Tuesday Tips

Hey Ferb, I know what we're going to do today.  I would like to begin a regular post on Tuesdays giving tips and links of great writing or inspirational ideas.  Unfortunately, I haven't been wasting devoting time lately surfing the web, so I'll give my humble tips that have helped me out most lately.

I have an eensy-weensy tendency to procrastinate when it comes to writing.  But I am goal-oriented, and I know there are no magic writing wands, so I've had to figure out ways to motivate myself to meet my own set deadlines.  The following are a few ways I use to keep my fingers moving on the keyboard:

When I don't feel like getting started, like many writers, I set a timer for however long I feel I can write.  If it's 10 minutes, then that's all I commit to.  To be perfectly honest, though, I don't actually use a timer.  It's too, well, time consuming for me to locate one either real world or online.  So, I just set a time goal on the computer clock in the bottom right screen.  Usually, I keep on writing past the ten, but if I feel like I'm forcing myself to write, I can reward myself afterward for making it for my set time.

Another handy-dandy thing that has helped me at different times is a website I found called http://www.750.com/.  It's a site that encourages people to write 750 words a day.  Using the site, I've twice met deadlines I didn't think I would ever meet.  I like to use it when I have a scene to write, but I'm not motivated to get going on it.  The 750 words gives me a goal, and I often push myself and am pleasantly surprised sometimes with what I write.

You may have tried one or both of these before, but if you haven't, it's worth a shot.

Happy writing!