P.D. Workman's Blog, page 123

One way to avoid burnout and improve your writing productivity

My “When Do you Find Time to Write” article has been a very popular post among writers.

I was recently on a “Productivity for Writers” panel at a writing conference, and as I was preparing for that panel, I jotted down my top tips for writing productivity. You can download those tips here! 

An interesting thing happened at the conference. Yes, we discussed daily routines, tools of the trade, challenges, and stress-busters. All of the things that you would expect. At the end, as the moderator was wrapping up, she said something to the effect that the biggest thing you could do for your writing productivity was to write every day. This had not been discussed by the panel, and since it was part of the wrap-up, there was no opportunity to discuss it further.

Myth: You must write every day

I have seen this advice given many times. On the surface, it makes perfect sense. The more you practice something, the better you get. The more days you write, the more writing you will get done. If you are writing every day, you are less likely to lose the thread of what you started, since there is no more than a day between sessions.

But here’s the thing. I don’t write every day.

When I am writing a first draft, I write Monday through Saturday, and I take Sunday off.

And when I am not writing a first draft, then Monday through Saturday I am reviewing, editing, rewriting, researching, formatting, publishing, promoting, etc. Still ‘writing business’ tasks even if it is not virgin copy.

But do you notice the pattern? No writing work on Sunday. Is it because I don’t have enough work to fill seven days a week? I don’t feel like writing every day?

Not at all. I have more than enough work to fill seven days. And when I was writing as a hobby, I spent a good amount of time writing on Sundays. I love to write; it is relaxing and enjoyable. Sunday is the one day a week that I don’t go to my day job, work out, or run errands, so it is naturally a good day for writing.

When I decided to start publishing and to write as a business, that changed. All my life, I have kept the Sabbath. The fourth commandment says, “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” So when writing was only a hobby for me, I felt comfortable with writing on the Sabbath. Yes, I did plenty of other things to observe the Lord’s day, including church attendance and family time, but I also rested from my labours by writing.

But when I started writing as a business, I felt that if I wanted the Lord to bless my labours, I needed to abstain from working on the Sabbath. So, as difficult as it was (and is,) for me to do, I resolved not to write on Sunday or to do other writing/publishing work. I am not always successful; sometimes I approve a digital proof on Createspace and place an order for a physical proof so that I can publish a book earlier in the week; sometimes I pick up one of my books to read for recreation and end up noticing a typo that needs to be fixed; sometimes I have a great idea for a book or promo and need to jot my thoughts down before I lose them. But for the more part, I have been successful in not letting my writing business encroach on the Sabbath.

But why do you care? Here are some benefits that I have found from not working one day a week. I truly believe that “the Sabbath was made for man,” and God knew what he was talking about when he said to rest from our labours for one day out of seven:

First and foremost – avoiding burnout. Working at the pace that I do, putting in as many hours as I do, I would run a huge risk of burnout and reduced immunity to illness if I did not take a day of rest.
Getting away from my writing for a day, much like taking a shower or going out for a walk, helps to clear my mind. My subconscious starts to wonder why I’m not creating anything and starts producing some great new ideas.
A Saturday-night cut-off provides a deadline for the week. Working against a deadline increases productivity for many people. There are a lot of times when I am tired Saturday night, and if I did not have that deadline, I would just put my work to the side to tackle the next day. With the deadline, knowing that I won’t be able to get back to it until Monday, I have a bit more of a push to get things done and squared away by bedtime Saturday.
Family time. Putting aside work for one day leaves time for worship, for service, for going for a walk in the park, or for preparing a special meal. It is easy for me to get so wrapped up in work that I don’t leave the time for my loved ones or for nurturing myself in other ways.
Making Sunday a day of rest and renewal means that I can start the week out with more energy. I look forward to kicking off my writing on Monday. I am eager to start my week and to get back to my stories. Rather than feeling worn thin by an unrelenting schedule, I am ready to get going again.

Do I still observe the Sabbath during Nanowrimo or other deadline-driven projects? You bet. When I schedule my writing time and calculate my writing goals, it is with a six-day week in mind rather than seven days.

I truly believe that what I ‘lose’ by not writing on the Sabbath is given back to me during the week in increased productivity. By taking the time to renew and refresh myself, I am a better, more productive writer than I would be if I wrote every day.

Excerpt from The Rest of Us Just Live Here Teaser Tuesday Double Header

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along!

Since my new book is coming out soon, I am going to post a teaser from Loose the Dogs as well, so scroll down after the first teaser for a bonus!

Teaser #1

I just started reading The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. A funny, anti hero-trope book with some serious underlying messages about real life.

The indie kids, huh? You’ve got them at your school, too… Nice enough, never mean, but always the ones who end up being the Chosen One when the vampires come calling or when the alien queen needs the Source of All Light or something… They’ve always got some story going on that they’re heroes of. The rest of us just have to live here…

Having said that, the indie kids do die a lot. Which must suck.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here, Patrick Ness

What if you aren’t the Chosen One? The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

Teaser #2

And here is a second teaser from my upcoming book Loose the Dogs. A little bit of thriller/suspense.

Frank stared in horror. “They are letting them go?” he said to Janice, in shock. “They are letting them all go?” He was aware he was shouting at her, even though it wasn’t her fault. “Those animals should be destroyed! They are killers! You can’t just unleash killers on an unsuspecting public!”

Loose the Dogs, P.D. Workman

You’ll never look at your dog the same way again.

Award-winning author P.D. Workman takes you on a journey to discover the dark side of man’s best friend. Each incident is inspired by actual events. Loose the Dogs will grab you by the throat and shake you to your toes. You will learn just how fast a bright sunny day can turn to the darkest despair.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

Seven dogs are adopted by families all across the country who do not know their history…

“Of one thing I am sure,” Glenn declares. “These dogs are perfectly harmless.”

Frank knew it wasn’t true.

He would never forget walking into that trailer. He saw it in his mind every time he closed his eyes. He woke up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, seeing those eyes and those teeth, screaming soundlessly, gasping for breath.

“He never saw those dogs. How could anyone make such a stupid a decision, knowing what they did?”

Praise for Loose the Dogs

“I loved reading Loose the Dogs. The pages almost turned themselves. P.D. Workman really hits a nerve with this one.”

“Loose the Dogs… had me on pins and needles from the get go. What a marvelous story!”

“Loose the Dogs was really scary! Just say no to dogs.”

“I was wondering in which way this book was going to go, but my goodness it sure did pack a punch into the mix.”

Praise for P.D. Workman

“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”

“The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book.”

“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for; I can’t recommend it enough. A fantastic book.”

Excerpt from The Rest of Us Just Live Here TeaserTuesday Double Header

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along!

Since my new book is coming out soon, I am going to post a teaser from Loose the Dogs as well, so scroll down after the first teaser for a bonus!

Teaser #1

I just started reading The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. A funny, anti hero-trope book with some serious underlying messages about real life.

The indie kids, huh? You’ve got them at your school, too… Nice enough, never mean, but always the ones who end up being the Chosen One when the vampires come calling or when the alien queen needs the Source of All Light or something… They’ve always got some story going on that they’re heroes of. The rest of us just have to live here…

Having said that, the indie kids do die a lot. Which must suck.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here, Patrick Ness

What if you aren’t the Chosen One? The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

Teaser #2

And here is a second teaser from my upcoming book Loose the Dogs. A little bit of thriller/suspense.

Frank stared in horror. “They are letting them go?” he said to Janice, in shock. “They are letting them all go?” He was aware he was shouting at her, even though it wasn’t her fault. “Those animals should be destroyed! They are killers! You can’t just unleash killers on an unsuspecting public!”

Loose the Dogs, P.D. Workman

You’ll never look at your dog the same way again.

Award-winning author P.D. Workman takes you on a journey to discover the dark side of man’s best friend. Each incident is inspired by actual events. Loose the Dogs will grab you by the throat and shake you to your toes. You will learn just how fast a bright sunny day can turn to the darkest despair.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

Seven dogs are adopted by families all across the country who do not know their history…

“Of one thing I am sure,” Glenn declares. “These dogs are perfectly harmless.”

Frank knew it wasn’t true.

He would never forget walking into that trailer. He saw it in his mind every time he closed his eyes. He woke up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, seeing those eyes and those teeth, screaming soundlessly, gasping for breath.

“He never saw those dogs. How could anyone make such a stupid a decision, knowing what they did?”

Praise for Loose the Dogs

“I loved reading Loose the Dogs. The pages almost turned themselves. P.D. Workman really hits a nerve with this one.”

“Loose the Dogs… had me on pins and needles from the get go. What a marvelous story!”

“Loose the Dogs was really scary! Just say no to dogs.”

“I was wondering in which way this book was going to go, but my goodness it sure did pack a punch into the mix.”

Praise for P.D. Workman

“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”

“The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book.”

“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for; I can’t recommend it enough. A fantastic book.”

Excerpt from Dead Ringer

In case you haven’t yet picked it up, check out my pre-release promotion for Loose the Dogs! Just click on the graphic in the sidebar. This promo will only be available for a few more days until Loose the Dogs is released.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along!

I am just about finished reading Dead Ringer (Rosato and Associates Series) by Lisa Scottoline. This is not my first read by Lisa Scottoline. I previously read Accused, the first book in the Rosato and DiNunzio series. Same characters, but from a different lawyer’s perspective. Cool to see the same characters again from a different perspective. Lisa Scottoline writes good suspense with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour.

“No, I have to get ready for the meeting,” Bennie said, but she wasn’t sure she could stand anyway. The control-top waistband bisected her ovaries like a do-it-yourself hysterectomy.

Dead Ringer, Lisa Scottoline

Bennie Rosato is fighting the battle of her life — against her own twin. The action starts innocently enough, with a stolen wallet, but in no time events escalate and the twin wreaks havoc that can be created only by a dead ringer. Her twin tries to destroy Bennie’s law firm, Rosato & Associates, and then strikes at her very heart — which just happens to be otherwise engaged by a handsome, hunky stranger with the perfect amount of chest hair. But when a brutal murder occurs, Bennie realizes that the stakes have turned deadly. And the face of evil looks like her own.

Book Review In the Tick of Time

My sweet hubby has posted a review of In the Tick of Time. Reblogged from Flamestr’s Thoughts.

Are you afraid of insects?  Well, I think Matt Malloy can relate to you,  Until now, Matt Malloy figured he had all pretty sound knowledge of infectious diseases.  Well… hold the phone; not so fast, Mr. Malloy.

Matt finds himself trying figure out what is going to cause a cluster of infections at Buffalo Head.   The further he investigates, the more suspicious he becomes.  Matt puts his knowledge of infectious diseases into action.  Matt furthers reviews a suspicious death, with symptoms he has never seen before. He just can’t quite put his finger on it. Then he has to put his finger on it, or he becomes a suspicious case.

Is Matt going crazy? He begins to doubt himself.  He develops more symptoms.  People start to question his professionalism.  He is obsessed with it, and he cannot sleep at night. His health begins to deteriorate; he becomes more and more paranoid. He is constantly trying to find a cure and locate the person who infected him in the first place.  Someone is trying to kill him, stopping him at every corner.  Will he be able to stop them?  Or will become another casualty?  This book will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.  You won’t be able to put it down, and it will give you a new respect for infectious disease departments everywhere!

Excerpt from Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

I had a great time this weekend at Calgary’s “When Words Collide” writer’s conference. Had fun presenting on several panels, made some new friends, met a few I had previously only met online, and was even on a panel with Angela Ackerman, one of the writers of the Emotion Thesaurus, a great writing resource!

In case you haven’t yet picked it up, check out my pre-release promotion for Loose the Dogs! Just click on the graphic in the sidebar. This promo will only be available until Loose the Dogs is released.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along!

I am currently reading Nerve by Jeanne Ryan. This young adult novel has been adapted into a motion picture currently in theatres. An online game of truth or dare gets out of control! The tagline is “to survive this game, choosing dare is your only option.”

“I’m not doing any dare.”

He types something into my phone. “I know you won’t. Just messing with ya ‘cause you’re so cute when you blush.”

Nerve, Jeanne Ryan

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it’s exhilarating–Vee and Ian’s fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they’re directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they’re playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Excerpt from Best Boy

In case you missed it, check out my pre-release promotion for Loose the Dogs! Just click on the graphic in the sidebar.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along!

My teaser today comes from Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb. This is a novel written in the first-person point of view of an adult with autism who is living in an assisted living facility. A quick look at Twitter reveals that Eli Gottlieb’s brother is autistic. I enjoyed Todd Aaron’s journey through the progress of the story.

Until recently, I was very happy at Payton, where I live with the other “villagers” in cottages with painted numbers on them arranged in a circle on a big plate of grass.

Best Boy, Eli Gottlieb

 

Sent to a “therapeutic community” for autism at the age of eleven, Todd Aaron, now in his fifties, is the “Old Fox” of Payton LivingCenter. A joyous man who rereads the encyclopedia compulsively, he is unnerved by the sudden arrivals of a menacing new staffer and a disruptive, brain-injured roommate. His equilibrium is further worsened by Martine, a one-eyed new resident who has romantic intentions and convinces him to go off his meds to feel “normal” again. Undone by these pressures, Todd attempts an escape to return “home” to his younger brother and to a childhood that now inhabits only his dreams. Written astonishingly in the first-person voice of an autistic, adult man, Best Boy—with its unforgettable portraits of Todd’s beloved mother, whose sweet voice still sings from the grave, and a staffer named Raykene, who says that Todd “reflects the beauty of His creation”—is a piercing, achingly funny, finally shattering novel no reader can ever forget.

Pre-launch Promo Offer—3 Free books!

Loose the Dogs is going to be released later this month. In anticipation of the release, I am offering you three free suspense-filled ebooks! Click here or on the graphic below or in the sidebar to get yours now!

This offer will end when Loose the Dogs is released, so sign up now!

You will receive free Kindle or ePub copies of Looking Over Your Shoulder, Pursued by the Past, and In the Tick of Time (a recent release—it just came out in June!)

Reading List: Young Adult Fiction about Mental/Psychological Abuse

I have previously posted reading lists for physical abuse and sexual abuse, and it’s high time I published one about mental, emotional, or psychological abuse. Mental abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse, but is harder to recognize , and not likely to get the same kind of attention and treatment as physical abuse. There are a number of studies and stats available on mental abuse; it would appear that somewhere between 30 and 43 percent of adults have experienced some form or mental or psychological abuse as children or in their intimate partner relationships.

As usual, my YA books featuring characters who experience primarily mental abuse are on top, followed by some other choices in popular literature.

My books that include main characters who are (primarily) mentally abused:

By-Pass, Breaking the Pattern #3

It’s better when she’s happy.

Bobby is a geeky teen who is convinced that his new foster home is everything he has ever hoped for.

His foster mom Katya is so different than any he has ever had; but as her behavior becomes more and more unpredictable and disturbing, he comes to realize that both he and Katya’s daughter Zane are in trouble.

The crazy thing is, Bobby doesn’t want to leave her, and new revelations from Bobby’s own forgotten past throw his quest for a real family into further turmoil.


Stand Alone


Is Justine crazy?

Everyone thinks so…

Her mother. The kids at school, and the teachers and administrators too. Even the police who pick her up from her night rambles. Maybe them most of all.

Justine’s therapist says she is ‘troubled’, but it means the same thing. He thinks that her vivid, reoccurring nightmares and atrocious behavior point to some trauma in her past; but Em, Justine’s mother, can’t explain it.

Justine used to have Christian, her best friend and skateboard partner. He was the only one who accepted her. Maybe because skating is the only time that Justine is really free to be herself. Now that Christian is gone… Justine keeps thinking things can’t get any worse.

Even as she sees her life spinning further and further out of control, Justine can’t give up her sense of who she is—someone far different than the loving daughter Em expects her to be—to just fit in and be happy. She is sure that Em secretly holds the key to who Justine really is. But if she does, Em isn’t talking.



Those Who Believe


These signs shall follow those who believe…


On the run from Social Services and others who do not understand their beliefs, Nathan and his mom, faith-healer Billie Ashbury move into yet another a new town.


Nathan again faces the challenges of making new friends and of keeping his family’s secrets. But what he really struggles with is his wavering faith and reconciling his actions with what his devoted mother has taught him from the cradle. Could disobeying her ever be right?

His very life could depend on the answer.


Other books on Mental/Psychological Abuse:
Finding YA books that were more about mental abuse than physical abuse is difficult. Most of the book lists out there combine physical and mental abuse into the same group. Here, then, is my attempt at books that focus more on the emotional abuse:

If You Find Me, Emily Murdoch

In If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch, a broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen-year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 

Breathing Underwater, Alex Flinn

To his friends, popular and handsome sixteen-year-old Nick Andreas has led a charmed life. But the guys in Nick’s anger management class know differently. So does his ex-girlfriend Caitlin. Now it looks like the only person who doesn’t realize how far from perfect Nick’s life has become is Nick himself.









Bitter End, Jennifer Brown

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole — a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her — she can’t believe she’s finally found her soul mate . . . someone who truly loves and understands her.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend Zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? As the months pass, though, Alex can no longer ignore Cole’s small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats.

As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose “love” she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose — between her “true love” and herself.

Silently Still, Julieanne Lynch

Everyone is entitled to making their own choices in life, but a decision can make or break you. For Jacinta Kelly, hers came in the form of running away from everything that reminded her of her roots. 
Living in rural Ireland was hard enough, but living with her mother’s mental illness and her obsession with her garden took its toll. One winter, the world as she knows it changes. Jacinta becomes aware of her own mortality, and how fragile her existence truly is. 
Alone and frightened; to live or die, the choice is hers.

Excerpt from Paperweight by Meg Haston

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules at Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along!

My teaser today is from Paperweight, by Meg Haston. A book about loss and eating disorder, very gritty and real. A really great book that takes the reader into Stevie’s mind and gradually reveals her past and the progression of her disease and therapy. Realistic relationships and character development.

I slide my right hand across my stomach and count the ribs on the left side. Once, twice, three times. They’re not as sharp as yesterday. I have to get out of here. This was such a mistake. I told Dad this was a mistake.

Paperweight, Meg Haston

 

 

Seventeen-year-old Stevie is trapped. In her life. In her body. And now in an eating-disorder treatment center on the dusty outskirts of the New Mexico desert. Life in the center is regimented and intrusive, a nightmare come true. Nurses and therapists watch Stevie at meal time, accompany her to the bathroom, and challenge her to eat the foods she’s worked so hard to avoid. Her dad has signed her up for sixty days of treatment. But what no one knows is that Stevie doesn’t plan to stay that long. There are only twenty-seven days until the anniversary of her brother Josh’s death—the death she caused. And if Stevie gets her way, there are only twenty-seven days until she, too, will end her life.

Paperweight follows Stevie’s journey as she struggles not only with this life-threatening eating disorder, but with the question of whether she can ever find absolution for the mistakes of her past…and whether she truly deserves to.