Al Boudreau's Blog, page 7

It's about time…

     Recently, I've been hearing the same complaint from a vast number of fellow authors. "There's just not enough hours in the day to get things done." Family, day jobs, unexpected visitors, even the weather can devour the finite hours we need to brainstorm, design, edit, promote, and write. Some days are simply frustrating, while others are down-right impossible in terms of accomplishing anything at all. We begin to wonder why life keeps messing with our passion to create. On the real bad days, we may even question whether it's worth doing at all.

     I feel your pain …

     As a writer holding down a separate day job, I feel that some look upon my endeavor as a trivial hobby or extravagant, self-indulgence. Hence, Rule #1 – Communicate. Let friends and family know that writing is serious business, a second career, your job. As such, try to establish some solid and non-negotiable ground rules to make better use of the time you set aside to write. Once your stance becomes crystal clear, you may be surprised at how quickly those around you fall into line.

Rule #2 - You need to establish your own space. Granted, only independently wealthy loners can ever really count on an ideal writing environment, free from all the pesky noises and interruptions that distract us from concentrating on the task at hand. However, I'm willing to bet there's a space inside your family abode that you can appropriate to help get the job done more effectively. Now, I know the couch in front of the tv is comfortable … that's exactly why everyone else is right there with you. Do yourself a favor and take a stroll through the house if that's where you write. Is there a room in which you can move some furniture around to create space? (Definitely choose one with a locking door, if possible.) Now, get yourself a nice chair, desk, or whatever makes you comfortable, put it there and use it. It may sound like a no-brainer, but I suspect there are many of us who haven't yet taken this step. And don't say there's no room. A friend of mine actually rearranged his master bathroom and put a desk inside of it. The bottom line—do what ever it takes to get the job done. If writing is truly important to you, this step will go a long way in helping you become more productive.

     Rule #3 – Prioritize. In your mind and your heart, being a writer is really what you want, right? It's time to adjust your habits and mindset to reflect that. Granted, your family, and providing for them should always take precedence over all else, but after that, make writing and everything associated with it a priority. Fit life around your writing, not the other way around. Talking about doing so won't get it done. Take action by putting yourself on a strict schedule then stick to it. Learn to say no, both to yourself and to others. Maybe you love American Idol … sorry. You can have anything you want, you just can't have everything you want. Cut the fat out of your daily routine and get the job done. Oh, and don't forget to reward yourself once you've accomplished a set goal.

Rule #4 – The notebook. Buy yourself a small one that you can carry with you at all times, then use it. Jot down thoughts in the elevator or at the kids hockey game. You're bound to forget some really good ideas that pop into your head if you don't write them down. Also, maintain a current list of what you need to accomplish so time isn't wasted when you do sit down to work. Remember, the key to efficiency is to form good habits … this is one of them.

And finally, Rule #5 – Time itself. Let's face it—we all burn the candle at both ends. A writers journey can get really rough at times. I know from experience how easy it is to become discouraged. Yet, us writers tend to stick together. Remember, you are not alone. I'm here to remind you that you are resilient and capable of doing even more. Try getting up an hour earlier every day or stay up an extra hour at night. Better yet, try to do both. It's all about what you get used to. It may prove to be difficult at first, but after a week or two your body clock and stamina will adjust and your productivity will increase markedly. This new block of quiet time you set aside specifically for writing will be your very own. 

     Remember, the words you write matter, so try to adopt these changes into your daily routine. If you can accomplish just one of the rules listed above, a net gain will show up in your work almost immediately. Three or more, and you're really on your way. Who knows, you might even see your productivity double.

     If you have any other suggestions for our time-strapped troops, please contribute. You may really help a fellow writer in need of some good advice. Also, please feel free to leave a comment if you found any of the suggestions above helpful. Have a writerly day.

All the best, AB

Two cents on Twitter

     Twitter is a wonderfully addictive networking medium. However, I find myself on it more often than I should be these days. Why? The answer surprised me when I figured it out. In short … it's people. Now, you may find yourself saying "duh" to this, but anecdotally, I find that most peoples use and understanding of this fast-moving tool is as varied as the personalities who frequent Twitter.

     To some, Twitter is nothing more than a place to spew spam. Throw your wares out there and see if they stick. How's that going for you? Is there really any systematic way to tell? For others, Twitter is a day/night long series of virtual coffee breaks. Pop in, pop out, take the pulse of what's happening inside the realm of those you associate with. Voyeur, or participant, this has become an integral part of many peoples daily lives.

     My own experience falls somewhere in between. As a newbie indie author, my road is one of learning as I go—sometimes the hard way. That's OK … I like to think I exorcized my ego demons a long time ago. Yup, I screw up … so be it. Most of the authors who I'm able to call new friends have been on the road much longer than myself. Want to be better? Surround yourself with talented people.

     I digress…

     I've initiated some conversations on Twitter, from which wonderful friendships have developed. This 1:1 connection seems to be the holy grail here. Lo and behold, there are real people behind those little rectangles that go whizzing by at sixty miles a minute. These conversations take time and effort on behalf of those involved.

     Think of it as an investment. In the case of an author, there's you, and there are your books. We all want our work to stand out, right? Aren't these works an extension of who we are? Get to know the author and interest in their work will almost always follow.

     I find with most things, taking the first step is what it's all about. Listen, then engage. Perhaps it's like one big cocktail party. We don't waltz in to a soiree and engage each and every person in conversation. We try to be selective. Who seems interesting? Who can we learn from? Who might we help? I try to read various tweets then read between the lines. By having conversations, we are, in effect branding ourselves. Participation, not spam. It's not about how many followers you have … it's about the quality of the ones you connect with.

     I don't take it personally when people don't reply right back. We all have real lives going on behind the scenes. This may sound corny, but I try to think of each reply as a little gift. A note someone dropped off that I can look forward to later on. What about re-tweets? I automatically do it for friends and information that I deem appropriate and informative. I do my best not to go overboard. Once you go "spambot," most of your tweets will be ignored. Sometimes I thank people for a re-tweet. I don't think it's necessary, I think it's nice in moderation. Returning the favor is also a nice "thank you." What about following people back who follow you? In two words, "do it." I believe it's just plain old common courtesy. Choose not to follow back and see how fast some followers will drop you.

     I use "Tweetdeck" to make my Twitter experience run more smoothly and organized. Others swear by "Hootsuite," or a handful of other apps available. Like the WordPress vs. Blogspot debate concerning blogging, the right application, or none at all is very much a matter of personal preference. I use Tweetdeck for most communications and my regular Twitter page for followbacks and viewing profiles. This combination seems to work best for me

     The key operative term in all of this is "common sense." Use it, and you will be utilizing one of the greatest tools we all have at our disposal. Have a conversation. Connect. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. You might even enjoy yourself.

     If this piece made your synapses fire inside that lovely gray matter of yours, leave me a comment and weigh in. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

    All the best, AB

PS   Please check out my #SampleSunday offering by clicking at top of page.

The e-reader has created quite a stir…

     People love their gadgets, and rightly so. The pc and the cell phone have revolutionized the way we interact, both on a personal level, and as a society. Information now travels like lightning, the internet affecting virtually everything we do.

     Now, we have the e-reader. Though not as pervasive as some other devices, these hand-held, electronic books are taking hold. Quite amazing … one can download thousands of titles to be stored in the e-books memory. A virtual library-to-go. I see more and more people using them with each passing day.

     I've heard it said that the e-reader is good for the environment. I'm not real clear about that one. Less books being produced might save a vast number of trees, but electronic/plastic devices need to be recycled properly at the end of their use. There's no way of knowing what percentage will be dealt with responsibly, versus just throwing them into a dumpster. One can only hope that people will do the right thing.

     Some find the e-reader nothing short of life-changing. For instance, an author, forced to wait patiently for a publisher or agent in the past, can now find success through self-publishing. Granted, the independent author will likely spend more time promoting than writing, but it's being done. A growing number of novels are finding an audience, due to a writer's ability to self-publish. I think it's a very good thing.

     And what of the big publishing houses and uber-agents. One can't help but think that they're feeling the pain in their bottom lines. Will it become a modern-day, buggy whip vs. horseless carriage scenario, in terms of sales? Only time will tell.

     I've spoken with a vast number of people outside of the author/agent/publisher realm, who just plain like to read. The consensus? Split right down the middle. There are lots of hold-outs who say they will never own an e-reader. They just like the feel of a real book … the weight … turning real pages.

     And those who have e-readers? They love them. Can't say enough great things about this incredible, new technology. I believe a large percentage of the hold-outs will cave in and get one. Care to weigh in? I have a pretty good idea what other authors think. I'd love to hear what all of you readers have to say.

P. S.   Please visit my #SampleSunday piece by clicking @ top of page.

Off we go…

    I've decided to embark on a new journey. The trip involves taking all that one can find between the covers of Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus, and arranging said contents so that another might find the results entertaining, interesting, informative … this is my hope.

     Writing may seem easy from the perspective of those who haven't attempted to wrangle our language into the correct sentence structure, comma placement, or tense. It has proven otherwise. There's a great deal to know and to learn. Reading, studying, editing, and research are necessary tasks if one hopes to become successful. These activities take time. Lots of time. Thus far, traveling along a writer's road has been the most stressful endeavor I've ever attempted. It has also been the most rewarding. Others, more experienced, have been kind enough to take me under their wings. I thank you.

     I've recently completed my first novel, "In Memory of Greed." Fifteen months and three re-writes were required. Fifteen and three more could probably have been spent. Yet, its unlikely I would have been any more satisfied with the end result. At its inception, the "blank-pager" method of writing was employed. The story initially meandered like a drunken fool, over-imbibed on MadDog 20/20. An outline was incorporated, mid-stream, changing the book's reckless stumbling to a more subdued stagger. Re-write number three wrestled control of the beast from conflagration to conformity.

    Now, there are days when the content feels solid … others, when those pages seemingly constitute the biggest pile of drivel ever written. Thick skin, broad shoulders and endless tenacity are but a few of the attributes needed to soldier on. I've decided to persevere, despite the very real chance of playing a fool along the way. Humility is the by-product.

     The weeks ahead will find my face buried in Strunk & White's, "The Elements of Style," Browne & King's, "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers," and  a book called "Essentials of English." I need them. The tools of the trade do not come naturally … it takes more than a vivid imagination and desire, to write well.

     The best writers in the world do not surround themselves with yes-men and women. Rather, they ask for the truth. I'm ready to hear it; to take my cues and learn. To read other works then write some more. And though its painful at times, one fact can not be denied; there are no short cuts. Dues must be paid. Years from now, a labor of love may have produced works that can stand on their own. Perhaps I'll open the cover of this first novel to peruse its pages once again. At that time, I trust my growth as a writer will be significant. The end result will be no re-invention of the wheel, but it may feel like the next best thing.

         Cheers, AB

P.S.  For a bit of my fiction, please click #SampleSunday atop this page.