Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Picking the Write Fight
Novelist Crystal Caudill provides amazing insight into writing effective fight scenes for both physical and verbal fights. Learn the reasons why readers often skim through fight scenes, the purpose of a fight scene, and the nitty gritty techniques for writing physical fights. Crystal also shares how to write verbal confrontations that will keep your reader engaged while moving the story forward. For examples and additional resources, be sure to watch this week’s replay.
Watch the January 16th replay
Crystal Caudill is the award-winning author of “dangerously good historical romance. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver. When not writing, Crystal can be found hanging with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.
A Novel Approach to Setting Goals / Reaching Achievements (For the Goal-Averse)
Goals. Does just hearing this word set your teeth on edge and induce a cold sweat? Perhaps it hits an autoplay in your brain that recounts all the reasons everyone says you need to set goals to achieve anything, or else, doom. Maybe you’ve set goals before and failed—over and over. Not fun, eh? Writers Chat Co-host Brandy Brow agrees. She’ll tackle reasons the big G causes so many people grief and unveil a more peaceful way to gain achievements.
Watch the January 23rd replay
https://youtu.be/SRE_8x9YS84?si=XOxnhZJ_c-cRH095
Brandy Brow freelance edits and writes short stories for the general market. Her fiction explores the highs and lows of human nature and ranges from normal to strange, with a bit of creepy. An administrator by nature, she loves office supplies, and nonfiction appears like magic.
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
Recently, I had to pause several of my plans to help family. I got behind in my writing goals for the year. I kept doing basic social media posts, but that’s about it. My writing slowed and then stopped as I struggled to stay afloat. One morning, as I looked over my blank planning calendar, I felt a tremendous sense of discouragement.
What happened? How could I have messed up so spectacularly?
I filled in what I had done the weeks before. Doctor visits, babysitting, family obligations, and church. Had I failed? God called me to write, but He also calls me to care for my family. To reach out to people around me with love. While I filled in my planner, I prayed for God to show me where I could fit writing into my schedule again. I may not have moved forward with my goals for the year, I certainly hadn’t failed.
I’d held my place.
I hadn’t given up on my goals, only paused. A bookmark, if you will, in life. Holding my place until I can get back at it.
To set a goal is good, to meet the goal is great, to lose sight of the goal or miss it, is human.
If your goals seem like a distant memory or they are fading into the background, don’t give up on them. Remind yourself that you’re human and sometimes life calls us in a different direction for a bit. Just like a good book with a bookmark where you left off, your writing will wait for you while you hold your place.
Jill Chapman resides in Southern Indiana with her husband of forty-four years. They enjoy their country lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren. Her life centers around her family and her yellow lab, Indy. She is an avid movie watcher, loves Mexican food, and enjoys watercolor painting. Jill says her life is like a good plate of nachos, a tiny kick of spice, and a whole lotta cheese.
As the year draws to a close, it’s a good idea to prepare for the year ahead. This post will help you turn fuzzy ideas and wishful dreams into a more actionable writing strategy for the year ahead.
To create next year’s writing strategy, begin by answering this simple question—Why do you write?
Step One: Know your why
Open your journal or get a blank piece of paper and free write about why you write. Just write anything that comes into your head. Don’t stop to think or correct. No editing. No wordsmithing. Keep your pen or pencil moving until you fill the whole page (or more than one page if you’re on a roll).
When you’re finished, read through what you wrote and highlight the key concepts that capture your most honest answer. On a fresh page, summarize the most important reasons you write. This motivation will inform the rest of your writing strategy.
Step Two: Clarify your vision
Considering your writing motivations from step one, answer the question, “What is my vision for this time next year?” If you could look back at the end of next year and see that you’ve been successful at furthering your writing dreams, what are the key areas of growth or achievement that you would have accomplished?
Or, to look at it another way, imagine what you would love to accomplish by the end of next year. Describe the main things you’d like to finish, master, or figure out.
Defining your vision will give you something to shoot for. If you lack a concrete vision, it’s much more difficult to make progress or prioritize your goals.
Step Three: Where are you now?
Before creating writing goals for the coming year, you need to know where you’re starting from. So, where are you now in your writing journey?
Reflect on what you’ve accomplished this past year.
What important skills or lessons have you learned?
Have you taken a scary step forward?
What writing goals have you achieved?
What projects are still a work in progress (but progressing)?
How have you held firm to your key writing motivations?
Take a minute to congratulate yourself on the progress you have made. It’s important to pay attention to the milestones along the way if we want to stay motivated to accomplish our big writing dreams.
Next reflect on the main disappointments of the past year.
What hasn’t progressed like you’d hoped?
What didn’t work so well?
How can you pivot from that disappointment?
How have you strayed from your key writing motivations?
Step Four: Make intentional and realistic writing goals
Finally, it’s time to craft your writing goals. Use the information in the first three steps to create goals that will help you get from where you are now to where you’d love to be by the end of next year.
When crafting your writing goals, consider these factors.
They should stretch you or challenge you.
But they must also be realistic, not so far from where you are now that you’ll never meet them.
Goals are based on outcomes you can control (and there’s an awful lot you can’t control). They should be focused on your efforts, not the hoped-for results of those efforts.
They should specific enough and clear enough that you can tell when you’ve achieved them.
Finally, they should include a deadline.
Examples of writing goals
Example 1: I want to make the New Your Times Bestseller list. This is not a good goal. Why? This statement doesn’t include a date and it’s probably not realistic. The primary problem, however, is that you cannot control the outcome. Even if your book sells really well, it may not be selected for the list.
Example 2:I want my new book to hit the top ten bestseller status in an Amazon category by June 30. This goal is better. It includes a date, it’s easy to see whether you succeed or not, and it’s potentially within the realm of possibility. You still can’t fully control this outcome, but you can hire experts or follow their proven strategies to make it a potentially achievable goal.
Example 3: I will finish a revised version of my next book manuscript by May 1. This goal is specific and is based on an outcome you can control. It has a deadline, and success is reasonably clear. (Finish is a little vague, but if you aren’t prone to fussing over a manuscript forever, it might suffice.)
May you have success meeting your writing goals for 2023!
I hope you will take some time in the next few weeks to think through these steps and come up with some specific writing goals that will help you achieve your writing dreams.
Lisa E. Betz is an engineer-turned-mystery-writer, entertaining speaker, and unconventional soul. She inspires others to become their best selves, living with authenticity, and purpose, and she infuses her novels with unconventional characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her Livia Aemilia Mysteries, set in first-century Rome, have won several awards, including the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021).
She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in her novels. Lisa directs church dramas, hikes the beautiful Pennsylvania woods, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes. Visit www.lisaebetz.com.
When I first started writing stories, I would attempt to capture a thought or feeling the minute it sprang to mind. I didn’t plan my stories. Needless to say, many of these vignettes meandered or ended up unfinished.
What was I missing? Story premise.
This isn’t an article about plotting versus pantsing. This is about generating a viable story idea from a seed or impression.
How do you know if a concept is story worthy?
With my first novel, I accidentally managed to produce good structure. My main character had a concrete story goal early on. She also had a strong emotional desire stated in the opening sentence. From the initial moment of external conflict, the stakes continually increased, following a logical progression. It unfolded this way until the conclusion.
Easy peasy, right? Surely I had mastered the art of story structure and could replicate the process.
Not exactly.
I began a second book and focused on the emotional state of my character, neglecting to give her an external goal. Even though I was attempting a character-driven work and wanted to explore emotional growth, my protagonist still needed to have an external goal.
The book had to be restructured to include both internal and external GMC – goal, motivation, conflict.
Broken down, it looks like this:
Goal: What does your protagonist want?
Motivation: Why do they want it?
Conflict: What’s in their way?
{Protagonist} wants {goal} because {motivation} but can’t succeed, because {conflict}.
All of the important characters in a successful story have both external and internal GMC. The differing goals produce conflict. They initiate the action and keep it going. Without a clear and concrete external goal for the protagonist to pursue and obstacles (conflict) to overcome, the story stagnates.
In plot driven stories, the external GMC is what keeps the story moving along. I find these easier to figure out. With character driven work, the character’s want directly opposes the (true) need. This produces conflict and forces growth in the character. Every character has internal and external goals and motivations. The two GMCs, external and internal, go hand in glove.
There will be many smaller goals and conflicts along the journey, but the overarching, or main, GMC of your story is the foundation of your premise.
The story premise is a few sentences distilling the key elements of your story, and incorporates the main GMC.
The premise contains:
The protagonist, set-up, protagonist’s goal, the source of resistance or antagonist, the core story conflict, and the protagonist’s motivation. A story premise can also include the other essential character(s).
Does the GMC or premise have to be perfectly expressed before you begin writing a novel? Not at all, but I’ve found the process goes much smoother if I understand what my character wants, needs, why they want what they do, and why they can’t have it. The better I solidify these things early on, the more likely I am to end up with a coherent story.
Nailing down GMC can take a few tries and a bit of time, but is well worth the effort.
Resource for Further Study
GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict Book by Debra Dixon
As we start a new year, most people have decided upon New Year’s resolutions, or made new goals. Most of my writing friends have already decided on specific writing goals for this year. I have a few aspirations myself for 2021.
Relaunching my monthly newsletter with specific content.
Building and launching a new website for my nonfiction writing, screenwriting, and speaking opportunities (I am an avid brain injury awareness advocate and I am a volunteer with Promise Keepers men’s ministry.
Getting more involved with both the disability community and men’s ministry.
Getting my latest screenplay professionally evaluated and then hosting it online.
Adding more content to my YouTube channel.
Possibly starting a new podcast.
Seeking professional representation.
These are more of the milestones I am working towards this year; I learned a harsh lesson after my accident about goal setting: Sometimes we don’t reach all of our goals.
Since the accident, I am unable play a guitar and I no longer play video games. And worst of all, I can no longer type 60 words a minute, much less type at all. My brain injury has affected my fine-tuned motor skills in my left hand. With that said, I understand that goal setting can be both good and bad in life.
Goal Setting!
We writers tend to be results-driven. We think if we pound out enough words or pages per day, in the end, we will achieve our writing dreams. And some do, but for the most part, few writers make a full time living only writing.
Still, I’m conflicted when I see my writing friends posting their word or page totals on any given day to their social media. Those kinds of results goals work for some, but for others of us, it only adds to the pressures of the writing life.
Let me be clear I understand the benefits of setting goals. I am not debating the need for them, just the tendency to over-focus on them. The following are clear benefits of goal setting.
1. Helps to meet deadlines.
2. This helps us to be more professional.
3. Goals help us to focus our attention in our writing.
4. They can help us to be more productive.
To be completely honest, I am not a fan of setting goals in my writing projects. When I try to focus on a word count or page number, I tend to get stressed out and place too much pressure on myself.
With my brain injury, stress overload can cause me to seize or stroke out. So I don’t overemphasize my goals. However, I do shoot for milestones or structure points in my writing to give me a place to work towards in each writing session.
For me, it is less stressful and doesn’t stifle my creativity. It can also stifle my writing voice when I try to force myself to write. I am more of a quality than a quantitative person; not just in my writing but in every aspect of life.
The disabled life can amplify the negatives of a writing life. If you think you have bad days, try adding a life-changing disability to it. Being disabled has taught me to appreciate the little things in life and not to stress over achieving big things.
Small victories are the goals I hope for, such as days when I can think clearly, write purposefully, and communicate effectively. I want my writing to have a clear message and purpose, and I hop the same for each day I live.
Be fervent about the little victories.
Fervent?
The best writers write with a purpose—they want to communicate. Their goal isn’t to turn out the most words or pages possible, their goal is to be a clear communicator.
One of the first rules I learned in my training as a writer was to learn how to “say more by writing less.” We must be intentional with each letter, word, and punctuation point. That is how our writing becomes concise.
With a brain injury, I have to consciously think about every move I make. I must consciously think to move my left leg and let my left arm swing as I walk. Disabled persons sometimes struggle to do the simplest things. We try our hardest to get better, even when it hurts. This is why we as writers must be intentional and realistic in our goal setting!
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 21:6 (NIV)
Do you finish what you start? Are you a New Year’s Resolutions kind of writer, or do you prefer to wait and see what will happen? After years of goal setting, I decided to revisit some of my forgotten projects and consider why I lost interest in follow-through. It turns out, I’m not the only one to have unfinished works. Yep, only 8% of those who set goals actually achieve them.*
As we turn our thoughts to a new year, we wonder what it will look like post-pandemic. Will schedules become insane again, or will we hang on to lessons learned in the bliss of solitude? Will writing time be squeezed out or sheltered? What would it look like if you created a writing routine that refused to be squelched?
After a writing group challenge, my friends Robin and Lori turned 15 minutes a day into a 870 day habit, and counting. My friend Tracy learned she could set aside time she didn’t think she had. And I turned a writing fling into a word frenzy.
Have you begun something that seems impossible to finish? How will you resolve to tackle it?
Exercise:
Unfinished articles will never make it to print. How can you turn “to do” into “totally done?”
Brainstorm a list of articles you can submit this year.
Start with the first idea and study the writers’ guidelines.
Adjust your words and send it out.
Move on to the next one and repeat.
Does this exercise seem too simplistic? If it were simple, we would all be prolific writers.
Do perfectionistic expectations sideline your goals? Author Jon Acuff says the way to beat perfectionism is to “cut your goal in half or double the timeline.” Make your goal attainable and watch the momentum build on your resume, when you complete what you start and commemorate each success.
The Author of words equips us with power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7), but He also expects us to do our part to complete the task before us. Ask Him to guide your work in progress and then set goals to measure your growth with word count and queries. You’ll have a partner all the way to the finish!
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum,Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.
Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon. She lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.
After my accident, I was eager to get back to my old life. Why wouldn’t I? I was in college and those are supposed to be the best years of our lives. But, I spent most of my junior year in the hospital struggling to do everyday tasks.
I was young and full of life, ready to conquer the world. The only problem was, I didn’t understand the extent of my injuries. After only working with a physical therapist for one day, I believed I was strong enough to do everything I used to do.
The next day I wanted to use the bathroom like a normal twenty-something-year-old, so I convinced a new nurse to help me. Everything was fine until I leaned forward to reach for toilet paper….
It was like a bodybuilder slapped me on the back of the head. I lost my balance and did a belly flop onto the floor. The elderly nurse toppled with me and had to call in a second nurse to help get me back in my hospital bed. That incident taught me a lot about life and my new normal.
Passion can be good and bad.
We need to be realistic about our abilities.
Excitement isn’t the same as experience.
It’s important to be coachable/teachable.
When I first began my professional writing training, I came across a quote from Christian author Jerry Jenkins about how writers can succeed that has stuck with me to this day.
“In any writer, I look for the –ilities: humility, teachability, coachability, availability, and flexibility.”
Jerry B. Jenkins in Writing for the Soul
While passion and talent are crucial to a writer’s success, the “ilities” are key to funneling them into a successful writing career. You may know your story or prose, but the best writers know they don’t know everything. They understand the need to hone their skills; we all start out taking baby steps in our writing careers.
Baby Steps?
As 2020 comes to an end, most of us are excited to start a new year. With the arrival of vaccines for the Covid-19 virus, we are all eager to get back to life as usual. We are heading into 2021 expecting a better year.
But, it’s not exactly full speed ahead. There are still hurdles to overcome, precautions to take, and getting used to a new normal. Even if that’s not the news you want to hear, there’s still hope.
We are all going to have to start out taking baby steps, especially for writers. We can prepare and plan, but we must be realistic. Most of us writers have dreams and aspirations about successful writing careers, but the sad truth is few writers make a full-time living solely from writing.
Those who are successful didn’t start there. They too had to take baby steps in their careers. Having all of the talent in the world or the most riveting story concept can only get you so far in the modern publishing era.
As writers, we will crawl before we walk and some of us will never be able to sprint like the pros. Be patient and navigate the baby steps of the writing life. Start with smaller projects
The writing industry is constantly in flux. Successful writers keep learning the craft either by online courses or in-person conferences. Last month I attended my first conference in three years and I learned a lot. Goals like these are basic baby steps to getting the end results.
Getting Results?
Living with a disability is a lifetime of baby steps towards a new normal. Although baby steps aren’t the goal—they are a process of getting results.
Twenty-three years ago I began a process of baby steps of relearning everything in life. There are a few things I still cannot do, like play guitar or type, but I have learned to live with the new normal I gained through taking baby steps.
Stronger muscles.
Learning how to fall and get back up (hopefully).
Learning new skills.
Be patient (huh!)
Positive results don’t always come easy. Likewise in writing, we can only get results after taking baby steps.
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
Every year around this time, I take a moment to reflect on the progress I have made as a writer within the past twelve months. I reflect on whether or not I have reached my writerly goals for that year. I evaluate the areas that I could have improved and what I could have approached differently. Then, based on this, I establish new goals for the upcoming year.
But these goals are not chosen at random; instead, they are created in accordance with my author mission statement.
This mission statement captures and distills the vision of my writing career. It keeps me on track when I start to wander too far from my writerly purpose. And since I have reaped the rewards of crafting this statement, I now encourage writers—especially new writers—to craft their own statement as well.
Here are just a few reasons why you should consider crafting your own writerly mission statement for the New Year:
This mission statement may help you…
Specify your author brand.
Define your core audience.
Brainstorm new content for your author newsletter and social media posts.
Reinforce why you have chosen to take this journey, which will keep you motivated for the long haul.
Make publishing decisions (for example: if you should write for the Christian market or the general market, whether you should pursue traditional publishing or self-publishing, etc.).
Enable you to see the “big picture,” especially when the going gets tough.
Navigate the maze of marketing.
Stay focused on what matters in your journey.
Avoid the trap of comparing yourself to other authors.
How can you craft this mission statement?
Here is the template that I have personally used to create mine, but feel free to modify this however you wish!
Your mission statement should answer the following questions…
What kind of books do I hope to write (e.g. inspirational, adventurous, issue-driven, historical, etc.)?
What is my purpose behind writing?
Who is my audience? (Be specific here!)
What do I hope to accomplish through the books that I write?
Is there a specific message that I want to portray through my books?
Need an example of how this may be crafted? Below is the mission statement I have created for my personal writing career:
“In all that I write—both fiction and non-fiction—I hope to minister the healing power of God’s love, show readers that hope is always available, and leave them with an appetite to pursue a relationship with Christ. In the books that I write, it is my desire to show teen girls that they are not alone in whatever it is that they are walking through. I want to encourage them to make the most of their youth by embracing their unique potential to further God’s Kingdom.”
This mission statement distills my heart behind my writing career. It reflects how I want to impact my readers. It focuses on what I believe is the message I am called to share to my target audience.
So if you need a little extra motivation for your own writing career—if you have been struggling with comparison, finding your author brand, staying focused, etc.—I challenge you to create this mission statement. Return to the why and the how: why you have chosen to write and how you would like to impact your readers.
Then return to this post and leave your mission statement in the comments below! =)
Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who wrote her debut novel when she was sixteen. She is now a multi-published author of both fiction and non-fiction inspirational yet authentic books for teens, including her upcoming release, LOVE YOUR SELFIE (October 2020, Ellie Claire). Her passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as a Literary Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. Tessa is guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 128 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, teaching at writing conferences, coaching young writers, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is to connect with readers is on her mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: www.tessaemilyhall.com.
My first week home from the rehab hospital, I suffered a seizure. It took days before I could feel the left side of my body. I was terrified. I was afraid all the hard work I had put in was lost and I would have to start all over again.
Turns out it wasn’t a medical issue, but a lifestyle one. In the hospital, I was given a strict diet, mainly drank water, and exercised regularly. At home, I ate whatever I wanted, and drank caffeinated sodas, and exercise was the farthest thing from my mind.
I had become comfortable after my recovery and I let my guard down. When I had a follow-up with my neurologist, the instructions were obvious:
Be more nutrition-conscious and drink more water, less caffeine.
Exercise regularly to keep my muscles stimulated.
Get plenty of rest.
A month after my seizure I began biking. It became an important part of my training to strengthen my left side. Later I joined a local gym and started strength training. Fortunately, the main fitness trainer had experience working with persons with disabilities and he was able to coach me on my journey.
It was then I learned the importance of switching up my workouts. From time to time we need to use different fitness routine to keep our bodies from getting comfortable and plateauing. This keeps the muscles confused which allows them to grow. Medical science has shown that it takes about 6 to 8 weeks to create a routine and 2 to 4 weeks to create muscle memory.
I have three eight-week exercise cycles and halfway through I reverse the weight process. When I tell you it shocks my body, I mean my body is sore and uncomfortable for weeks; which is what I want, because I tend to get bored when I get comfortable in my exercises.
Comfortable?
Being comfortable something we desire in most situations. The dictionary tells us being comfortable provides relaxation and puts us at ease. It’s a goal most of us want to achieve.
Most writers (me included) have certain goals in their writing career they are striving for: fame, fortune, a better lifestyle, or making a mark on this world. I’m sure there are other goals I could mention. Take the time to think about what motivates you to keep writing.
We spend hours at our computers or researching in libraries and sacrifice time with our family and loved ones. It’s human nature to want to get to the top.
A decade ago I had a chance to go to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado, over 14,000 feet above sea level. While the views were spectacular, I learned an important lesson.
Nothing grows on the mountaintop, no trees, grass, and certainly not flowers. That’s when I realized being on top might not be all it’s cracked up to be.
It can be barren at the top.
It reaffirms that often the journey is more beneficial than the destination. This is why writing coaches and professionals advise us to keep writing. Not necessarily to get our big break, but to keep growing our writing muscles and voices.
As we flex our writing muscles to create stories and articles we work more than just our hands and fingers, we flex the most powerful body part—our brains! Like strength training, training in the craft of writing requires consistent use of those muscles. It requires getting out of our comfort zones.
We can’t become lazy and apathetic just because we’ve reached our writing goals. I am reminded what Christian author Jerry Jenkins said, “In any writer. I look for the –ilities: humility, teachability, coachability, availability, and flexibility.”1
We must keep growing as a writer, which means we can’t become comfortable:
1. Keep learning the craft.
2. Keep reading.
3. Attend conferences and workshops.
4. Find a mentor or guide in the business.
5. Keep being creative.
6. And most importantly, keep writing.
If I don’t continue to exercise, my muscles can atrophy. Lack of use and growth can cause muscle tissue to deteriorate and waste away.
In the same way, how tragic would it be for writers to spend years seeking publication only to let their skills, passion, and creativity waste away?
Stay Rested!
I am not endorsing never taking a break or resting. Rest is integral to muscle growth, this is when the muscle rebuilds itself. Rest helps refresh us. Rest means different things to different people:
Sleep.
Not working.
Reading.
Absence of responsibility.
I can be on a bike ride 40 miles out and feel rested. My goal is to keep growing, not get comfortable!
1 Jenkins, J,B 2006 (Writing For the Soul) Writers Digest Books, Pge 105.
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
It’s a brand new
year. That means a new start to achieving new goals and a fresh clean slate to
do it with.
Serious Writer
posted a question to its community board last month asking writers to list
their 2020 goals. Most of the responses involved completing works-in-progress,
building marketing plans, and blogging consistently.
I wanted to add
three goals for your consideration as we enter a new year:
1) Read at least
one middle grade book each month.
Stephen King said it
best: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools)
to write. Simple as that.” When you read
something that resonates with you – or doesn’t – analyze it. Figure out how the
author constructed their chapter (or sentence, or paragraph) to create the
response you felt.
Reading comes in
handy when it’s time to market your own work. You’ll better understand what types
of books are on shelf, what’s selling, and how your work might fit within the
genre.
2) Attend a
writing workshop or conference.
The benefits of
attending a conference are well worth the investment. There are opportunities
to hold face-to-face meetings with editors, agents, and publishers. You can
connect with other writers to build critique groups. If your conference offers
critiques, you are able to receive valuable feedback on your work. The industry
education alone is well worth the time and effort it takes to attend.
3) Write a review
of a middle grade book each month.
Reviews are
important for authors. When you read a middle grade book, take a moment to
write a (spoiler-free) review of what you’ve read. This does two things: First,
it helps the author sell their book. Second, if you post a mini-review on your
blog or social media account, it helps build your platform. Book reviews are
crucial for new and self-published authors, so why not help other authors the
way (someday soon) you wish to be helped?
Here’s wishing you a
healthy, productive new writing year! If you have a new goal for 2020, tell me
in the comments below or on Instagram at @klmckinneywrites.
Happy New Year!
Kell
McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of
Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas.
She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free
minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK
or kellmckinney.com.
It is the dawn of a new year, even a new decade, and people are talking about goals. I guess “resolutions” are not mentioned any more, because they last until about January 15th and then are forgotten. “Goal” seems to be a better word, something to strive for over a longer period of time.
Of course, one of my yearly goals is to eat better and to lose weight. I have had varying levels of success with that one over the years, and this year is no different, considering all of the leftover holiday goodies in my kitchen cabinet. I’m doing okay right now, but the chocolate is calling my name.
Many of my friends are switching the focus to writing goals for the year. If I have seen one post on social media about writing goals, I have seen 20. Everyone is setting their goals, making their lists and checking them twice. (Yes, the Christmas stuff is still on my mind.)
What’s my writing goal for the year? I have put some thought into it, and here it is, an exclusive debut right here on A3. My writing goal for 2020 is . . . to write.
There, I said it.
It may seem overly simple, but, for me, just to put the rear in the chair and to write is what I need to do. Sure, it’s good to have goals of words per day or week, but I need to remind myself to write everyday, to establish the routine of regularly putting words on the page. It seems simple, but I work better with simple.
So avoid the chocolate and get that bottom in the chair. Let’s write!
Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and
Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s
Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer
whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for
the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the
Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the
soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy
have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for
Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for
Operation Christmas child.
One of my favorite quotes from a fictional character is Anne Shirley’s
profound declaration that, “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.”
That’s how I feel about a new year too. The more years that fly by the more I’m
reminded that time is precious and not to be wasted on loitering in the past.
With each new year comes God’s reminder to, “Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
When you’ve been writing for a while with little to no traction in the publishing world, it can be difficult to perceive that your writing has any purpose. But take heart. As Christian writers we know that our purpose is to write for Him. If we are doing that faithfully, then we can be assured that He is the one taking care of the details and timing of publication.
The start of a new year is a perfect time to take stock, realign ourselves with our calling, and press on with a renewed commitment to writing. And it just so happens that the start of a new year provides plenty of built in opportunities to motivate a renewal. Here are a few:
Take full advantage of writer’s conference season. Whether it be a local conference or one in another state, it is well worth the time and investment to attend. Writer’s conferences not only help you gain important connections with agents and editors, they also provide training to improve your craft and connect you with other writers who are on the same tedious journey. I’ve never attended a conference that didn’t result in my returning home with new passion, writing vigor, and drive. Map out a plan to attend one now, the anticipation will help motivate too. Here’s a great resource to find a conference that is the right fit for you:
Join a critique group if you are not already involved in one. It’s amazing how inspiring it can be to hear feedback about your writing—the good and the bad. There are plenty of great groups out there for the finding, but Word Weaver’s Intl. has been my go-to group for years. I look forward to the first Thursday of each month, and it serves as a deadline to submit something fresh or freshly improved. I also love the structure of the meetings and the friendships I’ve made through them.
Create monthly writing goals for yourself and share the plan with someone who can ask you about it each month. Challenge yourself to stretch your norms or simply to remain consistent. It’s a fact that people who have accountability partners are more likely to stay motivated to succeed. Here’s a great article about how to set achievable writing goals.
Fun Fact: I read this quote from Hope Bolinger when she posted it for Serious Writers Club on Facebook. It inspired me. I hope it will do the same for you.
“It takes years to find an agent. And when the agent picks you up, years to find a publisher. And when the publisher picks you up, years to get the book published. And when the book gets published, years to start making money from royalties. And when that book sells, years to get the next one sold. It’s all a process. Don’t worry if it’s taking you a while to get your book with an agent or book sold. It’s just a slow industry. You’re not behind. You’re right on time.”
Annette
Marie Griffin is a
award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s
retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ.
She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special
needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written
custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for
Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry
Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband
John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word
Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for
The Creative Writing Institute.
The new year is almost upon us. Instead of making New Year’s
resolutions, why not try to come up with New Year’s goals?
Make a plan.
Gather information about the task you want to achieve. Have
a general idea of the steps you need to take to get a grasp on the big picture.
I’ve found it to be a good idea to use more than one source. For a novelist or
nonfiction writer, this can include authors you know, websites (like this one!),
books, magazines, and organizations. What you are writing determines the steps
in your plan. Indie or traditional? Fiction or nonfiction? These have different
processes.
Determine what the primary goal is and list the tasks needed
to do to achieve the objective in order of importance. Having a first things
first policy helps me stay focused and having incremental guides keeps me
motivated as I mark my progress.
Unrealistic expectations are a set up for deep
disappointments when things don’t pan out as expected. Wrong turns and dead
ends can be avoided by getting the lay of the land beforehand.
Set reasonable goals.
Often, when tackling a new project or activity, the tendency
is to overreach. Setting reasonable goals increase the likelihood success will
come to pass.
When I first began writing novels, I struggled to be consistent.
I decided to try for large word counts and grind away every day until I
produced a massive amount of words. Predictably, the only thing I was consistent
about was failing to pound out those words! I’d get to the end of the week or
month feeling like a failure.
I changed my thinking, and set a small goal of five hundred words a day. In this way, I established a habit of writing. Sometimes I would surpass my desired output, but when I started out, most days I was right around five or six hundred words. Producing small, manageable chunks was within my reach and watching the words add up day by day kept me faithfully working. Persistence pays off, and I got my novels written. As time went on, my daily word counts went up. Establishing the habit kept me going and still does on difficult days.
If your objective is to find a critique partner, try to
determine the time required to exchange feedback before you commit. If you want
to learn a new skill, don’t expect to become proficient overnight. Divide the
task you set for yourself into manageable chunks and be patient with yourself.
Be flexible.
If your goals are too challenging, or not challenging enough,
allow yourself to make adjustments. Life is in a constant state of change. To
be successful, flexibility is vital. The point is to keep working towards the
prize.
Find a cheerleader. Or two or three!
There’s bound to be periods of difficulty in any endeavor. Some
days are harder than others. Surround yourself with people who will lift you
up.
Be an encouragement to yourself by keeping track of your
past successes. Remind yourself of why you write.
Don’t give up!
If you find the set goals are not as easily attainable as
you thought they would be, don’t give up. Instead, reevaluate and adjust your
plans. The journey never quite unfolds the way we expect it to but if we stay
on the path, we will get there. It’s all part of the adventure.
I started out 2019 with one goal: to get a Christian Living
or devotional book contract. That didn’t happen. A lot of other wonderful
things happened like a lot of speaking engagements and getting meaningful
reader feedback from strangers and growing my email list from 240 people to 890
people. But because I did not meet my
one goal I felt defeated and discouraged. I started to see myself as a
failure as a writer.
Then I remembered a blog post I had written for a copywriting
client about SMART goals. I realized that I was not a failure as a Christian
living or devotional writer, but the goal I had set was
not a SMART goal.
A SMART goal is a
goal that is:
Specific
The goal needs to be
specific enough that you know when it is complete. To “get better” at something
or “do well” at something is not specific enough. My “get a book contract” goal
was actually not specific enough. There are so many small steps between the
thought of a book and getting a contract. I should have broken up this larger
goal into smaller, specific pieces.
Measureable
You need numbers
attached to your SMART goals such as submitting three book proposals or
sending out one query letter a month.
These numbers also need to be entirely in your control. “Getting one book
contract” is not totally in my control. There are agents and editors and
publishers that factor into that goal. Instead, I should have focused my goal
on submissions and manuscripts and book outlines and drafts as opposed to the
book contract itself.
Attainable
Your goals need to be
realistic. “Publish ten books this year” is not realistic for most writers.
At the same time, the goals need to be challenging enough to spur you on. If
you already write two blog posts a month, don’t make that the goal. It’s not
challenging.
Relevant
Make sure your goals
will actually lead to your overall life goals as a writer. For me at this
point, I need to concentrate on submitting articles for websites and
publications with larger audiences. In the past, I have guest blogged for
smaller blogs which I appreciated doing, but I need to focus on articles now in
order to achieve my overall goal of growing my platform and getting my book
published.
Time-bound
If there is no due date for the goal, it’s not happening.
With the SMART goal
parameters in mind, and lots of prayer, here are my five realistic goals to
start out the New Year:
1. Create and share Pinnable images for all my old blog posts.
This goal is important to me because other than Google, Pinterest is my biggest
traffic source for my blog, Read the
Hard Parts. Pinterest is also where I am getting most of my 50-100 new
email subscribers. Along with this goal, I also want to schedule ten pins a day
on Tailwind, manually pin once a day, and create one Read the Hard Parts
freebie per quarter. These goals should help me reach my overall Pinterest goal
of one million Pinterest views per month. At this moment I have 232k views per
month. But one million views cannot be my SMART goal because Pinterest could
change their algorithm at any time and that is out of my control. But these
other goals about sharing and Pinterest images are in my control and will over
time contribute to my overall goal.
2. Submit one article a month to a large website or publication.
First I need to gather a list of places to pitch my articles, places like The
Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, For the Church, incourage.me, and Leading
Hearts Magazine. Notice my goal is to submit an article and not get it
published. That is in the Lord’s hands.
3. Create a blog post once a month. For the last
two years I have been blogging about once a week. Now I have almost one hundred
posts on my site. So that I have time to submit articles, focus on Pinterest,
and try to write a book, I need to cut back here.
4. Self-publish a short Bible study book by the end of January.
Although my goal is traditional publishing, I’m getting back logged with ideas
for books that have not found a match in traditional publishing. I wasn’t sure
what to do about this until I heard novelist Shawn
Smucker speak on a panel at Lancaster Christian
Writers. He self-published until he was noticed by a traditional publisher.
He said, “Sometimes self-publishing is the right move so that you are not stuck
and you can keep moving.” That is exactly what I needed to hear. I was stuck
with my half-finished ideas and at this point self-publishing a Bible study
book will keep me moving. This goal comes with a myriad of smaller steps and
goals like a rough draft by December 1, finish self-edits by December 15th,
and then meeting with an author friend in January to learn how to format the
book properly with a well-designed cover.
5. Send in my next book proposal to my agent by January 15.
A new book idea has been unfolding and it has been a pleasure to see it
blossoming. I want to have a deadline for this book proposal so I will get it
done!
Will I get traditionally published in 2020? I don’t know.
That is not in my control, ultimately. But these five SMART goals can help me
get there, Lord willing.
What are your SMART
goals for the New Year? Let me know in the comments!
Rachel Schmoyer is a pastor’s
wife who is loving her church life. She writes about the hard parts of
Scripture at readthehardparts.com.
She has had devotionals published in the past, but now she is looking forward
to getting her first Christian Living book published. You can connect with
Rachel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Whenever I teach at conferences, I’m
often asked the same question: “How do you write so many books a year?” I
jokingly answer, “Lots of Diet Pepsi and Peanut M&Ms.” But the truth is, it
takes determination, drive, prayer, a support system, and B.I.C. time,
otherwise known as “Butt In Chair” time. Let’s face it; if this children’s writing
thing were easy, everyone would be a writer. It takes commitment and sacrifice,
but you can do this.
Part of making time for writing is
changing your mentality. If writing for children is more than just a hobby for
you, treat it as such. If you don’t put
it on your calendar, you probably won’t do it. So, get a planner (I like the
Happy Planners) and make a writing date with yourself. Here are three more strategies
to help you carve out more B.I.C. time in your already busy schedule.
FIND THE TIME
On a deadline, ready for B.I.C time
If you’re a
morning person, get up an hour or two earlier and spend that time working on
book proposals, crafting articles, or writing those all-important follow-up
thank you notes to the editors, agents, and other faculty members who poured
into you at a recent conference.
If you get an hour for lunch, why not
take your personal laptop with you to work and spend those minutes working on
your own assignments?
Eat a protein
bar instead of going out for lunch. You’ll get work done and lose weight! It’s
a win/win! And, if you’re a night owl like me, write at night. Once the house
is quiet (when most everyone else is in bed) spend those magical minutes
cranking out copy.
If none of those options work for you,
how about participating in what I call a “Super Saturday?” Reserve one or two
Saturdays a month for all-day binge writing. Schedule that time in your planner
or add them to your smartphone calendar—just like you would any other
appointment—and plan for eight hours of uninterrupted writing time. NOTE: This
is not the time for Facebook stalking or playing computer games.
If you have children at home, ask your
spouse or another relative to take them to the zoo or the library or anywhere
but where you’ll be writing. And, then use that time wisely. Consider those
minutes sacred and write like crazy. You’ll start to look forward to it—I
promise! And you’ll get so much done!
BECOME ACCOUNTABLE
Writing partners keep each other accountable
Becoming
accountable to someone on this writing journey is another important strategy to
helping you meet deadlines, accomplish writing goals, and fulfill those publishing
dreams. So, get an accountability partner—maybe someone you met at a previous
writers’ conference— and have weekly or monthly “checkups.” Be tough on each
other and help one another inch toward those goals! (A writing critique group
is also good for keeping you honest, and you should have one of those already.)
Another way to
become accountable is simply to set a deadline for yourself. Even if you’re not
writing an article for a magazine that has a deadline attached, give yourself a
deadline. And, reward yourself when you hit that deadline! Treat your freelance
career like a 9-to-5 job—deadlines motivate us to quit procrastinating.
Depending on
how you’re wired, goals may not be enough to motivate you. But, goals plus
deadlines should do the trick. Set goals big enough to make you sweat a little
and create realistic (yet pressing) deadlines to keep your butt in the chair.
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME
My B.I.C. chair
Speaking of
B.I.C. time, you may have to “outsmart” yourself in order to get your writing
hours in each week. Spend a few minutes thinking about your habits, your
excuses for not writing, your normal routine, etc. Now, you’re going to have to
simply “outsmart” yourself into logging B.I.C. time each week. For example, I
know that once my butt is in the chair, I can write for many hours straight—no
problem. But when I allow myself to get out of the house—even if it’s just for
a food run—I’m gone. Fifteen minutes turns into four hours. I know myself. What
starts off as a quick trip to pick up Diet Pepsi ends up in a shopping trip to
Goodwill or Plato’s Closet, and before I know it, the whole day is gone. So, I
outsmart myself by running all of my errands on the same day. I’ll go grocery shopping, get my nails done,
take the dog to the groomer, and drop off those bags of clothes to Goodwill all
in the same day. Whatever doesn’t get done on my errand day will just have to
wait until the following week’s errand day.
The rest of
the week when I have the urge to “get out of the chair,” I resist that
temptation, knowing those other errands can wait until my next errand day.
That’s the deal I make with myself, and somehow that works for me. Find what
works for you!
When I
practice all three of these strategies, I accomplish so much more, and you
will, too. Bottom line, you have to want this writing career, and you have to
be willing to work at it every chance you get. It may not be easy, but I can
promise you, it’s worth it.
Now, go sit
your butt in the chair and write!
Michelle
Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and best-selling
author of over 90 books with close to 4 million sold. Her many journalism and
book awards include top honors from the
Associated Press, AWSA’s Golden Scroll for Best Children’s Book, and the
Selah Award for Best Children’s Book. Michelle currently serves as President of
Platinum Literary Services, a premier full-service literary firm; Chairman of
the Board of Advisors for Serious Writer, Inc.; and a much sought-after speaker
at writers conferences and women’s retreats all over the United States.
When not writing or teaching writing, Michelle enjoys
bass fishing and cheering on the Indiana University Basketball team, the
Chicago Cubbies, and the LA Kings.
Michelle is celebrating the recent release of
her books, Get Your Spirit On!, Fabulous
& Focused, Dinosaur Devotions, and
C Is for Christmas, and she’s anticipating the upcoming release of What Is America? (Worthy Kids) and They Call Me Mom (Kregel), a devotional
book she co-authored with Bethany Jett.
Writers Chat,
hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we
talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.
Mid-Year Goal Review
The Writers Chat team and community discuss the
progress of our goals for 2019. We shared our successes, setbacks, the
unexpected, and things we learned. We also talked about the ebb and flow of the
writing journey. If you’ve experienced setbacks in your goals this year, watch
the replay and be encouraged.
Bethany Jett—author, entrepreneur, and marketing grad student—shares ideas on marketing for fiction and nonfiction. She also tells what she learned at the Book Expo in New York. This episode is full of great ideas and inspiration to help you with marketing.
Watch the July 23rd replay.
JOIN US!
Writers Chat
is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on
Zoom. Here’s the permanent
Zoom room link.
Participants
mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for
anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is
fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.
Additionally,
you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook
Group.
As an author or
freelance writer, working for yourself means you have so much more freedom than the average
worker, but this means you need to be disciplined and controlled with what you
do in your life. In order to be a success and make a profit, one of the most
important aspects you’ll need to master is time management.
This can be
extremely difficult when you’re stressed out or find yourself reaching
deadlines or trying to tackle the million other things on your list, so we’re
here to help. Today, we’re going to talk about ten of the best time management
tips all freelance writers need to know about.
#1 – Get Up Early
It’s common
knowledge that our most productive times of the day, whether we agree with it
or not, is the morning. This is because we’re fully refreshed and have more
energy here than we do at any other point in the day.
“Get up around 7-8 am and start work not long after. Really knuckle down and try to get as much work completed here as possible and you’ll soon find your workloads a lot less stressful,” shares Tina Page, a freelance writer for WriteMYX and Brit Student.
#2 – Research a System
There are plenty
of self-help books and articles out there that can help you create habits and a
system in your daily life that can help you manage and optimize the time in
your day. However, with so many out there, don’t be afraid to research them and
see if there’s any that work for you.
Then, simply
implement them into your daily life!
#3 – Schedule Your Emails for Certain Times
As a freelance
writer, it’s understandable you want to keep up to date with your emails and
keep your clients happy. However, nobody expects instant replies, and nor do
you need to reply instantly. In fact, keeping on top of your emails at all
hours of the day is very counter-productive to your productivity.
Instead, learn
to check your emails once in the morning and once at night during set hours. This
way, you can keep on top of everything, and there’s no need to keeping cutting up your
focus on certain tasks.
#4 – Optimise Relaxation
Not all forms of
relaxing mean you’re actually relaxing. If you’re sat in front of a computer
all day, you’re not going to want to watch a film or TV or play computer games
to unwind. Sometimes, even reading a book may not be a good idea.
“Find a balance
between doing the things you love, working, spending time on your own and
seeing friends. Have set relaxation hours with work times to maximize productivity
and know when you’re going to have your breaks,” shares Sarah Manby, a writing
trainer at Nextcoursework and 1Day2Write.
#5 – Minimise Distractions
No matter what
you’re thinking about in your life, make sure you’re minimizing the number of distractions
you have. This means turning your phone off and putting it in a drawer or
another room. It’s amazing how much time you’ll waste if you chop and change
between the things you’re doing. Always work on one thing at a time.
Multi-tasking is counter-productive.
#6 – Plan Your Days in Advance
One of the best
ways to manage your time is to take the time to plan your days. You can do this
either planning for the week ahead or planning your next day the day before.
Plan how long you’re going to work on each task and how you ’re going to organize your day.
#7 – Use Set Working Hours
Don’t try and
work 24 hours of the day every day. This is counter-productive to how focused
you are on each task, how effective you’ll be, and just generally for your
health and well-being. Instead, work set hours of the day.
If you say
you’re going to work nine hours a day, five days a week like a typical working
day, you then have time to solidly grind at work and time to do the things you
want to do. Your health and productivity depend on this.
#8 – Set Goals
Another great
way to manage your time and to keep you dedicated and on focus is to set
yourself goals. You can do this hourly or weekly, depending on the tasks you
have, but ideally, you’re going to want to set them daily.
Setting daily
goals means you know exactly what you want to accomplish in a day, meaning you
won’t overwork yourself and there’s no need to waste time thinking about what
you want to do next.
#9 – Do Hard Work First
Hand in hand
with the point of working early in the morning, it’s also best to get your
hardest tasks out the way. This is because you can get the main bulk of work
done in the morning, and then start to relax, unwind and slow down towards the
end before then entering your free time.
#10 – Be Discipline
You can follow
every single rule or time management tip you want, but if you don’t have the discipline to keep you
going, they’re not going to work in the long-term. Stay disciplined and
focused, and you’ll soon be able to manage your time like a pro.
Katrina Hatchett is Academic Brits lifestyle blogger and a writer for Origin Writings. She is keenly involved in a variety of business ventures. Her key skills involve problem identification, along with solving these problems, which she achieves through focusing on her goal of improving effectiveness of communication. She also writes for Phd Kingdom blog.
What motivates you to produce consistent content time after
time? Is it your passion to share your heart with readers? Or to share a
message of hope with others? Or to build an audience of like-minded
individuals? These questions set the tone to help you maintain a blog that
stands the test of time.
Counting The Cost
Teaching others the technical aspect of blogging is easy.
However, being consistent and faithful to produce content over time, is
something I cannot teach. It must be practiced. This is why I ask new bloggers
to create 4–8 blogs in Word before even posting their first blog. What will
your content be? Is there enough content to produce a consistent blog over
months or years? Will your passion keep its intensity so you will continually post
content?
Tip For Consistency
Share your blog on a set schedule. As your blog
ages, the recurrent posting of your passion builds a mountain of content which,
overtime, gets noticed. The more content you produce, the more Google and
others will notice. https://www.quicksprout.com/ranking-factors/
Which Method Best Describes You?
An author can be a pantser or a planner. The planner creates
an outline and then writes to the outline or table of contents. The planner
will know they have enough content to fill the book. The pantser hopes they
have enough content but only when the author finishes writing, will they know. I
am not a planner. The first draft of my memoir contained 80,000 words which
after edits came to around 40,000 words. I had enough content; however, had I
been a planner, I may have been able to save myself 40,000 words of writing.
In blogging, you can have a blend of both being a pantser and
a planner. I have a Word Document with each month of the year listed. Next to each month, I write what topic I want
to cover. When it is time to write my monthly blog, I open the word document to
find out what topic I planned to share. Sometimes I write on the planned topic or I will pick a new
topic based on the time of year. For December, I wrote on planning apps for
blogs. http://www.almostanauthor.com/quick-easy-blog-posting-for-the-holidays/
Tip For Consistency
Create a Word Document with a topic for each
blog post on your schedule, either bi-weekly, weekly, or monthly. Note: You
don’t have to create the blog in advance, just the plan the idea/topic.
Posting Past The Busyness of Life
What happens when your consistency wanes? For whatever
reason, life gets in the way. Before too
long, it’s been months since you posted to your blog and starting over seems
overwhelming. It is so easy let your passion be consumed by the busyness of
life.
I want to encourage you not to let the guilt of stopping prevent you
from moving forward.
What will help you pick up your pen or open your laptop and
get started again? Here are a few ideas. Have a planning session with yourself
or another blogger to pick a start date and plan out the next twelve topics of
content. Ask a blogging buddy to keep you accountable. Have a write in with
other bloggers either in person or online to create as many blogs as you can in
2 hours.
If you need a blogging buddy, want to have a planning session or write in, comment below.
Tips For Consistency
Ask a blogging buddy to keep you accountable.
Organize a planning session or a write in.
Create your own deadline.
My monthly deadline is the last day of every month. I have posted as late as 3 minutes to midnight to get a blog up on time. This is a self-imposed deadline. I want my archive to show I posted a blog every month and not miss a month. Even though I can delete the archive from displaying on my website, I appreciate the accountability to hold me to this schedule.
Tracy Yeager Cleland shares her tip to keep consistent on
her blog, www.Cleleandclan.com.
In her words: “Goal-setting helped. I started my blog in April 2017 and wrote exactly
three posts before getting sidetracked by life. The following February, I
remembered that I’d paid for hosting for a year and decided to start writing
again. That summer I set blogging goals –
– so many posts, so many views, etc. – – and enrolled in a few online
challenges and courses. My views went from 211 in 2017 to 13,539 in 2018 to
15,648 so far in 2019. I have a full-time teaching job and work on my blog in
my spare time, so I’m happy with these numbers.”
Whether you are just starting out as a new blogger or you
have let life waylay your progress, be encouraged. Your words count. Your words matter. You are uniquely you, and the world needs to hear your heart, your
passion, and your perspective. You never
know who you will touch and help by sharing the wisdom of your words with the
world.
What helps you stay consistent as a blogger? Post your
comment below. Your tip may just be what another blogger needs to hear.
Evelyn Mann is a
mother of a miracle and her story has been featured on WFLA Channel 8, Fox35
Orlando, Inspirational Radio and the Catholic News Agency. A special interview
with her son on the Facebook Page, Special Books by Special Kids, has received 1.4M
views. Along with giving Samuel lots of hugs and kisses, Evelyn enjoys hot tea,
sushi and writing. Visit her at miraclemann.com.
With three seconds left on the clock all Tim could think about was advancing to the state championship finals. He’d spent his whole high school career in anticipation of this one moment in time. How many parties had he missed because of practice and workout schedules? How many hours had he spent muddling through math homework to make a passing grade? How many opportunities had he passed up for this chance? Too many. But it would be worth the sacrifice in just a few short moments.
He swiped the beaded sweat from his brow, took a deep breath, and sized up his opponent. Tim had no doubt he could tip the ball when the whistle blew. But regaining the ball and making the winning basket would take focus, skill, and more than a little luck. The shrill scream of the whistle ignited the passion burning in his muscles and fired Tim into action. He tipped. He grabbed. He dribbled. And … he scored, right as the buzzer sounded! An eerie silence filled the packed gymnasium. Then—an explosion of garbled outcries erupted from the crowd. Tim had made the winning shot … all net, right into the other team’s hoop.
Had Tim invested the hard work required to excel at the game? Yes. Had he made the right sacrifices and set the right priorities to develop his skill? Yes. Had he given his all at crunch time to ensure a win? Yes. The problem? He had lost sight of the correct goal.
Although specifics vary, I think it’s safe to say that most Christian writers share one common overarching goal; we all want our writing to reflect our faith. We want the best of us—which is Christ in us—to shine brightly from the page no matter the genre. So we literally write our hearts out for Him. In the beginning that’s so easy. He is our muse, our driving force, the narrator of all our penned words. But when the work is done and we descend from our writing high there’s often a valley at the bottom of that hill.
It’s called waiting.
In the wilderness of waiting there are plenty of distractions that can lure our attention away from the goal. During that seemingly long stretch of time between a finished piece of work and the payoff most of us will encounter pitfalls like rejection, discouragement, comparison, self-doubt, and worse. We’ll talk more about each of those things in future posts. But above all else if we can learn how to focus on the right goal, no pitfall will ever entrap us.
So let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith … and our writing. He’s busy at work during that waiting wilderness—molding and making us into who He has called us to be. The wait may seem like a monotonous and irritating waste of time, but I love how Pastor John Piper describes the silent work of God’s sovereign hand; “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”
The famous and inspirational book Chicken Soup For The Soul ONLY became a became a best-seller and award winning series AFTER a whopping 144 rejections! Chicken Soup’s author, Jack Canfield wrote, “If we had given up after 100 publishers, I likely would not be where I am now.” He went on to say, “If you have a vision and a life purpose, and you believe in it, then you do not let external events tell you what is so.”
Annette Marie Griffin is a award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ. She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Writing Institute.
Where am I in my writing journey, you ask? Well, I’m a little more than two years into what I’ve called “re-entering” the writing world after a nearly ten year hiatus. And I’m happy to say that while I’ve still got a long way to go before I meet my biggest personal goals, I’ve made a lot more progress than I initially thought possible in this short time period.
I’ve become comfortable with my blog and Facebook writer page, despite the almost paralyzing trepidation and confusion I felt when I first realized I needed to make these things a reality. I post and engage regularly with readers and writers from all over the country and different parts of the world, and found that I enjoy doing these things much more than I ever thought I would. I’m also pleasantly surprised at how blogging and posting regularly has helped me maintain discipline as a writer. My handful of followers can always be counted on to give me a boost of confidence when I need it most, or help me out when I have questions that only other writers seem to know the answers to.
Highlights in my day include those emails with lists of open calls for submissions. I click on them excitedly, wondering what writing opportunities await and drumming up ideas as I scroll through the links. Knowing that there is a market for subjects I’m writing about – from mental health to genre fiction — keeps me encouraged. The favorite posts on my Facebook feed are those from writer pages posting similar opportunities or encouraging writers of all experience levels to share their work or boast about their good news or accomplishments.
Now I’m at the point where I actually have a few publishing credits to brag about, and each acceptance email or kind word from a reader is validation that tells me I’m on the right path. I can finally say with confidence that yes, I am good at something. I can thank someone for a compliment without feeling guilty or embarrassed. I can tell others I’m a writer without feeling like an imposter.
But the best part about writing is the opportunity to encourage others. When I write about mental health, I think about myself back in the days when I was experiencing full blown depression or anxiety, and I hope I can bring comfort and light to someone who may be experiencing the same thing. And when I share my writing milestones, I hope I’m encouraging other writers too.
Stacy Alderman has recently had her writing published by Heart and Humanity, HrStryBlg.com, and Hometown Odyssey. She has completed two correspondence courses with The Institute of Children’s Literature and self-published two novels in 2016. You can find her on Facebook and WordPress at Quirky, Confused, & Curvy.
When Stacy’s not writing or reading, she’s probably watching Penguins hockey or (thinking about) traveling. She lives with her husband and fur kid near Pittsburgh, PA.
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers, and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it!”
Featuring… Goals for 2019
In this open mic episode, writers discuss their goals for 2019 and some interesting resources they use to achieve their goals.
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link.
Participants mute their audio and video during the filming, then we open up
the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.
Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.
Since it is the dawn of a new year, let’s discuss those dreaded resolutions. I have been resolving to lose weight for about 44 years, so we’ll move past that one.
Here are some common resolutions for writers, along with my rebuke—I mean, commentary.
Drink more coffee. According to the plethora of Hallmark movies about writers, we drink a lot of coffee. WAIT A MINUTE! I gave up caffeine eight months ago, so I’ll be drinking more hot chocolate.
Find a groovy coffee shop or diner as a place to write. Writers all over the Internet talk about how they do their best work at Starbucks, Panera, or a charming mom-and-pop place. WAIT A MINUTE! I have trouble writing in a crowd, plus I live in a small town. I know EVERYONE, so I wouldn’t get much writing done with all the conversations (Have I mentioned I love to talk?). I’ll stick to sitting on the couch with my laptop.
Get up really early to write. At one of my first writers conferences, I went to a workshop called “Finding Time to Write” taught by a popular author, and he shared his routine with us. He suggested we get up at 4:30 IN THE MORNING to get in a few hours of writing before the workday begins. WAIT A MINUTE! No one would want to read what I would write at 4:30 IN THE MORNING, and I am generally not functional until 9 or 10. I’ll stick to writing in the evenings, when I’m actually AWAKE and semi-coherent.
I, like most writers, have figured out what works for me. Some people may be able to bang out a bestseller at the local coffee shop early in the morning with loads of caffeine, and that’s fine. Hey, if it works, go for it! The rest of us will find the right time and place (and beverage) to do our best work.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll find something for that weight loss resolution, after I finish all of these holiday treats.
Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers, and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it!”
Featuring…
Setting Up Your Planner with Bethany Jett
It’s that time of year, again, to begin thinking of goals, plans, and appointments for the New Year. In this episode, Bethany shares tips on how to set up a planner, digital or paper, that works for you. As a business owner, writer, and homeschooling mom, Bethany knows the importance of staying organized. A planner is her best tool to successfully accomplish all the “to do’s” of her busy life.
Watch the December 18thth replay
If you want more information about digital and paper planners, as well as other valuable resources, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.
Bio
Bethany Jett is co-owner of Serious Writer, Vice President of PlatLit, as well as an award-winning author and ghostwriter, speaker, and amateur chef. Bethany is a planner and a coffee addict.
Writers Chat will resume January 8th.
JOIN US!
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link.
Participants mute their audio and video during the filming, then we open up
the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.
Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.
Last month I shared I was emotionally struggling with writing; I hope my post encouraged others to keep pressing on.
Since it’s the beginning of the year and everyone is focusing on health goals after the holidays, I want to address how it affects the writing community: We need to be physically healthy to do what we do.
A drained body can suck the creativity out of us as easily as a rejection letter. Living with a traumatic brain injury shapes every facet of my life, from what I eat and drink to how and when I sleep.
Too much caffeine can overload my nervous system and cause a stroke or I may become dehydrated and have seizures.
Not enough sleep leaves me foggy or I can possibly blackout.
One of the biggest risks for TBI survivors is atrophy. This is a wasting away of a body part or tissue – it results from lack of use or movement due to complications of a brain injury.
For me, the entire left side of my body is numb and has a lack of sensation. I’ve lost all fine-tuned motor skills in my left hand. Perhaps you’ve noticed stroke survivors not using limbs or leaning to one side. That is because part of the brain has been affected, which in turn affects that side or limb.
This is where Newton’s law of inertia comes into play. The basic idea is objects and people will stay at rest until something or someone causes movement and as long as there’s movement the item or person will keep moving.
Keep it going!
Now that the holidays are over and we are trying to stir from our winter slumber, even writing can seem problematic, no matter how disciplined we are in the craft.
We’ve tried to write every day. But the beginning of the year is an uphill battle. So let’s try applying some of the counter tactics to fight atrophy in our writing lives.
Exercise regularly: walking is okay, but cardio is better. Cardiovascular exercise works our heart and makes it stronger for when we’re not able to work out or take a break from our computers.
Schedule breaks to rest your brain (literally) and spur creativity: I have a daybed in my home office so I can lie down when I can’t focus on my writing. I also try to do physical activities after I eat. This helps to keep my body from storing food as fat and helps it break food down for energy.
Never eat at your computer: we’ll be tempted to sit long periods of time mindlessly eating and racking up calories.
Never skip meals: coffee is a quick fix, not the long-term nourishment our bodies and minds need.
Drink plenty of water: coffee does not count; it actually counters the benefits of water since it is a diuretic; water helps nourish our brains and hydrates our organs. Imagine water being the conduit that helps move our creativity. I shoot for a minimum of 1 gallon/day.
Get a good office chair with support: We sit a lot and need good posture.
One of the first lessons I learned through the Christian Writers Guild was to invest in a good desk and chair. I was taught that “carpal tunnel syndrome is the bane of writers.”[i]
And “Keep the 90-90-90 rule: keep your elbows, hips, and knees at 90° angles.” [ii]
The right stuff!
At some point this year it will be time for me to once again purchase an office chair. I decided to do some research on what to look for in an ideal office chair for writers. Below are a few factors to consider for committing to a key the only tool writers physically depend on to be productive.
Seat height: an office chair should be easily adjustable, pneumatic levers are the easiest. Height ranges from 16 to 21 inches work for most people. You should be able to have both feet flat on the floor with your thighs horizontal and your arms even with the height of the desk, without bending over.
Seat width and depth: you should have enough width and depth to support you comfortably, typically 17 to 20 inches wide.
Lumbar support: lower back support is key to optimal spine support and keeps it from curving.
Backrest: 12 to 19 inches and also adjustable.
Seat material: there should be enough padding to keep you comfortable during long periods of sitting. Cloth fabric that breathes is better than hard surfaces.
Adjustable armrests: your arms should be able to rest comfortably with your shoulders relaxed.
Swivel: I used to consider this a luxury, but swivel chairs allow users more freedom in moving without having to strain to reach high areas of a work desk.
And moving is the name of the game for staying healthy and keeping our hearts strong. During my research for this article, I discovered a new product endorsed by the Mayo Clinic to help sedative workers be more active while at work. Both Apple and Orbitz have utilized the HOVR system in their offices.
I am planning on purchasing the product this year myself as I spend more time working from home and doing what I enjoy, hopefully, this should help keep it going.
[ii] Jenkins, Jerry Writing Essentials (2010) p 6.
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Truamatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
Somewhere between Christmas pageant rehearsal, decorating the tree, shopping, and making travel preparations, a still, small voice whispers. The conversation goes something like this:
My Conscience: What about your story? You remember, the one you were over-the-moon excited to write? The story with the characters you loved that you have not touched in a week?
Me: *sigh* I remember.
MC:When are you going to write? You are so close to finishing.
Me: *breaking out in a cold sweat* Not now, conscience. This is not the time.
MC:I know, I know. So…you will write it later, then?
Me: Yes, later. Absolutely. I will finish you later. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.
MC: I get it. Thanks. I’ll look forward to later, then. If it is not too much to ask, I have one quick follow-up question.
Me: Sure.
MC:When, exactly, is later?
The holidays may be a little slow for publishers but for writers, especially those of us young in our journey, they can be a joyous but trying time. We want to use this time for planning, querying, networking, and (of course) writing – but there are about a gazillion competing activities (Christmas party, anyone?) and none of them want to leave room for the other.
So let’s give ourselves the gift of leaving room. Let’s give ourselves the grace we would give a friend. Along with that grace, let us honor the work we’ve already done by planning the work yet to come. The conversation with our conscience could look like this:
Me: Let’s compromise. I’ll take a few minutes now and make a to-do list, jot down your ideas, and let’s let them soak for a bit. After family has gone home, and I get a little rest, we will get back on our regular writing schedule.
MC: Let the ideas ‘soak?’ Like a Christmas turkey brine type of soak, or a hot buttered dinner roll sort of soak?
Me: Take your pick. I’ll see you bright and early January 2.
As you can probably guess, I am eager to get back to my normal writing routine, but I’m also excited about the celebration and rejuvenation that the Christmas season brings. My goal is to use this time to live life well and fully, so I can bring my most creative self back to the keyboard in the new year.
My intention for 2019 is to give myself the gift of a schedule, with set times for quiet, writing, work and play. What does your new year writing intention look like?
Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.
