Tag Archives: Write

May 9, 2012 · 5:00 am

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Writing Deadline

I’m in deadline mode this week. Ever been there? We’re talking the stereotypical stick-your-nose-in-your-laptop-and-never-come-up-for-air mode. If you’re a fellow writer and find yourself in the same situation, here are some tips for survival…

5. Put up a dartboard and tape your character’s picture on it. Whenever they give you problems, take a shot at ‘em.

4. Give the Starbucks barista some gas money to deliver java to your office hourly.

3. Listen to techno-dance music while you type. The words may not make sense when you’re done, but at least your fingers moved fast.

2. Disconnect your internet and give the dog your phone.

1. Block out the next month on your calendar to catch up on sleep.

Anybody else know what deadline mode is like? Any tips, practical or not, to share for surviving the madness?

(Forgive me if I don’t respond to comments today…I’m returning to my cave now.)

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November 9, 2011 · 5:00 am

Extreme Makeover: Desk Edition

I should preface this post by saying the title is misleading. To explain, let’s take a look at my former life.

When I needed to get any writing done, I usually worked here…

Or here…

Or here…


Not a desk to be found, right? Let’s just talk about the challenges with this arrangement. Yes, it allowed me to multi-task. But it also meant that any time the TV was on, food was cooking, or people were present (um, which is like all the time), I couldn’t focus.

So I went to Target, bought a relatively cheap, compact desk that fits in a corner of my bedroom, and voila.


Now I can lock myself away and crank out the word count. Amazing what a little silence will do for productivity, isn’t it?

Do you have an office space in your home? How often do you hide away there? Do you need absolute silence to get any work done, or can you work with chaos in the background?

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February 28, 2011 · 4:00 am

Month-End Report: Proud New Owner of a Mommy Van

My month in 200 words or less…

TV Choice: Little Einsteins for my son. Winter Wipeout for me. Dizzy Dummy gets me every time.
Book Choice: Rumble in the Jungle for my son. Power of a Praying Wife for me. Didn’t have much time for fiction reading this month.
Favorite Blog: Books & Such. Always good info, but they’ve been on a roll lately.
Writing Pal Shoutout: Keli Gwyn . . . Love, love, love her.
Favorite New Buy: A minivan!!! Yes, I’m one of those moms now.
Toughest moment(s): Having my hubby away for a week while my sister was in the hospital. Praying every day that she’d get a new heart and hearing God say, “Wait”.
Favorite Moment(s): Lots of good sister time. Hearing my daughter say “mama” and watching her learn how to give baby kisses. Experiencing the thrill of starting a new story.

What about you? Copy this list into the comments and fill it out for yourself. I’d love to hear about your month!

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