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Beth Ann Post Writes

~ This Writer's Life: Taming the Voices in My Head

Beth Ann Post Writes

Monthly Archives: July 2012

The Busy Parent’s (or Couch Potato’s) Tricks for Maximizing Writing Time

13 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by bethannpostwrites in ROW80, Writing Tips

≈ 1 Comment

There are days when I just get totally unmotivated to do anything. I get sucked in to whatever is on TV, sink into my chair with my blanket and my dog, and don’t move. It’s so easy to succumb to a “veg” day, which can turn in to a “veg” weekend, or spiral into a “veg” week, and so on.

To paraphrase Newton, a butt on the couch will stay on the couch unless compelled or bribed by something more enjoyable to do. Or a full bladder.

To counteract the siren’s call of these totally wasted days, this is what works for me:

In the mornings, after I knock the alarm clock off the nightstand and drag myself out of bed to the insistent whining of my dog, I get dressed. If it’s going to be an “at home” day, this is workout gear, including my tennis shoes. It’s really hard to get motivated to do anything wearing slippers, flip-flops, or going barefoot. And, if I look like I’m ready to go to the gym, I just might actually do some exercises at some point during the day.

Next, after starting the coffee maker, I do my hair and make-up. For me, I don’t feel like myself without my hair done and my make-up on. It’s my psychological symbol that the opportunity for a productive day is there, if I want it. And I’m more likely to get out of the house if I feel like I’m ready to meet other human beings.

On the days I get sucked in to TV programming, I force myself to do “Commercial Clean Up.” This is something I used to do with my kids during weekend cartoons. During the commercials, we’d all have to jump up and work on some chore: cleaning, laundry, picking up toys, you get the picture.

You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in that short snippet of time, and how much it all adds up by the end of the day. And technically, you can still sort of be a couch potato, if that’s a badge you wear proudly.

In the space of a commercial break, you can:

  • Empty the dishwasher
  • Start a load of laundry
  • Bring a basket of clothes from the dryer to be folded during the program
  • Clean the toilet
  • Clean the bathroom mirrors and counter
  • Clean the bathroom sink
  • Clean the kitchen counters
  • Clean the kitchen sink
  • Prep veggies for meals
  • Plan the day’s/week’s meals
  • Sweep the kitchen or bathroom floor
  • Mop the kitchen or bathroom floor
  • Do some jumping jacks
  • Lift some weights
  • Hold a yoga pose
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Line edit several pages

You get the idea. You can break up the chores you don’t like into small increments, and reward yourself by enjoying your favorite programs. Call it multitasking for the unmotivated. You don’t have to waste your “free” time doing these things, and you’ll have more time for your writing.

And when you get your kids involved, it becomes a race, a fun little competition. Small bits of chores are much more tolerable than 30-60 minutes (or an entire day’s worth) of doing the stuff no one want to do, but we all have to. And if you can make it a game, even just with yourself, it’s not as bad.

Now, for my (late again) mid-week update:

  • Blog post: done!
  • Reading fiction: Working
  • Editing: 20 pages done
  • Query: thinking hard J
  • Exercise: bust L we’ll see what happens tomorrow.
  • Everything else: still in progress.

Keep Writing! I’ll do the same!

Beth Ann

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Writing Goals Update Week 1: Time to Re-Evaluate

10 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by bethannpostwrites in ROW80

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This past week, everything that could go wrong, did. Power outages, internet issues, insomnia and my health taking a downward turn have all put a damper on my apparently overly ambitious objectives. And I’m late on my Week 1 check in. I have decided to  down scale my goals for this round. My health has to be my number one priority.

Writing is a part of that. It keeps me sane and lifts me up when everything is crashing down around me. It’s my sedentary escapism. But, I’d rather succeed in accomplishing (and maybe surpassing) smaller goals and feel like I’m winning at something than continue to fail at everything.

So, here’s what happened last week and the updated goals for the next part of this round.

1. Writing

a. 750 250+ words a day on MS 2 (after completing outline by this Sunday.)

b. Final FINAL edit on MS 1.

c. Write query and synopsis for MS 1 by Sunday end of the July.

d. Send out MS 1 queries to agents (YIKES!)

2. Blogging

I need the connection to the outside world. I’m isolating myself too much, even though it’s unavoidable until I get some physical energy back. What little bit of energy I have goes to basic needs and medical appointments.

I’d like to come up with weekly theme days: 1 or 2 to start (planning on beginning this next week)

     a. 1 Blog post per week while I figure out the format of my blog

I have some things in a file I may dig out and repurpose for this until I’m in the state of mind and body to create something completely new.

     b. Comment on 5+ 3+ blogs per week

     c. Create blog format (i.e. Manic Mondays, Twirly Tuesdays…)Still to do

3. Reading/Reviewing

     a. 1 Book review per week every other week, until I get caught up. (Then, it’s at the mercy of how fast I can read.)

     b. Read fiction each night before bed. Done!! Woo hoo! Keep working this!

     c. Read (and review) at least 1 craft book per month during this round.

4. Health

I’m fighting my health issues with everything I have, which isn’t much right now. I’m desperately trying to stay optimistic…

     a. Increase stamina and muscle tone.

                  i.   Treadmill in small increments throughout the day.

Start with 10 minutes per hour as tolerated. Epic fail. Rough health week on so many levels. Still overall goal.

                ii.   Light weights during commercials (when not writing) as tolerated. Epic fail. See i.

     b. Really focus on eating properly. Fail. See i. Too tired to prep much. Finally went grocery shopping yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks and it kicked my a$$. Hopefully I’ll energy to prep and pre-cook tomorrow. In the meantime, yogurt’s healthy, right?

     c. Continue with doctor’s orders. Doing. Just started new treatments. It’s an hour’s drive each way to the doctor’s office, plus an hour for the treatment, two times per week. The whole thing wipes me out. I try to do whatever errands (I pick 1 each day) are a priority on those days, because I know I’ll be whipped for at least the next day or two. Plus, it’s about the only time I get out of the house, so hopefully I can do something to give myself a little boost. Yesterday it was grocery shopping (the dogs needed food—and so did the family); hopefully on Thursday, I can stop at the bookstore. That’s always been my go-to place, usually each day on my lunch hour at work. It calms, relaxes and recharges. And a great place to visualize my book being front and center someday!

I’m not giving up, just doing a little…adjusting. Thanks for listening and for coming along for the ride!

Beth

 

Midweek Check In

04 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by bethannpostwrites in ROW80

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I finally got my power back on! *Happy dance!* After over twenty-four hours of ninety-five plus degree weather and a blistering, sleepless night full of house-shaking thunderstorms and periodic M-80 explosions, I’m just a tad behind on my goals. Oh, and still no internet. I’m going to try to make it somewhere with Wi-Fi, but the exhaustion is kicking my @$$ today. (Update: I just wasn’t up to going out, so I tried desperately to do this from my phone. I couldn’t get it to work. But, I sucked it up and went to the coffice for a bit. Now, it’s nap time.)

There’s no focus to be had, so I think I’ll work ahead on the reading goals and (hopefully) double up on the writing goals tomorrow and/or throughout the weekend.

But, I’m all about the last minute sprint, so there’s hope. And, with each goal subdivided in to weekly increments, every Monday is a fresh start. Who’d have thought I’d ever actually look forward to Mondays!

And I’m working on a real (non ROW80 update related) blog post to hopefully have up before Sunday. I may have to break out the Elixir of Inspiration…

Happy Independence Day! And a great big “thank you” to all of our service men and women, and their families. All those big sparkly things in the sky, they’re for you.

ROW80: Round 3 Goals

02 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by bethannpostwrites in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

ROW 80 Round 3 Goals

So, this first ROW80 is off to a roaring start! I’ve been without power all day, and, stupid me, I didn’t plug in my laptop last night (not to mention I don’t have battery powered internet either). So, I’m working at the coffice today. And, this post is much later than I had planned.

Here are my goals for this round.

1. Writing

a. 750+ words a day on MS 2 (after completing outline by this Friday.)

b. Final FINAL edit on MS 1.

c. Write query and synopsis for MS 1 by Sunday.

d. Send out MS 1 queries to agents (YIKES!)

2. Blogging

I’d like to come up with weekly theme days—1 or 2 to start

a. 1 Blog post per week while I figure out the format of my blog

b. Comment on 5+ blogs per week

c. Create blog format (i.e. Manic Mondays, Twirly Tuesdays…)

3. Reading/Reviewing

a. 1 Book review per week, until I get caught up. (Then, it’s at the mercy of how  fast I can read.)

b. Read fiction each night before bed.

c. Read (and review) at least 1 craft book per month.

4. Health

I’m currently off from my day job to recover and regain my health. My allergies and chemical sensitivities have been getting progressively worse and my immune system is going haywire. A big part of this is severe exhaustion, progressing muscle weakness and severe environmental sensitivity.

At first, I was planning to make the best of a bad situation and focus on my writing. You can just sit in a comfy chair with the lap top and go to town. Well, I spent most of the first month off sleeping, or fighting insomnia. On the occasional “good” day, I’d try to catch up on the little things I had to let slip (like laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning…) and be virtually bedridden for the next 3-4 days. There’s a very fine line between increasing stamina through activity and exercise and total debilitation. I’m walking that tight rope every day.

a. Increase stamina and muscle tone.

i.   Treadmill in small increments throughout the day.

Start with 10 minutes per hour as tolerated.

ii.   Light weights during commercials (when not writing) as tolerated.

b. Really focus on eating properly. This means I have to prep my meals and    snacks. I tend to get too tired to fix something nutritious, especially later in the day, so I eat whatever is grab and go on hand.

c.  Continue with doctor’s orders.

So, 90 days to an improved life. I’m in!

 

 

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