Just write it!
I am an author. But, these days it means much more than sitting in front of my computer hacking out page after page until I have a completed story. Times have changed, regardless of if you are self published or traditionally published, we have to market and have a presence on the internet to sell books.
*Sigh* This can take up so much time out of our writing day and also, it becomes a little addicting. I know for a while I felt like I was missing out on something if I was away from the internet too long. I had to literally force myself to go outside and when I did it was like being in some strange world full of color and wonder … all right, maybe not quite that bad, but you get what I mean. My point here is that marketing and social networking is probably taking up way more time than you actually need to be putting in.
I know, I know! We need to make posts or people will forget about us!
This is true to an extent. Here is the thing. Both Twitter and Facebook have scheduling tools. Facebook has one right underneath the post area. It looks like a little clock. And Twitter has then via Twitter tools such has Hoot Suite. I normally take time at the beginning of the week or the end to schedule in a few posts. One time I went camping for a whole week and didn’t get online the whole time … but my posts were being posted! This will leave you more time to write for sure because if you don’t get on there you have less temptation to check out the news feed and see whats going on, check messages, check all your page stats, ect…
Writing books must consist of actually writing them. It won’t get written while your sitting around watching the tube and thinking about them. It won’t get written while you are playing Candy Crush and thinking about your storyline. It also won’t get written while you are checking your sales and reviews every five minutes. Just sit down and write the damn thing! Pull up the document and only that document and write it!
If the internet is distracting you, get out an effing notebook and write in that!
What? Oh, you got kids … well, I have five. Yes, summer is harder to get things done. I get that. But, I still do it. Take them to the park and use the notebook. Make a schedule and write when it’s time to write. Do not use your writing time to mess around.
Sometimes, the hardest part of this is breaking a habit and making a habit. Internet can be a habit and a hard one to break. Making a schedule for yourself can be a hard habit to get into if you aren’t used to it. Like me, I used to just write whenever I felt like it. Now I have a few hours set aside that I write and only write. With all my kids and husband and it being summer, yes it’s harder but you can get quite a bit done in those few hours if you just do it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not getting massive amounts of work done like some authors who can bust out a full novel in a few weeks. Yeah, I want to enjoy life while I’m trying to make one. I also don’t want to neglect my kids. It’s all just a matter of balance.
Moral of the story here is to MAKE time to write. It can be done. I have so many people ask me how in the world I manage this with five kids and my answer is always the same. “I have no idea.” Lol But, really I do know… it’s what I just told you, balance.
Another thing that might be stopping you from writing is being stuck on a part of your book. Ok. Been there, I know how it goes. Just plow through and write in something temporary, like, And here is an epic fight scene where main character gets shot and then comes back to kick the asses of the bad guys, then move on and go back later to write the scene. This works, I promise you.
So, you have idea’s rolling around in your head. Go write it down. Do you have a few unfinished stories? Go write it down. You need to finally finish that novel? Go write it down!
And remember … don’t forget to live life outside your stories and the internet. Taking walks and exercise works wonders for the brain.
