How to Use a Planner to Make Time for Writing

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Sometimes, amid the hectic day-to-day lifestyle that’s common for most of us, it can be difficult to find the time to write. Even if we write for a living, there are many other events, appointments, and tasks we need to do on an average day. 

Writing tends to be pushed to the side to make room for everything else. A great way to help combat the issue of not having time to write is to use a planner. 

3 Great Tools to Plan Your Writing

Google Calendar

Google calendar is one option to use as a planner. It’s a useful tool because it can link directly to your phone and email. If someone emails you a date you need to remember, you should automatically receive the option to add it to your Google Calendar (as long as you’re using Gmail). Once it’s added to the calendar, reminders show up on your phone when a scheduled event is happening. 

In a world where we’re all on our phones so much of the time (too much sometimes), these reminders can help us put our phones down and get back to work!

In a world where we’re all on our phones so much of the time (too much sometimes), these reminders can help us put our phones down and get back to work! We can also use Google calendar to block time and set reminders when it’s time to write, read, edit, or whatever other writerly tasks we need to get done.

Dry Erase Calendar

A dry erase calendar can be something small that sits on our desk, or it can be larger and hang on the wall. They are handy because we can use them as many times as we want without having to replace them every year. 

A bedroom or office wall is a great place to use a dry erase board because you can see it when you wake up or begin work in the morning and before you get done with work or go to sleep at night. You’ll be able to clearly see what you have going on each day. 

The best thing about dry erase boards (or dry erase anything, really) is that if we need to change up our plans, we simply erase and move around anything that needs to be changed. It’s also fun to use different colored markers to keep things organized, or just for a bit of flair.

Paper Planner

A paper planner is very useful when it comes to staying on track with our writing. You can get them pretty much anywhere, but we love Barnes & Noble and Amazon. 

Whether or not you love a pretty cover, what’s inside the planner is what’s important. A day planner, rather than a monthly planner, will be the most helpful in terms of getting writing done every day. When you can see each day on a micro level, you can plan out when to do your tasks, including writing, and see that there’s enough room for it all. The Happy Planner (shown to the right) is an excellent paper planner!

The Happy Planner

Monthly planners can be helpful, too, especially for goal-setting. Many planners have both pieces, which means you can chart your goals and get there with small tasks in one handy place. 

How to Use a Planner for Writing

1. Fill out your planner with non-writing events first. It’s important to start with this because sometimes there are events or appointments we have that are necessary, but non-writing related (like going to the dentist). If only we could spend every day writing, that would be the dream! Alas, we all have “real life” stuff to do, too, so we need to make sure that when we’re filling out our planner for the week/month, we start here. 

   When we start here, we won’t accidentally schedule writing or reading time for a day when we already have many back-to-back appointments or meetings. It’s better to set ourselves up for success and plan our writing times for when we know we will be able to dedicate our full attention to it, even if it’s only for half an hour. 

2. Plan time to read. As writers, it’s critical that we read. It helps us to continually learn and grow as writers. Reading in the genre that we write is also a great way to learn about our own preferences and figure out which writing styles we want to use. It can be a great way to unwind and destress from a crazy day, too,

   Personally, if I don’t put reading on my schedule, I hardly ever get to it, so I made it a goal to read at least three chapters a day. It’s the perfect amount for me, not too much, but not so little that it takes me months to read a single book. We each have to find whatever pace works best for our schedules and our goals.

3. Plan time to write. The main goal in using our planner for writing is to make sure we plan time to write! Once we’ve filled in all the major events, appointments, and meetings, then we can get to the good stuff - writing. 

   Some of us want to write every day, which can seem like a lofty goal. If we break it down, it doesn’t seem so out of reach. I try to allot one hour a day in my schedule for writing. This is another flexible idea that depends on each person. There are some days when we may have a couple hours to write, or maybe just a few minutes. Either way, I try to write at least a little bit every day.

4. Plan time to edit. Editing is an important piece to start scheduling once we have a complete draft to edit. Some writers may edit as they go, but others, like me, edit at the end of a project/book. To avoid the trap of over-editing (because our inner critic feeds on that), we find that it’s generally best to get through most of a draft before doing major editing. 

   When I schedule editing, I still like to work on writing too, since I have a few projects going at once. I’ll schedule times for writing, and separate times for editing. 

   Not everyone works this way! It’s absolutely fine if you remove writing from your planner to make room for editing a project. The reason it’s important to add editing to our planners is because it’s another thing that may fall quite far on our list of priorities if we’re not proactive.

5. If there’s time…In some planners, there are sections each week for extra tasks. In my planner it’s called “If there’s time…” which is a great addition when you can find a planner that has one.

   This area is where we can put the tasks that aren’t as important, but we’d still like to if we have spare time. Like most people, I find that I often forget even the simple things if I don’t write them down, so it’s nice to have a space in my planner that helps me remember the tasks I wanted to do if I have time.

6. Use color coding. Color coding can help with organization, as well as add a bit of fun to planning. For example, we can choose a color to go with each type of task. 

   For me, anything I need to do with writing is written in pink, anything about reading is written in green, and any appointments are written in orange. But you can create whatever kind of color code you want!

   Stickers and tabs are also helpful and fun because they can be a cute reminder or pick-me-up that also helps you separate out tasks that need to be done. We find that making our planners fun and colorful makes our to-do lists both more functional and less imposing (especially when it’s a long list!).

7. Give yourself small, bite-sized tasks. When we put too large of tasks on our lists and don’t finish them, it can put a damper on our spirits. Breaking larger tasks up into a couple of smaller ones makes finishing much easier. We get to check off multiple tasks on our list, and we feel accomplished because we at least started our project, or maybe even finished it. 

   For those of us who lack motivation or just need a little extra push, it’s also okay to include day-to-day tasks like brushing our teeth and eating breakfast in our planners. Even if it seems trivial, we need to make sure that we can get through our day as best we can - sometimes that means crossing things off of our list! 

8. Give yourself small rewards for completing tasks. Small rewards are a great way to make completing our tasks more fun & exciting. Rewards can be anything from a ten minute break to a special snack to using a fun pen to check the task off the list. 

   Personally, I use a fancy gel pen to check off my completed tasks and it creates a feeling of satisfaction and I don’t need much else to keep me moving. If a task seems more daunting or cumbersome, Sometimes I need a bigger reward for completing it like buying a new pen or notebook. It all comes down to staying motivated. After all, you know yourself best - what will keep you going?

My challenge to you is to start using a planner - any kind of planner. 

Do you already use a planner? What type of planner works for you? How do you stay motivated? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

5 Hacks for Outlining Your Writing

Outlining is more than just a tool for writing essays in school. I remember how annoying it used to be that we had to go through all the steps when writing essays. As it turns out, when it came to actually writing the essays, the outlines were a godsend! 

It works similarly for writing books, short stories, or any other type of creative writing. If we have a basic outline or skeleton for our project, a lot of the work is already done when we sit down to write. 

An Outline in Writing is: 

...a flexible source of organization  

Outlines can be constantly changing. They never have to be set in stone. Another way to describe it is a living document. We may start with one idea that morphs into a whole new project as we go along. Don’t fear change when it comes to writing.

...a handy guide

Outlines are nice to fall back on when we’re lost in a sea of thoughts, or maybe a lack thereof. They work to refocus our minds when there are so many other things working to distract us. These guides will keep us on task and keep us moving forward.

...a way to organize our thoughts

It’s easy to lose track of our thoughts, especially if we’re writing them down on random scraps of paper as they come. Having an outline gives us a place to compile all these thoughts and keep them somewhat organized. If we need to go back and reference a certain idea, it makes it that much easier to find what we’re looking for and get back to work!

...NOT an exact template (unless you want it to be)

Outlines are FLEXIBLE, they’re living, working documents. We each choose what we want to include, and no two outlines will look exactly alike. However, some of us enjoy more rigidity when it comes to planning/outlining and there are plenty of templates out there that we can use! Here’s what I use to organize my writing.

...NOT a cut and dry thing that will never change again

When we create an outline, it’s just the base for whatever we’re writing. As we continue to work on our writing project, new or changed ideas come to mind and we may need to adjust our original outlines. That’s okay! In fact, I might even go as far as to say outlines usually do change over the course of a writing project. There’s no rule that we have to stick to our outlines - they are, after all, only guidelines. Make changes as you go, and all will be well. 

...NOT a “requirement” to write well

Not everyone needs an outline. They’re not required for quality writing, nor are they always necessary. There are two terms, “pantsing” and “plotting,” that refer to this idea: Everyone is different and not everyone outlines. 

To be a ‘pantser’ means that you don’t use outlines, you do everything by the seat of your pants. To be a ‘plotter’ means you utilize outlines and plot out your details before beginning to write. Whatever mode you choose, we’re all capable of writing amazing creative pieces. 

5 Hacks for Outlining Your Writing

1. Create a table of contents

We’ve all seen tables of contents in one form or another. It looks a little like this: 

Table of Contents

Title

Intro…What is an outline?

Ch. 1… How to write an outline

Ch. 2…Different types of outlines

Ch. 3…Uses for outlines

Works Cited/References/Acknowledgements

It’s a great tool to keep track of how our writing piece will be organized, and to view our work as a whole. It makes life easier so we’re not always flipping back and forth between pages or tabs.

2. Make notes & keep them handy

Keeping a notebook at the ready helps ensure we have a spot to jot down any random writing related thought that pops into our mind. The Notes app on our phone is a great digital option, or the Journey app.

Writing ideas don’t always strike at the most opportune times, so it’s important we write them down when they do come. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck scratching our heads trying to remember the idea once we sit down to write. 

If we keep all of our notes together and easily accessible, it will be easier to refer back to them when we’re writing. We won’t have to waste any time scouring our brains, or our writing space, for ideas. Time is precious when it comes to writing, as all writers have felt at one point or another.

3. Visually outline (or storyboard) the timeline & characters

Visual outlines help us envision how our writing will all come together. Most often we call these visuals storyboards. They can be physical or digital, and can include a whole host of things. For example: timelines, character charts, photos, writing schedules, word counts, and breakdowns of each chapter/section. They are a place to figure out if our plans make sense chronologically, if there are any holes, or if we need to head back to the drawing board.

Something we can incorporate into our storyboards, or that can become our storyboard, is a vision board. Vision boards are usually more photo-based, but can also be useful for imagining our writing coming to life. To learn a little more about how to create a vision board for your writing, read this.

4. Start your living document (your outline) & add to it as you go

Creating a living document is easiest to do digitally whether on a computer, tablet, or even phone. Once we have a document, we can just add and/or delete our ideas as they come. You can also use pen and paper to create a document for your writing - a journal of sorts. Just be sure that it’s something that won’t be lost or accidentally toss when you tidy up your writing space!

This is where we decide what type of outline to make. We can choose to follow a template, or come up with our own approach. There’s no right way to create an outline. Some common types of outlines include: 

• Web diagrams

• Tables

• Charts

It is up to each of us to decide what best suits our needs and is most useful. You can read more about specific descriptions of many different outlines here - and see some famous writers’ outlines in action!

5. Start writing!

Don’t get so caught up in the details of outlining that you forget to write. Sometimes it’s easier to stay in that pre-writing honeymoon phase, but we’ll never know how well our planning works until we put it to the test! If you’re a little stuck on where to start, read this - it will help.

As we go along, we can always refer back to our outline, changing and rearranging it as needed. Our writing often develops a mind of it’s own and strays from the path of our original outline, and that’s okay. Make new notes, adjust your outline, and keep pushing forward.

Next Steps

Don’t stress too much over creating an outline. Writing is meant to be a form of expression, and what’s most important is that we enjoy ourselves while doing it. Outlining is simply a tool that we can utilize to make the most of our writing. If it’s not something that works for you, no sweat. Do something that does work for you, even if that’s just going with the flow.

What now, though?

1. Gather all your notes on your current project (if you don’t have a current project, start fresh!). It doesn’t matter if it’s sticky notes or a binder filled with notes, or the messiest Google Doc you’ve ever seen: make sure to gather all of it into one accessible place. 

2. Try out a method or two of outlining to see which one best  fits your style. Remember, you don’t have to stick to this outline forever! If you decide along the way it isn’t working out, change it up. 

3. Outline your work as best you can at this point. Remember, this is a living and flexible document and can change as necessary. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get something written down that you can refer back to when you need.

4. Get help taking action! If you’re stuck and need help, click here to learn more about how to get writing coaching. Sometimes it’s hard to get the ball rolling and we need a little extra motivation or guidance, and that’s perfectly okay! Help is there if you want or need it.

I challenge you to create an outline for your next or latest writing project. 

Did you use an outline template or create your own? How did it go? Was it helpful? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

The Key to Creating Next-Level Writing Habits

I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but I love goals and learning to take small steps toward consistent new habits. After all, small steps lead to big results, right? At least that's what they say.

What better time to start learning than a fresh new year? 

Writing habits can prove a little tricky, though! In our busy lives, time for creative work often feels like a luxury or some unattainable “perfect world” situation. Writing gets pushed aside for other more pressing concerns because we feel like there’s always tomorrow. 

Hopefully there are many tomorrows in which to write or be the coveted “writer” you’ve always dreamed of being, but having a solid writing habit will make your life better today. 

Why Writing Habits Matter

The bottom line for writing habits is: your dreams matter. 

What you want to do and who you want to be is important! It might seem to get lost in the humdrum of daily life as a spouse/caregiver/hardworking employee - and whatever the other roles are in your life - but your creativity is a part of who you are. Because you know this part of you, it’s worth creating a writing habit. 

There are 3 main ways writing habits benefit you in everyday life:

1. Create Consistency Like other aspects of your life, developing a habit will create consistency for your writing and creativity. This means showing up to your writing regularly, even when it might not feel “inspired.” What happens when there’s consistency? Growth! Progress! Pride in your hard work! All the good things you want for your writing. 

2. Facilitate Progress So you want to publish a book? Start a writing business? Simply enjoy your life more? Developing a writing habit can help you do all of these things. When you show up, there’s no way to not see progress. (i.e. no more moping on Facebook for an hour every night about the fact that you “should have been” writing because you’ve done it already!)

3. Boost Confidence There’s nothing in the world quite like finishing a particularly exciting scene or storyline. It’s one of those things writers crave: to see their words on the page and know they did it! Creating a writing habit and showing up to your writing regularly will give you confidence in your skills and abilities, even if it starts out by the sheer fact that you’re practicing them on a daily/weekly basis. Long-term, your confidence about being able to start and complete new projects will grow. You’ll know you can do it because you have done it - and because you’re a badass unstoppable dream-getter. 

What is a Writing Habit? 

So, writing habits sound awesome, right? You’re kind of a big deal, and the stories you have to share with the world are, too. 

But what exactly is a writing habit? After all, many of us are incredibly busy. Does a writing habit mean we have to write every day? 

A writing habit is simply a routine you create for your writing. A way to establish a practice that helps you write. You don’t necessarily have to write every day - I don’t write creatively every day - but you should write frequently. 

Writing habits and routines include aspects like:

• Environment - where you sit, what’s around you, smells, sounds, temperature of the room, etc.

• Physical self - how you prepare your body to write, sitting, laying, clothing you’re wearing, etc.

• Headspace - how you prepare your mind and emotions to write, music, open-mindedness, excitement, etc. 

The great thing is that your writing habit is unique to you! While it’s helpful to read about other writers’ habits and maybe even try them out, there’s no set in stone way that you have to build your habit so that it works. You know you best, which means you can design a habit that helps you better than anyone else could.

8 Simple Steps to Creating Next-Level Writing Habits

1. Have a writing session. Before you make any changes to what you do now, you need to figure out what exactly you do. Take some time to have a writing session in the way you know works best for you right now. For instance, when I have a writing session for my novel, I go into my office (with no dogs in tow) and I light a little tea light on my desk. I open up my Google doc and read through a couple of scenes to get into the flow of the story before I try to write anything new. Sometimes I lightly edit the scenes I read, or fix typos, but my main focus is to feel the characters and live with them for a little while so I can create more of their world.

2. Analyze what made your writing session successful. When you’ve done your session (I hope it’s awesome!), you need to figure out what worked. What made you feel good? What made you get excited to write? What really got your creative juices flowing? 

   1. Consider Environment: the physical space around you, the sounds, the smells, the lighting, your posture, distractions you felt, feelings in your body, your clothes - anything that you notice that affected your writing session from a physical perspective

   2. Consider Mindset: what were your initial thoughts, why did the distractions come up, any stresses, any excitement, your mental space, your emotional space, your feeling when session was complete - anything you notice that affected your writing session from a mindset perspective

   3. Consider What Went Wrong: Sometimes writing sessions just don’t go as planned. If this happened to you, think about what went wrong using the same points as what went right, that way you can mitigate them when you write again

3. Set a small writing goal. Once you’ve thoroughly analyzed your last writing session, set a small goal for the next session. Don’t set any goals that are outlandish, like that you want to write the next 50 pages (unless that’s how much you already do in a typical writing session). Think about things like: “I want to finish this chapter” or “I want to rewrite the ending of this scene so it’s more convincing.” Remember, small progress is progress. The more small goals you set and achieve, the better you’ll feel about your bigger goals.  I like to set my small goals about finishing particular sections of my novel - sometimes that’s 2 pages, and sometimes it’s 10. I rarely write more than one section at a time. 

4. Schedule time to write. Once you’ve got your goal, set a time to work on it! I would encourage you to pick a time within the next week.

5. Have another writing session. Remember when you analyzed your last session? Take as many of those pieces as you can and recreate the session. If your session didn’t go as planned last time, consider what went wrong and do your best to change or eliminate those things from this session. 

6. Compare the two sessions. Now that you’ve done two writing sessions, one “normal” and one with a small writing goal, consider: 

   1. What’s the same? 

   2. What’s different? 

   3. What could make the next session even better?

7. Schedule another time to write. This is the “habit” part of your new writing habit - showing up regularly!

8. Follow through on your schedule and reflect each time. Don’t let your writing sessions become the thing you keep putting off. Remember, your creativity and writing dreams are important! You don’t push other important stuff off from week to week, do you? When you show up and reflect on what’s working, and what’s not, you’ll be able to consistently plan effective writing sessions for yourself and create a next-level writing habit that’s tailored to you. 

Next Steps

So that’s it! There’s nothing overtly complicated about creating a writing habit that works for you. 

What you need to do now is:

1. Do those first writing sessions & reflect. Don’t skip the reflection! That’s key to being able to create your new habit.

2. Show up to your new habit. Be intentional about making time to write, even if it's at the crack of dawn before everyone’s awake or at night when everyone’s asleep.

3. Get help and accountability. If you need help figuring out what might work for you, or you just want some accountability (because we know that’s helpful!) click here to read how I work with writers just like you! I love love love helping writers get set up with new habits, and I know we can work together to find what works best for you. 
   

I challenge you to do a writing session within the next 7 days and stick to it. 

Have you developed a writing habit before? How did it go? Do you have specific steps that help you write? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

6 Creative Time Management Strategies to Keep Writing this Holiday Season

It’s that time of year again: the holidays. 

The ones where many people seem to be running around frantically trying to accomplish 6 months worth of cleaning in the 2 weeks before families gather for one of the biggest celebrations of the year.

Well, that’s how it usually is at least. This year is a little different! We may not be gathering as much as usual, but we’re all definitely home for the holidays, which means joy!...and lots of needs. 

It might feel like our writing is at the bottom of our list of “important” things, but the reality is that our creativity and writing does matter to our daily lives.

There are many stressors and many personal joys getting put aside for the sake of preparing for the holidays. Taking care of extra household chores and possibly extra people in our homes is a lot of work! It might feel like our writing is at the bottom of our list of “important” things, but the reality is that our creativity and writing does matter to our daily lives - even if it’s just a momentary escape from the humdrum or a blessed relief from people needing us so much. 

So in honor of the busiest time of year, I’ve put together some simple strategies to help you keep writing this holiday season.

6 Creative Time Management Strategies that Will Help you Stay Sane this Holiday Season

Although simple, these strategies work! I use them in my daily life, and although they work on a regular basis, they’re even better around the holidays. Rest assured: you’re not alone in your stress! You’ll get through it and these strategies will help.

Stay Calm

First and foremost, panic is the enemy of productivity and creativity. If you’re in a frenzy about how to do all the things you’ll end up doing nothing. Not the necessary tasks, not the fun tasks - you’ll just worry about all of them and remain frozen in inaction. 

So, when you think about all the things you need to do, take a deep breath and stay calm while you figure things out.

So, when you think about all the things you need to do, take a deep breath and stay calm while you figure things out. This is probably one of the trickiest things to do when you’re already worked up, but it’s critical. If one breath doesn’t work, take however many you need to clear your mind enough to move forward.

Make a List

I’m not just saying this because I love lists (because I SO do): creating a list of tasks to complete is probably the simplest and easiest way to help you organize yourself and manage your time. When you sit down (calmly, of course) to think about all the tasks you need to do AND you write them down, not only are they much more likely to get done, but you also won’t have to worry about forgetting them! 

If you’re wondering whether your writing should count as a task: Yes. Put your writing on the list of things you need to do this holiday season. It’s for you, it’s something you love, and your creativity is worth investing your time in, even when time feels like a scarce commodity.

Use Your Calendar!

Once you have your list, begin to put things on your calendar. Whether you like a hands-on paper calendar or a digital calendar - schedule time for tasks. Talk to the people who live in your house and tell them what you’re doing. 

Putting things on the calendar makes them feel more important. Just like a meeting at work or a doctor’s appointment, your tasks at home, including writing, warrant setting aside time. Telling the people around you about your plan will help create an awareness that you’ll be doing things a little differently so you’ll need support and perhaps extra help.

Take One Small Step at a Time

Seeing a laundry list of things to do can be overwhelming. Seeing a busy calendar full of things you need to do can be a lot to take in, especially if you’re not used to seeing things there! Or planning ahead. 

The most important thing to remember is to keep taking small steps forward.

The most important thing to remember is to keep taking small steps forward. Even if you miss your goal for household chores or skip a writing session you planned, you can still spend some time doing each task. Maybe it’s 15 minutes hiding from everyone in the bathroom to get some semblance of peace and quiet so you can empty your brain onto the page. Maybe it’s cleaning as many dishes as you can while dinner is in the oven and thinking about that creative idea you had earlier - multi-tasking for the win. 

Small steps are still steps, just like small progress is still progress.

Just Say “No”

The holidays seem to come with a crazy amount of extra requests for help or time together or even just to listen about how hard everything has been this year. While we don’t want to become Grinchs, we also don’t need to be “Yes Men” either. 

It’s okay, and healthy, to set boundaries when everyone wants you to do everything or prepare everything or take care of everyone. It’s okay to say “no,” even to your family who you love so dearly. You are only one person. So, if something comes up out of the blue that’s not an emergency (because we can’t predict those), seriously consider whether you a) want to do whatever it is they’re asking and b) whether you have the emotional and physical bandwidth for the task. 

It’s not always about being nice or flexible - those things are both great - but, sometimes people forget that you have your own things to worry about, too.

Enlist Help

There’s this romantic idea that being home for the holidays is this fabulous time without frustration and stress, but, as you probably know from the rest of the year, being home so much with so many people (thanks, COVID) - even when you love them - is enough to drive anyone crazy. 

When your To-Do list looks like something that’s going to walk right out of a Stephen King novel, it’s time to enlist help.

When your To-Do list looks like something that’s going to walk right out of a Stephen King novel, it’s time to enlist help. Partners, kids, and anyone else living under your roof who is able-bodied can help you with the little things. You can even make a game out of it! But, one thing is for sure: the holidays don’t mean that you alone signed up for extra work on behalf of everyone who will enjoy the benefits of it. 

Next Steps

I know this time of year is hella stressful. Most of us aren’t even travelling as usual and it’s still complicated! The good news is that there are ways to help yourself manage this holiday season, and get some writing done to boot. 

You have the strategies, but what’s next?

1. Look at your calendar and see when you will be busiest. It’s still early, so you have time to think about it!

2. Make a tentative plan for how you think the holidays will play out. Start making your list of what you already know you need to get done. Make those decisions about when you’re going where or if you’re even traveling at all.

3. Share your plan with  people who can (and should) help you! Prepare the people around you. Tell them about what you’re doing, tell them what you expect, and tell them what you need. Tell them how much you love them and are grateful for them - this will (hopefully) make them less resistant to pitching in!

4. Take a breath of relief because you’re going to be just fine. My mom has always said, “This, too, shall pass” and it’s never failed to happen. Even if this is the worst holiday season you ever experience (I hope not!), it will pass and you’ll be okay. Know that you’re loved and appreciated. (And if you need an extra reminder of how awesome you are, email me right now - I’ll shower you with praise! rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com). 

My challenge to you is to take a breath, make a plan, and build time into your busy holiday season for your writing. You’ll feel great about it!

Do you write during the holidays? How do you maintain motivation? Do you have other ways to manage your time so you can keep writing? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media and/or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

11 Unexpected Time Management Hacks for Writers

Most of us feel busy. Because of the popular messaging to keep “grinding” and “side hustling,” it can be hard as a writer to find time to spend on actually doing what we love. Not just writing for business or work or a client, but writing creatively on our books, poetry, essays - whatever it is that we write because we love it. 

While it’s hard to make time for our own creative writing, it can be even harder to enjoy that time when we know that there are other responsibilities looming. 

How can one really enjoy being in the throes of a first kiss or daring escape from a pirate ship if we’re worried about the pile of dishes in the sink? Or the emails that need a response today.

“As writers, we should treat our writing as a task to be completed. Not in a checklist way, but in a way that makes it important enough to schedule time for. ”

It’s all about time management. I’m very pro-taking breaks, but that can feel counterproductive when the work seems to overwhelm us. As writers, we should treat our writing as a task to be completed. Not in a checklist way, but in a way that makes it important enough to schedule time for. It’s a worthy investment of your time, so it should get some of that valuable space on your calendar and in your day! 

Why is Time Management Important? 

Time management is one of those things that people always talk about, and yet, many people still struggle. I know there are days where I stare at my calendar and my to do list and say “What was I thinking? Why the heck would I schedule ALL of that on one day?” 

Can you relate?

I’m definitely not here to lecture you about how you manage your time. If there’s one thing I’ve learned playing so many different roles throughout my life it’s that we all handle things uniquely. What’s right for me may not be right for you, and what works for you may not work for me. 

I am here, however, as an advocate of managing your time intentionally. Time management is so important! Here’s why:

• Sanity - If you don’t plan for the things you like, want, and need alongside work, you will be unhappy, and there’s a good possibility that you’ll drive yourself nuts trying to keep up with the “to-do” items, let alone trying to make progress on your beloved writing project. 

• Productivity - Being in a constant “grinding” state of mind is not the way to be the most productive. While it is necessary sometimes, burnout is real and it is terrible for productivity. When you manage your time, you can do more with less time - you might even find that you can create “free time” - isn’t that the dream!

• Work Life Balance - The ever-sought, ever-failed idea of work life balance can be tricky. You aren’t going to get there overnight, but with some time management, it is possible for most of us. Also, taking a break is critical! Your life outside of your work is important and the balance in your life should reflect that.

11 Unexpected Hacks to Manage Time as a Writer

So how do we get this golden unicorn of work life balance? We use time management, and we manage the crap out of it!

I won’t say it’s easy, because it’s not.

I’m also not going to say that every single thing you do should be managed and calendared, because for many of us that’s more stressful than having a long list to begin with. 

“Managing your time as a writer doesn’t have to be complicated. ”

Managing your time as a writer doesn’t have to be complicated. Nothing I’m suggesting is a “never before seen” strategy. All of these hacks, though (however unexpected they might be) are things that WORK. T

I use them, I suggest them to my clients, my writer friends use them - sharing is caring, right? These strategies are meant not just to help you complete “all the things,” but help you be productive with the time you spend on your writing. I wanted to share hacks to show you that even if you are scheduled to the max, there are ways to write and enjoy it. 

1. Time Your Writing - On your mark, get set, write! For 30 minutes. Or maybe 60 minutes. Setting a timer can help you get in the mindset of productivity and focus for your writing.

   If you can clear more time than 60 minutes of uninterrupted time and you think you can focus that long, go for it! If, however, you find yourself consistently booked out with other obligations, start with 30 minutes at least once a week. 

   Why it works: Knowing that you have a whole half an hour or hour to just be with your words can be invaluable, especially when you have a lot of work and/or home responsibilities. You’re taking time for yourself and what you love, which is equally as important as other aspects of “adulting.”

2. Use the Pomodoro Method - If you haven’t heard about the Pomodoro Technique, it’s pretty great. The idea is that you set a timer for 25 minutes and work on one task for those 25 minutes without interruption. When the timer is up, you take a quick break and then set the timer for another 25 minutes. After 4 “pomodoros” you take a longer break to refresh your brain. This is another, more involved form of timing your writing. 

   Why it works: Similar to timing your writing in a more unstructured way, the Pomodoro technique was specifically designed to maximize productivity and take advantage of how the brain works and how long it can focus. Although you don’t have to stick to the 25 minutes strictly, you might be surprised by how much you can get done in 25 minutes! I use a similar technique using the Forest App (it’s free in the Google Play Store & the Apple Store!).

3. Take Breaks Often - This might sound counterproductive because you want to focus, but taking frequent breaks helps our brain rest and feel rejuvenated. Taking short breaks of 5-10 minutes at least once an hour when we’re focusing on our writing can help us physically and restore creative stamina. 

   Why it works: While it’s tempting to sit for hours and hours and just type away on our stories, we really do need to give our brain time to recover from all that hard work it’s doing. After all, when we write, we’re creating a world for our readers. If that’s not hard work, I don’t know what is!

4. Take Regular Walks & Stretch Breaks - When we’re taking breaks, it’s important to move and stretch. Whether this means taking a lap around the block, getting a drink, or stretching out on the floor for a few minutes, your body (particularly your back & neck) needs to move around in order to avoid getting stiff and sore. 

   Why it works: Moving around and taking in new scenery after you’ve been thoroughly entrenched in your writing can help your brain stay sharp and catch small details you might miss if you’re staring at the screen for too long. 

5. Do Something Unrelated - When we’re focusing really intently on something, we get absorbed into it and therefore it can create a kind of tunnel vision. When we’re taking our breaks (and making sure to stretch our bodies out), doing something completely unrelated to your writing project at hand can be just the thing to snap you out of your word trance. 

   Why it works: Changing gears for just a moment can help our brain remember that it’s powerful. It isn’t limited to your mundane daily responsibilities, but it also isn’t just for creating this one world you’re writing about. It’s a pretty big player in all areas of your life, even if it feels like mush after a writing session.

6. Meditate - I’ve found very few things that work as quickly to calm a racing or single-track mind than meditating. Doing mindful breathing and purposefully clearing your mind can work wonders for our creativity and writing.

   Why it works: When we write, our brains are cranking away. If you, like many writers, find that your character writes the story for you (that happens for me), sometimes we can come out of a writing session feeling disoriented for a little while. To combat this, I regularly do short 3-10 minute meditations to clear all the junk out of my mind. I use the Insight Timer and Stop Panic and Anxiety apps (both free in the app store). 

7. Take a Nap - Taking a nap for 15 minutes can do a world of good for your creative soul, and your weary body. Don’t succumb to the urge to spend the whole afternoon or evening in bed, but doing a short meditation and then a short nap can skyrocket creativity and productivity.

   Why it works: When you sleep, your body relaxes. It releases stress and anxiety, which is always helpful when productivity is involved. How many times have you been so worried or overwhelmed that you literally sat there trying desperately to figure out how to do all the things? Shutting your eyes and taking a few minutes of quiet is an extremely effective way to overcome overwhelm. 

8. Read a Book - It might seem unconventional to read other people’s words as a way to manage time, but reading is critical for writers. It’s a necessary part of growing and honing your craft. Plus, when you read other people’s words you get new ideas, or engage with familiar ideas in new ways. 

   Why it works: Planning time to read, even if it’s just when you’re in the bathroom for 10 minutes or 15 minutes right before you go to bed is helpful! Most writers like to read, and even if you don’t, you should (exposure to other writing is important), so hopefully adding an element of reading in your time management is a pleasant task.

9. Clean Something - If you, like many of us these days, find yourself at home most of the time, it’s easy to get distracted from your writing by the mess around you. Maybe it’s all the shoes sitting around your living room. Or if you’re in the office, seeing multiple stacks of paper all over your desk that you can’t just pitch in the trash can. So clean something! Take a few minutes and choose one thing to clean. 

   Why it works: Being surrounded by an overstimulating and overwhelming environment is a huge distraction for your creativity. Cleaning one thing around you can help you feel “productive” and also pull you out of your own mind long enough to figure out where you want to go next with your writing. 

10. Work Away from Home Sometimes - Our home means a lot to us. It’s where we have memories, pets, loved ones, or even just our comfiest ratty PJs. As much as we love home, we need to get away sometimes. I try to work away from home at least once or twice a week, but even if you have a goal of once every two weeks or once a month that’s a good start!

    Why it works: Being away from home shifts our perspective, allows us to see new surroundings, and really focus on what we’re doing. 

11. Travel somewhere - Much like working away from home, traveling can help us feel inspired and refreshed, especially in light of the many restrictions we’ve had this year. It doesn’t have to be far - even a day trip works - but going somewhere new can be an excellent way to rejuvenate and increase productivity and creativity.

    Why it works: You’re out of your element, out of your comfort zone, and there are different considerations for travel than when you’re sitting at home huddled at your computer desk with your 4th cup of coffee. It refreshes your mind, and allows you to see new things that could influence your writing in ways you hadn’t thought about. 

Next Steps

For writers, managing time can be hard because sometimes our creativity takes a backseat to other things that seem more important. 

“It’s not always about putting as many things on your calendar as you can. ”

But, you can plan in ways that help you write better (& enjoy it) and be more efficient. It’s not always about putting as many things on your calendar as you can. Sometimes it’s about working from a new coffee shop down the road for the afternoon, or mindfully meditating for 10 minutes to clear your mind during a hectic day. Time management isn’t easy, but it doesn’t always have to be so complicated, either. 

So what do you do with this information?

1. Figure out what you have to do & make a list: List out what you have to do either on paper or digitally - wherever you will actually look at. It might seem overwhelming, and sometimes it is, but list it out anyway. Include your writing on the list.

   NOTE: I like to plan my week on Monday mornings. I make the list for the whole week and then I list out what day I will do what task on, including my writing. 

2. Choose one of the strategies and try it this week: Look through the strategies again and choose one to help you manage your time differently starting THIS WEEK.

3. Get an accountability partner: If you want someone to help keep you on track, or just check in with on a regular basis, find an accountability partner. If you aren’t sure of who would do this with you, or you just want some help from someone who uses these strategies on a regular basis, I can be that person. Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to strategize, set goals, and be an accountability partner for their writing projects. 

My challenge to you is to choose a strategy and try it as soon as you can fit it in.

Are you a writer who manages their time really well? What strategies work for you? Have you tried one of these strategies? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

4 Reasons Online Writing Courses are Totally Worth the Money

For many of us, this month marks 5 months since we’ve been at home due to the pandemic. Whether it’s because we were furloughed or laid off from our jobs, or simply working at home - it’s been a minute since things have been “normal” or the version of normal we had before COVID-19. 

During this time, there has been such a surge in online learning, not just for kiddos who had to switch to eLearning to finish out the year, but for adults, too! 

Although it’s been a tumultuous time, there has been an exceptional opportunity for learning.

Although it’s been a tumultuous time, there has been an exceptional opportunity for learning. I’ve seen a pretty awesome variety of online courses throughout the last few months, many of which are teaching skills people can use to get jobs or find freelance work online. 

But what I’ve been most interested in lately are online writing courses. I have a little bit of a bias because writing is my favorite thing, but writing is an incredibly marketable skill people can use during these abnormal times!

What Do You Mean by Online Writing Course?

There are lots of different types of writing courses. The ones we typically think of might happen in colleges or at the local community centers, which are both valuable options. 

But when I’m talking about an online writing course, I mean a writing course that is: 

Completely Remote

There aren’t any face-to-face components, meaning you don’t have to go somewhere specific to learn the material. There might be videos to watch, or even live teaching, but you can stay at home (or travel wherever you want) to complete the course.

Self-Paced or Specific Program

Some online writing courses give you full access to all the modules and information up front when you buy it. These are self-paced, meaning you can complete them all at your leisure. 

There are also online writing course programs that are a predetermined number of weeks, where you complete tasks and learn information incrementally more like a classroom experience.  Common lengths for these are usually between 8-12 weeks. 

A Course that Teaches You an Aspect of Writing

We couldn’t talk about an online writing course without stipulating that it’s actually about writing. There are so many options for you to learn online - things like marketing, sales, wellness, etc. - but when I say online writing course, I mean skills for writing like the writing process, editing, proofreading, copy editing, and the like. Things that you do writing for during the course. 

Why Take Online Writing Courses? 

If you’ve read my other posts or talked to me in person, you probably know that I always talk about how writing is a skill, not a talent. 

Do some people naturally like it better? Yes. 

Do some people seem to excel at it more easily than others? Also yes. 

That being said, almost everyone has the ability to learn a new skill, which means that almost everyone can learn to write. 

Not only is it a good personal skill in terms of communication, but it’s also a powerful professional skill that is highly sought after. Employers want good writers, at least the ones I’ve seen do.

But knowing that writing is a super valuable skill, why would someone choose to take an online writing course to learn it? 

Quick to Gain New Skills

An online writing course can be a quick way to gain a brand new skill, especially if you find yourself with free time. You likely won’t have to spend 3-6 months learning from an online course, unless it’s a more specialized program. If it’s a self-paced course, you could potentially cram it all into a small block of time and start practicing right away.

Grow & Hone Skills You Already Have

If you already know the basics of writing, you can take an online writing course to learn different types of writing and hone those skills you already know how to do. An example might be copy writing or editing. There are also creative writing courses available online.

Self-paced

Probably one of the top reasons people opt for online writing courses is the ability to be self-paced. Because everyone learns differently, some people need more time in certain areas than others. Sometimes people just want to take their time and not rush through. Whatever the case, many online writing courses have the great benefit of being self-paced. 

Flexible with Location

A lot of people like online writing courses because they don’t have to be in a specific place to learn. Sometimes you’ll hear this flexibility called “location independent” and right now there’s a huge number of people who would love to travel the world and be able to make money from anywhere. Learning writing skills online makes a whole lot of sense for this lifestyle. 

Cheaper Than a Degree

Last, but certainly not least, online writing courses are chapter than getting a degree in writing. That’s not to say that all writing courses online are cheap, because that’s definitely not the case! The fact is, you can learn a specific skill online and potentially make money from it faster and cheaper than getting a degree in writing. 

This isn’t to say I’m in any way against college or going to college for writing - I’m definitely not! I was an English major myself, and it was an incredibly valuable experience. I’m an English major advocate. That being said, if you just want to hone a specific skill, especially an online skill, online writing courses can be a great way to do so. 

4 Reasons Online Writing Courses are Worth the Money

Online writing courses clearly have some pretty awesome benefits! 

There’s definitely no shortage of people making excellent money from writing online, and the number of people who do freelance writing is and has been on the rise for years. 

But is it really worth it to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to take online writing courses? 

The short answer: Yes. 

Here’s why:

You Take Charge of Your Learning

When you’re in the online learning space, there’s not one “right” path, or even a path that every single person takes. 

Pretty much everyone will tell you their course will change your life - and there’s a good chance it might. 

But the fact is, unlike a more traditional learning path, you get to choose: 

• What skills to learn

• Where to learn those skills

• How much you’re willing to pay to learn those skills

• What’s valuable to you

You’re the one making the decisions, not an institution or a salesperson. Whether or not you find this scary (it definitely can be!), it’s the truth. Everything is a la carte. You can buy one thing from 5 people or, if you find someone who’s really helpful, 5 things from one person. Either way, you get to make that decision.

You Control the Time Frame

When you take online writing courses, you know ahead of time exactly what you’re getting. You have the option to purchase a course that’s self-paced so you can do it on your own time.

There are also plenty of options to join a program that walks through things step-by-step, if you think that will be helpful in keeping you accountable and moving forward. 

You’re free to choose whichever sounds more appealing to you. 

You Have the Opportunity to Network & Connect with a Community

In most online writing courses, you will get an invitation to join a community of like-minded individuals who are completing the program with you. It’s kind of like a class, but without the mandatory butt-in-seat time & forced group work. 

Being able to network and be a part of a writing community is incredibly valuable, though, because not only do you hear what other people are thinking about, struggling with, and winning at, but you can also get a little slice of that human connection with people who know what you’re working on. 

You Can Go Wherever You Want (as Long as You Have Internet)

Probably one of the best things about taking an online writing course is the ability to go anywhere and still have access to the same quality of learning - as long as you have the internet, of course. 

It’s an added bonus that you could even potentially stay at home in your own bed with your favorite grungy PJs and absolutely no one will know or care. Who doesn’t want that option to learn such a valuable skill?! 

Where to Take Online Writing Courses

By now you’re probably wondering where the heck to find these online writing courses because, hey, there are awesome perks and maybe you’re tired of being at home doing nothing. Or maybe you’ve been at home doing everything and you want to start spending some time on you!

Either way, there are some pretty great places to take online writing courses. These are just a few ideas because I have used them personally, but I would encourage you to look at all the options for any skill you want to learn! Have some fun, do some dreaming, and then decide. 

1. Masterclass -If you want to learn writing from some master writers, Masterclass is an awesome place to go! You can take classes from such writers as: Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, and Malcolm Gladwell. These writers are bonafide writing successes!

2. Udemy - You can find almost any skill with a huge variety of teachers on Udemy. They have anything from creative to technical to academic writing skills courses available. Just make sure that you look through the options and look at the teacher before choosing so you know you’re getting information from someone who really knows their stuff! 

3. From Me! - I won’t toot my own horn too much, but I’ve worked with a lot of students over the years. One of my main focuses, aside from the actual skills building part, is to increase student confidence. And I’ll tell you a secret, I’ve been focusing on building student confidence with my teaching since I started - I’ve always worked on it as a teacher. 

The program I’m offering starting in September is 8 weeks long, and I designed it to take writers from the very beginning (we start with brainstorming) through the writing process and come out at the end with a “good” first draft of a creative project. 

I couldn’t be more excited if I tried! If you want to read all about it, you can click here. It will take you to the program page and fill you in on all the juicy details. 

Next Steps

So there you have it! Online writing courses can be a great way to gain practical (and fun) new skills that will help you in your career, and probably at home, too! You’ll love the flexibility, the options, and the decisions you get to make about what you’re learning. It’s a good deal! There’s a reason there are so many choices. 

But what do you do with this information?

1. Decide What Writing Skills You Want to Work On You’ll probably want to choose one or two skills to start with before you try to look at classes to take, otherwise you might get overwhelmed by the variety. Thinking about what you want to do with your new skills will help.

2. Look for Classes You Could Take to Improve Your Skills If you’re not able to pinpoint which skills you want to learn, you can always take a look at what’s available, although I’ll warn you it’s a lot! Sometimes it’s fun to window shop before you decide on the must have, though, you know? 

3. Sign Up for a Class/Course! Once you’ve looked around, pick one and buy it! 

4. Get Help if You Need It - If all of this seems overwhelming to you, you’re definitely not alone. The first time I bought a course and invested in myself I was so scared! And honestly, the times after that, too. 

With creative work, especially, it can sometimes be harder to see the value of an investment. If this is you, let me help! I do offer an 8 week program, but I also offer 1:1 coaching for writers, too. 

If you send me an email at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com telling me a little about yourself and what you want to do, I’ll give you a complimentary 30 minute session to help you figure out what you want and you can decide what’s best. Sound good? 

My challenge to you is to think about what kinds of writing skills would be valuable to you right now and take an online writing course about it. 

Have you taken an online writing course before? Used one of the options I listed? Or found something awesome you think should be on the list? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

4 Ways Accountability Makes Writing Goals Easier to Achieve

It’s the time again where many of us are thinking about the back to school season. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or student, school is on the mind. Even if you’re not any of these roles, you’ve probably seen the back to school section growing in the grocery and office supply stores - maybe getting some office supplies while they’re on sale. 

Who doesn’t want to stock up on penny notebooks?!

This year is different because everything is uncertain. Will teachers and students go back to face-to-face classes? Will there be more online learning opportunities and/or expectations? Will we have another outbreak of COVID-19 and have to be sent home again? No one really knows. 

This is a great time to talk about accountability because so many of us are already in the mindset of figuring out what we have to do and what we’re responsible for (even those of us with fur babies rather than human babies). 

Writing is frequently one of the things that makes it onto the “do it later” list.

As adults, we know we’re responsible - we’ll get our stuff done and move on. But many times we push off things we don’t feel we “need” to do or that “can wait” because they’re “just not that important” or other things have to take precedence. Writing is frequently one of the things that makes it onto the “do it later” list. 

Accountability

What is Accountability? 

Before we talk about why it’s so much easier to achieve your writing goals with accountability, I wanted to clarify what I mean so we’re on the same page. 

When I say accountability, I simply mean that we are treating it as a worthy investment of our time and making time to actually do it.

When I say accountability in reference to our writing, I simply mean that we are treating it as a worthy investment of our time and making time in our busy schedules to actually do it - to be accountable for making our own progress. 

A lot of times writers will keep themselves accountable by getting an accountability partner. Having someone else involved can apply a little pressure to actually do something about our writing instead of just letting it sit there like we might if there’s no one we’re “accountable” to. 

So while it’s always important to be accountable to ourselves, I will also talk a lot about the benefits of having an accountability partner. 

Accountability & writing goals

How Does Accountability Relate to Writing Goals? 

So what does all of this have to do with writing goals? 

There are several ways accountability can be good for our writing: 

Human Connection with Other Writers

While you can certainly make yourself accountable by regularly checking in with yourself, accountability also gives you a great opportunity to connect with other humans! Since writing is solitary most of the time, we can sometimes get wrapped up in our own little world. If you get an accountability partner, it’s a great way to talk about writing as a process, talk about your own project, and learn about other writers’ projects, too. 

Helps with Progress on SMART Goals

If you haven’t read my blog on SMART goals, you should because it’ll really help you clarify your own goals. Just as a quick review, though, SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. So when you start making accountability a priority in your writing, you’ll feel good about making progress, but you’ll also see it because you’ll be monitoring it regularly!

Makes You Actually Write

A big part of the reason writers get stuck is that we put off the actual writing. Even if we want to write, we find reasons to push it back “just a little” or even make an excuse NOT to do it. It’s kind of weird, actually.

A big part of the reason writers get stuck is that we put off the actual writing.

Weirdness aside, when you use accountability, whether to yourself or with a partner, you will actually write because at that point there’s more at stake than writing whenever you feel like it. And hey, writing because you feel like it is great! But it doesn’t always get the job done if that’s the only time you’re doing it.

Why Does Accountability Make Writing Goals Easier?

Are you starting to see why accountability is helpful to your writing? 

It can definitely be tricky, especially for those of us who feel constantly overloaded and overwhelmed by our To Do lists. 

BUT, these 4 reasons why accountability will make writing goals easier to achieve are hard to argue with.

(They really make you want to start being accountable!)

1. Lessens the pressure to be perfect

Who here struggles with that crazy idea we call perfectionism? Hi there, me too! The thing about perfectionism, besides the fact that it’s actually terrible, is that it keeps us from taking action. When we’re being accountable and making measurable progress on a regular basis, we tend to feel less pressured to be perfect because we know we just need to get it done. 

When we’re being accountable and making measurable progress on a regular basis, we tend to feel less pressured to be perfect

This is especially true if you have an accountability partner because you know you need to send it out, and you need to do it on time, so there’s no time for you to dilly-dally around with whether or not you used the right word in that one sentence in the middle of that one paragraph.

2. Forces action

If you know you’re waiting on someone to send you something, and you’re going to send something back, that compels you to take action, right? It’s the same way with accountability. You know you need to be accountable and just do the thing - if not for yourself than for your partner - so you simply do it. 

3. Built in feedback

When you’re being accountable with someone else, you can use that as a time to get feedback on an ongoing basis instead of just at the end after you’re done with everything. Getting feedback has numerous benefits, but in this context it can be super helpful because you can start implementing changes or playing with different ideas right now rather than when you’re all done with the draft. 

4. Consistent Progress

Accountability is great because it helps us make consistent progress. Not just once in a while progress, or explosive finish the whole thing in 30 days progress (unless that’s what you want to do), but instead week after week progress that’s a struggle for most of us. 

Accountability helps us make that progress we’ve been trying to get and struggled with on our own. 

The busier we get, the more writing seems to slip down the list of priorities. Accountability helps us make that progress we’ve been trying to get and struggled with on our own. 

Next Steps

Next Steps

If you’ve heard of or used accountability before, you’re probably familiar with how helpful it is! If you haven’t, I would highly recommend getting an accountability partner! You’ll find it lessens the need to be perfect, makes you take action, gets you some ongoing feedback, and allows you to make the consistent progress you want to make but have such a hard time with on your own. 

If you haven’t used accountability before, I would highly recommend getting an accountability partner!

But what do you do with this information going forward? There are several simple steps you can take. Notice I didn’t say “easy” - being accountable isn’t necessarily easy, but it IS worth it.

1. Decide what kind of accountability you need for your writing.

Do you need just a simple check-in with someone every week/two weeks/month to say “Hey, did you do this?” Or do you need someone to meet with every week and workshop new material? Or maybe something in between? Decide what you want from accountability before you try to find someone to work with. Remember, your situation is unique to you, so you know what would be most helpful - trust yourself. 

2. Find someone to be accountable with.

Whether you go with a trusted friend or a professional, make sure that whoever you want to work with will be a) honest and b) tell you what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear. This generally means try to find another writer. 

If you are interested in working with me, I offer 1:1 accountability sessions for just this reason. A lot of writers don’t have other writers in their life to do this with, at least not friends who they are close enough with to feel comfortable working with in this way. 

I’ve been a writer and writing teacher for years, and I’ve seen almost everything in writing. I’m always going to be honest, but I will always be kind about it. If this sounds like something you want to investigate more, click here to read more about some of the services I offer along with accountability. 

3. Ask them to help you

Once you’ve decided on someone you want to be accountability partners with, ask them if they would be willing! I’ve found that most people are willing to help if they can, but don't assume anything before you ask.

4. Be accountable!

Once you’ve found your person, get writing and be accountable! And, if you decide you don’t want to find an accountability partner, set up regular check-ins with yourself about your writing so that you can be accountable to yourself. 

My challenge to you is to find an accountability partner before your next writing session and ask if they’re willing to work with you. 

Have you had an accountability partner before? How did it go? Or have you used another version of accountability? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

3 Reasons SMART Goals Work for Writers

Now that it’s the second half of 2020, you might be thinking about your goals. I know I am! It feels like last time I blinked I was setting my ORIGINAL 2020 goals. 

Unbeknownst to all of us, this year has been a wild ride! 

We’ve had a pandemic, killer bees (for a hot minute), and the quick growth of a major social & civil movement.

While the whole world has been at home for 5 months, our priorities have shifted, to say the least.

While the whole world has been at home for 5 months, our priorities have shifted, to say the least. We’re living in a different world than we did at the beginning of this year, so it makes sense that we might need to adjust our goals now so we can finish out the year with some semblance of sanity.

At least that’s how I feel at this point.  

How do you feel? Are you ready to think about how to set achievable goals for the rest of this year? Heck, maybe even the rest of this month? 

SMART Goals definition

What is a SMART Goal?

Last time I talked about setting goals was way back in January when I told you I don’t set resolutions. Since we’ve had all of these changes, I’m sure glad I didn’t! 

But while I talked about how to set goals, I didn’t include the SMART system. I typically like to be a little more holistic with my goals, but under the present circumstances, the SMART goal is pretty dang appealing. 

Here are the elements of a SMART goal:

SMART Goal Element 1: Specific

Make your goals simple, specific, and clear. 

To help you be specific, remember the 5 “W”s (and an H) most of us learned in writing class all those years ago: 

Who needs to be involved to make the goal happen?

What do I need to achieve? 

When do I need to complete this goal? (More on this in the time-bound step.)

Where do I need to be to complete the goal? (i.e. Do I have to be in a specific place?)

Why is this goal important to me?

How will I complete the goal? Will I have to contend with limited resources?

SMART Goal Element 2: Measurable

Make sure your goals are measurable - that you actually have a way to tell when you’re making progress and when it has been completed. 

Ask yourself questions like: 

How will I be able to tell I’ve made progress? 

How will I know the goal is achieved? 

SMART Goal Element 3: Achievable

This part is super important - we don’t want to set goals we can’t complete! Your goal should test your limits, but should be something you can actually achieve. 

Ask yourself questions like:

Do I have limited resources to achieve this goal? For instance, money or time.

What are the concrete steps I need to take to make this goal a reality? 

SMART Goal Element 4: Relevant

This goal isn’t going to be the only one in your life, so it’s important it relates to other things you’re working on, too.

For instance, you don’t want to set seemingly opposing goals like “I want to learn to relax more” and “I want to get a second job to make more money.” It’s probably going to be hard to relax more if you’re also working more.

Ask yourself questions like:

Does the timing of this goal fit the other needs in my life?

How does this fit in with the other goals in my life? 

SMART Goal Element 5: Time-Bound

For most of us, our natural instinct is to do things “when we can,” but this is not a great mindset for achieving goals. In order to make progress and achieve our goals, it’s important to set a deadline for ourselves so we actually work on it. 

Ask yourself questions like: 

What can I start doing today to work on this goal?

When will I work on this goal every week/month/quarter? 

When do I want to have the goal completely accomplished? 

The foundation of the SMART goal system  was developed by many talented individuals in the organizational performance field.

The foundation of the SMART goal system  was developed by many talented individuals in the organizational performance field; however, George T. Doran was the first one to name the SMART & write it down as such in 1981.

Can we take a moment to say thank you to George and those before him who developed these ideas?!

The particularly appealing parts of SMART goals, for me, are the measurable & time-bound pieces. It can be hard to quantify our creative life using these parameters, but it’s also incredibly doable and empowering!

What’s the Difference Between a “Regular” Goal & a SMART Goal?

Before we dive into why SMART goals are a fantastic tool for writers, I wanted to touch on what makes a SMART goal different from a “regular” everyday goal. 

The things that are most different between goals and SMART goals:

Specific

No one means to set a vague goal, at least not most people. But because the SMART goal asks you to be hyper-specific, it means that you can actually see progress and that you can actually accomplish the goal. 

Instead of a goal like “I want to be a better person,” which is good but vague, a SMART goal might say something like “I want to volunteer at lthe local food bank to become a more helpful citizen in my community.”

Measurable

It’s great to have big goals - I preach that over and over! - but it’s less of a goal (and more of a dream) when you can’t measure what’s happening. 

We need that deadline to encourage us to actually do the work and get the goal completed. 

Using the same example from above, “I want to be a better person,” a SMART goal would be more measurable if it said, “I will become a more helpful citizen in my community by volunteering at the local food bank so I can meet people with different life experiences and learn from them.”

The SMART goal here can be measured by the hours volunteered and the amount the individual purposefully interacts with the people s/he is serving. 

Time Element

The time element is probably the most helpful part about SMART goals, at least for people like me who struggle to balance all the priorities life has in store for us. We need that deadline to encourage us to actually do the work and get the goal completed.

In the example above, “I want to be a better person,” the SMART goal with a time element might look like, “I will volunteer at the local food bank once a week for the next 6 months so I can meet people with different life experiences and learn from them.”

Why Do SMART Goals Work So Well for Writers? 

First of all, are you as excited about SMART goals as I am? I hope so! If not, that’s okay, too. That doesn’t mean they aren’t incredibly helpful for writers just like you!

Why does this system work for writers? 

First, you can actually see progress as you write because the goals are measurable. As you’re working on your writing goals and doing the writing, you can see your progress on the page.

Setting a deadline creates the kind of pressure that encourages you to finish your epic fantasy novel at all instead of just letting it sit in a file cabinet by your desk.

Second, you’re creating accountability to yourself. By setting a deadline, and maybe telling someone about it, you create a situation in which you need to be accountable to actually doing what you set out to do. You also know going in that your goal is achievable, which makes checking your progress pleasant instead of something you dread.

Finally, setting a deadline and having measurable progress creates a little pressure! Not the kind that says you have to finish your 1,000+ page epic fantasy novel in 90 days, but the kind that encourages you to finish your epic fantasy novel at all instead of just letting it sit in a file cabinet by your desk.

How Can Writers Set SMART Goals? 

The first time I read about SMART goals I was not sold on how this could relate to anything creative because at first glance it doesn’t seem like it leaves a lot of room for creativity. 

But the more I read about them, and the more goals I set, SMART and “regular,” the more I’ve realized SMART goals are DEFINITELY the way to go with writing! 

The more I read about them, and the more goals I set, the more I’ve realized SMART goals are definitely the way to go with writing! 

If you, like me, are wondering what that looks like, I wanted to walk through an example because it can be tough to see how creativity can be measurable or relevant when you’re first starting out. 

I also created a worksheet to help you out! I figured since I muddled through it I could make it easier for you. You can get that by clicking here.

So, let’s start with the basic goal of “starting and completing a writing project” and walk through the steps to make it SMART. 

Writing SMART Goal Step 1: Specific

Starting: Starting and completing a writing project

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel.

Writing SMART Goal Step 2: Measurable

Start: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel. 

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter at a time.

Writing SMART Goal Step 3: Achievable

Start:  I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter at a time.

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week.

Writing SMART Goal Step 4: Relevant

Start: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week.

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week, which will allow me to still have time to spend with my family and work on other creative projects. 

Writing SMART Goal Step 5: Time-Bound

Start: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week, which will allow me to still have time to spend with my family and work on other creative projects. 

SMART: I will start brainstorming and completely finish the first draft of my YA novel within the next 6 months by creating an outline and writing one chapter per week, which will allow me to still have time to spend with my family and work on other creative projects.

Do you see how SMART goals could help you with your writing?

Do you see how SMART goals could help you with your writing? It seems like it would be counter intuitive to structure your creativity, but as it turns out, having deadlines and being able to see progress is actually a huge and positive game-changer.

Next steps

Next Steps

Now that you know why SMART goals work for writers, what are you going to do with that info? 

There are multiple steps you can take: 

1.Download the free Writing SMART Goals Worksheet! It’s almost always helpful when someone else builds a fill-in-the-blank worksheet to help us take action, and I’m so excited to give you another tool! It’s a pretty sweet setup, if I do say so myself, and I am going to be using it to set my own SMART goals this month as we finish out 2020. 

If you want the SMART goals worksheet, click here or fill out the form below to get your worksheet for free right now. What’s the worst that could happen? 

2. Set Some SMART goals Take some time and use the worksheet to set brand new shiny SMART goals! Or, take your goals from the beginning of 2020 and revamp them SMART style. 

3. Practice Being Accountable Once you’ve gotten your SMART goals written (and posted where you’ll look at them every day), practice making measurable progress on them every day/week/month. Whatever goal you set, keep showing up to do the work and being accountable to yourself. 

4. Get Help if You Need It If you are struggling with setting goals for your writing, or you just want some help, I can be that person for you. Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to set goals, strategize, and be an accountability partner for their writing projects. 

My challenge to you is to take action today. Get the worksheet and take a few minutes TODAY to set a SMART goal for your writing. 

Have you heard of or used SMART goals before? Did you use the worksheet to set new SMART goals? I’d love to hear about your goal-setting process! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

10 Picture Prompts to Start Summer with Writing Inspiration

We’ve officially made it to summer! I can’t tell whether this year has gone incredibly fast or slower than any year before it. 

What does it feel like to you? 

Summer is typically a joyous time where kids are home from school and the swimming pools are open for business! Late night movies, team sports, and reading lists abound. Well, usually, at least. 

This summer will be different than all the rest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still get inspired to write!

What is a Picture Writing Prompt and How Do I Use It? 

Before I share pictures for summer writing inspiration I wanted to quickly describe how to use them. 

If you haven’t done a picture writing prompt before, it’s fun and you’re going to love it! 

All you have to do is look at the image and write a story about it.

All you have to do is look at the image and write a story about it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, or a certain word/page count. It’s simply meant to inspire your creativity and get you writing. You don’t even have to think of a subject if you’re using the picture! How cool is that? 

The Prompts

Below are 10 images to spark your creativity. Use them however they are helpful (and fun) for you!

Try writing a short story, poem, or essay. Or if you’re feeling really inspired, you could write a novella or novel! 

1. Toes in the Sand

Toes in the Sand

2. Pure Joy

Pure Joy

3. Holding Hands

Holding Hands

4. An Abandoned Historic House

An Abandoned Historic House

5. A Natural Throne

A Natural Throne

6. A Statuesque Windmill

A Statuesque Windmill

7. Stormy Skies

Stormy Skies

8. Hidden Treasure

Hidden Treasure

9. Secret Stairs in the Woods

Secret Stairs in the Woods

10. Road Less Traveled

Road Less Traveled

BONUS: Brother Love

Brother Love

If you use one of these prompts, please consider sending your writing to rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com - I’d love to see it!

Who knows, maybe I’ll feature your words on my blog (with your permission, of course!)

I’d love to hear about your experiences using picture prompts! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

3 Reasons Your Writing Needs Critical Distance

UPDATED FEB 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic changed most things about our lives, including how we write and create. For some, being in lockdown meant writing all the time - it was the only way we could escape. For others, writing took a back seat to other responsibilities and the collective chaos.

If you’re like me and find yourself up to your ears in writing that hasn’t been edited, from the pandemic or otherwise, it’s key to incorporate some critical distance into your writing process.

What is Critical Distance? 

The idea of critical distance is simple. Writers get critical distance when they write something and then take a specific amount of time away from that writing. 

During their time away, writers don’t look at their writing at all. They can work on other projects, or just take a break from writing altogether - it depends on the individual!

Writers use critical distance to improve their writing. 

Writers use critical distance to improve their writing. First drafts aren’t always great (they’re not always terrible either), so taking time away from it helps strengthen the piece as a whole. 

How Long Should Critical Distance Be?

Because critical distance is specific to each writer, there is not a firm set of rules. The beautiful thing about it is that each writer can start with one goal, say a day or two, and learn as they go along. 

When I teach English, I always advise my students to use a critical distance strategy. Since their writing is 10 pages or less, I generally advise a pretty short critical distance time. This is also because they are students, most of them procrastinate (I was the worst when I was in school), and most are trying to balance life with their schooling. 

Outside the classroom, things are a little different!

Outside the classroom, things are a little different! Most of us probably aren’t writing researched essays, or having to present them to a class of our peers. Some writers are working on short stories or novels. Some are working on essays or columns for publication. Some are blogging just like me! 

Whatever type of writing you’re doing, you will have to make the judgment call about how long you think it will take to really get a break from your own words. The ideal time is when you feel refreshed and don’t recall every single word, but you also don’t lose all the focus you’ve worked so hard to maintain during the writing process. 

Here are some ideas to help you decide:

Short writing (< 10 pages) - 1-2 days

The fewer pages there are of your writing, the less time it will take to read and re-read! 

No matter how long it takes you to write 10 pages, chances are it won’t take you nearly as long to read 10 pages.  

Taking a brief 1 -2 day critical distance break can give you a reprieve, but also allow you to get back to your work pretty quickly. You don’t want to spend too much time away, but a little is sure to be helpful. 

Moderate writing (20-50 pages) - 4-5 days

When you get into the 20-50 page range, you’ve spent a considerable amount of time on your work. It’s probably been at least days, if not weeks or months. It will also take you longer to re-read and process when you go back to it. 

Whether you’re a daily writer, or a weekend warrior, moderate writing needs more time to settle than something shorter. 

This isn’t at all to say that moderate length writing is easier than shorter or longer writing - on the contrary, the middle length is tricky! Many times, writing in this range will be submitted for publication or needs to meet a specific word/page requirement. This likely means you will either be adding content, or trimming to fit all of your thoughts concisely in the required space. 

Taking a longer critical distance time of 4-5 days - about a business week - will allow your brain to focus on other things around you.  Whether you’re a daily writer, or a weekend warrior, moderate writing needs more time to settle than something shorter. 

Longer writing (50+ pages) - 1-2 weeks (or more)

After you get past about 50 pages, you’re probably working on a novella or a novel. As you know, novels can be really long, and really complex! Cloud Atlas? Ulysses? Game of Thrones? 

Even if you don’t think your novel is the stuff of an HBO mega series (mine isn’t, and that’s not my goal), it will still take you many hours of blood, sweat, and tears to put together. 

Those of us who have finished writing a novel can tell you it’s something incredibly special. No matter your view on first drafts, there’s nothing in the world like finishing one. It can be hard to come back with fresh eyes knowing you probably need some changes or updates, but also knowing that you poured your heart into that first draft. 

Remember, the ultimate goal is to make our writing better. 

Longer writing needs a longer critical distance. In fact, the longer the writing, the more time it will take to be able to take a full-on stop. After all, sometimes novels can take years to write! I would recommend at least a week or two, but if you’ve been working for years on your novel, you might need longer than that. 

Remember, the ultimate goal is to make our writing better. 

Why Should You Use Critical Distance? 

So right about now, critical distance might seem like a mixed bag. 

It might be helpful, but sounds like a lot of extra time in the writing process?

It sounds awful, and sounds like it’s an excuse to stop writing for a little bit? 

It sounds alright, but still not quite sure what it would do for your writing? 

Here’s the thing: Writing needs critical distance. 

Critical distance allows for: 

Fresh Eyes

Have you ever stared at the page so long your eyes burned? Or started a sentence only to realize halfway through that you have no idea where it was going? 

This is super common! If we’re being honest, it happens to the best of us probably more than we’d like to admit. 

It’s all about perspective.

One of the best things about critical distance is that the time away gives us the ability to look at our words again with fresh eyes. We see things we were too glazed over to see before (or maybe saw but didn’t have the heart to change). We read that half sentence and remember what we wanted to say, or think of something even better! 

It’s all about perspective, and you, my fair writer, have the wonderful opportunity to look at your words and give them a face lift when you take some critical distance time away from them. 

Clarification of Your Message

How many times do you take notes only to be baffled later by what in the world you meant. Of course you knew it in the moment, perhaps during a meeting or fevered brainstorming moment, but you sure can’t figure it out now! 

Our writing is the same. When we get into a frenzy, we sometimes think we’re making sense and being clear yet creative only to find out later that we talked ourselves into a big old circle and repeated the same idea 3 times. Or we’ve gone off on an unrelated tangent that made sense in the moment. These are writer-friendly patterns, and they feel okay to write, but they’re awfully confusing to read. 

Taking a period of critical distance allows you to make your writing more expressive and articulate than it was in its first draft form. 

Taking a period of critical distance allows you to make your writing more expressive and articulate than it was in its first draft form. You have the chance to add new vocab, revamp characters who are important but got lost in the shuffle, and even do some rewriting if something is awkward or off the wall. 

Your message has a much better chance of shining through and expressing what you want to say after you’ve had some time to read it through and think like a reader. 

Time to See (and Subsequently Fix) Errors and/or Inconsistencies

I love autocorrect! … Said no one. Ever. And yet, the major digital writing tools we use all seem to have some form of error tracking. Whether it’s using the wrong word (we see you their/there/they’re), or using a comma where it shouldn’t be, these tools can help us figure out where we missed something. 

The problem starts when these programs suggest words we don’t actually want to use or try to make our phrases more concise even when we don’t want them to be. Sometimes I just want to use a longer phrase, dang it! 

Taking a period of critical distance helps us read back through for things like typos, wrong words (spelled correctly so the program didn’t notice it), and grammar. When you’ve been looking at the darn thing for months at a time, it’s much harder to notice those details because that’s not what you’re focused on. 

The other thing critical distance helps us fix are plot holes and inconsistencies. 

Does your main character have an accent at the beginning of the novel but not the end? Did you accidentally start calling one of your main characters a different name throughout the last 100 pages? (Speaking from experience here, Control F is the BEST!) Did your characters somehow just appear in another country without any sort of transportation being mentioned? 

These are all things that you might not notice in the first draft writing, but you will after you get some critical distance, and your readers will certainly see and point out if you don’t find them. 

So what do you think? 

Critical distance should be a part of every writer’s process, no matter how short the writing. It gives us a valuable chance to look at our writing with a fresh perspective, clarify our message, and find inconsistencies and errors we made during our initial drafting. 

You are the ultimate decision-maker on how long your critical distance time should be. Keep in mind, the longer the writing, the more time you will need to process and release your mindset. 

Have you used critical distance? Are you starting to see how this strategy could fit into your writing process? I’d love to hear about it - drop a comment below!