Imagine a world where AI becomes the co-pilot of your imagination, guiding your words to capture the deepest emotions. Picture an AI whispering vivid metaphors and evocative similes into the writer's ear, helping to weave a tapestry of sentiment that resonates with readers on a profoundly human level. This is the new frontier of literature, where technology and creativity unite to explore the vast landscapes of the human heart.
Read MoreStay-at-home fatigue while staying on the job
Have you transitioned to work from home since the worldwide pandemic was declared? Maybe you were writing part-time and had another office-based job elsewhere, but now everything is happening from your home. Now is a good time to take stock of the routines and habits you have established over the past few months. Here are five things to consider:
1. Am I where I want to be, given the restricted circumstances?
If not, why not? Am I any closer to my goals being achieved? They may need adjustment based on what you have learned since setting them. Writing two thousand words a day may not be realistic for you, but half an hour each day might be. Having goals written in a place where you can easily see them helps remind what is important to you.
2. Setting the space and schedule
Do you have a designated work space with items that help you focus? Has it been working well or is it time to make some changes? Think about physical comfort (a properly adjusted desk chair versus sitting hunched over on the floor, clutter-free desk space, etc.). Whatever defines a work space for you, treat it as such. Keep your sleeping area separate so your brain can switch off when it’s bedtime and is mentally ready when you ‘go’ to work.
In case you are inspired with new writing ideas in the middle of the night, keep a pen and notebook handy next to the bed, so you can jot them down and return to sleep as quickly as possible. Typing on a bright phone screen could make you more alert, thus harder to settle back to sleep.
If you have flexible hours, do your best to set up a routine that you can stick to and that works well with the time of day (or night) where you are at your optimal level of functioning.
3. Boundaries and relating to others in this temporary ‘new normal’
Have you defined clear boundaries for work versus recreation? Be intentional with when each of these begins and ends. If you live with others, communicate about your differing schedules and how you can respect one another’s space. Revisiting expectations can help make a peaceful home/work environment and eliminate misunderstandings.
Because I am working from home and have a young child, some people assume I am ‘always free.’ People have called me at strange times or bombarded me with multiple reminders about online events I don’t wish to attend. It is just as important to be clear about what to say “no” to (without having to give a lengthy explanation) as to what you allow time for in your life.
4. Distractions and motivation
What tempts you towards unnecessary extra breaks, leading to a longer day? Consider switching off social media notifications. Smart phones also have reminders you can set up to limit daily time on apps. Too much mental clutter draws you away from the task at hand and can leave you feeling drained. What other ways can you motivate yourself to focus more on your goals and tasks?
5. Do you get dressed every day?
Does staying in pajamas make you feel relaxed or do you feel lazy? Does getting dressed make a difference? Or do you split the difference, e.g. - work shirt for the online meetings, with pajama bottoms? I personally like to get dressed each day, but the clothes I wear at home are more casual than if I entered into an office.
For some, working from home will cease once more businesses open up again. For others, working from home will continue full-time from this season forward. Make sure your set-up is working well for you, especially if you are juggling writing part-time as well as an additional form of employment. So many people desire to work from home. Remember to find the reasons why this is desirable for you.
What helpful work-from-home writing habits have you developed since lockdown? Share your tips below in the comments!
Social Media or Social Drain? How Twitter Can Impact Your Writing Goals
Many of us spend too much time on social media, often utilizing it as a distraction from the tasks we need to accomplish. Social media can definitely get a bad reputation. As an author, have you considered how social media can enhance your profile and brand?
Twitter can build community with other writers. This is especially useful given the solo aspect of writing. It is a wonderful platform for book marketing, if we take the time to genuinely connect with others, thus drawing readers in rather than tuning them out.
Five smart ways to enhance your social platform:
Research hashtags that connect you with other writers in your preferred genre. For example, if you write fiction, #amwritingfiction will help you find writers and posts related to fiction. To connect with writers more broadly you may simply use #amwriting. This is also a great way to find people to follow. They may end up following you too once they see some of your wonderful posts! The more people you follow, the greater your chance of gaining new followers. While this is a sound strategy for increasing followers, unfollowing someone once they start following you is considered poor etiquette. Of course, if someone is offensive then feel free to let them go.
Post content about your life, not just promotional tweets. This tip is especially important if your audience contains relatives and friends. Your audience may not all be writers, but other people who will support you by purchasing and reading your book. People want to know you as a person and don't always want to be sold to. One of the quickest ways to lose your audience is through constant spamming. Try to work some quirky, funny or personal posts into your timeline, such as a funny joke or a photo of a hike you took on Saturday. Take time to write encouraging comments on other people’s posts too. By blending personal posts with some occasional advertising, people will feel like you are a human and not a marketing machine.
Retweet and quote people with relevant knowledge and experience. This could be another writer, publisher, famous person, or anyone else you hold in high regard. Associating with their articles and brands reflects well on your own personal brand. It gives readers a greater understanding of your viewpoint and personality, too. This can impact the decision of whether they want to see more, versus “unfollow”. To personalize a retweet, quote, or article post a comment with it. Aside from tailoring it to your brand, it will make it more interesting and shows you put thought into what you posted.
Know your audience. Who is your audience? Young parents? Fitness fanatics? Murder mystery book lovers? Conduct a search through Twitter using any words that represent the genre you are interested in. For example, if you want to connect with other murder mystery writers, the obvious search would be #murdermystery or #murdermysterywriters. However, if you scroll through those pages you will find additional hashtags regularly used that may connect you with even more relevant groups. In this example, I found other hashtags such as: #crimefiction, #suspense, #writers among others. Look at the time stamps of when posts are conducted, or when people respond to posts, to ascertain when people are usually online. Alternatively, you can experiment with posting at different times of the day and see if you get more responses at a particular time. As you get to know your audience, you will understand better what it is they want to read about, too. This will then guide what you post (or don’t post). You may also find further connections through looking up a popular author in your genre. Chances are they will have followers or be following people who could become your newest Twitter connections too.
Post often but don’t overdo it. Posting often reminds people you are current and also enhances your online social presence. People are more likely to remember someone who is posting regularly, rather than someone who barely ever posts or comments on anything. Make sure you utilize hashtags and post regularly throughout the week (remembering variety is key, not just promotional posts). This could be even a few times a day. One of the benefits of hashtags is that even if you post at a less popular time, some viewers look up specific hashtags to see what they missed out on while they were away. If you can’t access your computer when you need to post, use a program to set your tweets in advance. This can be set to post throughout the day or even later in the week. The program I like to use is Buffer. It posts to Twitter at the times I choose and means I don’t have to be at my computer all the time.
Have fun with these tips and feel free to share your own with us too!