Yeh, me too.
But I’m trying to change that. After a catastrophic month in which I managed approximately three WIP words, I’ve decided next month has to change.
I gots me some books to write, people. Wasting a month, no matter how many of those hours were spent on important things, just ain’t good enough.
But
Instead, I’m approaching this tactically and I thought I’d share the tricks I’m implementing with you.
ONE: PLAN
I know. I know. You’re a Pantser. No excuse, so am I! Being a Pantser is no excuse for disorganization. Do you want to get more done or not?
Sit at my desk. Stare for a couple of minutes, scratch various body parts. Try to figure out what I am going to write. Write nothing. Check Facebook. Respond to comments. Pin shit. Stumble Shit. Read blog posts. Reply to comments…
Two hours evaporate and guess what… I’ve written nothing.
Sound familiar? If you’re shifting awkwardly in your seat, then just admit it. It’s fine. We all do it. But now’s the chance to do something about it.
Plan your writing.
Writing it down physically feels important too. A bit like signing in blood. If I keep it in my head I can ignore it. If its inked I’m more obliged.
What do I mean by plan? Doesn’t need to be much:
- Write chapter 4
- Edit chapter 20
- Write the scene with the booger and snowman
- Write an ironic post on productivity
And do you know what happens when I sit down knowing what I need to do?
I write.
I get shit done.
I don’t procrastinate.
TWO: CUT THE CABLE
Hate to say it, but the internet is a drug. I’m like a crack addict waiting in line for the local dealer to get my next fix. I’m Gollum with his shiny golden pretty. I’m… okay you get the point.
Our computers are smart. Unless your evil, you don’t need to turn the actual wi-fi off and make everyone else in the house suffer. Flip the switch on your own computer.
Then flip your (phone/iPad/tablet…insert choice of technological device of wonderment) over so you can’t see the notifications pop up. This one is key, there’s plenty of bonafide lab-coat experiments that prove how detrimental notifications are to a person’s anxiety level. If we get a notification we HAVE to look at it.
Know what happened when I flipped mine? I edited a chapter a night for a week, plus I wrote blog posts and finally when I turned the wi-fi back on, went straight to my blog comments and sat and replied to all of them too.
I’m an idiot, and I was very wrong. I bought a thesaurus cut the proverbial cable and now I get words done.
I will NEVER write WIP words with the internet on again. EVER.
TWO POINT ONE: CHEAT
FREEDOM software does what it says on the tin. It gives you freedom from social media and any other distractions you choose on the internet.
You can block particular websites (of your choice) for a set amount of time. Leaving you free to research character names or settings without slipping into Facebook stalking.
Freedom has some other cool tools, like allowing you to set times for your sessions, as well as reoccurring times – let’s say you always write 5 am to 6 am. You can tell Freedom that, and you won’t have to waste valuable self-control trying not to check Facebook first thing in the morning.
What are you even waiting for?
Go get freedom.
THREE: PACKAGE IT
I’m not actually talking about wrapping your book in some nice shiny Christmas paper. I’m talking about your time. This blog is a time suck. I love it. Just as I love to exercise and reading and all manner of other things. But none of them are helping me to write my books.
We have a choice.
Prioritize the blog, the comments and the interaction, respond all day every day and watch as your precious WIPs disappear into the ether of WordPress management.
Or
I get well over a thousand comments a month on WordPress alone. I LOVE them. I WANT to reply to each and every one. But I also love my WIP.
I’ve reverted to weekly blog notifications. I only receive posts on a Sunday. (You can change this in the WordPress ‘manage who I follow’ section). Where possible, I only read posts on a Sunday. Now that’s not strictly true, I do read stuff in the week, especially before bed. But by and large, I sit with a fat cup of coffee and plow through all the lovely posts I’ve been waiting for all week. I have hundreds of posts to read which is why what doesn’t get read on a Sunday, doesn’t get read at all. It’s a hard choice but I love my WIP more than I love anything else.
Plus, for my sanity, I need to start the week fresh knowing I haven’t got a constant backlog of posts to catch up on. Otherwise, the week starts bad, and I’m always behind.
If you want a career writing, then you need to be productive. Not just productive, but prolific. Here are three quick tips to help you be a more productive writer. #amwriting #indieauthor #IARTG #ASMRG #writingcommunity Click To Tweet
So tell me, what tactics do you use? Tell me how you’ve become a more productive writer in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this post, you might like this one too:
Ritu says
Great advice again Sacha!
Sacha Black says
Thanks Ritu ?
Ritu says
Omg ignore the last comment! What is my phone doing! !!!????
Sacha Black says
Lol
Ali Isaac says
I think these are all really great tactics. We have to be disciplined and strict, otherwise the writing doesn’t get done. I think you hit the nail right on the head… we have to decide what we are first and foremost; anot author who blogs, or a blogger who writes. Once we know this, we can then prioritise. And there’s nothing wrong with either choice, but it does change the way we use our blogs and work our time. Glad your new strategies are working for you!
PorterGirl says
These tactics are great! I always write off-line as emails and social media are just too damned distracting. And I try to treat it like a job – I wouldn’t rock up to work two hours late and then not really do anything, so I take my writing time just as seriously. At the end of the day it comes down to discipline and determination.
Sacha Black says
I definitely refer to writing as my second job. I suspect I put in almost the same hours as I do for my full time one!!! and then I am a mum on top of that! I wish I had pulled the plug sooner. It’s sooooo much more efficient.
PorterGirl says
I bet all in all you probably put in as many – if not more – hours! It’s so hard to squeeze it all in, my hat is off to you 🙂
Sacha Black says
yeah to be fair I probably do! Don’t we all!
PorterGirl says
Too true 🙂
LionAroundWriting says
I think its easy to get sucked into blogging and prioritising it over writing. Its obvious which is more important but keepjng the stats going, keeping the interactions going is addictive in itself plus the writing of posts is an easy way to trick ourselves that we have written dammit, just not the book…
Sacha Black says
Yeah I 100% agree with you. You get a little stats spike, and its basically crack cocaine to writers! lol. We’re all doomed!
Lucinda E Clarke says
Ok so I read your blog great stuff then watched the video really good then hovered over the next video as I love Rowan Atkinson but then my conscience got the better of. Get on with your weekly blog then your WPI a little voice cried but first I must comment here and then…….
Sacha Black says
haha, see… as easy as that to get distracted! Glad you switched off :p hope it helped and you were more productive 😀
Simon says
This sounds all too familiar… I love how you describe things Sacha 🙂
Sacha Black says
I know right. I hated admitting it!
Sorry I didn’t visit you yesterday – bash etc has got me behind. Once it’s over I’ll come back and visit next week xx
Simon says
Hey, no need to be sorry – you’re sorting the bash out. I’ll always be here! 🙂
Sarah Hardy says
Great post and love that clip in Love Actually x
Sacha Black says
Me too! It’s hilarious! Love the film actually!…. See what I did there?! ?? such a bad joke but it made me laugh ?
Sarah Hardy says
ha ha 🙂 x
Jason says
Wise words indeed. The Internet is a menace to writers. According to some research Facebook is more addictive than cocaine. They know this ‘cos they gave some mice a choice between the purest coke and FB, and the little fellers spent the whole day on FB, sharing funny cat videos and left the coke alone. Allegedly.
Sacha Black says
No way??? Actually I can well believe that. Facebook is an addiction in itself! lol to the mice story! I still think you’re on to something with the FB addiction though!
jenanita01 says
Oh boy do I know where you’re coming from… like most bloggers I had been trying to do it all, but my writing suffered, and that would not do at all. So, I took a long hard look at my workload…and changed a few things. The email shift is now split into two chunks, so I effectively turned a marathon into two separate sprints. Walking away from the PC was the hardest thing to do, but I persevered and have done a load of work this past month. More to do, but life is getting more manageable by the minute!
Sacha Black says
Sorry or the delay, the bash has been crazy busy an meant I have neglected the blog! Ironic hey. Glad you have changed things and found a better balance. We can’t produce our best writing if we are stressed and constantly distracted from the task at hand.
jenanita01 says
so true… and glad to hear the bash was such a success!
Sacha Black says
😀 😀 😀
Lonna Hill says
Love this! Great post. It sounds a lot like some of the strategies I’ve come up with this year. But I do have trouble cutting the cable. Like you, I keep telling myself that I need dictionary.com but I think you are right and I’d be more productive if I bought a thesaurus and turned off the internet.
My biggest challenge now is rearranging my routine now that summer is here and everyone in my family has a totally different schedule than during the academic year. It looks like I’ll be getting up at 5:00 again and doing my writing then.
Thanks for the post. Best of luck on your WIP.
Sacha Black says
Thanks Lorna, it’s nice to know someone else is using the same strategies. hahaha definitely just buy a dictionary – then no excuses. I wish I could get up at that time and write, but I am a born and bred night owl! Good luck with your WIP and thanks for stopping in.
enetteventer says
This is a perfectly timed post. I’ve also decided to be more productive in the writing department this month so I’ll definitely use these tips. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sacha Black says
Glad you are going to be more productive. I feel better already just for having got through WIP words 😀
TanGental says
I have this thing with my daughter that every Christmas we watch Love Actually together and cry at a different part. This year it was the PMs minder singing a carol. So thanks for the weepy this am. I ignore the cable – best advice ever that. Leave the phone and the iPad somewhere distant and don’t open mail and the Internet and I’m off in Lala editing land. Bliss.
Sacha Black says
lol. I love the fact you cry at the film! hilarious. Tbf I think I do every year too! It’s true though – it’s such a time suck
TanGental says
true; partly it’s because the Vet is there, half watching for my bottom lip wobble and then a triumphant Ha!
Sacha Black says
You’re such a softie!
TanGental says
true enough
shelleywilson72 says
Great post, Sacha. I am also an obsessive list writer – another thing we have in common lol 😉
Sacha Black says
Thanks Shelley 😀 haha, got to love a list! nothing better to focus the mind
suzie81speaks says
Planning is my major issue when it comes to writing. I’ve always wrote when I felt like it, but I’m finding myself becoming a bit overloaded with things to do and the order to do them in, particularly as I start writing one thing and often end up going off on a tangent – I think that it’s about time that I started being a bit more organised!
Sacha Black says
Lol too many ideas is a great place to be though. I have an ideas notebook so that I can capture all the tangential things that pop into my head whilst I’m working on something so that I don’t lose them and can actually complete what I started. Easier said than done tho to be fair!
suzie81speaks says
I bought a notebook the other day. Now I need to start filling it!
Sacha Black says
Omg let’s swap photos!
suzie81speaks says
Mine is a plain old boring black one
Sacha Black says
Nothing wrong with black – makes the best surnames too! :p
navasolanature says
Great post Sacha, am procrastinating at the moment but have had a busy time with guests. Think I need to just browse for a while and then turn off!
Sacha Black says
Couldn’t agree more. It’s a tactic that’s really working for me 🙂
Rachel says
This is why I have a schedule and try my absolute hardest to stick with it.
Sacha Black says
Think I need to take several leaves out of your book!
Rachel says
If you’re willing to sacrifice your social life, go for it.
Sacha Black says
ahaha, I am a parent…. what’s a social life??
Rachel says
Never mind then, lol.
Sacha Black says
?
Mary Smith says
I’m going to have to switch off as I’m spending way too much time reading and commenting on blogs, replying to emails, checking FB and not writing. Some bloggers I follow post several times in a day. I simply can’t respond to each and then I feel guilty! And wonder if the blogger is offended – and the blogger probably hasn’t noticed. I need to get a grip.
I do make lists – the best part of lists is using a red pen to cross out the tasks I’ve achieved.
Sacha Black says
Yep.Yep.Yep. I am going mission dark after the bash! I have to get my head down and finish my sodding book before I implode! Yes, I know bloggers who post more than once a day. But I work full time, plus I am a mum too. That’s without the books or the exercise or the house to clean let alone the blog or having a social life! we cannot do it all, prioritising is totally allowed. 😀 No one is offended, and if they are, shame on them! <3 <3
adeleulnais says
I do keep a notebook for tasks which need to be done. I do waste time on the internet, a lot of you tube stuff which I put down to “researching”. lol yeah right. My blogs I try to do every day, maybe I should try the only on a Sunday thing. sounds good. Thanks again Sacha for a great post.
Sacha Black says
Well have a go one week – see what happens. In fact – try it for two weeks so you get used to the free time in the week – I suspect your second week would be more productive. hahahaha researching – I do that too! lolllllll
adeleulnais says
well, we gotta research he he he lol oh btw have a great bloggers bash. x
Sacha Black says
Thanks Adele, was a lovely day <3
Charles Yallowitz says
Excellent advice. #2 tends to be a tough one because I usually have some sudden research to do. Figuring out a part of a ship, architecture questions, animal biology, etc. Honestly, my biggest challenge is getting around the other people in the house. Wish I had a tactic to handle that, but it’s usually hiding on a different floor of the house with my laptop.
The biggest tip that helps me is planning. With an idea of what I want to do in a chapter, I can focus more. Maybe this ties into making daily and weekly goals. That does help with time management even if I don’t get as much done as I’d like.
Sacha Black says
Yes I agree. I do struggle with that sometimes. I think there is an app you can use – Heather suggested it – as it blocks whatever websites you need – i.e. the social media ones, while still allowing access to research ones like google.
Charles Yallowitz says
Not sure I could really do that. I do a lot of retweeting with authors. Honestly, that’s the only thing I do with twitter beyond my own tweets. FB is the more diabolical one.
Kay says
This is awesome, thank you!
Sacha Black says
No probs glad you liked it 🙂
Norah says
We might go about it in slightly different ways, and express it a little differently too, but I agree with the three items of advice on your list. I always have a plan. I put my writing first. And I try to visit all my favourite bloggers once a week. I don’t do the notifications on Sunday though. I couldn’t manage that much reading in one hit! 🙂
Sacha Black says
hehe, It is a mean feat I tell you, but I also like the fact once I’ve done it, its over for a whole week. I get really easily distracted, and I was reading posts at the end of every day instead of writing. It was the only thing I thought to try, it seems to work for me 😀
Norah says
That’s what’s important, to find what works and stick to it! 🙂
Don Massenzio says
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog.
Sacha Black says
Thank you Don 🙂 🙂
Don Massenzio says
My pleasure.
Sarah Brentyn says
This is going to resonate with a LOT of writers. I happen to be a pantser with a side of disorganization so I WILL start using that notebook but the part about blogging and reading and commenting and social media… Yes. The internet (for most) must be shut down. I do this when I’m writing and I can’t imagine any other way. (Glad you’re prioritizing your writing.) ?
Sacha Black says
Thanks dude, and yes I want photo evidence of that notebook in use!
byIndiaBlue says
I like the Lists book, Good idea mine are everywhere. I fear that one day I will be writing a novel going back through my notes and suddenly add in a shopping list, or to do list. 😉
Sacha Black says
hahahaha that would be hilarious! Can you imagine? :p now – the list book is genius. Until you lose it. Then you’re f***ed definitely done that before!
byIndiaBlue says
Ahh, then you need a safe place to keep it, you know, where no-one will ever find it 😉
Sacha Black says
Including me…! Loll ?
Rae Cowie says
Helpful to know that everyone needs a kick up the bum every now and then! Off to cut the cable… : )
Sacha Black says
Haha good for you 🙂 hope it works
Allie P. says
I had to turn off the notification sounds on my phone. I still miss them terribly, but I was becoming Pavlov’s dog. Brrrinnngg! What? Someone loves me. Must check all social media, NOW!
Sacha Black says
oh my god. I am a standard week behind everything at the moment. I actually can’t imagine properly turning off the notifications. I would promptly spontaneously combust and be a minimum of a year behind everything! so many lols at pavlov! I agree though – maybe i should just try turning….. No….YES….No….
Erika Kind says
High Five on point one! Experience that at times too. But when I know that I have to write now or never it works too… lol! So funny how we function! Oh, and the video is a fantastic example of wasting time! See you soon!
Sacha Black says
hahahah thanks, that clip from the film makes me laugh out loud!
Erika Kind says
I was laughing out too. So funny!!!
D. Wallace Peach says
First of all, what’s with the fish eyes on the newsletter sign up? You are toooo funny.
I wish I could hug you for idea number 3. It’s the one that I struggle with. My blog takes so much time. I love it, but it ALL comes out of my writing time. That’s 30 hours a week I could be writing. It’s like a second job and I really want to get a handle on it before I get frustrated or burn out. You’ve given me the courage to set limits. Much to contemplate, Sacha. Thank you.
Sacha Black says
hehe, funny fish eyes because, well, why not! I like taking the mickey out myself, and usually, I only pout in photos! Our wedding photographer had a job trying to capture me unaware! I’m glad i gave you the courage. At the end of the day, you are a writer that happens to blog, not a blogger who happens to write. It is such a guilt inducer, almost as bad as my son. But at the end of the day, we have to prioritise or watch our dreams go poof. No one holds it against us, because they are all in the same boat! it’s just that we forget that!
D. Wallace Peach says
That we are all in the same boat is true! I see more and more bloggers taking time off for other priorities, Sacha, and it’s so encouraging. Not only because they are honoring their creativity (or families), but because everyone elso is so supportive. 🙂
Sacha Black says
I agree about the support. It’s so encouraging to know that everyone wants you to finish your book, even if that means a little less attention elsewhere.
jhwinterauthor says
Time management, and having my hand in several projects at once, have been difficult for me too. I love your ideas though! I agree that having daily and weekly goals is a must or else you waste some of that precious time wondering what you should tackle next.
Great post!
Julianne
Ink & Stitches – http://blog.jhwinter.com
Sacha Black says
Thanks glad you liked them. Glad I’m not the only one juggling silly amounts! :p
jademwong says
Fantastic advice Sacha, and like someone already commented, bottom line is we have to decide if we are authors who blog or bloggers who write. Needed that advice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some re-prioritizing to do.
Good luck on your writing, Sacha!
Sacha Black says
Thanks for reading Jade. 😀 haha, glad you’re going to reprioritise, sometimes that all it takes – someone to ask you the right question and you realise you stepped off the right path momentarily. Good luck 😀
Lucy Mitchell says
Chuffing Brilliant!
Alfonzowords says
Hahahah! Epic post sach I love point three. Hilarious. And bonus points for referencing love actually. One of my best relationships succeeded because of that movie haha
Can’t wait to share and also apply.
Sacha Black says
It succeeded because of the film???? Tell me more.
Glad you liked it 😀 <3
jan says
I do a lot of research as I write so cutting the cord is probably not a good option for me. To keep up with my blogging buddies I read and comment at breakfast or lunch – which explains the crumbs that mysteriously show up on your screen.
Sacha Black says
If I need to do research I flip my switch back on. It’s just dangerous if I am not focused, I end up wondering off to social media! hehe. But you’re right, its not going to work for everyone. That’s what I love about writing. So many different processes. 🙂 🙂
aurorajeanalexander says
Reblogged this on Writer's Treasure Chest and commented:
Sacha Black published a post about becoming a more productive writer. I think it’s a great, very helpful read!
Sacha Black says
thanks so much for sharing Aurora <3
aurorajeanalexander says
It was such a pleasure to do so!! It’s a great article!
dgkaye says
Omg, are we sisters from another mother? Lol. You’re bang on sista! You’ve named all the distractions and your plan of action is similar to mine. Although, by the sounds of you, it’s quite possible I may be a tad more organized than you, but you got me on blog reading and comments.
You’re so right. We need a plan, pantser or not (which I am). But every night I make a list on my blog notebook of what I plan to get done tomorrow, whether it’s blog writing slotted in or book writing and how many chapters I want to go through. If I don’t it’s too easy to get distracted. But all those things that distract you, I’ve managed to control a long time ago.
I have 4 email addresses, 2 are my personal mail which I check first thing each morning, the other two are blog and social media related which I only look at each evening. I check twitter after email for 10 minutes and go to my blog to read comments, and most usually don’t even open Facebook until evenings. Of course the exception to that rule is if I happen to come across something I post to FB and land there, I’m tempted to read comments there too.
But you have me beat on your reading blogs system. I can’t seem to escape that same feeling every morning that I have tons of new blog deliveries in my inbox which never seem to end. I haven’t mastered how to avoid spending almost 3 hours every nite reading blogs. 🙂
PS Sorry I took up half your page, lol. 🙂
Sacha Black says
I’m kind of big picture planner. Like overall deadline. If you know myers briggs I am super J – which is the organisation trait. I have a lists book full of lists, but the problem is, I let the list keep growing rather than just having a couple of things on my list that are realistic for the next day. I need to do that. I can’t believe you are reading blogs for 3 hours a night, that’s crazy, its taking over 😮
dgkaye says
I know!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Silver Threading says
I had to stop all notifications and rely on FB posts and the reader. I try to pop in (like now) and say hello as often as I can. I set aside two days a week just for writing my book. I do nothing else those days. The rest of the time I blog and do research. It works if you can do it. Best of luck to you, Sacha. You can do it! ?
Sacha Black says
Thanks Colleen, sorry for the delay, I have been so busy with the bash. I would love to just rely on the reader but I don’t think I am disciplined enough, I would just end up not reading posts!
Silver Threading says
It is hard but I had to make a list of my fav blogs. I try to stay connected as best as I can and still write. ?
Sacha Black says
Its the perfect solution. 😀 Whatever works at the end of the day. Writing is first and foremost and needs to stay that way.
Janice Wald says
Hi Sacha!
Great ideas! I feel guilty when I don’t write people back. If I don’t have time to read blogs, they sadly sit in my inbox until I have 10,000 Emails!
Janice
Sacha Black says
wows, 10,000 emails. *swallows* I would control alt those badboys and delete all. You’ll feel loads better! Don’t feel guilty. you’re a writer. Not a blog reader.
Janice Wald says
Hi Sacha,
I don’t feel guilty for not having time to read blogs. I feel guilty for not having time to respond to comments. Would you?
Janice
Sacha Black says
I used to. But now I’ve said a few times in different posts that I don’t respond right away I don’t feel bad. I will respond to everything but sometimes it takes me a week. I’m ok with that. I’m only human after all.
annamechelle88 says
I love this post (and the Love Actually video, Rowan Atkinson is one of my favorite comedians ever). As a painter, I sometimes have to turn off all technology too. It is the most annoying thing to me, to have a wet paintbrush in my hand and an urge to pick up my phone (which ultimately is a disaster waiting to happen, acrylic paint doesn’t care about where it lands). When I am working, I usually have the laptop open playing music, but I keep it across the room so that I won’t be tempted to glance at anything but the canvas I’m working on.
I like how your tactics work for my painting as well as for writing, thank you for giving me some ideas! 🙂
Sacha Black says
Hehe, it is an awesome clip. I think its hard to turn off technology as a writer because you have to write on a laptop! I am glad the tactics work for you too though 😀
Icy Sedgwick says
I have loads of stuff to do that’s got nothing to do with fiction (bloody PhD) so I use colour coded To Do lists in Google Keep. I have one for fiction, which says things like “write chapter 52 of The Necromancer’s Rogue”, “plot short story”, “write flash fiction about X”, and then I have one for marketing, and another for academia. As long as I do one thing off at least two different lists per day, it makes me feel like I’m achieving something.
And I have no problem adding something I’ve already done, just so I can cross it off 😉
Sacha Black says
I’ve not heard of google keep. I like the idea of electronic to do lists, I’ve tried a few apps. But I can;t seem to get past the actual action of writing one by hand. It seems to make it stick in my head and also I find it so much more satisfactory when I physically cross an action off! I like the ‘two things per day though’ that takes the pressure right off. 😀
Icy Sedgwick says
Plus it gives me an excuse to put stuff like ‘sketch for 10mins’ or ‘listen to podcast’ on there 😉
Sacha Black says
How have I missed the fact you sketch?
Icy Sedgwick says
Haha I’m a jack of all trades and master of none!!
Sacha Black says
makes two of us!
Icy Sedgwick says
*hi five*
Al Lane says
Great advice here… I’ve been totally sucked into the WordPress time suck! In fact, I’m about to try and detox for a fortnight (completely offline), and then try and put a bit more structure around my blogging when I come back. There’s so much I want to write, but blogging, reading everyone’s posts, and engaging with them (fun as it is) all takes away from that precious writing time! 🙂
Sacha Black says
OMG. A detox?? *gulp* you’re a brave man! I am a self confessed addict! :p. You’re right though. We all could do with a detox once in a while. I like to think at some point I’ll get a writers retreat. ha. Lets see.
Al Lane says
I’m off to the Isle of Wight Festival, and have a phone battery that will die in a day if I’m online, so the first part of the detox is unavoidable (probably the only way it would work!). I’ve decided to use that as an excuse to take a longer break, and finish my bloody zombie haiku book!
On the subject of notebooks, I’m taking mine with me this weekend. It was a gift from my wife… The cover simply says “People I’d like to punch in the face” . She knows me so well 🙂
Sacha Black says
hahahahaha that’s fucking hilarious! you’re wife is a legend. Not being funny or trying to ruin your detox – but don’t you have a portable charger? God, Al, get with the times :p
Hugh's Views and News says
Yep, I gotta agree with you about most of this. I’m so bad at starting to write something and then hearing that ‘ping’ as an email comes in and having to immediately check it. I’m not so bad on the social media side as I don’t use Facebook very much and only really use other social media platforms to share posts I have read. I tend not to read blog posts and try and write at the same time.
If I was not able to respond to comments then I’d be in cloud cuckoo land. Comments can be switched off just as easily as the internet can. Nobody is going to have a go at you if you have closed comments off. In fact, it may even make them read and comment as soon as you publish your next post. I think closing comments off is a far better option than not answering comments at all. If we invite people to comment then we should respond to their comments even if it’s a few days after those comments have been left. Enough said. You know my feelings on that one. ?
Sacha Black says
Facebook is a proper suck, but someone has mentioned a really good app, that blocks certain websites for set periods of time. I think i am going to give it a try and see how i fair. I don think I’ll ever turn comments off. But I will take my time in replying. I’m ok with that.
Hugh's Views and News says
But at least you do respond to them.
Don’t forget to email me those awards.
Sacha Black says
Argh. I’ll have to do that tonight. I’ll write it on my hand
Sacha Black says
Thanks so much for sharing 😀
heatherjacksonwrites says
One of the best things I did to battle my Internet addiction was install a simple program called FREEDOM on my computer. It also works for your phone. You can choose to block the entire Internet, or you can block social media only. You can also make your own list of sites you want to block. This is super helpful because sometimes I am legitimately doing research, or I need to keep my Gmail on so that clients can email me, and need *some* access to Internet, but the ability to block Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr is essential. I too didn’t realize how much time I wasted online until I took web access away.
Sacha Black says
ok, WOW. I am definitely going to try that program. like RIGHT NOWWWWWWW!!!!!!! lol. I need it in my life! Thank you so much for the suggestion
A Writer With Something To Say says
I will try to do all of these! Great blog!
Sacha Black says
Thanks so much, I hope they work. Stop by and let me know if they do 😀
A Writer With Something To Say says
I sure will!
James Pailly says
I like the idea of planning two writing sessions ahead instead of just one. I have a tendency to forget about stuff if it’s not an immediate priority.
Sacha Black says
Yep – I have a big old list, and I just keep adding to it – its the only way I don’t lose track of everything, but I tend to pick off a couple of points for my next couple of sessions, basically the only thing I can do to stay on track!
Rowena says
Thanks so much for posting this Sasha. I am a pantser and run my life like this with a carpe diem approach but that can make it hard for me to stay on track and get something finished. I tend to work on a project until it’s finished. Where things can come a cropper, is that I put my writing aside to “stew”, which I do believe is a vital part of the writing process but I can have a lot of trouble coming back to it and have a lot of stews in my desk. I think lists will help with this.
I have put clocks all over the place and try to set alarms but usually forget. I did come across a special visual clock called Time Timer which shows how much time you have left and that really made me appreciate that time is a fixed resource. You can’t stretch it…even by staying up too late at the end of the day, which is my specialty. Here’s a link to a post I wrote about using the Time Timer https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/alarmed-dangerous/
xx Rowena
Sacha Black says
Hi Rowena, you’re talking to a fellow pantser! So I sympathise. I let my manuscript rest too, and it took me almost a month to get back into the mode of it. I reckon it was only sheer determination that got me to finish the draft! Right I am off to check out your post.
Rowena says
I went to a seminar recently and heard a really good insight into pansters and planners. That the panster ends up re-writing and editing more and taking longer to get it “out” where your planner struggles more with creating a mood or atmosphere.
I work much better to hard deadlines and have amazed myself each year with the A-Z Challenge and am looking at how to use this better with my general writing but so much goes on with the family that it’s hard to set those immovable goals most of the time and it’s a matter of sandwiching the writing inbetween. I get a lot of writing done but not necessarily in a structured routine. Indeed, anything but.
Sacha Black says
LIKE WOW. This is so true. I ended up re writing my first manuscript!!!!!!!! too funny. This has boggled my mind. I love this because its true.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica says
I’m the queen of distractions! Great post Sacha. I shall try to curb my fluttering about butterfly wings…
Sacha Black says
Lol, but at least you’re also getting books written 😀
Marje @ Kyrosmagica says
Albeit slowly Sacha. I need to win the lottery so I can write full time and flutter about to my hearts content. Lol.
justmuddlingthroughlife says
I struggle with my time.. part time job- 3 days a week, 2 small children, husband who is not a massive help.. I’m writing a novel and I have two blogs. Right now I try and write two blog posts a week, one for each blog. I then find Facebook sharing threads a huge time suck, especially when I’ve worked through the list, commented on nearly every blog post listed and then very few return my comments.. they may tweet instead.. but note I’ve just spent ages commenting and tweeting. My blogs are not hugely known yet so I’m working so so hard to promote them and my Facebook page.
This writing lark is a heck of alot of work, much harder then just simply writing. I’m trying to believe in myself, to tell myself it’s all worth it, but so many times I compare my writing to others and think I can’t do this. Thing is though I’m the only one that can tell the story in my head and it needs to be written.
I’ve stopped joining in Pinterest, Instagram and mix threads.. I need to spend hours of work sorting out my Pinterest.. but my novel is more important right now.
Yes turning off the Wi-Fi on my phone and tablet is a good idea and I should do it.
There is also keeping up with the reading. “If you haven’t got time to read, you haven’t got time to write” Stephen King. This is a hard one, I’m always so tired as well… life is busy.. I guess my novel will just take longer to write then others. Thanks for your good advice.
Sacha Black says
I’m sorry for the huge delay in replying to this. I understand your predicament. That much juggling is exhausting. I’ve been there – though only with one child. The thing is, with all that social stuff, it’s great. It’s builds some audience. But honestly, it will require a mix of things to sell your books, paid ads, a social network, all sorts. The thing is, if you haven’t published, then you have nothing to advertise or sell anyway. Stop the social and you’ll have vastly more time. Take a break from it and get that book written. Content is king, no books, no sales. <3
justmuddlingthroughlife says
That’s okay, Thankyou! I know I need to put my blogs to one side but I enjoy writing my short stories. However, I have cut back on the social media sharing. Very time consuming and some if it a waste of time, Thankyou!
Sacha Black says
Glad you’re finding your way through <3 just keep swimming 🙂
justmuddlingthroughlife says
Thankyou Sacha for your support!