How Productive Are You with Your Writing?

With work and life’s distractions, I don’t have a lot of writing time. I admire writers who can create multiple novels a year and stick to a daily writing schedule. I’m a binge writer. I write when I have blocks of time, and I don’t always keep to a set schedule.

But I did an experiment this year to see what was possible, and I had one of my most productive years to date. This year, I completed a cozy mystery, and I have a sloppy draft of my third Delanie Fitzgerald novel. I wrote a dog-themed mystery novella that was published in November in To Fetch a Thief. I wrote a short story, “Art Attack” that will be published next May, and I wrote a nonfiction piece that will be published next year too. And before December, I hope to start on another novella for the Mutt Mysteries collection.

It is possible to increase your writing output. Here’s what I did:

1. I cut out a lot of TV time.

2. I edited, proofread, and did rework during times that I normally didn’t write. I would print out chapters and put them in my purse for wait times like in the doctor's office or at the DMV.

3. I started tracking my word count for the week. This helped me stay on track. It also gave me a visual of what I had accomplished.

4. I tried to find some writing/editing/blogging time each day. It didn’t always work, but I made the effort.

5. I was a little more choosy and protective of my writing time. I learned how to say no politely.

6. I used my critique group to keep a monthly deadline. We submit 50 pages for review each month. I didn’t skip months this year. I had something to review each month.

Best wishes with your writing projects. What else would you add to my list?

Getting Back on Track...

I finished my SAFe (Strategic Agile Framework) training and passed certification exam recently. And it’s been a while since I’ve studied and crammed for an exam. I spent a lot of time over the last two weeks reading and studying (and learning hundreds of acronyms).

Needless to say, my book marketing and writing projects have been neglected, and I’ve lost some of the momentum I had on my WIP (work in progress - which is also an Agile term).

Stuff happens. Life and work will often throw your writing off schedule. The holiday season is fast approaching, and that always affects my productivity. Here are some ideas to get your writing back on track.

1. If you’re an early bird or a night owl, capitalize on that. Start your day earlier or stay up later to build in some extra writing time.

2. Turn off the TV or electronic gadgets and use that time for writing.

3. Use your lunch or meal times to build your word count.

4. Print out chapters and use waiting time to proofread or edit.

5. Don’t beat yourself up if you neglect your writing. Life happens. Get back to it as soon as possible.

6. Set a reasonable schedule or goals for the week and try to stick to it. You’ll be surprised how much your word count will grown when you write every day.

7. Find a writing buddy or someone who’ll tell you if you stray. I have two friends on Facebook who remind their writer friends that they should be writing. Public shaming can be a motivator.

What would you add to my list?