Hands up if you’ll be happy to see the back of 2020? It’s been a tumultuous year but hopefully we’re all starting to acclimatize - children are back at school, offices are slowly opening, and for most people, it’s a case of following the rules and getting back to business. So how can you leverage the last few months of the year when it comes to writing your book?
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Clear Your Environment (External And Internal!)
Take a look at your writing space. (And if you don’t have one, then learn more about creating one here.) Is it clean and tidy or covered in papers, toys, and generally a bit of a dumping ground? You are a reflection of your surroundings so ensure that you have a space that’s set up for your needs. It doesn’t have to be large, even just a corner of your home will do. The same goes for your internal environment. What are you telling yourself about writing a book? If you’re telling yourself it’s too hard, or I don’t have the time, then it’s going to be a struggle. But if you tell yourself, I can do this, or I’m excited about being creative , or I’m so lucky I have the opportunity and the skill to write, then you will find it much easier and more enjoyable.
2. Use Social Media To Your Advantage
Rather than just scrolling mindlessly, use social media as a tool to motivate for you. For some writers, announcing their writing goal to their followers and friends is one way to get the words down on paper. According to Jack Canfield, your chance of achieving your goals is greatly increased when you share it with others because you gain clarity and accountability. Social media can also be a great way to find online writing groups where you can connect with other aspiring authors to share ideas or ask for feedback. On the Kick Start Your Book With Karen Facebook group, I often share writing tips and it’s great to see members sharing their successes.
3. Sign Up For A Writing Course
There will probably never be a better time to take an online course than 2020. There are lots of writing courses out there including my own course Kick Start Your Book With Karen – an 8-week online course that takes you through the steps of writing a book. I’ve broken it down into easy-to-digest modules to help take away the overwhelm. To learn more, join my free masterclass, 5 Techniques To Help You Write Your Book (& Avoid Procrastination) on Tuesday 13 October or Saturday 17 October.
4. Reward Yourself
I often talk about the power of rewards when it comes to writing. I started using them when I realized I was constantly switching between tasks. I would open up my manuscript, write or edit a paragraph, then I would check my email, clear my inbox, research something, get up for a drink of water and so on. I decided to set a timer for 90 minutes to work on my book and I wasn’t allowed to move from my chair or open up any other applications on my laptop. Only once the alarm went off was I allowed to reward myself to get up for a coffee. During particularly busy periods, I would use bigger rewards to get me though the week. For example, if I write 5000 words this week, I can relax in the nail salon at the weekend. I would book the nail appointment and look forward to it. Rewards don’t suit everyone, but they’re definitely worth trying.
5. Join NaNoWrMo
National Author’s Day is on 1 November and it kicks off National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWrMo) which began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.
KICK START YOUR BOOK WITH KAREN WRITING COURSE
Ready to write your book? Join my online course and get started! This 8-week course takes you through the journey to becoming an author, from coming up with ideas to getting published, and everything in between, all with the guidance and support of a number 1 bestselling author. Click here to sign up for my next free masterclass.>>>
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