I’ve been following YA author Melody Personette for a while, and admire her tenacity and ability to keep producing. I asked her to share a bit about how she manages to keep producing novels so consistently.
DJS: What does productivity mean to you?
MP: As someone who’s a perfectionist and has a really hard time turning her brain off most of the time, productivity can be a tricky thing for me. The definition of productivity has changed for me over the years because of that. I used to think productivity was getting as many words as I can write in a day in as quickly as possible or finishing a first draft in a matter of weeks or within a month. Now, though, after seasons of burn out or busy seasons that make it hard to fit in time to write, productivity to me is making the time and effort to sit down and just write. Whether I get a 100 words or 3k words in a writing sessions, I still push myself to try and write or edit every day. Productivity is sitting down in the daily grind and getting it done in some way, shape, or form that day.
DJS: I love the way you define productivity. Keeping to a daily habit can be so helpful, and I’m a big fan of the idea that slow and steady wins the race.
What are some of your “keys” to being productive?
MP: Some things that have helped me with my productivity or that are my “keys” to productivity is having a plan, making a list and sticking to it. When starting a first draft I make sure to sit down and write something every day. Again, whether it be a 100 or a 1,000 words, as long as I got something written that day I’m happy.
For editing, I make a timeline and a plan of how many chapters I want to edit every day and then I get it done. I carve out time every day to edit those certain amount of chapters so I can check it off my list.
I also get up a few hours earlier than I probably need to every morning so that I have ample time to get my writing and/or editing done before I go to work. This is just to make sure that if I don’t have time during the day, I still get my daily goal of editing and/or writing done for that day.
DJS: Do you have any unusual habits that help you with productivity?
MP: I don’t think these are unusual, but I can give you some tips on how I stay productive.
I use an app called Notion that helps me stay organized with my many different projects (find an organizational notes app that works best for you because they’re life changing) and I love lists.
I make lists of plot points, of how many chapters I want to get done each day of the week, lists of which projects I want to work on and when. Lists are my best friend and I love checking things off them. It makes me feel productive and like I accomplished something and in the marathon that is writing and publishing a book those little things that make you feel accomplished are so needed.
DJS: I’m a list maker too. Making lists can be great way to keep track of things, and it’s true checking off things makes me feel I’ve accomplished something!
What are the pitfalls writers might fall into when trying to be productive and how can they avoid them?
MP: When we think of productivity, I think we envision big goals and crushing our goals every day and writing 3-5k words every day, when really that’s not what productivity is at all. I think as writers we tend to be perfectionists, hypercritical of ourselves and never feeling like we did enough in a day. I think that can really hinder our productivity.
If you struggle with any of that, I would recommend times of rest. I plan my projects around my weeks and my weekends. So on the weekends, I put my laptop away and spend quality time with my husband, family and friends. If we do have downtime and I fit in time for writing or editing on the weekend, it’s a bonus, but it’s not something that I force or prioritize on Saturday and Sundays.
Another thing that helps is setting bite-size or manageable goals. I know my limits through years of experience and I know how many chapters I can edit in a day before getting burnt out and mentally tired. Know your limits, take stock of your mental and physical energy for the day, and plan accordingly.
DJS: I’ve been guilty of thinking I’m not doing enough all too often. Understanding where to draw the line and making time for rest is a real necessity in so many aspects of life.
Do you have any other encouraging words for writers who struggle to be as productive as they would like to be?
MP: It’s Okay. It’s Okay to take breaks, it’s Okay to not be as productive as you would like to be every single day. It’s Okay to prioritize life events, family and friends or just rest in general. Over productiveness leads to burn out and no one wants that.
Everyone’s energy levels and limitations are different in general let alone day to day and week to week. Take time figure out a system that works for you and stick to it.
DJS: How can a writer avoid burnout while pursuing productivity?
MP: Take breaks and manage things in small bites if you need to. Different seasons of life call for different paces of productivity. Some seasons you can work for hours and get so much done, other seasons sometimes just getting in a ten minute writing session or editing one or two chapters a day is what you can manage. Don’t put tons of pressure on yourself, take time to rest and prioritize getting out and living life as much as you prioritize your writing.
DJS: Thank you, Melody, for these great tips and words of encouragement!
What about you? Did any of Melody’s advice resonate with you? Do you have any tips to add or experiences about writing productivity to share? Leave a comment!
Melody Personette is an author of YA contemporary fantasy and science fiction full of redemption, hope and magic. She’s a tea lover, Jesus follower, big sister to four younger brothers, and TV show addict (TVD, Teen Wolf and The 100 are some of her faves). When she’s not writing she’s blogging, taking pictures of books for her bookstagram, plotting or thinking about writing (she’s never not thinking about writing #writerproblems).
You can learn more about Melody at her website: https://melodypersonette.com/
About the Book
Tilly has spent her entire life haunted by the legacy of her father, a notorious magician who wielded dark magic with devastating cruelty. Determined to carve her own path, she swore she’d never follow in his footsteps—until the day her best friend’s life was on the line. Desperation drove her to open herself to the very magic she’s spent years fearing, and now she’s paying the price. Plagued by chilling nightmares, a curse that binds her to her family’s dark past, and bouts of sleepwalking, Tilly’s life is spiraling out of control.
Her only hope lies with Porter Whitlock, the brooding member of a family famed for imprisoning some of the most dangerous magicians throughout history. But accepting Porter’s help comes with its own risks—especially when his kind patience and piercing eyes start to break through the walls she’s built around her heart.
As Tilly and Porter work to unravel the tangled threads of her curse, they uncover secrets that threaten not just her future, but the delicate balance of magic itself. Tilly must decide how far she’s willing to go—and how much she’s willing to lose—to free herself from the shadows of her past.
Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, including her contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, scheduled for release Summer 2025, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at donnajostone.com.
Three things consume sixteen-year-old autistic artist Nina’s thoughts: earning the privilege to paint the school mural, untangling her emotions about a certain boy, and finding a miracle cure for her mom’s terminal cancer.
If you’d like to apply for an advanced copy of Promise Me Tomorrow, click on the link for more details. https://forms.gle/WezNtUPY14f11BNB9
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