Find the Writing Routine That Works for You

It’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), the time when authors commit to writing each day with the goal of completing a good chunk of their novel by the end of the month. Anyone participating this year?

I think daily writing goals are good. For a long time, I resisted. There was too much going on in my life to commit to being able to write every day. (And it took almost five years to finish my first novel.) I have picked up speed over the years, and that includes daily writing.

You need to find the routine that works for you and your schedule. This one is mine. I still have a day gig that starts at 7:30 AM, so I get up and write at 5:00 AM. I have always been a morning person, and I usually stick to my routine on weekends. I write during my lunch, and if I didn’t hit my word count for the day, then I come back after dinner to finish. On days that I work, my goal is 1,000 words. On weekends and days off, my goal is 3,000 words. I can usually finish a cozy mystery draft in about two to two and a half months. I have my major research completed and a pretty good outline of the mystery before I start. When I’m not writing a book, I use the time to network, market my current books, and update my social media platforms.

Here’s what I learned about having a routine:

• Do your best to keep to your schedule. Figure out how much time you have and be realistic about your plans.

• If you miss a day or so, don’t beat yourself up. Life happens. Try to get back on track. The longer you are away from your WIP (work in progress), the harder it is to find where you left off.

• Just write when you are in first draft mode. Make notes of things you need to research later. Don’t go back and edit or revise. Just write.

• If you’re finding it hard to carve out time, look at your daily schedule. Where can you find 30-60 minutes each day? What can you exchange for some writing time?

• When we worked from home during the pandemic and lockdown, I committed my commuting time to writing. I was way more prolific than I’ve ever been. To me, it proved that daily writing time works.

• Celebrate your victories. I keep a little sheet of paper with my daily word totals. You’ll be surprised how quickly it adds up.

Let me know what works for you. Happy Writing!

Remembering All the Administrative Tasks - Tips for Authors

Writing is a business, and with that comes a lot of administrative tasks that you need to keep up with, along with your writing, revising, and book marketing work. Make sure that you take care of the tasks before they get out of control.

Mileage and Receipts - After an event, I record the mileage, tolls, and expenses in my yearly spreadsheet. I do it as part of my unpacking routine. If I purchase something, I print the receipt and file it. By doing these as they happen, I don’t have to spend time at the end of the year trying to remember what I did and how much I spent. And I don’t have to scramble to find receipts.

Sales Tax - My state requires that I collect and file sales tax on all book sales that I do. During an event where I’m selling books, I keep a list of what books sell and the cost. I record all sales in my spreadsheet, so I have the information when I file my quarterly sales tax.

Filing - Filing is not my favorite thing to do, but I’ve learned over the years to keep up with it (or it’s a mess at tax time).

Contacts - When I get a new contact, I added it to my electronic contact’s database with a description of who/what it is. It takes some time, but it helps me remember later. If it is a service or a person for book marketing, I also keep a spreadsheet with a lot of metadata (like name, business name, specialty, who recommended them, etc.), so I can find the information later (in case I forget the person’s name). Make sure that you back up your favorites and contacts in case your computer or phone is lost or damaged.

Minimize the Clutter - I acquire hundreds of postcards, bookmarks, flyers, and business cards throughout the year. I put all of the contact information in my electronic contacts database or my spreadsheet, and then I recycle the business cards and flyers. If it’s an event that I attended, then I keep the souvenir for my scrapbook. I donate a lot of books to the Friends of the Library, and I’ve started putting bookmarks that I don’t use in a plastic baggie to go with the donation. You can also slide them in the book for the next reader.

Organizing Your Photos - I download my photos to my computer after an event. I file them by event with enough information that I can find them again, especially if it something that I want to use for book marketing. I go through my pictures and delete the ones I don’t want to keep. Cloud or hard drive storage can add up with thousands of pictures after time. At the end of the year, I move all of the previous year’s photos to an external hard drive.

If I do the admin-y tasks throughout the year, then it’s not such a big hassle at tax time. Best wishes for your writing and book marketing!

Dealing with Goodbyes in Your Writing Life

Writers encounter a lot of rejections and goodbyes along their writing journey. It is a part of the process, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier. As you grow as a writer, there are things you’re going to have (or want) to give up or do less of because your time is finite, and you have to be able to juggle all the demands in your life.

Make Sure Your Events Match Your Audience - Early on, we tried just about every event and conference that would let us speak and sell books. I learned after a few events which ones drew my readers. I am now more selective about events I attend and where I spend my time and money. I don’t have to do every event.

You Can Say No - I like to help and to be a part of things, but there are only 1,440 minutes in a day. I was taking on too much and not guarding my writing time. I had to decide what time I was going to devote to writing and book marketing, and then I had to not do some other activities.

Changes - Life is full of changes. People retire, move, and change jobs. It is difficult when you miss people or your life was upended by something you can’t control. Agents and editors retire or switch jobs. Our friends are no longer here with us. Publishing houses are purchased, and sometimes contracts are not extended. Give yourself time to grieve.

Moving on - I started out with a group of writers, and many of us were at the beginning of our journeys. We did book signings, critique groups, and blogging/marketing efforts together. Things don’t always stay the same. There are times when you need to evaluate your goals and decide if you want to continue doing things or if it’s time to jettison some activities in order to improve your craft. This doesn’t mean to give up friends or stop supporting them. It just means that you may have outgrown the activity or that it may not bring you the same joy or value that it did in the past.

Whatever the goodbye is, you need to give yourself some time to react and grieve. Then it’s time to assess your writing situation Are you ready to make a change? Decide where you want to be and work toward that goal. The writing life is a tough one sometimes. But I still believe the benefits and joys outweigh the obstacles along the way.

Grit and Grind - Two Tools for Your Writer's Toolbox

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Grit

firmness of mind or spirit; unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger (Merriam-Webster)

Grind

to work hard; to be fully dedicated; to have no limits (Online Slang Dictionary)

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I often mentor folks who are interested in starting or furthering their careers. One of the frustrations I hear a lot is that it takes too long to get where I want to be or I seem to be spinning my wheels. My advice is often that you need to make sure that you’re putting in the time and effort to gain the experience, knowledge, and connections to move yourself on the path where you want to be.

Grit, grind, and even hustle have popped up in my consciousness and readings a lot lately. And it’s been a good reminder to me to review my goals (life and writing) and my daily routine Am I doing the things that will get me where I want to be?

Recently, I finished Trevor Moawad’s It Takes What It Takes. He is a mental conditioning expert who I heard speak at a Risk presentation at Virginia Commonwealth University. He’s worked with some stellar athletes (including hometown favorite, Russell Wilson) and elite military units. Check out his book. It puts things in perspective. You have to change your way of thinking, you need to adapt, and hard work/discipline are the keys to success.

These truths apply to your writing journey, too. There are very few Cinderella stories where an author pens a book and tops all the charts. If you talk to successful authors, they will tell you that years of hard work led them to where they are today.

Author Brad Parks gave a wonderful closing address at Sleuthfest 2021. He encouraged writers to have a routine, write daily, exercise, eat right, and focus on your end goal. Sitting at your desk for six hours watching cat videos is not writing. He also talked about professional athletes and their routines. He provided numbers of how many athletes are at the top of their professional game, and the numbers are relatively small. He compared that with top tier writers. Writing is a tough industry with a lot of disappointments. Writers need to work on their craft and to write.

One of his tips for avoiding distraction was to type “XXX” in his manuscript when he needed to research something. Then when he was at a stopping point, he would search/find the spots and do all the research at one time. (He called it doing his “exes.”) During this crazy pandemic time, I find myself getting distracted easily, and this tip is on my list to try with my new work in progress.

Literary agent, Jill Marr, and editor, Terri Bischoff, did a workshop recently where they critiqued query letters. Both stressed the importance of writers doing their homework. Query letters and manuscripts need to the be the best they can be. Don’t get excited and start querying too early. You often get only one chance. When you think you’re done, edit/revise it again. The editor or agent should not be the first one to read your manuscript. Also follow the conventions and the standards for content, formatting, and style. Do your homework. Make sure the agent/publisher is a good fit for your manuscript.

Back to my earlier question. Am I doing the things that will get me where I want to be? Decide where you want to go with your writing career. You need to be the professional. Invest the time, energy, and money to hone your skills. Put in the hours (weeks, months, years) it takes to write and revise, read books in your genre, network, and build your platform. Decide what works with your life and responsibilities and focus on your writing life.

What Have You Done for Your Writing Life Lately?

Professionals in all kinds of fields need to do continuing education or training for their certifications and careers. Writers need to keep up with new trends and old standards in the writing, publication, and marketing worlds as well.

This is a lot easier in the pandemic world since many workshops and conferences have gone virtual. I have been able to attend writing conferences, training, workshops, and other meetings that I wouldn’t normally be able to do if I had to travel. And I’ve learned a lot this year.

Writing organizations offer many free or low cost courses. Many of these are recorded, so you can watch them on your own schedule and not have to participate in the live event.

Many tools like Google Analytics, Canva, Bookbrush, etc. have great training videos for their products. And if the vendor doesn’t, more than likely you can find some folks who have posted how-tos on YouTube.

You need to make sure that you’re growing and learning. You need to add new tools to your toolbox and improve your craft, but don’t overdo it and let it cut into your writing time. Early in my writing life, I bought every book on writing that I could find. Then I realized I was reading more about writing that I was actually writing. I kept two of the best books, and the rest went to the friends of the library sale for someone else to use.

Life-long learning is important. The publication world and social media seem to change on a daily basis. Make sure that you do something for yourself.

What It Takes - Tips for the Writing Journey

I borrowed this meme from the fabulous Judy Penz Sheluk. This is great advice for anyone on his or her writing journey. Usually what keeps someone from succeeding with writing goals is not the lack of creativity or ideas. It’s the determination and grit to put in the time to hone your craft and learn about the industry.

I looked up some synonyms for hard-working:

• Diligent

• Persistent

• Industrious

• Enduring

• Relentless

Writing is work. If you want to be published, you will have to wear many hats and put in the blood, sweat, time, and tears. Each milestone in the writing journey brings new tasks and challenges. You need to find what works for you and your career. You need to carve out your writing time and guard it fiercely.

Build your author platform. Even if you’re fortunate to be traditionally published, you will still be expected to maintain a social media presence on a variety of sites and have a website and email list. It takes time to interact with your readers and build your following.

If you are querying agents or publishers, it takes time to research a good fit for your book and to prepare the needed documents to submit. Make sure you follow all instructions. The shotgun approach isn’t effective. You need to do your homework and find out who specializes in your type of book.

Prior to your publication date, you’ll have several rounds of edits and proofreads. Any missed deadlines or delays will affect the publication date. You need to make sure you check content, cover, and formatting. I found incorrect headers and footers in one anthology draft. In another anthology, part of a story was missing. Always read your proofs.

Pub day is exciting and lots of fun, but there are marketing tasks that need to be done before, during and after the celebration. Planning helps here. Decide where you’re going to spend your promotion time and money.

It is exhilarating to hold that book in your hand (Finally!) What an accomplishment and a lot of work. It’s a matter of balance. The writers I know who have deadlines and a routine are the most productive and most successful.

Counteracting Disappointments - Tips for Writers

Disappointment often dots the landscape of your writing journey. Rejections, unfavorable reviews, and long periods of waiting are just a few bumps that writers encounter. Here are some ideas to help you navigate and turn disappointments into something more productive.

A Harsh Critique - It takes a lot of courage to share your work with others. If you have a good critique group or partner, they will give you honest feedback. Take a day or two to get past the angry or hurt emotions, and then look at the comments. What can you improve? The goal is to make your book the best it can be. When you query it with agents or publishers or release it to the world for sale, you’ll be competing for attention with all the other books.

Rejection - The writing life is full of rejection. Look at all the stories from famous authors who have received hundreds of rejections. Prepare before you start querying. You often only have one shot. Make sure your manuscript is as polished as it can be. Work on your query. Make sure that you target agents or publishers who are open to submissions and who represent your genre. Do your homework. Also make sure that you follow all the submission instructions.

Unfavorable Reviews - I’ve heard stories from authors about receiving one-star reviews because Amazon shipped a damaged package. It’s going to happen. Not everyone is going to like your work, or the review may have nothing to do with you. We received a one-star review one time for a MYSTERY anthology because the reader didn’t think there was enough horror in it. Holler, eat chocolate, or whatever you do to cope. Then take a deep breath and see if there is anything to learn from the reviews. Are there patterns or trends that you need to think about? If not, move on.

The Never-ending Wait - Authors spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting on responses to queries, submissions, and contests. Like your elementary school teacher said, “Use your time wisely.” Make sure you’re working on your next project.

Find Your Group - My writing friends are my support. They know the trials and joys. They celebrate my victories with me and provide a shoulder to cry on when it feels hopeless. Writing is a solitary effort. Make sure you have a peer group. They can share ideas and provide advice.

Writing is a business, and it’s work. Agents, editors, and publishers are looking for books that they can sell. Yours needs to be the best it can be. Learn from the hard times and keep at it. Edits and revisions take time and energy, but they’re worth it in the end.

The New Normal - Make Time for Writing

It’s been a trying few weeks with lots of change and flux. I hope you and yours are doing well and are happy, healthy, and safe. My day gig is in IT, so the team has put in a lot of time making sure the rest of the staff can access systems and services. I was exhausted from all the hours last week, and I’m not doing the heavy lifting like our network guys and systems people.

I started my teleworking adventure on 3/19. The dogs still can’t figure out why I’m home so much. We’re learning how to cope and to be creative when things don’t quite work like they do in the office.

This meme summed up a lot of conference calls. Here’s your bingo card for this week.

I’m still getting up at my normal o’dark-thirty, and I’m using my commute time to write and revise. It’s important to stick to as much of a schedule/routine as you can. Also figure out ways to connect via video chats, calls, or social media. My book promotion groups and my critique groups are switching to virtual chats. And I attended the best conference online on Saturday. Many thanks to the Murder and Mayhem team in Chicago. Over 930 people attended the panels virtually.

Don’t forget to eat right and exercise. (I ordered a bicycle device that fits under my desk. I’ll let you know how that goes.)

I grew up watching “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” and the wise Fred Rogers always told us, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” They’re there, and I’ve seen so many caring and generous folks this week.

We’re in this together, and we can do this.

I love that so many creative folks are doing all kinds on concerts, story times, and exercises. There are so many ways you can learn new things and to connect with others. If you have downtime, finish projects, clean up, and start your next writing effort.

Drop me a note or add a comment and let me know what you’ve done recently for your writing life. Be safe.