Finishing out the summer strong

by Jordan McCollum

Where I live, we have just under a month until the kids go back to school. I dream of the days when my oldest will be in school full time, my middle child will start preschool, and my baby will nap--ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!

But at the same time, knowing that there are just four weeks left until school starts gives me a little jolt of panic. I don't have enough time to spend with my kids! I'm losing them to school! We haven't had enough fun!

If you're in the middle of the summer slump, maybe it's not a bad thing. If you're spending time with the kids, focus on them! They won't be this age forever, and I'm told (over and over again!) that we'll miss these days, so we need to enjoy them now.

But if you want out of the summer slump, maybe the key isn't spending more time working, just better time working. Recently, literary agent Rachelle Gardner posted an idea to work smarter instead of just harder.

Rather than spending the entire day trying to get a few sentences out, some say that the most effective way to work is to work with very intense purpose for a while, and then take time to rejuvenate & relax before working again. Rachelle's research suggests 90 minutes as the optimal focus time.

Part of the big struggle of summer for me has been thinking I have a lot of time to get stuff done, but it eats into time with my kids. They get frustrated with being ignored and I get frustrated with being interrupted, and I can't focus long enough to get anything done.

It's a vicious cycle.

Instead, I want try this intense focus technique--and the kids are in bed, so I'm off!

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Jordan McCollum is the Education Director of Authors Incognito. She blogs about book marketing and writing craft at http://JordanMcCollum.com.

It's a Win/Win in Summer!

We're not quite into the dog days of summer (with 100+ weather all across the country, it's feeling pretty doggish to me!), but there's still the tendency to want to kick back and take it easy. I've got pre-teens who are pretty self-sufficient. They don't tug on my shirt-sleeves too often or need me to entertain them. In fact, the less I notice them, the less likely I am to assign them extra chores, so they're pretty careful to keep out of my way.

When my children do want me to take them somewhere, they will usually throw in the "win/win" argument. "Will you take us to Classic Skating? You can write while we play--it'll be a win/win!" Seriously. This is how they talk to me. And their argument usually works. It can be nice to have a change of venue, my kids get a little variety, and, well, it's a win/win.

I say, embrace it!

My writing does not slow down in the summer. In fact, it speeds up. We don't have homework to tackle each day, school activities or meetings. We can go to bed when we want. Get up when we want. Some days, we don't go anywhere at all. Other days, it's a trip to the pool or Classic Skating.

But nothing, I say nothing, gets in the way of my writing.

If you have littler children, you can still have your own win/win, as Danyelle talked about last week. Or you can take your writing on the road. The summer does not have to mean death to your writing.

But.

With or without children, don't forget to live. Whatever you do, however you feel about your writing, living life, making memories, and building bonds with your family should always take precedence.

But it never hurts to take advantage of that win/win when you can swing it!

Ali Cross is the sensei of the writer's dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, two sumo dogs and four zen turtles.

She's the author the young adult urban fantasy series Desolation, and a member of the Author's Incognito Executive Committee.
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Summer Tips to Keep Your Writing on Track

 At my house, writing over summer break is like that one awesome month of the year when all writers go insane. November. NaNoWriMo. If those two words don't make you panic and break out in thin layer of sweat, then you haven't experienced the joys of hitting 50K in 30 days.

Why is the summer like NaNo? Because it's a time period jam pack full of no routine and chaos. I not only have munchkins running around, tugging on my shirt sleeves, asking for computer/tv/swimming, or breaking up fights before they rip each other's heads off - but I'm also the housekeeper and cook. During NaNo, my hubby is super supportive and tells me to write, write, write and he picks up a lot of the slack around the house. But in the summer, I don't have that luxary. It's all Mama. But still, it's about taking advantage of what little free time you have. So, here are some tips I've learned over the years.

Bribery Works

My kids aren't allowed to have any TV or electronics (Wii, DS, etc) time until after lunch. Once the munchkins devour their PB&J's, they are off to the playroom and it's the quietest time of the day at my house. This is my writing time. I generally get 3-4 chapters done during the 4 hour time block before I need to start dinner. Have too much Mommy guilt to do that? Then pop in a 30 minute VeggieTales or even a full length Disney movie and take a shorter writing break. If it makes you feel better, here's what I do to not feel quite so much guilt about plopping my kids in front of the TV so I can write. I have my kids run 10 laps around our back yard before they have lunch. And they have to play outside in the morning for at least an hour. So I know they spent at least part of their day being active and getting all sweaty. My munchkins also know that if I can hit my writing goal by 4:30, there's an excellent chance we'll head off to the pool for a couple hours. That's a big incentive for them. 


Pen & Paper

Grab a composition notebook and put it in your purse, backpack, car, etc. Of course, don't forget the accompanying pen or pencil, or else the notebook will mock you as it sits there, waiting to be filled while you watch your kids play in the pool or wait for them in your car. You can plot out quite a lot in just 15 minutes.


Writers Retreats

If life is sincerely too crazy to write at home, then plan a writers retreat. Ask another friend or two to share a hotel room for the weekend, then y'all can just write, write, write. Set a goal to have one per month for the duration of the summer.



Set Goals & Rewards

Figure out what you can write (or need to write), work out a schedule, then set goals that will motivate you to put down your book, walk away from the TV, or turn off the internet. I set goals that allow me to read a book or watch TV. My hubby takes my Nook with him to work each day and I only get it back if I hit my writing goal.And for me, summer is all about reading, reading, reading. So that's a huge incentive for moi. Then I set rewards for when I complete bigger chunks of my project, such as finishing 12 chapters. I gift myself $20 for each 12 chapters I complete. I may get a new dress or get pampered with a pedicure - but no matter what, that moolah is just for me. Goals keep me on track and rewards keep me motivated to put aside my fun stuff to actually work.



Please share what you do to keep on track during the summer months.

  

Danyelle Ferguson is a stay-at-home mom to four boisterous kids, trying to cram in writing & review deadlines between the never-ending laundry pile and constant calls for mom. She is the co-author of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel and a member of the Authors Incognito Executive Committee.

Surviving the Summer Slump

We've all been there. School is out. Kids are underfoot, need a ride to ten different places at once, want to be entertained. Then there are the summer BBQs, family reunions and camp-outs. Your time is NOT your own and you feel pulled in every direction.

When are you supposed to write? What about all those creative ideas that pop into your head at random intervals during the day? When is it YOUR turn to have a little ME time and be pampered . . . obeyed . . . left alone?

But then it happens. One moment of peace and silence when the house is empty or the kids are entertained. You sneak out the laptop, boot it up, pray this moment will last much longer than the last and . . . NOTHING!

You sit there for what seems like an eternity, staring at the blank page or the frail attempt at being creative you made weeks ago, and . . .

Your muse is in the Bahamas sipping a sweet umbrella drink while having suntan lotion smothered all over her back by a cabana boy (or swimsuit model if you're a guy).

Now what?

First of all, BREATHE.  It's okay to enjoy your summer. It's totally normal to take a break from writing and enjoy this time with your family. Don't beat yourself up. Give yourself permission to have fun and not produce a single word.

But if you find you MUST write to get through the day, then find a way to be mobile. If you can't pack your lappy along with you, then never leave home without a notebook and pen. Write while you're waiting for kids at swim lessons, write while you're in the waiting room at the doctors office, write while you're preparing dinner and waiting for the spaghetti sauce to simmer on the stove. Write anywhere and everywhere you can.

Then when you get some time to yourself, transfer your notes to the computer and feel good about what you've accomplished, no matter how small or rough the writing seems.

And if you have a little more time than others and you're looking for a little competition or encouragement from your fellow writers, there's a couple things you can do.

Ali Cross is hosting a Ninja Novel Writing Month in July. You set the goal and work each day to achieve it. GO HERE to find out more info.

Tristi Pinkston is also hosting her annual July writing challenge, where you can set your own goals.  Check it out HERE!


How do you plan to get through the Summer Slump? What goals have you set for yourself?

Christine (C.K.) Bryant is  the Executive Director of Authors Incognito. She's the author of BOUND and BROKEN, the first two books in The Crystor Series. To learn more about Christine and her books, visit her website at ckbryant.com