Peter Lopez Jr.'s Blog: Xulon Press Blog , page 29

How to Marie Kondo Your Writing

Maybe you read her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing or you watched her series on Netflix. Either way, you’ve likely heard of the esteemed, Marie Kondo. She’s pretty popular these days for her ability to help families de-clutter and organize their homes. Her intention is to help families keep only the items that spark joy.

While watching the series on Netflix, I wondered if Kondo’s methods for tidying living spaces also applies to writing. Episode after episode, I studied the underlying structures that facilitate change and the emotional responses of the participants. By doing so, I came up with these seven steps that apply to our writing journeys:

Commit to the process.

One of the first things Kondo asks families to do when she arrives is that they commit to the process and see it through. This same step applies when writing. Make and follow through on your commitment to finish your first draft.

Thank yourself.

Kondo believes in thanking each home before getting started on the purging process. She believes it is important to acknowledge and reflect on all the ways the home has served each family. As writers, we tend to beat ourselves up before we lift ourselves up. It’s so important to acknowledge that you created something beautiful out of nothing—you wrote a book! Take the time to thank yourself for achieving such an accomplishment.

Visualize the end result.

Families are asked to envision what their lives will be like after they have decluttered their homes with Kondo’s help. So, take some time to look forward as well. What does the end result for your work look like? What do you want your life as a writer to feel like?

Pull it all out.

Kondo makes my skin crawl every time she has families turn their homes completely upside down on day one. They work through the entire house emptying every drawer and closet in the house and out into the garage. For the writer version of this, you’ll print out your entire manuscript and collect it all in one place.

Determine what sparks joy.

Kondo has each family member hold every item they own and ask themselves if it sparks joy for them or not. If it does spark joy, the owner keeps the item. If it doesn’t spark joy, the owner donates the item. The same can be said for writing. With your printed manuscript, take a pen and circle particular words or sentences you love. Draw an “X” over words and phrases you don’t like. You don’t have to mark every single word with a circle or an “X” but marking those that at least make a big impression on you will go a long way in showing you what sparks joy in your writing and what does not.

Keep and discard.

This is also known as the rewrite and revision stage of your writing process. Now that you know what you do and don’t like in your manuscript, work through those sections to remove what you don’t like and keep what you do like.

Reorganize.

Decluttering isn’t enough, reorganizing and finding better ways to tell our stories is an extremely important part of the writing process. Take the time to sit with your manuscript and study the plot points, characters, story arc and more. Can you reorganize anything to make the story better?

Put it all back together.

After you’ve gone through your extensive rewrite process, start putting your manuscript back together with further revisions. Take your time on this step and appreciate just how much has changed in your story from the onset of your writing to the revision process.

Are you ruthless in your rewriting and revision process or do you need a little inspiration from Marie Kondo? We love hearing how writers approach these stages of writing, so share your experiences below! 

The post How to Marie Kondo Your Writing appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Writers and Websites: The Importance of Owning Your Brand on the Internet

 

The internet is a fascinating place. We can shop online and receive our items in as little as two days. We can complete book research easier than ever, explore new places without buying a plane ticket. And thanks to social media, we can even meet new people and build entire communities of support. If you ask me, the internet can be a pretty great place—especially for writers.

Credibility is king these days, and anyone who doesn’t have a website is in direct competition with those who do. Case in point, I’ll often try a new restaurant that has a website with their menu posted on it. I’m far less likely to take a chance on a restaurant that doesn’t have either. The internet is no different for authors. So, why exactly do authors need a website?

4 Reasons Why Writers Need a Website

Having a website allows writers to create one content hub to house all their materials in an online space. Social media and email lists drive traffic back to the website, providing ample information for readers.
Whether a writer wants to seek a literary agent in the future or not, a website allows writers to establish their brand online. More importantly, if a writer wants to delve into the world of traditional publishing, they’ll need to show their marketability. A well-built website, with an aesthetically pleasing design, shows agents and publishers that a writer is capable of marketing themselves.
I briefly hinted at this, but professionals in any industry—especially authors—can not afford to lack an online presence in a world when almost everyone exists online. Building a website and posting regularly gives authors a professional edge above other authors who don’t have an online presence. It also helps greatly with maintaining your brand and brand relatability. 
Not only is having a website important but also having a page of that website dedicated to a blog and posting to it regularly is vital to building and maintain searchability. By publishing short articles on your blog on a regular basis and linking back to them via social media accounts, writers can increase their discoverability through search engines, such as Google, to gain more website traffic. The value of a website lies solely in how actively engaged you are, and blog posts increase that engagement.

Writers may think the most important part of being a writer is the actual book writing process. In reality, audience building is right up there in importance. By having a website and publishing blog posts consistently, writers can actively build their following before or during the writing process and have a group of people waiting to buy their book upon release. How does one go about publishing content that will keep future readers engaged up until publication date and beyond? Blogging is the answer. But, what should writers blog about?

5 Topics Writers Should Blog About

Behind the scenes—Whether you share your writing routine, a peek at your future cover, excerpts from the chapter you’re currently writing, or your favorite writing spot, publish posts that give a behind the scenes look into your creative journey. This type of transparency goes a long way in establishing a community online.
Book inspiration—What does your main character look like? Where is your book’s setting? Do you listen to a specific playlist every time you sit down to write? Find images online to show your followers what characters look like and where your book is set. Share your playlist in a blog post and build comradery around the music that inspires your work.
Books you’re reading—The quickest way into any book lover’s heart is a great book recommendation. Share books you loved or create a list of all the books you’ve ever read and use it to start a dialogue with your followers. Book lovers will always connect over books.
Topics that display your expertise—Maybe you are a dietitian and your future book is all about ways we can incorporate healthy foods and exercise into our routines—publish blog posts surrounding this same topic to build your credibility and display your expertise. Does it fit your brand message? Blog about it.
Regional exploration—Do you live in a really fun city and love to play tour guide when friends and family come to visit? Is your book set in a cool town that you know well? Share your favorite restaurants, activities, and events in blog posts to capture readers attention and pull them into the world of your book long before they have the chance to read it.

Ready to start building your author website? Follow this link for information about the options we offer!

The post Writers and Websites: The Importance of Owning Your Brand on the Internet appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Why Your Target Audience Matters

You’ve done it! You’ve written your book and have committed to publishing it. You’re probably excited to share the final product with the whole world. Well, maybe not the entire world, but your target audience is definitely all Christian readers, right? Think again.

Believe it or not, many authors enter the publishing process with their target audience focused on Christian readers of all ages. In other words, people ranging from elementary school to the nursing home. This wide range of potential readers doesn’t help when crafting the book’s content and marketing efforts to the right readers.

Limitation is actually a good thing.

One important step is defining the target readership. Your book’s content, packaging, and marketing efforts should be crafted with a particular audience in mind. Authors are often afraid to limit their marketing reach and miss out on potential readers. Crafting a primary target audience will actually help you reach more readers who are right for your book.

A set target audience doesn’t mean that you won’t find readers across the whole spectrum of ages, races, and level of spiritual maturity. Instead, the idea of having a primary target audience simply means that your book will resonate the most deeply with—and be purchased by—a certain type of reader.

In the end, a primary target audience will help make the finished product of the book as cohesive as possible. Once you have your target audience in mind, you can make wise and efficient decisions about everything from word choice and phrasing in your book’s introduction to the design you choose for your book cover.

Still not sure what your book’s primary target audience should be?

Approach readers. Commission a group of beta readers who you think might be your primary audience and ask them to review the manuscript. Use their feedback to see which parts of the book are most appealing and which could use some tweaking. If those readers don’t connect with the book, you’ll have a better idea of who to focus on—and who not to spend much time on—during your marketing efforts.

Before you know it, you’ll be one step closer to publishing your book and getting it into the hands of readers who will love it most: your primary target audience!

The post Why Your Target Audience Matters appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Top Secret or Not: Sharing Your Writing with Others

There is a common writing stereotype doing more harm than good for the writing community. Writing is not, and should not be viewed as a solitary confinement type of punishment. The task of sitting down to write has been glorified as this painful and disparaging task that segregates the writer from the rest of their community. No one else could possibly understand how torturous it is to sit down and stare at a blank screen, willing yourself to type even just one decent sentence that doesn’t fall victim to the “delete” button on your keyboard. That thought has gone through the minds of writers time and time again, but the problem isn’t that others don’t understand. The issue lies in the fact that writers pull themselves away from family and friends out of fear.

I won’t lie to you, the first time you share your work with anyone will be nerve-wracking, maybe even leave you feeling a bit queasy. That being said, you can’t lock your loved ones out of your writing journey. You will need their support, their encouragement, and maybe even their accountability to help you cross the finish line. Writing is like exercising; if you don’t find a workout buddy or hire a trainer, who’s going to hold you accountable when it comes to doing those last ten squats? Your brain is going to tell you, “Hey, don’t worry about it. You’ve already done forty squats, the last ten don’t matter.” The workout buddy or trainer is going to say, “Don’t quit now, you’ve got ten more to do. Keep going.” It’s the exact same process for writers. Tell someone the amount of words you want to write in a day, and they will hold you accountable. When self-doubt creeps in and steals all of your creative energy, let someone be your cheerleader and help you get back on track.

Many of the first-time writers I speak with, fully admit that no one outside of Xulon Press has read their manuscript. The first person to read your finished manuscript should always be the one or two people that mean the most in the world to you. That emotional support will provide more confidence than possible to conceive, until you do it. Wouldn’t it mean so much more to know what your husband or wife, child or sibling, friend or other family member thought about your writing? Those sweet words will last far longer than any praise you read from an editor.

Writing shouldn’t be a prison sentence; it should be a challenging, but enjoyable process. When it comes to keeping your writing top secret or sharing it, I will always urge you to share— not just your finished manuscript, but the writing process as well.

The post Top Secret or Not: Sharing Your Writing with Others appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Bringing Book Events into the 21st Century

Are you ramping up for your summer book launch? Or maybe you’re getting ready for a reading at your local bookstore? Authors have been walking the same line when it comes to these sorts of events since well… basically forever. I’m here to say, that just as the book industry is changing, these events should be too. Let’s bid farewell to the cheesy pens and bookmark giveaways and welcome ourselves, and our marketing material, to the 21st century. Make yourself memorable and you’ll make your book more memorable too. Here are 5 tips to get you started!

1. Branding, Branding, Branding.

Need me to say that once more? Branding. We hear it all the time in this industry, but that’s because it is a necessary evil. If you don’t have a consistent brand, start developing it now–check out one of my other blog posts, Personal Branding for Authors. Make sure that everything you bring with you conveys your brand. For example, what are the key colors of your brand? Pick one and invest in a table cloth or two in the same shade. Tip here, while you may be tempted to dress to match your brand as well, make sure you don’t match your tables–as tempting as it is to be matchy-matchy, your photos will not thank you for it. Which brings me to the next point on this list, dress the part.

2. Don’t Trend On Me.

Don’t go all sorts of trend crazy here. Your outfit should be something you are completely comfortable in and it should be consistent with your brand image. Are you an author of a minimalist book? Stick with your typical sharp and sleek look. Are you an author of a children’s book? Wear some bright and fun colors that compliment your book cover and brand image.

3. Stop Giving Pens to People with Computers.

So maybe that’s going a little bit too far. The point I’d like to make is that you need to understand your target audience truly and fully. Especially when you’re shelling out the benjamins on events like this. Once you’ve got a good grasp on your target demographic, do some research and figure out what they like and what will have value for them. Then, instead of just giving it away, request that they subscribe to your mailing list or post a photo on social media using brand specific hashtags.

So for example, say your book is about veganism and your target audience is women ranging from 18-24 who are vegans or interested in veganism. In your research, you’d find that women in that age range are likely to own bags with a logo. So, find a company that will slap your logo on a vegan tote bag! While this example could end up costing you a bit more than the average promotional items, you’ll get a lot of return on it. Ask your fans to post pictures on social media of them using their bag at the grocery store or the beach and tag you in it and include a kitschy hashtag like #VegansBagVeganBooks. Go the extra mile here and you’ll see much more return on your investment than by shoving pens in the pockets of people who won’t use them.

4. Advertise to Your Tribe.

Leading up to your event, make sure you’re doing an ample amount of advertising in the accurate areas. If you know your target audience uses Facebook, target them more heavily there. If you are sure that Instagram is where your target audience hangs out, engage them there in the weeks leading up to it. Create the event online through a platform that will collect names and emails of people attending so you can email them leading up to the event. Develop hashtags ahead of time and use them as a pre-marketing campaign for the event. Share some photos of the curated swag you invested in to give your attendees.

You could even host a raffle by asking your fans to share about a post highlighting the event details and then raffle off a signed copy of your book and some extra swag at the event. The more reposts/shares they do, the more raffle entries they’ll get. People do these often on social media, don’t be afraid to use them to your advantage!

5. Relax, You’ll Do Great.

Lastly, relax. Enjoy the event you’ve created, even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, then chances are your guests will feel the same way.

When we’ve been doing something a certain way for so long and the hypothetical wheel is still spinning, it can be hard to justify switching things up. It’s time for us to bid farewell to the things that no longer serve us and our needs and embrace the things that will. What are your upcoming book events and will you utilize any of these suggestions? Comment below and let us know!

The post Bringing Book Events into the 21st Century appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Finding the Balance Between Working and Writing

Take a moment and think of your favorite author. Without even knowing who you selected, I can say with 95% confidence that they had to work a full-time job while writing his or her first or first few books. Writing begins as a passion project for almost all of us and learning how to balance it with all of our other responsibilities is one of the most challenging aspects of writing. Think about it. If we had all day to sit around and write—no work or family responsibilities—we’d be able to crank out at least two books a year.

In reality, however, we may be lucky to type 200 words a day. We all have demands on our time and balancing it all can feel like we’re juggling flaming objects that are ready to burn us in a moment’s notice.

I’m a firm believer that we can have it all—it just takes a bit more preparation and planning. I’ve had plenty of experience over the years trying to balance full-time work, hobbies, family, and writing my first novel. With that experience, I’ve been able to develop a process that allows me to do it all and still take time for myself.

Time block your calendar.

I wish time-blocking had become more popular years ago because it makes a huge difference when trying to find time to write. Personally, I use my Google calendar to color code and schedule every task for each day. Most days, I block out the eight hours I’m at work, exercising, social commitments, traveling, family time, grocery shopping, and more. Then, where I see empty space, I’ll drop in scheduled writing time. Since I color code each task type, I can quickly look at my calendar and see which days I’ve blocked off time to write, and I keep those commitments as I would an appointment.

Prep it all.

Make sure your workspace is always organized and ready for you to return to it. Maximize your efforts with a detailed outline. In addition to preparing your writing time, also think about ways you can prep other things in your life. Meal prepping is a great example. Set aside time one day a week to prep dinners for your family. When you factor in preparing, cooking, and cleaning up after dinner, scheduling a few hours on Sunday to meal prep can save you upwards of an hour every day.  

Ask for help.

Many of us think we can do it all without having to ask for help, but that only leads to burnout and bad writing. Whether you ask your partner to pick up the kids from school a few days a week or you hire someone to clean your house every other week, delegating tasks you don’t have to do yourself can go a long way in giving you time back in your schedule.

Writing retreat.

Remember that dream situation I mentioned earlier about being able to dedicate entire days to writing without any other responsibilities? That’s exactly what a writing retreat offers. A retreat doesn’t have to be expensive and you don’t have to go far. Maybe you have hotel points stacking up that you can trade in for a free two-night stay or you find a really cute cabin an hour down the road for rent on a home rental website—use these options to schedule a writing retreat for yourself.

Remove distractions.

Scroll through Instagram Stories on your lunch break? Watch TV for a few hours before bed? Spend two hours on the phone chatting with a friend about nothing important? These are all unnecessary distractions that take up time that could be used to write. In an hour-long lunch break, some writers can get 1,000 words on paper—that’s about two and a half pages worth of text. Identify distractions you can reduce or remove in order to insert more writing time without having to sacrifice higher priorities in your life.

Don’t sacrifice self-care.

This lesson was the hardest one of all for me to learn. Quite honestly, I’m still learning it on almost a daily basis. Oftentimes, we sacrifice ourselves first in order to reach our goals. Taking care of ourselves first though, is actually what will keep us happy and able to meet and exceed our goals. Don’t forgo exercise or a hot bath to cram words on paper. A 30-minute workout will produce endorphins, which are feel-good chemicals your brain needs. Those endorphins also do wonders for creativity, which fuels writing. That hot bath can make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a long day at the office, leaving you relaxed and in a good head space to write in the evenings. Check out our earlier blog on how your health routine impacts your writing routine for more on this.

How do you balance writing with all your responsibilities? We’d love to share your tips with fellow writers!

The post Finding the Balance Between Working and Writing appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

The Art of Fast-Drafting Your Novel

Writers tend to fall into two camps regarding how much time it takes to finish drafting a book. There are those who can take upwards of 10 years to write their manuscripts. Then, there are those who fast-draft their manuscripts in as little as 14 days. While no clear-cut rules exist for fast-drafting a manuscript, writers who use the technique know what it takes to get as many words on paper in as little time as possible. What is the secret sauce to churning out a fast-drafted manuscript in less than one month? Aside from proactive preparation and a well-planned writing schedule, I have 10 tips for successfully fast-drafting your next book.

1. Brainstorm every aspect of your story.

Before you can begin fast-drafting your book, spend a substantial amount of time brainstorming. Use your writer’s notebook to keep track of your thoughts and inspiration. Spend time researching the information you need to get your story off the ground. For instance, if you’re writing historical fiction, look up and document any necessary information you need to ensure your first draft portrays historically accurate information, so you have less to clean up later.

2. Know it well.

Create a well-detailed outline, make scene index cards, fill out character development sheets and thoroughly understand the direction of your book before you start writing.

3. Define your goal.

Whether you want to write your book in four months, 30 days, or two weeks, set your exact writing goal and do the math to see how much writing you need to accomplish each day to reach your goal.

4. Set expectations.

Understand that a fast-drafted manuscript is not a finished manuscript—it is merely the skeleton of your finished book on paper. Your manuscript will continue to improve through each round of rewrites, revisions, beta reading, and editing you put it through.

5. Small increments, multiple times a day.

We are all pumped to start new creative projects, but to avoid crashing and burning (quitting before you finish) build in smaller chunks of writing time into your schedule multiple times a day.

6. No self-editing.

The biggest time suck of writing a draft is self-doubt and self-editing. Refuse your inner editor and do not edit a single word until you finish drafting your book.

7. Make a list of additional research.

Along your drafting journey, you will stumble across pieces you may need to research further. Keep a list of these items and the page number they appear on so you can do the research after you finish fast-drafting your novel. Don’t stop writing to take a trip down a research rabbit hole.

8. Writing sprints are your friend.

The best way to write in small increments, multiple times a day, is to make use of writing sprints. Set a timer and focus your attention on increasing your word count.

9. Find a community.

Fast-drafting writers often aim to produce 1,000 words in an hour. To do so, they sometimes need to find an extra boost of support. Connect with other writers by using #1K1Hr on Twitter to show and receive support from others who are also pushing to get 1,000 words on paper in 60 minutes.

10. Stay accountable.

Do whatever you need to do to stay accountable to yourself and your fast-drafting goals. Try setting reminders on your phone when it’s time to sit down and write or asking a close friend or family member to text you each day to see how much you’ve increased your word count from the previous check-in.

What’s the shortest amount of time you’ve taken to draft a manuscript? If you’re currently drafting, tell us in the comments. We love cheering on writers to the finish line!

The post The Art of Fast-Drafting Your Novel appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Dialogue

From an early age, we’re taught that good description is the key to excellent writing. I’d argue that well-written dialogue is the true key to writing. A description will never move your story forward in the same way dialogue can. It’s not as hard to write dialogue as you might think. Plus, once you’ve mastered it, the rest of your book will fall into place. The pacing will increase and you’ll find yourself clicking away on your keyboard to keep up with your characters’ conversations.

The Do’s and Don’ts

Do use quotation marks at the beginning and end of a characters’ dialogue.
Don’t let characters ramble on for pages.
Do create a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.
Don’t overcomplicate with adverbs. Example to avoid: “She said enthusiastically.”
Do stick to “he said” and “she said”. This allows the tags to sink in without standing out.
Don’t reference character names when only two characters are speaking. Example to avoid: “Dorothy, what are you making for dinner?” John asked.
Do use it to move your story forward.
Don’t use it for pleasantries. Example to avoid: “How’s your day?”
Do make sure there is differentiation between how each character speaks.
Don’t make characters tell each other things they already know.
Do keep it concise.
Don’t write it all in complete, grammatical sentences. Most people speak informally throughout the day, so writing dialogue with a formal tone can be jarring. Example to avoid: “It is a beautiful day, is it not?”
Do vary the length of dialogue to avoid a matchy-matchy format.
Don’t force characters to speak in a vacuum—they should do something while they talk. Make a character drink her coffee or watch her child go down the slide what she talks to another mom.
Do have fun shaping conversations within your novel.

What do’s and don’ts do you live by when it comes to writing dialogue? Are there any challenges you seem to face each time? We’d love to help you become a master dialogue creator!

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Dialogue appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

How to Create a Writer’s Notebook

I am always on the lookout for the next it thing when it comes to writing trends. I want to find the magic routine that solves all my writing woes. At the very least, a routine I enjoy enough to turn back to on a daily basis.

My desire to find a process that works for me as an individual led me to the writer’s notebook. I told myself that my writer’s notebook would be completely different from a daily journal. In reality, however, my writer’s notebook is in fact just a glorified journal. There is one big difference between the two though. I hardly ever go back and read anything I journaled. Now I not only add material to my notebook consistently, but I also use the information in the notebook.

So, what do you need to create your own writer’s notebook, and more importantly what do you put in it?

Supplies

I personally gravitated toward a 5-subject notebook because I am a type A personality and like everything in its place. You can choose any type of notebook that works for you. Maybe even use a binder and add colored dividers for each section. In addition to the notebook, you need your favorite pen. I do keep a few unnecessary items with me: washi tape, highlighters, and Post-It notes to make the process more fun and interactive.

Divide and Conquer

It didn’t take long for me to decide how I would use the five sections in my notebook. I pulled toward five categories:

Words and definitions—When I pay attention to what is going on around me, I constantly hear and see words and phrases I love. If I don’t write them down, they are quickly forgotten. I decided to use one section of my notebook for words I like and want to use on a more regular basis. I also use this section to note definitions for words; this helps me build my vocabulary without actively focusing on the activity.
Writing goals—I use my second section to write down and check off my writing goals. This is more fun to do visually, so I draw several boxes on and write a number in each. These numbers correspond to the chapter numbers I want to write. When I finish writing a chapter, I use a pink highlighter to shade in that box number. For instance, when I finished writing chapter 11, I colored in the box that had 11 written inside it.
Character development—Having one dedicated space to develop characters is crucial. Not only do we refer back to that information throughout the entire writing process but keeping detailed information on each character in one location also allows us to see in an instant if we have enough variation between characters. For example, if I wrote down that three of my characters all have blonde hair and blue eyes, I’d quickly be able to identify that I duplicated those physical attributes too many times and there are no defining features to distinguish characters from each other.
Scene building—Whether building a fictional world from scratch or using a favorite city as a book’s setting, it’s important to focus on continuity. Keeping detailed notes on the scenes we’ve built is so important because it allows us to maintain consistency, which gives us more credibility as writers, and we don’t have to go hunting through 300 pages of our manuscript to match up key details.
Free writing—There are days when ideas come to mind, but they don’t fit where I currently am in my writing or maybe don’t belong in my current piece of writing at all. I use my free writing section to brain dump those thoughts and ideas into one place. That way, when I’m ready for something new, I simply turn to that section in my notebook and get to work. I can’t begin to count how many story ideas I forgot throughout the years because I didn’t write them down. Having this section is extremely beneficial to my future self and the writing I want to accomplish.

The Benefits

In reality, there is no right or wrong to create your writer’s notebook. Include sections that work best for you and your writing goals. The benefits remain the same no matter how you construct your notebook. There is a lot of merit in keeping your inspiration in one place. You know exactly where to turn when your ideas are feeling a bit lackluster or you can’t keep your character descriptions straight.

The more you use your writer’s notebook, you also create a physical roadmap for yourself to see where your writing started and where it progressed. Over the years and spread across many volumes of your notebooks, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the characters you spent time with, the places you dreamed up out of thin air, and the goals you had to make each book possible.

If you keep a writer’s notebook, we’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @XulonPress and we’ll share your photos to inspire others to create their own notebooks as well.

The post How to Create a Writer’s Notebook appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

How Your Health Routine Impacts Your Writing Routine

Health routines are a trending topic in the wellness world, but did you know that the choices you make surrounding your health can also contribute to your writing routine in positive and negative ways? Just as an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise routine can leave you feeling lethargic and unmotivated, those unhealthy routines can also negatively impact your writing progress as well.

If your writing routine has become nonexistent or the work you’ve produced recently seems lackluster, review your health routines and spot opportunities for improvement that can ultimately impact and positively change your writing routine.

8 Poor Health Routines Affecting Your Writing
1. Lack of sleep.

Sleep is often the first part of a healthy lifestyle that writers sacrifice. Sure, it seems doable to burn the midnight oil a few days a week to keep up with career and family responsibilities and also contribute to our writing goals. The less sleep we get, however, has a negative effect on our writing because we can experience more irritability, anxiety, forgetfulness, and fuzzy thinking. So, aim to sleep between seven to nine hours per night. If you struggle to get the same amount of sleep each night, set a bedtime for yourself and incorporate a routine that signals to your brain that it’s time to get ready for sleep.

2. Dehydration.

When sitting down for a writing marathon, we often reach for caffeine to keep us clicking away on the keyboard. Yet, drinking caffeine without taking in enough water, we can actually become a bit dehydrated. Not drinking enough water can lead to lower cognitive function, which can make it more difficult for us to write well. Adults should consume at least 64 ounces of water per day, but many experts say we should aim to drink more water than that.

3. Poor diet.

Just like our water intake, the food we put into our bodies can affect our productivity in ways we might not always think about. Writers tend to rely on snacks—crackers, chocolate, cheese, and more—because they don’t involve cooking and keep the hunger pains at bay. With snacking though, we aren’t typically crunching baby carrots or other healthy options. Instead, we reach for comfort food snacks like candy and high carbohydrate foods. Food choices have an effect on our output. Comfort foods will eventually make us sleepy and pull us away from our writing to take a nap. Whereas healthy, whole foods will fuel our bodies and we are able to continue writing without pause.

4. Minimal Exercise.

A lack of exercise can lead to fatigue, weight gain, and a foggy head. Yet, exercise is another activity we typically cut from our lives because we think we don’t have time to do it. When it comes to incorporating more exercise into your routine, aim for 30 minutes each day or a total of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Moving your body releases endorphins, which are the feel-good hormones in your body that leave you feeling energized and can clear your mind for new ideas.

5. Tight muscles.

As writers, we sit a lot. All that sitting leads to tight muscles from our head to our toes, which can make us uncomfortable and put undue physical stress on our bodies. To relieve that muscle tension, incorporate more stretching and yoga into your lifestyle.

6. Lack of fresh air.

It can be a drain on our energy levels to sit inside and work all day. Our bodies crave fresh air and sunshine. The fresh air cleans our lungs and helps us take deeper breaths going forward. Sunlight helps reduce depression and stress, which can improve our moods before we sit down to write. Overall, time spent in nature can make us feel happier and can also lead to a better night’s sleep. If you spend long hours working at your desk inside, maybe try moving your workspace outside when possible or aim to get outside for 30 minutes to an hour each day to reap the health benefits of fresh air and sunshine.

7. Unrealistic expectations.

By nature, writers tend to set unrealistic goals to work toward. Those goals can lead to undue stress and anxiety, which can negatively affect our health and our writing routines. Many times, stress and unattainable goals lead us to quit the task that is causing the stress to begin with. Your goals shouldn’t make you feel like you want to stop writing altogether. So, if needed, reassess your writing goals and pull back where necessary. For example, if you originally told yourself that you were going to write all seven days of the week, back that goal down to only write three or four days a week.

8. Not prioritizing mental rest.

Writing is a mental activity. When we don’t rest our minds enough, we don’t allow our brains the opportunity to recharge. The world is full of attention-grabbing mental drains. Our phones, the TV and radio, work responsibilities and more can all pull on our attention. If you find yourself mentally exhausted all the time, try using a meditation app each day for five to 20 minutes to allow your mind to relax. The more refreshed your mind is, the better your writing can be.

We’d love to hear how you have taken steps to improve your health in order to impact your writing in positive ways. Have you traded a health vice for something better and seen an impact in your writing routine?

The post How Your Health Routine Impacts Your Writing Routine appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.