What to do When You're Not Motivated to Write

Every writer hits a block from time to time, but the pandemic and all its struggles have taken a toll on everyone. I attended a writers’ event this week, and over 75% of the people there said that they haven’t felt or been motivated to write recently. It is a struggle. Be gentle with yourself. Write when you can.

I decided early on in the pandemic that I was going to use my normal commute time to and from work for writing time. It provided some bit of normalcy for me, and I have a daily time that I work on writing and revisions.

Here are some ideas. I hope they help you.

• Schedule some writing time daily or weekly. Know that that is your task for that amount of time.

• Find your writer friends (e.g. critique group, writing buddy, writers’ group). The support and encouragement is invaluable.

• Many writing groups are hosting “write-ins” or “check-ins” where you talk about your goals and work on your writing. Some groups do this on a virtual call and others with social media posts. It’s a daily check-in on your progress. It helps to have encouragement and to know that you’re not alone.

• Set a writing goal with a deadline. Nothing makes me move faster than a pending deadline.

• Work on other writerly tasks. Update your website or social media pages. Update your biography.

• Find a writing friend and check in on each other weekly. I have two critique partners, and we do this almost weekly as we provide new pages or edits to our chapters.

• If you don’t feel like writing, try doing some research or outlining for a future project.

• Exercise or at least move around. Do something you enjoy (e.g. walks, dancing, yoga, hula hoop). Take care of yourself.

• Check in on a friend. Reach out to to someone and see how they’re doing.

• Find ways to volunteer. If you can’t do it in-person, a lot of groups are looking for people to help with at-home projects.

I hope you and your family are safe and well. We will get through this together. And when we’re able to gather again, we are going to have the most stupendous celebrations and book events. Take care of yourself. And Happy Holidays!

New Vocabulary For The New Normal

The new normal brings with it a whole host of challenges and new ways of doing things. It also brings its own vocabulary. I received a notice from the AP Style Book a week ago about its new standards for Covid-related words. Here are some interesting words and phrases for your lexicon.

Blursday - This was my favorite. Covid Brain makes it hard for me to remember what day it is sometimes.

Corona Babies or Coronials - Children conceived during the lockdown.

Coronacation - It’s a staycation during the quarantine.

Corona Cuts - Cutting one’s own hair during the pandemic. Don’t cut your bangs!

Covid-10 or Covid-15 - A reference to weight gain during the quarantine.

Covid Brain - That fuzzy-headedness you get because of all the change, gloom, and anxiety.

Covid Idiots - You can figure it out. Maskhole is often a synonym.

Doomscrolling/Doomsurfing - This is when you scroll through your social media feeds looking for news of the next crisis.

Extreme Teleworking - When there’s no split between home and work life. It feels like it’s all day, every day.

Fashion Mullet- When you professionally dress for a video conference from the waist up and wear shorts or pj bottoms with your flip flops. (All business on the top; party on the bottom.)

Flatten the Curve - The work done to stave off the virus and reduce the number of infections.

Hamsteren - Hoarding (stuffing one’s cheeks like a hamster).

Magpie - Like hamsteren, it’s storing supplies for the lockdown.

Maskne - The facial breakouts caused by wearing masks for long periods of time.

Quaranteam - These are the small group of folks in your bubble who you have contact with regularly.

Quaranteens - Teenagers during the pandemic.

Quarantini - Any cocktail you mix at home.

Virtual Happy Hour - Video meet up with friends for drinks or to socialize.

WFH - Work From Home

Zoombombing/Zoomraiding - When others, with bad intentions, crash and take control of video conferences.

Zoom Fatigue - That feeling that comes from way too many video conference calls.

Zumping - Breaking off a relationship via Zoom.

Book Marketing Ideas in the Middle of a Pandemic

The pandemic turned book marketing and events upside down. Thankfully, a lot of conferences and workshops have moved to virtual formats. Authors, book sellers, and event planners have had to muster their creativity and find new or other ways to do things.

Here are some ideas to add to your toolbox.

1. Blog Tours (Paid and Free) - Look for blog tour services that will help you set up interviews, reviews, and guest posts.

2. Facebook/Twitter Parties - Look for companies that provide hosted social media parties (usually for a fee). They organize the event on an event page or a site where an author can “take over” for the event. You can also create your own party. It’s a good idea to have some writer friends join you and to do a variety of give aways. Make sure you review the social media platform’s terms and conditions. They do change from time to time.

3. Make a list of all your author/book friends who have blogs. Ask for an interview or guest blog spot to promote your new book. I offer interview spots for authors on my blog. You can send me a message on the “Contact” page if you’re interested.

4. Talk to your indie bookstore owners. Many are doing free and ticketed virtual events.

5. Reach out to your librarians. Many are doing virtual programs, and you can pitch a panel or workshop that you can lead.

6. Look for book clubs who host in-person or virtual speakers. Ask friends and watch Facebook groups. There are lots of book clubs that have moved to the virtual space.

7. There are also services out there that help authors expand BookBub, email lists, and other social media followings.

If you’re going to use a service, read the fine print, and ask other author friends about their experiences. Make sure the service caters to your genre and type of book.

What else would you add to my list?

It's All About Balance

Everybody’s world has been upended with the pandemic and all the changes it has caused. I work from home four days a week, and I report into the office on Mondays. In my new routine, I’m at my home office desk most days, starting about 5:30 AM. And I’m usually there until 5:00 or 6:00 PM. I really like that I can attend readings, workshops, and other events virtually, but that means I’m at my desk later in the evening or on weekends. The new normal requires some balance. Here are some ideas to help.

• You need to stand up and move around throughout the day. I miss my stand-up desk at work. I try to stand during conference calls, so I’m not sitting all day. I tend to stay stationary too long. I also bought a desk bike. I can pedal while I’m sitting. (The mute button is my friend when I’m pedaling.)

• Routines are important. If you can stick to a routine as much as possible, it helps. What works for me is to set my normal wake-up alarm for work days. I don’t set an alarm on days that I’m off or weekends unless there is something I need to do. This helps me separate the work and non-work days. They all tend to run together sometimes.

• Try to get outside when you can. Walks, jogging, hikes, and bike riding are all good ways to change the scenery.

• Many conferences and workshops have been cancelled, but a lot were moved online. There have been so many opportunities for virtual classes, readings, workshops, and conferences. Many of the Sisters in Crime chapters have opened their meetings to guests, and I have attended some really good presentations. I was able to hear presentation by Kathy Reichs (of Bones fame) recently which was outstanding, and I was able to attend the Murder and Mayhem Conference (normally based in Chicago).

• Many dance, yoga, and exercise classes have moved online. Our neighborhood dance studio offered free lessons via Zoom.

• My critique group has moved online, and I really like it. I miss hanging out and having lunch with everyone, but I find that I’m more productive. We usually meet in area libraries, and often it’s about a 30-40 minute ride for me (both ways). Now on critique group days, I have more time to do other things because there’s no commute.

• I’ve talked to a lot of folks who have said that they snack too much when working from home. The kitchen is just too convenient. I try to limit the junk I keep in the house (though there is always a stash of dark chocolate — I need that for writing days). I also try to keep meals on a regular schedule, if possible.

• I have binge-watched or streamed more TV/movies than I ever have. I’ve found a lot of interesting shows that I wouldn’t have watched otherwise.

What ideas would you add to my list? What’s been working for you lately? And have you purchased any equipment or tools for this work-at-home, stay-at-home time?

Book Promotions When You're Stuck Inside

We all have had to be resilient in 2020. All spring events were cancelled, and now a lot of summer and fall author conferences and workshops are being moved online. Authors need to be creative and think of ways to promote their work during quarantine or partial-reopenings. Here are some ideas…

1. Run a sale of one of your previous books. This will generate interest in your current book and your series. There are lots of good email promotions like BookBub, the Fussy Librarian, and Book Doggy.

2. Plan a Facebook party with some author friends. This is a great excuse to hang out with readers and writers. And everyone loves prizes and freebies.

3. Send out your newsletter with tips, hints, photos, and projects.

4. Partner with a local bookstore that is doing online events. Pitch a panel or interview discussion.

5. Be active on your social media sites. Interact with readers. This will help you build your platform. Readers like to interact with authors.

6. Partner with your librarians who are looking for panels and workshops for their online programming. Pitch an idea to your librarian.

7. If you like to teach or conduct workshops, look for groups in your area that provide learning for students or seniors. There are several in Central Virginia. I’ve done workshops in person before. This year, they have moved their programming to the virtual realm. This is a good way to share with others and to get introduced to a new audience.

8. Write your next book. This will put you ahead of the game when markets start to open again.

9. Think about doing a collaboration project in an anthology. When you partner with other authors, you’re able to increase your readership. The promotions also have a bigger reach when there are more authors involved.

What would you add to my list?

Stuff I Learned during the Pandemic

This has been a crazy, sad, and trying time, and we’ve all be asked to do things differently. And there have been many disappointments and cancellations. I hope you and your family are safe and healthy!

I was reflecting on this and wondering if I should have started a journal. Life was so busy (my day gig is in IT), and we were working long hours getting ready for a massive work from home effort that I didn’t have time. We’ve settled into a routine now. My big days out are the ones where I’m manager on duty in the office or when I head off for groceries.

Here are some of my learnings or realizations…

1. Do not put on lipstick before you put on your face mask. (I’d never worn a mask before.)

2. Wood glue works great for making crafts with wine corks. I made a Christmas tree and a heart-shaped wreath.

3. I miss my stand-up desk that’s at the office. I have to figure out new ways to stand and stretch at home. My job and writing time are very sedentary.

4. I bought a pedal exerciser that fits under my home desk. I put long conference calls on mute and pedal. It helps me get moving.

5. I do like the extra writing time each day because I’m not commuting for two hours each day.

6. My fuzzy coworkers like to hang out in the office where I work. But sometimes, they snore loudlyTrying or pick the worse time to play with the loudest squeaky toy.

7. I am halfway through my Goodreads reading challenge already for the year. And I’ve made a huge dent in my TBR pile. Who’s on Goodreads?

8. We finished a large jigsaw puzzle (covers of the early Hardy Boys mysteries). I wanted to frame it to hang in my office next to my Nancy Drew one. My husband figured out a quick way to flip it to put the sticky backing on it. We slid it on a large piece of cardboard and sandwiched it with more cardboard. Then it was an easy peasy flip, and none of it came apart.

9. My two favorite social media updates are from Pluto Living (a schnauzer in Candaland who gives pandemic advice) and Moonpie Starbox (several doxies dubbed with kid conversations). These are the highlights of my adventures on the big wide web. Check them out. They are both good for lots of laughs.

How to Keep Your Writing Life Moving during the Pandemic

We are experiencing a unique and scary time. It’s hard on everyone. There’s isolation, loneliness, and disappointment, not to mention fear, stress, and anxiety.

I’m hearing from a lot of writers that they’re having a hard time getting motivated.

I think it’s important during this crisis to keep to a schedule or a routine if you can. Last week, I put makeup and shoes on for two video conferences and a trip for groceries. (Who knew going to the grocery store would be a dress-up occasion!)

Here are some ideas of helping with routines and schedules. I do better when I have a deadline.

1. Write when you feel like it. Try to do some writing every day.

2. Research and revisions count as writing work.

3. Work on blog posts or marketing ideas.

4. Reading in your genre counts as research.

5. Find ways to catch up with others. Video conferencing, phone calls, group chats, and social media are great ways to stay in contact. My two critique groups and my marketing group have moved to Google Hangouts or Zoom. My critique groups give me a monthly deadline, so that helps keep me on schedule.

6. Look for volunteer opportunities and ways to help others. There are many things that you can do from home. My neighborhood Facebook group puts out daily calls for neighbors in need. My church also has a network for people to request assistance. You can use your social media platforms to connect with people and to share information. My alumni association put out a call last week for members to submit thoughts and wishes for the Class of 2020 who had their senior year and celebrations cut short. There are lots of ways you can help.

Let me know what other ideas you have. Best wishes for you and your family! Be safe!