At a recent retreat with fellow-writers, one session
involved us coming up with tips we had found useful in our writing lives. The suggestions were many
and varied, so I thought I would mention them here, in case they prove useful to
others. Even if you have heard some of them before, it never hurts to hear them again, and some of them may give you new ideas.
1
2 Walking is great for sorting things in your head.
3 Avoid Social Media until after you have done your work for
the day!
4 Keep fan letters to remind yourself how much people enjoy
your work.
5 Collect inspiring things around you.
6 Eat plenty of chocolate!
7 Don’t beat yourself up about things you can’t change.
8 Keep a work diary to show how much you have actually
achieved every day/week. (Also include non-work that is
also part of your job, such as meetings with agents or other authors, school
visits, tax returns etc.)
9 Fake enthusiasm, even if you don’t feel it!
10 Keep going, no matter how slowly.
11 Writing can help you through difficult times, eg divorce, bereavement.
12 Re-read an old book of yours to remind yourself how good
you are!
13 Shut the door!
Protect your working space.
15 Anything that helps your writing, do more of it. Anything that doesn’t help, do less of it.
16 Learn to listen.
17 If things are going badly, tell yourself “This too will
pass.”
18 Keep to a writing routine, eg start writing at
9.30 on the dot.
19 Accept any writing-based offers.
20 List three positive things that happen each day.
21 Make a “business morning” once a week to deal with all
business matters. Don’t feel you have to
reply to everyone instantly.
22 Learn to accept praise! If someone praises you and/or your work, don’t say “Oh well, it’s only…” Just smile and say, “Thank you.”
23 Praise other people’s work – everyone needs appreciation! Tell them how much you enjoyed their book/write a review of it on Amazon.
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25 Don't give up!
25 Don't give up!
See my website:
www.lynnebenton.comLatest book: The Lost Treasure of Aquae Sulis
9 comments:
Love it, Lynne. But 9.30?? Best part of (writing) day gone by then. Isn't the solitary P & Q of 5-7 am the writer's golden time?
I like Number 12. Reminding myself that I HAVE done it before can definitely help.
Definitely, Stewart. And if you start at 4 you can do 6 hours by 10...
I challenge the label of invoices, tax, talking to agent etc as 'non-work'. It's the most normal-worky bit we do!
Great list, Lynne. Will adopt several of your suggestions. I think I'd add blogging about writing for ABBA helps to keep it real when, really, one's writing dreams are self-evidently unrealistic.
Thanks for reminding me of this long list, Lynne. Am closing the workroom door now.
I've always admired those very early morning routines, Stewart & Anne, but they don't fit with my life or people.
Thanks for your comments, folks. I guess whoever suggested 9.30 for beginning their writing day had other stuff to do first - can't remember who it was. And Stroppy Author, you're quite right that invoices, tax etc. is definitely work - I think I mis-translated "non-writing" as "non-work". Sorry about that. I found all the suggestions interesting, anyway, and I'm glad some of you did too.
Yes, I agree with all these, Lynne, except the closed door - which sounds sensible but I think I probably suffer from mild claustrophobia. Anyway the cat would object.
Yes, Ann, I suspect the person who suggested that one had small children rather than cats in mind!
Brilliant reminders Lynne... I'm off to buy some more chocolate!!
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