How To Increase Writing Productivity Part 2

If you missed Part 1--suggestions on writing more productivly from Kevin J Anderson, be sure to check it out.

I agreed with a lot of what Kevin had to say. In fact I've worked to impliment at least one of his suggestions. I'm now telling people and doing my best to keep with writing at the same time each day. To me, that goes with the "shut up and write" principle. Now, that doesn't always work because my son may or may not go down for his nap at the same time each day, but I've found that it's even helped him sleep better if I'm consistent at putting him down at relatively the same time each day.

So, here are a few more suggestions that I've found have worked for me.

• Write something every single day, whether it be in your current WIP or a journal or a blog entry or something along those lines. Write something to keep you in the habit of writing daily.

• One of the things we should do as writers is to read. So, I've choosen a day where I will focus on reading rather than working on my WIP. That's usually a day that I count writing in my journal as work. This has helped keep me up to date as to what is out there in the published world, and I've learned a thing or two as I read. :)

• Be ready to write whenever you can. If I can only squeeze out 5 minutes, then I take those 5 minutes and write a few sentences. That's more than not writing anything at all because we don't think we have enough time to get anything done. I have found time in between classes at a writing conference that I've sat in a corner and worked on some things. I've taken the spare moment when my husband has the kids to get what I can done. It's better than nothing.

• Have you ever noticed how much time we spend in the car? When I really think about it, I'm amazed. So, I've begun to utilize that time to plot and develop whatever I happen to be working on. New ideas will come and when I get a chance, I'll scribble them down. It's a chance to tune out the kids and dive into your book at least mentally.

• Always have paper with you. You never know when something will come. Then you'll have something to write it down on so you don't forget.

• Work on something different. If you feel like you're not sure where to go next with a plot line or a character, give it a rest. Start another story. Write a blog post. Do something else. Let your subconcious have a shot at it, and things will iron out faster than if you beat your head against a wall for days.

• The last thing I've rediscovered recently is taking a break. Breaks are good. Give yourself permission to not stress over you WIP for a few days or a few weeks. Then DON'T stress over it or beat yourself up because you feel like you should be writing. Our minds need breaks just as much as our bodies do. I think the hardest thing to do though, is giving yourself permission to relax. Give it a try. You'll be amazed at how refreshed you'll feel your break, and how much more productive you'll be.

These are things that are working for me. I hope they may give you some additional ideas to help you write more productivly. Life is crazy and should be enjoyed. Hopefully these tips help. I'll share more as I discover more. In the meantime, HAPPY WRITING!

Freedom To Read Giveaway Hop (INT)--A Good Man by Vanessa Morgan

Welcome to this stop on the Freedom To Read Giveaway Hop (INT), hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. On my blog, one lucky person will receive an ecopy of A GOOD MAN by Vanessa Morgan. Check out my buzz and interview, here.

Loved Dexter and American Psycho? Then you'll love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man - vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is even concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire - and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape the police takes him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.

Entering's easy.

• Simply follow my blog via GFC and/or Networked Blogs. Leave a comment telling me you've done so and PLEASE leave an email address. I've had a few winners not leave an email and their profile didn't have an email, which left me with no choice but to choose someone else.

Optional Enteries:

• Follow Vanessa's blog, here. Leave a comment telling me you've done it with an email address.
• Follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment.
• Follow Vanessa on Twitter. Leave a comment.

Random.org will choose the winner sometime after midnight on July 5th. Have all your enteries in by then. It is in your best interest to leave SEPERATE comments for each entry. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Reading. Be sure to see what else you can win on other participating blogs. :)

Book Review--Throne of Fire

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan. The second book in his Kane Chronicles series is just as good as the first and his Percy Jackson series. I loved learning more about Eygiptian mythology and the Kane siblings in their journey. It's a series I will read over, especially after the next installment. Check it out! This is a read anyone will enjoy.

:):):):):)

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.

And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.

To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished. 

First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?

Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

A Good Man by Vanessa Morgan--Book Buzzin'

A GOOD MAN by Vanessa Morgan. This one looks great!


Loved Dexter and American Psycho? Then you'll love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man - vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is even concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire - and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape the police takes him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.


Be sure to stop by again on June 29th for a chance to win a copy of A GOOD MAN.


Here's an interview with Louis Caron from A GOOD MAN.

What do you think it takes to become 'a good man'?

Let me quote Jonathan Safran Foer to answer your question: "Cruelty depends on an understanding of cruelty, and the ability to choose against it. Or to choose to ignore it." It's impossible to be a good man 100% of the time. Imagine that you are in a relationship that is not working out for you anymore and you are very unhappy because of it. If you leave the woman who is still madly in love with you, the woman's friends and family will probably tell you what a bastard you are, even if you are a good person in all other areas of your life. But is there a better option? In my opinion, a good man is someone who chooses to be good whenever he can, but it doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing your own health and happiness. 

You were 55 years old when you were turned. How has that affected your immortality? 

I don't know where the theory comes from that vampires are sexy and strong. It's so far from the truth. Do you know how many vampires exist on this planet that are desirable and healthy? Only one. In reality, when you get turned into a vampire, you stay exactly the way you were before... for eternity. If you were ugly, you'll stay ugly. If you have a broken hip, you'll have a broken hip forever. In my case, it means that I'll have wrinkles and arthritis forever. I know that some other vampires have problems far worse than mine, but it's still annoying. 

What is the most interesting thing that has ever happened to you?

I've seen every corner of the world, lived through many different wars, been in jail... But the only thing that really mattered was the love for the people I have met. The infectious smile of a woman that loved me as much as I loved her, belonging to a family, saving the life of a baby, making someone happy.

What is the most blatant lie you have ever told?

I have a very hard time telling lies. Of course I lie - once in a while. Who doesn't? I can't tell people that I'm a vampire, can I? But I try to be honest in any other area of my life.

How do you feel about being interviewed for fun?

I've been a vampire since 1750, but this is a first for me. I like being interviewed, because it enables me to tell the truth about who I really am; kind of like a confession. This interview is anonymous after all, isn't it?

Light or dark chocolate?

As dark as possible, please. I don't eat sugar.

Favorite color?

White. I've read somewhere that a preference for white symbolizes the desire for simplicity and impossible ideals. For an older person, it also indicates an attempt to recapture lost youth.

Dogs or cats?

I love all kinds of animals, but cats are definitely my favorite. I have a cat myself too. His name is Avalon. He originally belonged to one of my victims. As it was her last wish that someone would take care of that cat, that's what I did.

Tea or coffee? 

Tea, preferably herbal tea because it improves my complexion and makes my wrinkles less visible. I'm a bit self-conscious when it comes to my appearance. 

Favorite fruit?

Bananas.

And the winners are . . .

Thank you so much for stopping by and participating in the Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop. Random.org has spoken and the winners of THE MAGIC WARBLE are . . .

Moushka
Sheena-ka graham
Julie Witt

I hope to see everyone again soon! Congrats to the winners. :)

How To Increase Writing Productivity Part 1

This week, I'm sharing my notes from the keynote speaker at this year's StoryMakers Conference, Kevin J Anderson. I'm sure most of use struggle to find time to fit in our desire to write, or maybe that's just me. Kevin had some great ideas that I'm passing on, then next week I'll add my own (at least what has worked up until now). :)

Kevin J Anderson

Writing Productivity

You have to make it for yourself. Find the time & make the most of it

Tips for increasing writing productivity

(He began my gives us these ideas to think about and figure out where we fight into the numbers game.)

Writing one book per year, it’s virtually impossible to make a living.

“Be prolific or starve”

part-time writer=one bk a yr

1-2 hrs

10 hrs

full-time writer=8 hr, 7 days

9 wks

5-6 bks a yr

FAST writing doesn’t mean BAD writing

A Christmas Carol—6 wks

As I Lay Dying—6 wks

A Clockwork Orang—3 wks

on the Road—20 days

Fahrenheit 41—9 days

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde—1 wk

Now for the tips:

1—shut up and write (carve out time, let people know you’re at work, go into the “office”) focus mode in Microsoft

2—Defy the Empty Page (If you’re stuck, move on, fill it in later)

3—Dare to Be Bad (at first) then fix it, It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be finished. It’s easier to fix existing prose than to write a perfect prose to begin with.

4—Know the Difference Between WRITING & EDITING, you can always go back and make changes, don’t go back while you’re going forward

5—Use Every Minute. Learn to write at the drop of a hat, you never know how much time you’ll get. Think about stories when you have the time. Plot out, think about then you can write when you have a chance

6—Set Goals for Yourself and Stick to Them. Set realistic goals, set one you can achieve,         Writers of the Future Contest.com

7—Work On different projects at the same time, projects in different stages

8—Create your best writing environment (noise canceling headphones) look at your set up so you don’t hurt back, arms, wrists, arms 90 degrees, neck not down, back straight

9—Think outside the keyboard, digital recorder, talk to yourself, walk until you have a chapter dictated

10—Get inspired, go places, do things, take classes, learn things

11—Know when to stop.

HAPPY WRITING!

We Are Not Alone by Kristen Lamb--Book Review

WE ARE NOT ALONE--THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO SOCIAL MEDIA by Kristen Lamb.

Wow, what a book. It is direct, to the point, and easy to follow. If anyone, especially writers, are fearful about getting involved with social media, (like me awhile ago) this is the book for you. It is fun to read and guides you through social media step by step. I learned and applied just about everything there. It's become my handguide in getting things set up the correct way and understanding exactly why writers need to be out there.

I've heard at many conferences, the need for a social media platform. If you are to that point in your career, and even if you're not, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

:) :) :) :) :)

Foreword written by NY Times Best-Selling Author Bob Mayer, “I wished there had been a step-by-step guide for writers on how to not only do social media technically, but do it content-wise. This book is the answer to that wish.”

"Kristen Lamb's WE ARE NOT ALONE is a must-read for any writer dealing with the wildly competitive publishing climate. Even if you think you know what you're doing using social media, Kristen's book will teach you how to use all the tools to maximize your author platform and, most of all, SALES! I'm already recommending this book to all my authors!" Gina Panettieri from Talcott Notch Literary

Social Media is more popular than ever. As society becomes more and more technologically advanced, people are seeking new ways to interact. Humans are social creatures. Relationships and community are vital to our survival and our mental and emotional health.

Writers, published and unpublished, fiction and non-fiction are hearing words like platform and brand with increasing frequency as the publishing paradigm shifts into the 21st century. The world around us is changing faster than ever, and publishing is certainly not immune.

There are more opportunities for a new author today than there has been in the entirety of human history. Yet, the flip side of that reality is, with thousands and thousands of authors with books and blogs, how can a writer ever hope to stand apart let alone succeed?

This book will show you how.

There are countless social media experts, but Kristen's system is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of a writer. Take charge of your future today. You have great books to write, and don't have time for rookie mistakes that can cost you years of rebuilding your name, brand, and platform.

Kristen's method is simple, effective, and helps auhors find ways to harness the imaginatin used for writing and employ this creativity to build a solid platform designed to connect with readers. This system is designed to change the writer's approach, not the writer's personality.

And the best part is you have help. Remember, We Are Not Alone.