Writer's Relief's video: Writer s Relief Caf Live Q A Event: Finding Time to Write

Welcome to our Writer’s Relief Café Live Q& A Event: Finding Time to Write How To Avoid Distractions: Limit social media checking. Set time limits for distractions that don’t seem like distractions, like research. Editing can be a distraction: Of course, you’re going to edit. But if you’re on your 10th, 20th draft, you may just be procrastinating. Also…critiquing other people’s work is helpful, but are you doing it really to avoid doing your own work? And reading. All writers like to read. No reading during writing time! Read: http://writersrelief.com/2018/05/10/7-sneaky-ways-writers-get-distracted-from-work-without-realizing-it-writers-relief/ How To Stop Procrastinating: Banish your inner perfectionist (for now). Just write! Edit, proofread, fix later. Have realistic goals. Break bigger deadlines into smaller deadlines that you can accomplish. Do the worst first! Get it over with and you’ll be motivated to do tasks you like. Or…do your favorite task first! You’ll be more likely to complete the task. Read: http://writersrelief.com/2018/08/30/12-tips-to-help-you-stop-procrastinating-right-now-writers-relief/ Also, treat yourself! When you do accomplish a writing goal, give yourself a reward: snack, favorite TV show, go for a walk—positive reinforcement. Deal with writer’s block which can cause you to procrastinate. Try Freewriting: http://writersrelief.com/2015/08/19/freewriting-tips/ How To Find Time To Write! Writing time must be sacred. Be realistic, look at your life and what will work: minutes, hours, every day, or once a week? Use time management tools. You can use apps, or set a timer. Track your time and stick to it – whether it’s 10 minutes a day or 3 hours every weekend. Try the Pomodoro technique: Set a timer to remind yourself to take short 5 minute breaks every 25 minutes or so. Fun fact: The Pomodoro Technique was named for the originator’s kitchen timer, which was shaped like a tomato! Make a To-Do list of writing tasks, you’ll be able to track meeting your goals, and it feels good to check things off. Read: http://writersrelief.com/2018/05/17/where-does-your-time-go-how-to-create-a-time-budget-for-your-writing-career-writers-relief/ Don’t multitask. Don’t write and watch TV, or check emails. Writing time is for writing! Determine your best time of day to write. Are you an early bird or night owl? We have a self-test: http://writersrelief.com/2016/11/17/self-test-best-time-day-to-write/ Steve’s question: I have the bad habit of eliminating the obvious distractions: TV, cell phone, emails, etc. Then I create mental distractions. Any suggestions for getting those under control? Work the distraction into the story. Train yourself to come back to writing when you find your mind drifting. Realize you’re thinking about how Game of Thrones ended…say to yourself – nope. Not thinking about that now! And go back to writing. Jenny’s question: How to get over low confidence with your writing- is it a part of writers block? Ask yourself who’s reading this right now? No one but you. It may not be great yet, but you’ll work at it and make it better. Join a writer’s group for input. You’ll hear what you need to fix, but you’ll also hear if it’s good from people who aren’t family and friends – there are online as well as writing groups you attend in person. You can also take writing classes. Afaf’s question: What do you when you've managed to push through procrastination to actually sit down and write but still make no progress? I've tried writing other things…some people have recommended focusing on a different part of the story…but I'm one of those few people who can't go forward in any manner other than chronologically. Sometimes writing is from inspiration, and sometimes writing is work. Try writing an outline of your overall story arc. Then you’ll know where you’re trying to go. Write anything to get from point A to point B. You can edit, throw out, but you’ll have something. If you’re interested in our services, you can learn more at our website WritersRelief.com. And submit to our Review Board. http://writersrelief.com/review_board/ Visit the Writer’s Relief website for many free writer resources. Writer’s Relief helps writers of short stories, poems, and personal essays submit to literary magazines. Writer’s Relief also helps novelists, memoirists, and other book authors submit to literary agencies for representation. We also help writers self-publish their books. Self-Publishing Relief can help guide you from completed manuscript to finished book. Self-Publishing Relief also offers marketing support for writers. Learn more here: http://selfpublishingrelief.com/ Call Writer's Relief today! (866) 405-3003 (toll-free) https://youtu.be/4RPMmPKjJwE