Pushing Past Limits (KaLyn)

Pursuing mastery of any skill - whether it’s sports, coding, acting, drawing, or writing - requires the willingness to be in a constant state of learning, continuously driving yourself towards the next level.

That's where I often find myself. Absorbed in learning. Seeking to understand. Ever pushing forward, even when I'm exhausted.

At this point in the journey, my two biggest obstacles are my writing speed and my lack of understanding on how to meaningfully connect with potential readers outside of the fiction world.

So I spent this past month working to make progress in those two areas.

Writing Speed

Scenes play out in my mind like a movie stuck on repeat, but translating them into words can be such a struggle. There have been days where I fought for hours just to get a few hundred words onto the page, and with other obligations and responsibilities, I can't afford to waste writing time.

Digging into solutions for boosting my writing speed, I came across a couple of books.

• Crank It Out!: The Surefire Way to Become a Super-Productive Writer (The Writer's Toolbox #7) by C.S. Lakin
• 5,000 Words Per Hour: Write Faster, Write Smarter by Chris Fox

Surprisingly, these two books had little overlap in information. Crank It Out! examined the relationship between natural biorhythms and productivity, while 5,000 Words Per Hour focused on mindset and training your brain through words sprints and consistency.

The biggest takeaways for me have been making a necessary mental shift and the time of day. I'm not a morning person, but my level of productivity increase if I start the day before seven in the morning. As for making a mental shift, the words sprint exercises helped me break through the struggle of getting words onto the page, and a dedicated workspace improved my focus.

Last week was my first full week putting the new knowledge into action, and it was the most productive week I've had to date - in terms of writing and balancing my other responsibilities.

Meaningful Connections

If you're writing to reach people, to share your story with them, then one of your goals as a writer should be to connect with others. In an over-saturated market, it is unlikely the majority of readers will find you by chance. You need to be diligent about understanding social media and messaging to help readers find you.

Not just any readers, but the readers who will connect with your book.

I've spent a lot of time trying to understand how to connect meaningfully with readers, but it's always seemed elusive. The advice often makes sense. It's putting it into action that's tough.

Watching the Identifying Your Ideal Reader Writer Wednesday video posted on Katie Phillips' author page changed that for me. In it, she walks through crafting your writer's mission statement. It was this process and the resulting statement that was the missing piece I needed to bridge the gap between understanding how to connect meaningfully with readers and putting it into action.

I don't have it all figured out, and there's certainly more work to do in these areas, but, for the first time, it feels like I'm going in the right direction. Only time will tell.

What obstacles are you facing?

A New Season: Personal Notes (Jill)

In the midst of writing my current WIP, things have been busy. My oldest daughter's been receiving boatloads of college pamphlets, talking with the college recruiters at school, and arranging visits to the schools that interest her.  I'm still in a state of shock. Didn't I just give birth to her a year or two ago? Wasn't it only a few months ago that she sang the ABC's? I don't feel old enough to have a graduating senior in the house.

On Friday, she attended an expo arranged by my alma mater. So we dropped her off, then amused ourselves on campus for six hours. During the free time, my husband and I walked campus while I pointed out all the things that had changed or been added. I also cried a bit as I realized she really is old enough to do this, even though I feel woefully unprepared. We walked the mile-plus distance to the financial offices to discuss billing and financial planning, then rode the bus back (perhaps it was due to shock). A fortifying meal of burgers at Five Guys followed.

As I watched the students and professors attend classes and present lectures, I peered beneath my nostalgia. My husband and I were entering a new season in our lives. What did I want? Where did I want to go from here?

Since my college graduation (a long time ago), an idea had lurked in the back of my mind. Maybe I'd return, take a few creative writing classes. Or maybe I'd sign up to get my MFA. Despite my "what if" ideas about going back to school,  I realized I'm done attending college -- at least for right now. It's my kids' turn to attend college and learn as much as they can.

Who knows what will happen after that? Although I'll continue to grow and learn, for now I'm content with where I am in life. It feels pretty good. My motto this year is #Godsgotthis. I'll just have to remember that when the first bill for college arrives in the mail.

Favorite Podcasts (Lizzie)

I'm a nerd. I'm never so happy as when I'm actively learning and (unfortunately for those who have to

Phoebe and me out
 for a walk last Christmas.

listen to me) sharing what I'm learning. I'm a biologist by trade, so science, especially as related to diseases and their cures, interests me. For some time now, I have also been enjoying learning about languages and studying French. Unfortunately, I've also been learning about health issues in dogs; my exceptionally sweet and beautiful Great Pyrenees died Thanksgiving night. But let's not dwell on that sad subject. I'm thankful for the wonderful two years I had with her after finding her at the local shelter.

Not so surprisingly, listening to a podcast on the history of the English language, and therefore covering a lot of world history as well, has given me numerous details to add to my stories, from historical details to character and plot ideas. I also enjoy learning the background of some of our traditions and gaining insight into the complexity of our language.

I don't have as much time to read as I'd like, so I often listen to podcasts to get my learning in, chiefly listening to The History of English Podcast, Renewing Your Mind (R.C. Sproul, history of the church and biblical teaching), This Week in Microbiology (microbiology papers discussed by scientists), Coffee Break French (for learning French), and Helping Authors Become Writers (K.M. Weiland with writing tips).

If you enjoy learning about English and history, then
you'll love The History of English Podcast.

What do you like to learn? Or would like to learn when life slows down enough to give you the time?

To Be A Better Writer...Keep Learning (Jill)

When I was in college, I loved the learning experience. Not so much the general education classes that everyone took, but the core classes I needed to obtain my degree. Those days are long gone. But if you don't learn, your ability grows stagnant, or worse, deteriorates. So what are the options available for adults who can't afford to go back to class? I'm glad you asked.

1) Webinars: Now before some of you howl in protest, let me explain. Yes, some of the free webinars offered don't amount to much more than a sales pitch. But some of them offer nuggets of helpful wisdom. As long as you expect there to be a sales pitch at the end, it's not such a blow when the host asks the instructor, "What great deal are you offering us today?"
The most informative (but not free) webinar I attended was WordPress at 10,000 Feet. It was invaluable and worth every penny, especially since I tried to set up a website on my own before and failed spectacularly.  Some free helpful webinars I've taken have been on topics like "Heart" Sell vs. Hard Sell, Marketing Strategies for Pinterest, Double Your Social Media Traffic, and Why You Suck at E-mail (& How to Fix It).

2) Books on the craft: If your time isn't flexible and your employer frowns on you using company time to attend webinars, books on the writing craft might be a better fit. There are many good ones out there covering a variety of topics (Sell Your Book Like Wildfire by Rob Eager, Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King--which many authors swear by, although I didn't care for it). I try to read a couple a year, mixed in with all my fiction choices. Pick up a few or request them from your local library.

3) Conferences: This is the most expensive option out there, even if it's just a one-day workshop. If you can handle the finances for one or two a year, then definitely spend the money. Find a conference covering interesting topics with agents, editors, and publishers who are interested in your genre. Then start saving. I've attended one-day workshops and three-day conferences, and it's always been worth it. This year, I'm saving my pennies for Realm Makers in Reno, Nevada, the perfect choice for all speculative writers (plus the people there are truly kind, cool, and talented individuals).

So keep writing, reading, and listening. And never stop learning.