After my holiday I was having trouble settling down to write again. It’s so easy to waste time on the Internet, and that’s exactly what I was doing. I decided to take radical action, and for the last week, I’ve been turning off my laptop and writing on my alpha smart. It’s working! I’ve written 10,000 words since Wednesday (with the weekend off).
I’m expecting edits from my editors on two separate manuscripts this week, so my progress will slow, but I’m definitely going to continue using this strategy. I check my email in the morning and don’t turn my laptop on again until the evening. With three different manuscripts underway, if I run into a wall on one, I swap to another to make my word count. I figure one way or the other, I’ll end up with three complete manuscripts ready to sub.
Samhain Publishing have a brand new newsletter. The monthly newsletter will feature upcoming and new releases – both in eBook and Print – as well as free downloads and contests. Follow this link to subcribe to Samhain’s newsletter and keep up with all the news.
Do you limit the amount of time you spend on the Internet? How do you do it? How long do you spend on the Internet each day?
Related posts:
May 25th, 2010 at 2:30 am · Link
I do have to make an effort to limit my time online. You get into a habit of just playing around and not getting anything done. I leave it and read.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:20 am · Link
Hi Shelly,
I’ve also just got back from holidays and the washing and domestics is overwhelming. I also am and will find it hard to get back into the swing of writing.
I’ve done a quick cruise of the internet, checked emails and answered a few. Like you, I have learnt to check emails and then switch off to leave the day for writing.
Suzanne :)
May 25th, 2010 at 6:26 am · Link
I also just got back from vacation and planning another one in June. It’s been hard to settle and I’ve been distracted by my new release coming in June. I do feel like I also need to take radical action. It’s just way too easy to spend time online. It’s productive, but it cuts into writing time and you just have to prioritize.
May 25th, 2010 at 9:10 am · Link
I have to force myself to remember to walk away from the computer….but it’s hard because there is so much that I can do on the internet….
May 25th, 2010 at 1:27 pm · Link
The Internet has changed our lives so much. These days people look at you strange if you’re not online. If you’re not on Facebook, Twitter etc you’re officially weird.
May 25th, 2010 at 1:29 pm · Link
Suzanne and Kaily – it’s bad when I’d rather do laundry and ironing than write. I had to stop that sort of behavior immediately!!
May 25th, 2010 at 2:33 pm · Link
when I first go online I check my mail and anything important I read. Everything else is left for later. Then I check with the other sites I belong to and the blogs. After I’ve read what I need to, I start writing articles and doing research for them.
After the first outline is done I will save it and go check the other emails and maybe post on my blog.
Then later on after dinner I’ll write some more and after I have one article finished I’ll play around doing whatever I want to online.