I've decided that it's as simple as this: Get up 10 minutes earlier.

Backup plan (in case I hit the snooze button): Give up Facebook that day.

Problem Solved....Ta Da!!!

Have I mentioned that I am NOT a morning person? But even I know that getting up 10 minutes earlier than usual won't kill me. And knowing that it will significantly increase the amount of work I finish each day provides me with the motivation that I think I'll need to roll out of bed.

That sounds reasonable, don't ya think? I'm going to start on Monday, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Best of luck in achieving your writing goals for the week!

A 10-Minute Daily Dose of Writing

After choosing the title for yesterday's post, I thought about how much time I actually spend NOT-WRITING...even when I am sitting at my desk during periods of scheduled "writing time."

Then I read this article, which got me thinking...

I realize that much of my work time is spent handling the various aspects of my job as a freelance writer (including: market research, networking, and administrative aspects, to name a few), with very little time left over for writing.

So what would happen if I set aside just a little more time (even if only 10 min) for actual writing each day?

Just guessing here, but I would almost bet that my daily word count would shoot through the roof.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to add an extra ten minutes to my scheduled writing time, and make sure that I actually write during those ten minutes...and just see what happens.

No Time to Write

Life has thrown some unexpected twists in my path recently. Some small and some far too big (and scary) for my liking.

The biggest thing is that my mom has been in and out of the hospital for the last ten days. When we initially took her in, she was on the verge of having a heart attack. Fortunately, we got her there in time, and a heart attack was avoided. Nonetheless, this has been a scary and difficult experience (especially after having lost my dad just five years ago). I am not ready to lose another parent.

I am exhausted beyond belief, so I'm going to make this brief and call it a night. Obviously, with my mom's present state of health, my writing has been put on the back burner. But as soon I get back into the swing of things, I'll be in touch....probably in a few days. I just wanted to check in with everybody and let you know what I have been up to. See you soon!

When the Muse Disappears

The long weekend was a welcome break to get some rest, have fun, and spend some quality time with family. It sure went by quickly, though! Now it's back to work...but I'm having a slight problem.

I. Can't. Focus. At. All. (A few days away from work, and my brain has already turned to mush.)

So what to do?

Well, it's simple really. I am a writer...so I need to sit down and write.

Since I was thinking about this and struggling with it right now, I thought I'd share my tips (for staying motivated) with you.

Sure, it may be a little difficult to start, but usually getting started is the hardest part. Just sit down and put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

Sometimes it helps to try mixing it up a bit - work on an article that I find really interesting, or conduct an interview, or even follow up on submissions. Or maybe write a blog post. :)

If that doesn't work, try taking a ten minute break, and play with the kids. Be completely in the moment and totally focus on them. Then, go back to work. Usually, a quick break leaves me feeling refreshed and sometimes even sparks some new ideas.

Another option (that almost never fails) is to get up and stretch for a few minutes. Take a quick walk or even do some jumping jacks to really wake up and get your blood moving.

Healthy snacking also helps me to stay energized. As a chocoholic, it is SO difficult for me not to gorge myself on unhealthy food choices, but I notice a huge difference (in my ability to stay awake, stay focused and write as well as in my productivity) when I incorporate more whole grains, fruits, and veggies into my diet.

Lastly, but quite importantly, drink plenty of water. Becoming dehydrated can make you extremely tired and can make it difficult for you to focus. I keep a water bottle on my desk at all times, and make sure that I get in at least eight cups of water every day.

Well, I have an article to finish (one that I've been putting off for far too long!), so I'd better get back to work now.

Living a Life Full of Miracles

I subscribe to C. Hope Clark's Funds for Writer's Newsletter (which I highly recommend!). This quote is in the current issue, and I just thought it was so good that I had to share it:

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as
though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though
everything is a miracle."

-- Albert Einstein

As a mother and as a writer, this rings too true!

Operation Potty Project

Just checking in to say that I'm still here. I haven't had much spare time in the last week because I'm in the process of potty training my 27 month old son, which has been tough and not very successful.

However, I have been making time to participate in the Writer Mama back to school giveaway. I participated in it last year, and learned so much from it. Also, it's a great opportunity to meet other writer mamas. I've stumbled across some awesome blogs and websites through the giveaway. So if you're not already participating, you should definitely check it out!

I will try to get back to posting soon, but until then you should be able to find me at the Writer Mama Riffs. See you there!