Sunday, December 20, 2009

How to Keep your Writing Momentum During the Holidays




If you are a hardworking Master's Writer like me, then I'm sure you are challenged during the holidays. I have to complete two magazine articles, three book reviews, blog maintenance, two editing projects, a devotional, three mag queries to pitch, and an ambitious wish to complete a first novel draft before my birthday in February. I want to lock all those commitments away until after New Year's. However, I have deadlines, personal goals, and promises to keep. So how do you keep your writing momentum up when there are so many reasons roadblocks, entertainment requests, distractions, and family obligations on your plate? Here are three things that I am doing. You are welcome to do them to.
  1. Pray More
As The Master's Artist we need to stay vertical--tapped into our Source. Praying not only keeps us focused it answers our daily challenges, it directs our paths, and sometimes we receive the necessary adjustments we need to make to stay our course. During this time of year I pray more and eat less. I pray more and watch TV less. I pray more and chat online less. Get my drift. I use my church's advent calendar to keep my prayers in perspective during the holidays.


    2.    Maintain a Writing Schedule

I am a fan of (RTM ) Remember the Milk. This online tool allows me to keep up with my todo tasks and my clients via Google Mail or my Palm smartphone. I never miss a deadline with this. I also plan writing time here. However, I get a slap on the wrist for sometimes ignoring my writing time. Sometimes--oftentimes--I use this time to answer more emails, edit a client's work, anything but write. This reason is why praying more at this time is vital to me. If schedule my writing time immediately after prayer and meditation.

    3. Commit to Completing only 3


Do you really think I will complete all that work? Come on now. LOL. I have overachiever syndrome. I double book my ownself. Believe me I'm getting help for this. In fact, this last tip comes from my life coach, Wendy Bailey. Commit to 3 Projects per day. I even go further as to responding to only 3 emails, ,taking only 3 calls a day during this time, and 3 tweets. After all this is a time of glory, reflection, praise, and family time. We have to honor this time with our undevoted time. So I only do 3 a days(one for the father, son, and Holy Spirit.) If you hear from me, then feel special. You are 1 of 3. LOL. Most importantly, it frees of your time to write.


Hey, did you notice I only gave you 3 tips?

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