Daunting Tasks - Tips for Writers

We all have tasks that cause us to procrastinate. For me, editing is the hardest writing task. I have to figure out ways to keep myself motivated and focused. It never fails. I’m supposed to be updating a manuscript with edits, and then I’m off watching llama or cute dog videos. Here are some ideas when for those pesky, daunting tasks.

• Break huge, hairy tasks into smaller chunks. That way, you can see progress when you finish the smaller milestones.

• Reward yourself when you finish. I take a social media break after five chapters of editing. I get to switch gears for a minute, but I know that I’m also working on what I’m supposed to.

• Make lists and prioritize items that need to be done first. That way, you can schedule things that don’t have to be done right away. It doesn’t feel as daunting when you realize everything doesn’t have to be done right away.

• When I’m doing my not-so-favorite tasks, I make sure that I’m super comfy…warm socks, favorite pen, awesome playlist, and my favorite drink.

• If I don’t pay attention, paper, sticky notes, and copies of things pile up on my desk. I try to keep the loose paper under control weekly. If I don’t, then there’s a mountain of clutter which becomes its own challenge.

• Try to make a schedule for things you need to do on a routine basis (e.g. updating your website, checking your social media sites, answering emails, etc.) If you know you have a timeslot for that work, it becomes part of your normal routine. And like the mounds of paper, it’s much easier to tackle a little at a time.

Little Things Matter - Tips for Giving and Sharing

Random acts of kindness can mean the world to someone, and sometimes, the giver never knows the extent of his/her/their actions. There are so many ways as writers that we can give back or encourage someone else. Here are some ideas…

Volunteer - There are so many organizations (including writers groups) that need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. A few hours could make a difference.

Mentor/Coach - Volunteer to mentor or coach a new writer. Providing feedback and life experience is invaluable. I am so grateful for all the authors who have helped me along my writing journey.

Join a Critique Group - By partnering with others, you’re honing your craft while helping others. It means a lot to those at the beginning of their journey.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness - Every day, do something nice for someone else. You’ll never know how something small can mean so much. I was overjoyed once when the car in front of me paid for my lunch at the drive-thru. It was so unexpected. I reciprocated for the car behind me, and the clerk at the window said that it had been going on with over 25 cars paying for the one behind them.

Donate - Find organizations to take your unwanted items and books. I get so many books at conferences. I make sure to pass on the ones I don’t keep to little free libraries, Friends of the Libraries, and schools. Your local foodbank or food pantry is always in need of donations. Crafters, don’t throw out scraps and left-over supplies. Teachers and day care workers often want these types of supplies for their students. Our children’s museum has an art studio, and they are always looking for donations.

Box Tops for Education - I don’t have kids in school, but I downloaded the app and scan my weekly grocery receipt. The donation goes to my elementary school in Virginia Beach.

Keep in Touch - Find ways to keep in touch with others. We all need a team, and sometimes, we need a cheerleader. Use technology to stay connected. Celebrate other’s successes. Find ways to encourage when things aren’t going as planned.

Happy New Year! Do You Make New Year's Resolutions? Ideas for Writers.

Happy New Year! Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? A brand new year always a good time to look at your goals and the things you want to do in the upcoming year.

Here are some ideas to add to your list.

1. Read more. Sign up for GoodRead’s Reading Challenge. This helps me track what I’m reading throughout the year. It also reminds me to post a review.

2. Be kind. Look for ways to share with others. It may be a small gesture, but it means something to someone else, especially during these crazy times.

3. File and Shred. Clean up the piles of papers, receipts, and other stuff that accumulates on your desk. Get rid of what you don’t need. Put what you do need in its place. This is a good time to pull all of your tax files togehter.

4. Clean up your eFiles. Go through your pictures and files. Make sure that you’re backing up important things. Organize your electronic files.

5. Update Your Website. Look at your website and refresh outdated items.

6. Grow Your Following. Commit to spending some amount of time each week to your key social media platforms. Make sure that you are sharing, commenting, and building your audience.

7. Visit your Social Media Bios. Make sure that all of your author photos and social media bios are current.

8. Learn Something New. Find a way to learn how to do something new. This is going to be at the top of my 2021 list.

9. Protect Yourself. Make sure that you’re backing up your important files regularly. Make sure that you have security software on your computer and that your patches are current. And don’t click on links that you don’t know where they came from.

10. Look for Ways to Connect. During this crazy time, make sure that you’re talking, visiting, and sharing with others. Find a group and try to participate regularly. If you can’t find a group, create one.

11. Up and Out. Clean out your closets and junk drawers. If you haven’t used stuff in two years, it can probably go. Look for local charities that take donations of your old items.

12. Just Do It. Do that thing that has been on your task list forever.

Your Bucket List

Recently, I heard Kenyon Salo, the James Bond of Motivation Speakers. He’s a story teller, motivator, member of the Denver Broncos Thunderstorm Skydive Team, master trainer, adventurer, and photographer. His high energy and enthusiasm were contagious.

Here are some key points that made me think. He talked to us about our bucket list (you know, the things you want to do before you die). The focus of his talk was to “Say, yes, and worry about the how later.” We limit ourselves by coming up with excuses. Dreams lead to goals which lead to a plan which lead to action.

1. Create Experiences - Go and do the things you dream of.

2. Share More Stories - Share your experiences with others.

3. Live a More Fulfilled Life - Help others.

“Some day” is not a day of the week. This resonated with me. Things always seem to end up on my “some day” list.

He also reminded us to accept offers of help. We can’t do it alone. And helping others leads to a more fulfilled life.

Let’s solve this!

I did love his excitement, and my goal is for the rest of 2020 and 2021 to make some of my bucket list items happen.

What about you? What’s on your bucket list?

What Scooby-Doo Taught Me About Mysteries (and Life)

My love for mysteries started with 70s Saturday morning cartoons like “Scooby-Doo,” “The Funky Phantom,” “Speed Buggy,” and “Josie and the Pussycats.” Overly sweetened cereal, Pop-Tarts, and Saturday morning cartoons were a weekly ritual, and I learned a lot about the mystery genre and life from them. (The Cartoon Network or cable wasn’t around then. Cartoons rarely aired any time except on Saturday mornings, so it was a weekly ritual.)

1. Kids like me could be crime or problem-solvers. In all of the episodes, the gang figured it out and brought the villain to justice (before the adults did).

2. Use what you have available to you. Your wits and creativity go a long way in sleuthing.

3. Keep your eyes open and look for clues. Many times, they’re in plain sight.

4. These kids had the freedom (and a van) to travel to different places. (My mother would have never let me ride around in a van with a bunch of teens solving crimes.) They were so cool.

5. If you don’t know or understand something, ask questions.

6. If you’re clever, alert, and situationally aware, you can gather information and put the puzzle pieces together.

7. Don’t ever stop exploring or learning. We all need to be lifelong learners.

8. Everybody needs a pal or best friend (or a few). They are our sounding boards and support. We all need someone to go into a spooky old house, cave, or dungeon with.

9. Even if something is scary, you can face it. Shag and Scoob were not the bravest creatures, but they always mustered their gumption to trudge on.

10. Do the right thing. Stand up for the underdog and seek truth.

Overcoming Fear and Doubt - Tips for Writers

All writers doubt themselves and their writing ability from time to time. I think it’s good if it motivates you to revise and rework your writing and to hone your craft. But doubt and fear shouldn’t debilitate you. If you want to be a published author, you need to be able to accept criticism and suggestions for improvement.

Joining a critique group was the hardest thing I’ve ever done as a prepublished writer. I had worked really hard on my manuscript and was ready to share it with the world, who would be equally as thrilled as I was. After several of the sessions, I wanted to give up and find something else to do. While the feedback wasn’t all bad, it was overwhelming. It felt like everything I did was wrong or could be better. To make it less overwhelming, I took notes as they offered suggestions. Then I waited a couple of days to go back through their comments and make edits. The extra time helped. I was able to get over the “you called my baby ugly” first reaction and really look at their comments.

If you are serious about your writing, you need a critique group or a writing partner. These folks will help you work through plot holes and problems. It also builds confidence, and you’re able to see growth and improvements in your writing. Friends and family love you, but they don’t tell you about the parts that really stink. And you need to hear that part.

It takes a lot of courage to let someone else read your work. Make sure that you’re in the right mindset before you start. Your goal is to get published. Your book has to be the best it can be for that to happen. Learn from the feedback and strive to improve. You’re going to get criticism that you don’t like or don’t think is fair. You can’t take it personally if you want to grow as a writer. (Once you’re published, you’ll face reviews and comments that aren’t always nice or fair.)

Publishing is a business. Agents, editors, and publishers want to sign the best books that will sell. The industry has its ups and downs and fads come and go. Typically, what you write now won’t be published for 1-2 years. And rejection is a big part of the process. You will write many query letters and proposals, and for many of them, you may never hear anything back.

When you get negative comments or rejections, give yourself time to react to it. Work through it. Learn from it, and keep writing. Always be professional. You don’t need to snap back. Don’t do or say something rash that will come back to haunt you later.

Author Jenny Milchman gave a wonderful presentation to my group about her publication journey. Check out her website for her story. It is a good lesson about the ups and downs of the writerly life.

I love my writer friends. I can share losses, disappointment, and celebrations with them. They understand.

Turn the negative energy of doubt and fear to the willingness to improve and to try new things. It will make you a stronger writer. Celebrate the successes and learn from the criticism.

You Can Do This! Tips to Help Writers Stay Motivated

Writing is primarily a solitary business, and a bad day, the grumpies, a negative review, or someone’s snarky comment can easily send you to a demotivated state. If you want to be a published author, you need to persevere. Writing and publishing are work. You need to keep at it. Here are some ideas that can help you get going .

• Look at the feedback/criticism. Learn from it, but don’t dwell on it.

• Keep control of that voice in your head. Be aware of your self-talk. You don’t need to make things worse by fixating on them.

• Take a break and do something else for a while. Physical activity will clear your mind and get your endorphins going.

• Do something else that’s creative (e.g. paint, draw, knit, sew…). It will boost your energy.

• Be grateful. Count your blessings. You’ll be surprised at the list of positive things in your life.

• Volunteer or help someone else. You’ll often find that your troubles aren’t as challenging as what others are facing. And you are often able to make a difference in someone’s life.

• Writing is work, and it’s a long process. There is a lot of waiting (e.g. on queries, responses, contracts, edits…). You need to stay busy during the down times. Write your next book.

• When something happens that you don’t like, take a minute to cry, scream, yell, or eat chocolate. Get it out of your system and move on. You’ve got things to do. Don’t waste precious time wallowing in self-pity.