Getting the Most Out of Your Writing Time

Distractions. Phone calls. Last minute errands ....

Call them what you want (Right now I'm listening to my grandchildren play 'music').

If you're a writer like I am and have your office at home, you may find yourself scrambling for a bit of quiet when it comes to writing.

Christmas music?

Anyway, as I sit here, writing this blog post, all I can think about is Christmas. So, how can I get beyond the upcoming season and write?

You know it just hit me. Perhaps this is a sign to get a new Christmas short story out, or a Christmas book or poem. Hey, maybe what I'm hearing isn't really a distraction but a way for me to move forward in my writing life.

Getting the most out of your writing time can be an easy one if you let it.

Consider children at your feet. I've done this one - little worms crawling at her feet, squealing for yet another drink of punch. And that phone call, doesn't it come at just the 'wrong' moment, when the words are finally flowing from your fingertips?



"We don't have any milk!" the children scream. Is it really - breakfast? You must stop, gather the little ones up and take them to the grocery store for that needed milk. They are still in their pajamas and your hair looks like ...

Anyway, if you're feeling like I am today ... perhaps you're suddenly in the Christmas - spirit, wondering if your children will ever occupy themselves long enough for you to get a sentence out or if the phone will ever stop ringing, listen up.

You're getting material for your next writing project!

Happy Writing!

Kathryn

The Home Stretch...

Christmas is almost here! Are you ready?

Unbelievably I finished all of the shopping last week. Though I still find myself purchasing small things here and there, I'm done, so to speak.

This week, the last few days before Christmas, is a little like finishing that long winded race; the race that was enjoyable at times, painful at others. When I see Christmas before me like a lit Christmas tree, I am ready to take the winnings in!



And the winnings for me far surpass the Christmas gifts under the tree.

I reflect on the hugs from family and friends. The well wishes for a Merry Christmas. I reflect on neighbors coming to the door with gifts of candy, cookies and more. In a nutshell, these last few days as Christmas approaches I tend to think more on the Savior, more on his love and sacrifice for me a recipient (an ofttimes unworthy recipient) of his gift of sacrifice.

My writing?

I do a little. But most of my time is spent doing other things. I find it more than a little difficult to work on my writing projects. At times I just want to sit and take it all in.

And maybe, just maybe, that's the best thing I can do.

The Time is Now

I don't know about you, but time for writing often comes following cleaning the house. I hate my house being dirty, but sometimes I spend so much time cleaning that I don't get to my writing until about noon.

Photo by: Moyan Brenn, courtesy of Flickr

Take today for example. After I straightened the house, did the dishes, got my granddaughter situated with Sesame Street and snacks on a blanket, and then more snacks on a blanket, returned some emails, and worked on my Sunday School lesson (yes, I also teach adults every other Sunday) I looked at the clock.

11:38 it read.

So here I am. My granddaughter is calling for me.

"What do you need?" I ask.

"I need you to get some pretzels," she replies. She likes the pretzels in a special way; in the Ariel cup. Here I go...

I'm back. It's 11:40.

Photo by: Alan Cleaver, courtesy of Flickr

The time is now to write.

Do you ever feel as if writing can't come first, and if it does you're continually getting up and doing something else?

It's okay. I understand, and so do many other writers who are juggling children, chores, phone calls and door ringings...grocery shopping, errands, sick children...

I just want you to know something. You can do it. The time is now even if you can't write straight through a sitting. The time is now. So get writing.

Getting Smart about Writing

It's easy to take your writing for granted, kind of like those old tulips that come up every year without fail. But when you see them, just like when you see your novel at completion, you know you've been smart about your writing.

Finishing a novel in a year is a good game plan. And if you can finish your novel in even less time, even better. The important thing is to give your novel the time it needs to be the best book it can be.

Of course, you will always find those grammar mistakes even after you've published, but the worst of it will already be worked through because of the months you have given to your book.

Getting smart about your writing means listening to your heart. Your heart will tell you when it's time to speed up or slow down, and it will let you know when your work is ready to be seen by a publisher or when you should self-publish. And it's important to listen to that.

Photo by: wrestlingentropy, courtesty of Flickr

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, make sure you get plenty of readers to read your book and let you know if you're there. It's a safe bet that they will tell you if they feel good about your work or if they feel it needs just a bit more tweaking.

Taking the time to read over your work out loud will help you too, as will getting together with a great critique group. Getting smart means you make a check list so that you don't forget anything. It means taking the time each day to write and not letting procrastination take over.

I hate cleaning the bathroom but it's amazing how this chore can win over the project I'm currently working on. It's amazing that I suddenly notice the dirty carpet or dishes. But this is always going to be the case.

Setting a time to write is a good idea, but if you're like me, you fit in writing where you can. I write every day even if it's only this blog.

In the end, getting smart about writing means you take it seriously enough to do it--every day. Let the kitchen sink sit.

WANT A FREE GIFT? COME TO MY FREE WRITING YOUR BOOK WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY and get smart about your writing!

Place: Bountiful/Davis Art Center, 745 South Main Street
Time: 1-2:30

Call 801-292-0367 to register, or email me at: kathy@ariverofstones.com

Sometimes It's Best to Remain Quiet

Ever had someone disturb you so often in your writing you couldn't get anything done?

Everything seems more important.

Photo by: Emmett Tullos III, courtesy of Flickr

The grass getting mowed.
The cow getting milked.
The laundry.

I don't know about you, but today has been a full one for me, even though I really don't have a cow. Writing is a job for me but it's hard to keep writing in that professional bracket when other folks see it as a sight-seeing trip. And I suppose it is; but not always. There are times when it's hard to think about what to write. There are times I must edit; times when I must rework an entire chapter.

In every job (and I'm telling you right now that writing is a job) there are good days and bad days, good moments and bad moments, moments that others don't understand  and will never "get."

And that's okay, as long as "you" get them.