As you develop your daily writing habit, focus on how triggers can help you become a more productive writer. Analyze your routine in the moments before you typically write. Look for repetitive or consistent things that can serve as a Pavlovian-like reminder that it’s time to work on your manuscript. For example, if you brew a cup of tea before you sit down to write, brewing tea becomes the action that signals your brain that it is time to write. Also, be aware of triggers that can distract you from your writing and take steps to silence those before you get to work.
Category Archives: Write by Midnight
Write by Midnight Tip 2-21-18
Posted in Administrator, Write by Midnight
Tagged writing habit, writing routine, writing tips
Write by Midnight Boost 2-16-18
You’re halfway through Write by Midnight. Now is the time to celebrate your accomplishments. If you’re meeting your goals, try raising the bar and seeing how much more you can achieve. If you’re not on track, now is the time to reassess and refine your expectations. Remember, the goal of Write by Midnight is to establish a solid writing habit. You only have two weeks to go. Go find that second wind.
Posted in Administrator, Write by Midnight
Tagged setting goals, WBM, Write by Midnight, writing tips
Write by Midnight Tip 2-14-18
It can be hard to focus on your work when there are other things screaming for your attention. One way to increase productivity is to put yourself into a writing bubble. Tell your family, coworkers and friends that you’re writing now and want to focus on your work. Let them know they can have your attention when you’re done. Put your phone in another room and disconnect from the internet. If stray sounds distract you from your writing, try using a white noise maker or playing background music. Sometimes, noise-canceling ear plugs are the better way to go. If you respect your own writing time, others will do the same, and you’ll be that much closer to getting published.
Posted in Administrator, Write by Midnight
Tagged setting goals, time management, WBM, Write by Midnight, writing tips
A New Year Needs a New Routine
Megan Norris Jones
The key to being a writer is writing. The key to writing is establishing a routine. And the key to routine is consistency. But do you know what my life isn’t? Consistent. Sure, I’ll have a routine that works for a season, but schedules change, and then my routine falters, and my writing suffers.
For the second year, WriteOwls is hosting Write by Midnight in the month of February with the goal of helping you—and us—establish a daily writing routine by the end of the month.
Write by Midnight was a huge success for me personally last year. At the time, I had five hours every Tuesday to write, and I used Write by Midnight to establish a short daily morning routine to keep my momentum going throughout the week.
But, do you know what? I don’t have Tuesdays any more. And I don’t have mornings either. Life has changed since February 2017, and I need a new push to establish a new routine. Continue reading
Posted in Megan's Posts, Write by Midnight
Tagged goals, WBM, Write by Midnight, writing, writing life, writing routines
Write by Midnight Boost 2-9-18
Don’t fret if you’re having trouble coming up with the perfect words during the Write by Midnight challenge. The important thing is to spend time writing or improving your work-in-progress. Placeholder sentences are the saving grace for many writers during the first draft. When you know what needs to happen but inspired prose fails you, flag the spot with a symbol like a double hashtag or ampersand – something that’s easily searchable later – and tell what you want to show. Then move on. You can revisit the phrasing when inspiration strikes or during the editing phase.
Posted in Administrator, Write by Midnight
Tagged inspiration, WBM, Write by Midnight, writing tips