Comments on: How to be More Productive http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/ Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:56:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 By: Carrie Lee Ferguson http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-45893 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:56:05 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-45893 In reply to Bronwen Jones.

Hang in there Bronwen! Preparing for and giving birth is so different than taking care of the newborn, right?!

]]> By: Bronwen Jones http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-45647 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:52:55 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-45647 My ideas have given birth and are living on my pages of manuscript. Now I’m in for the long slog of revision. That’s revision of about 100k words – a Big Job. My issue is keeping up the productivity. I find writing first drafts very absorbing. But revision and editing are entirely different for me, in regard to mind and heart commitment, bum in seat, etc.

]]> By: Carrie Lee Ferguson http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-39145 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:04:20 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-39145 In reply to Beth Carpenter.

Beth! My own labor was similar- once it started, it was on! I love it…Once everything is in alignment, your stories/writing are coming out no matter what! Thanks for the reminder. Maybe our next big writing gigs will be similar to our labors 😉
-Carrie

]]> By: Carrie Lee Ferguson http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-39144 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:59:03 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-39144 In reply to Hollie Overton.

Hi Hollie,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, it’s so helpful to feel in this together somehow! You are right, there are so many distractions! and writing, like a baby, requires we put the gadgets down in order to be fully present.

Tracking your work output is really inspiring, and I’m looking at how I can create my own version. I love that we all are speaking of balancing the output with our own creative rhythms…That feels good to me!

Thanks for the inspiration,
Carrie

]]> By: Hollie Overton http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-38951 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 05:35:27 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-38951 What a lovely post. It’s true that we as artists put so much pressure on our output. It’s hard when it seems like Stephen King writes a book every other second. And there are so many distractions. I’m constantly trying to find ways to do more with more and more distractions. Recently, I was hired to do a freelance researching job and I had to track my work output. It made me realize that I need to do that in my own work. It’s made a huge difference. There are some days, I let myself go at my own pace and other days, I settle in, turn on the app and make sure that I get my six hours of writing done. Thanks for giving us all an insight into your own process/ struggle.

]]> By: Beth Carpenter http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-38434 Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:03:06 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-38434 A beautiful metaphor. With my firstborn, I went through two weeks of occasional contractions, then when the real thing happened, it happened fast. Once your story is ready to be born, watch out.

]]> By: Carrie Lee Ferguson http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-36815 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:29:43 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-36815 In reply to Lynn Cahoon.

Hi Lynn,
Thanks for your comment. It’s nice to know we are not alone in our struggles. And to know that your questioning echoes my own, is comforting!

Creating word goals is a great accountability tool, and I appreciate that you are gentle with yourself when you don’t reach a goal. We all have those days, and it seems we make it more difficult by fighting them…at least I do!

It sounds like your rhythm and ritual serves you all! Thank you for sharing it. I’m inspired to continue to show up, and create more accountability coupled with flexibility.

]]> By: Lynn Cahoon http://booksbywomen.org/how-to-be-more-productive/#comment-36265 Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:15:00 +0000 http://booksbywomenorg.netfirms.com/?p=12700#comment-36265 I struggle with this concept. To be working, do I always have to be in the Word document, tweeking, writing new words, making forward progress? Or can I be working and not be near my computer or even a pen, playing with my fictional friends in my mind and trying to understand their story?

So I’ve compromised. I make word goals for the day, the week, and even the month. I write down my daily goals on my to do list. Sometimes I make it, sometimes not, but I always try.

Being in the manuscript gives me the structure to move forward, especially with a first draft. If I’m not writing or pen and inking my thoughts, I’m not progressing. I can edit later.

However I also know there are days where I’m not going to reach my daily goal. And that’s okay too, as long as I come back to the document tomorrow and not months from now when I’m feeling inspired.

Lynn

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