I have to admit that I’m a veteran when it comes to putting my family, my job, my responsibilities before writing.  I am the type of person who needs at least two hours to write.  I need to get my thoughts organized, remember who is doing what with whom and why in my stories.  As you can tell, I’m not the off-the-cuff writer.  I wish I was.  However, I have learned much from my detours. 

1.  Learn to say NO. When the kids call, the spouse or partner wants you to join them, when the telephone rings, you need to say NO.  It is especially hard when you have always been accessible.  It gets easier though.  You have to train your family that whatever hour or two per day or per week you claim to be writing time, you stick to it as best you can.  If you cave, so will your chances of ever getting some quiet time will fade.  Your family will still love you if you say go away.

2. Have a plan.  Plan your writing periods like you would a meeting or an appointment with the dentist.  If you have to cancel, reschedule immediately.  Waiting later and you will miss your writing session altogether.  Prioritize so that you don’t meander off course.  If you have never harnessed your energies with a game plan, once you have one, you will notice how much more efficient you have become.

3.  Simpleology.com.  Use the program to help you stay focused and on target if necessary. www.simpleology.com

4.  Find a mentor.  Actually I was looking for a person to keep me to my deadlines.  A mentor can give you feedback and can help you spin plotlines or just cheer you on.  I wouldn’t recommend a family member though.  It can be emotionally hard if you ask them to critique your work. 

5.  Find a writing group.  This could keep you inspired and motivated …or it can make you puke.  Yes, well run writing groups are great.  Poorly run ones are trying.  Remember busy people don’t have time to waste on chatting on topics other than writing.

6. Read authors in your genre.  Reading published novels can help your writing in so many ways. It can inspire, help bring out your creativity, teach you how to accomplish certain effects such as transitioning, pacing and diction, and can be relaxing.

7. Read writing related blogs and technique books.   I write this with some reservation.  Reading how to books can be addicting.  You might read and never actually do any writing.  Blogging and reading other writing related websites can  help you, but remember, it is a distraction too.  It isn’t actually working on your project directly.  So this suggestion requires you use some discernment and discipline.

8.   Try to keep your writing area relatively uncluttered.  Messy people say that when their space is disorganized, or in controlled chaos, it shows that they are creating.  This is a myth.  You work better when only the project before you is on your desk or table.  Clutter is distracting.  I think it mirrors how you approach life.  If your space is cluttered, so is your efficiency.  You are so scattered that you probably have trouble finishing any one task.

9.  Don’t always attack the small tasks and save the larger tasks for later.  I’ve noticed that when you always delay working on the larger tasks, they somehow get moved onto the next day’s agenda, and then the next. And well, sometimes they never get done.  Also, use time lines for your goals.  It helps organize when you are going to do what.  It will also help you prioritize.

10.  And if you aren’t doing well with your goals, remember to keep the goals realistic.  Instead of punishing yourself for not making your deadlines, institute a reward system for yourself.  For example, if I finish the rough draft of chapter one, then I will go to the movies.  I’d say buy yourself something, but heaven knows that some of us have more than enough stuff in our homes. 

I’m struggling with meeting my goals.  So, if you have a goal, send it to me.  Make yourself accountable.  According to Julia Cameron, a tv writer and author of the books The Artist’s Way and Vein of Gold, if you write it down…you are commiting to yourself and to the Universe that this is what you want to happen.  I think she said that if you write a list of things you want to accomplish and attach it to a timeline, you can look back and see that you accomplished most of the items on the list.  The trick is that you cannot stay on idle.  You need to put your skills into gear.