The Writing Life

Writers are lucky – we don’t require a lot of tools for the job. We can use a simple notebook or an app like Word, Google docs, or Evernote. 

Yet there are more complex systems out there for writing. I have avoided things like Scrivener. Most people I know who use it are fairly savvy when it comes to using complex apps. The trouble comes when people spend more time learning how to use the system than doing the writing. I have seen this happen, and it’s a shame to waste so much time setting up the ops. I get suspicious that the helpful app is functioning more as a procrastination ally. 

But with my current novel in progress, this time I needed to lay out the scenes in a different way than index cards. I leaned toward Scrivener. Then the learning curve loomed. What do I already have that could work, I thought? 

Notion! I have Notion, and have invested considerable time and energy into using it to run my business. I poked around and found a template online ($10). It took less than 3 hours to set up my scenes and chapters. Scriborg is simple yet has everything you would need to organize your novel. It has a lot of features I don’t use for productivity. But seeing the three acts of my novel laid out, with each scene having its own card, is so useful.

Do you use an app or program other than basic word processing for your novel? Leave a comment below! 

I hadn’t been much interested in AI. I know it’s here, I know it’s going to change everything. Focused on my projects, I haven’t wanted to go down the rabbit hole of learning and assessing AI as a tool for work and writing. 

But when LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman mentioned ‘research assistant’ on a podcast, I rushed right over to the computer and got my ‘assistant’ to work. 

In a book proposal, you have to make a claim, evidenced by stats, that there is a large market for your book. I am terrible at researching this kind of thing. I had done several Google searches. But when I used AI to research, I got much more specific results. Granted, the information doesn’t go past 2021, but I can live with that. I also have to fact-check the AI results, but still, it’s helpful.

I have used ChatGBT to help me with my writing projects: 

Comparative titles:

• Searching for any I missed
• Getting summaries to see if I missed anything in what I already wrote 

Alternative titles for my book

It was fun to see some words I wasn’t using that could be considered more mainstream. For instance, I don’t necessarily use ‘creative potential,’ but I liked it when it popped up in an alternative title. It speaks to what I want for us all – that we live up to our potential as people and creators. 

I’ve pointed clients to how to use AI for their book proposals, and one even got a new title for her book using it. 

I played with ‘book launch ideas’ to help brainstorm new ideas for my marketing section in the proposal. I pretty much knew all of them already, which was more validating than informative.. 

Not sure how to use it for my novel-writing, but one day, I had an idea. I strive to write in a certain style. I hope to write in a lyrical way, a way that emphasizes saying something in a beautiful, original way. I say striving because I feel far from achieving that.

I copied a paragraph of my novel into AI and asked it to describe the style of writing. This is what I got back: 

The writing style of this fiction is descriptive and uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the scene and the emotions of the characters. The author also uses internal dialogue to give insight into the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings. The language is informal and uses slang, creating a sense of intimacy and authenticity. The author also employs metaphors and clichés to add depth to the character’s observations and to convey the physical sensations of the experience. The overall tone is sensual and romantic, with an emphasis on the physical pleasure and emotional connection between the characters.

That made me feel like I was getting closer to the kind of writing I want. Not totally there yet. And clichés? OY! Not so great. It sent me into the paragraph to hunt down what could be cliché and eliminate it. 

I feel ethical about how I have used AI. I’m not getting it to write my paragraphs for me. Having a better research tool is super helpful, especially in the promotion/launch phase of a book.

Have you used AI for your writing? Share how by leaving a comment below!

Typically, I wouldn’t be working on more than one major project at a time. I am happiest when I have a behemoth to work on. 

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of how it’s working for me to juggle two beasts, let me confess this: I rarely FEEL like working on these projects. Both of them carry a lot of emotional baggage. Both of them feel just beyond my skill set. 

I wrote in a recent article about the feelings we think we need to do a project. Instead of thinking I need a certain feeling to start the work, I go for the feeling I want to have after I’ve written. I’ve achieved that consistently. After work on my projects, I feel:

• empowered
• in integrity
• a triumphant sense of progress 
• greater confidence. 

It’s hard to describe, but I also feel a wholeness when doing these projects. As I’ve said before, they’ve both been on my list for years, and giving them the space they deserve just makes me feel better about life. 

It helps to keep a separate notebook for each project. I use the Hahnemühle Diary Flex because it’s small and easy to take everywhere. I do my reflective writing about my process in them. I make notes during meetings and also capture ideas and insights. More about how I use an ‘author notebook’ here. 

Specific deadlines make all the difference for me. I use the structure of my coaching group, Write ON, to have a weekly agenda for writing. These fluctuate according to what else is on my calendar. Having to declare what I will do by Friday makes it easier to keep on track every single week. 

External deadlines like working with an editor and going on a trip help me stay focused. This is especially helpful when I don’t ‘feel’ like doing the work. I want to feel free and at ease when I go away, knowing I’ve set myself up to come back easily to the project. 

In March, I was taking a class for the book proposal. I wanted to get as much done as I could during that time, so that creativity chastity belt helped me stay with it every day. I had to devise my own deadlines after that. 

I often wake up between 3 and 4 am, and it takes a while to get back to sleep. This is when thoughts of the novel float in. I get insights. It’s like this quiet, dark, liminal space allows me to see more and get ideas. Luckily, I remember them and write them down in my novel’s notebook. 

Most days (except weekends), I do a bit on each project. A book proposal is vastly different than a novel. When it gets hard, and I get squirmy, switching to the novel feels easy. I like variety in my days, always have. I call this ‘mode switch’, where I am able to get things done by moving among disparate tasks and projects.

I always want to do more. There never feels like enough time in the day. But I also know that writing is a sloooooooooow medium. Patience and persistence win the day. I love the feeling I have from working on both of these books. I am eager to finish them and get them into your hands because while these are my passion projects and I gain a lot from doing them, I am writing these for you.

What about you? How do you juggle more than one big project at once? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below! 

What’s inspiring me

My friend Constance started a new podcast this year. Dear Constance is a wonderful accompaniment to my morning coffee-making. Her episodes are short and inspirational. I feel like I’m getting wisdom and love from a cool New York friend. You might like it too!

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige was such a good read. I love her writing and how she creates dramatic tension. This book made me want to write. I even drafted some things late one night on vacation because I was so inspired by this book.

Lastly, have I told you about The Bookcase? Forgive me if I have already raved about it, but I just love it. This is the best book-related podcast I have heard. I love the host’s banter, and interviews with authors and booksellers. Plus it’s got a great theme song. It’s where I heard about Amity Gaige. I marched right to the library to get Sea Wife when they raved about it. I think you’ll love it!

Leave a comment below! 

What kind of feelings do we need to commit to a project? Does it have to be WOO HOOO!!!! Or can it be something else? 

I just realized that for me, I don’t need to feel WOW THIS IS GOING TO BE SO GREAT I AM SO EXCITED TO WRITE THIS. It doesn’t have to be a sparkly rainbow party kind of energy. 

It can be a different level of commitment. Right now I feel committed, curious, a bit scared but mostly inspired to write this story. I have a range of feelings that are motivating me. These emotions run underneath every decision we make. 

Most of the external stuff – when, where to write – is easy enough. The emotional undercurrents require a bit more tending. 

When these feelings threaten to force me to the sidelines, I lean in on curiosity. I can’t live with this possibility. I must live with the effort to see this story to its conclusion. In an exercise from Story Genius, we’re asked to write the point of the story. Here’s the point of my Portugal novel: 

Taking big risks is worth it even when it’s scary, hard, or doesn’t turn out the way you hoped it would. 

This point underpins everything I believe about creativity and life. It’s what I want for you and for everyone. 

I am curious to see what happens when I take on this project that’s been on my list for almost a decade. 

I wonder about you. What energy/feeling/vibe do you feel is required to commit to a project? Does it have to be bright and shiny? Or can it also be a bit of something else? 

I’m curious to know. Share your thoughts about what emotions you require to commit to a project below.

Leave a comment below! 

You’re working on a book, and it’s not quite working. You know you need help, but what kind? Some kind of editing?

There are many kinds of editing, each required at different phases of book writing. Developmental editing, content editing, line editing, and proofreading are types of editing we all need.

As a book coach, I help authors in a couple of ways.

• I orient them to their motivation and vision for the book. This helps writers stay on track when the work gets tough.
• I bring typical coaching skills of sounding board, accountability, and cheerleading to my clients.
• I help people manage their time, their projects, and their emotions.

I also help with developmental editing. I love helping writers sculpt their ideas into a book. Each book has its unique blueprint and style and will reflect the author’s deeply held point of view and voice. As a coach of over twenty years, I use my reservoir of great questions to help authors pinpoint the purpose and structure of the book.

As a businesswoman, I know how to help writers craft a book that meets their goals. Identifying the reader and the reader’s needs right away is essential. Clarifying a vision for the book and its impact is also vital to understanding how to write the book.

When you need a developmental editor

Most authors need some sort of developmental editor help. It’s hard to imagine someone crystal clear about their concepts would need help putting them together in a book. But all books benefit from a caring outside perspective to bring it to coherence and cohesion. Here’s when to get help with designing your book’s contents:

• You’ve written some pieces but feel all over the place. Your manuscript is a chaotic mess.
• You haven’t started writing yet, but have a bunch of ideas. You don’t know how to put them together.
• You don’t know if your ideas cohere, make sense or are complete.
• You don’t yet know the shape, style, or organizational structure of your book.

A book is its own beast

Pulling ideas into a book form is a much bigger project than just writing one-off articles or blogs. Most of my clients are writers and have written articles and course curricula.

No matter how smart or accomplished my clients are, they still suffer from these inner challenges. Writers are often:

• blind to what’s there, both on content and quality levels.
• uncertain about how to make their book different than ones in their genre
• insecure about their voice or writing style
• done with an outline but keep veering away from it and returning to the uncertainty that plagues everyone at the starting line.

Helping people sort all these things out so they can write their book or book proposal is my total joy. I’m honored to be in on such a profound creative project with them.

I work with clients for six or twelve months to get all this hammered out. By the end of six months, most people have a blueprint for their book. They also have a committed practice and know how to stay on track and avoid getting derailed by insecurities or life’s challenges.

If you’re stuck with your book and need help organizing your time and structuring your content, reach out. I’m a pro at helping navigate the inner and outer challenges at the beginning of getting our book brain on.

Schedule a call with me to see how we can work together to bring your book to life. 

 

 

You know the writing back burner. It could be crowded with ideas, things you insist you still want to write. They silently simmer in the background. I don’t think these sidelined projects are benign. I think they linger in the background until we set them aside or give them their due.

I speak from experience as a coach, and as a writer with my own crowded back burner.

I’ve got two books that have been on my back burner since at least 2014. I’ve done some work on them. I haven’t ever truly committed to finishing these books. 

But no matter how much I ignore them, they won’t disappear. Somehow this year feels different. I’m committed to these two books in a deep way. A knowing way. I know I will finish them. I also have the incredible (required) hubris to know that these books are going to make a big difference in the world. 

Gulp.

I’m shifting priorities to pull these books off the back burner. I am getting help to stay committed. Mostly, I am excited to learn and grow as I move into the real work of bringing these books to life.

Do you have a writing project that won’t leave you alone? I invite you to join me in committing to making great progress on them. 

Beyond just getting words on the page, we’ll work some magic on your inner resources, too. I bet you’d like to: 

• Build your self-trust
• Be true to yourself
• Channel your abundant ideas into projects you finish 
• Discard envy and resentment of accomplished writers. 

Let’s do this together. It will be a blast to finally be the writer you’ve wanted to be for far too long. 

I’m hosting a coaching group for writers that gives you the right amount of support you need to pull a project to the front burner. Write ON starts soon. All the details are here. 

The trend of writers enrolling paid subscribers is one I celebrate. As someone who has published a newsletter since 2001, I know how much work goes into producing content that people want to read. I’m happy to be able to contribute to these writers and honor their work. 

Secrets of Paris Heather Stimmler has been delving into the Paris we don’t always hear about for decades. I always open Secrets of Paris right away because there’s always news and information about the City of Light I wouldn’t find elsewhere. Heather, a friend of mine, always shares something useful to me and the creativity retreats I lead in Paris. Subscribe here. 

Paris by Mouth by Meg Zimbeck and Sara Garcia If you’re like me, you never want to have a bad meal. I will go the MILE to make sure the restaurants I eat at will produce a good experience. Good service, great food, lovely ambiance…it all adds up to a memorable experience, and I want that memory to be a good one, not a cringer. Paris by Mouth offers a thorough database of reviews for subscribers of restaurants and other foodie spots in Paris. You can search by type of establishment, by type of food, or by arrondissement. I happily pay for this curated information. They also do food tours. 

David Lebovitz I’ve been following David Lebovitz’s Paris food blog since 2005. When he moved to a subscription model, I was happy to put some moola in his pocket. David’s writing has gotten better and better over the years. I love his voice, his humor and his obvious passion for food in Paris. Reading his newsletter gives me insights about Paris and the French that make a difference in how I think about Paris and what I do when I am there. 

Department of Salad: Official Bulletin by Emily Nunn Who would think that food writing could be so funny? I love salad, of course, but Emily’s writing makes me pay to subscribe to this newsletter. She’s HILARIOUS. I feel like I have a really funny friend in the kitchen with me and I get lots of ideas, too.

Craig Mod I’m new to Craig’s world and so far I love what he’s doing. He’s crafted an interesting business model for a writer. He’s got several different newsletters which you can find here. Craig lives in Japan and writes essays and articles about walking in Japan and many other things. His members-only newsletter is called Special Projects. Craig also makes books, and sells limited editions of these photography and writing books. He both writes and makes videos.

One of the cool things he does are subscriber-paid Pop Up Newsletters. These are limited series newsletters around a topic. I got sucked into subscribing – willingly! – when he mentioned his Tokyo walk project. He’d walk for half the day and then go to his lodging and write a long newsletter about it. I have access to the archives as a subscriber, and I am fascinated by the project and the way he structured including subscribers in it. I was recently walking around London and this model for walking/traveling/writing came into my mind.

Not a paid newsletter, the Farm Share newsletter was a total delight this summer. It was fun and useful to get info each week on what the farm was producing and what to do with all that produce. Being a member of a local farm is one of my life’s greatest joys, and this newsletter added to that joy.

What newsletters do you pay to subscribe to? Leave a comment below! 

As you may know, I am endlessly curious about the forces at play in our creative process. My whole life is dedicated to this – conversations with coaching clients, writing books about it, and being an ardent student of my own process. 

The thing that fascinates me most is resistance. Why oh why do we resist the thing we say we want to do – write? I’ve got my theories about why, and as a coach, I’m actually more interested in what we do with it. We can ponder and wonder all day long, but unless that gets us into action, I’ve got limited time to just think about it. 

One thing that gets me into action is having social accountability. Writing my novel in November was a lot easier because I had told people I would do it. For me, this was an iron-clad promise not to others but to myself. 

Another thing that helps me show up is a recurring date. Every Thursday, I show up at 8:00 to write. It’s not that I am so structured and disciplined; again, it’s because others are meeting with me too. 

Last year, I hosted and participated in 45 Impulse Writing Club sessions. I had to miss two because of work travel, and the other five weeks were weeks off. 

When I set these sessions up in the fall of 2021, I had no idea how fun they would be. The simplicity of it – three timed writing sessions – made it easy to slip into the writing zone. I used the time to write various things: two book drafts, articles for my newsletter, personal journaling and more. Members of the Impulse Writing Club report these experiences after our sessions:

Of course, we all experience a range of things over the course of our 16 weeks of writing together. Overall, it’s quite a positive and productive time. 

If you want to write more this year, I think you’ll love the Impulse Writing Club. Please join us to write weekly. We start on January 12th. All the information is here. 

Leave your comments below

I’m going to start the new year with total transparency about why I teach and coach people to write. 

Because writing, well, it’s a fool’s journey. The work is difficult, chances at fame and monetary success are slim. Friends and family doubt why you spend so much time working on something that doesn’t pay you back. Even you sometimes wonder if you’re crazy. 

I know this. I’m not a pollyanna coach pretending ‘it’s all good’. I’m taking a stand for each and every one of us who wants to write. 

Because writing pays you back. I’ve seen it again and again. 

I believe if you have the impulse to write, you must follow it. Despite all evidence and advice against writing as a way to be a happy, sane person, I believe that giving in to the impulse to pen something is the very stuff of life itself. 

In my writing classes, I often give the prompt ‘I write because’. Writing for 15 minutes on this topic is often enough to plug someone into their motivation to write. A writing practice that is satisfying follows from there.

If you’re someone who has been sitting on her hands, hiding her voice and not writing, I offer nine reasons why you must write. 

Because it feels good. If you’ve ever caught the groove of the keyboard or pen across the page, you’ll know the breathless exhilaration writing can give. You can do that to yourself without spending any money?! Creative jollies for free! Who wouldn’t take that up?

Because you have something to say. Author Brenda Ueland says “Everyone is talented, original and has something important to say.” Believe it’s worth your time to get words on the page. 

Because you’re curious to see what emerges from your pen and heart. And that curiosity must be satisfied for you to feel right in the world.

Because writing introduces you to your true self. Writing offers a transformative process similar to sharing with a friend or counselor. When you write, you may feel a sense of being heard – by yourself, at least. And aren’t you the one you most need to know and trust? 

Because knowing yourself leads to positive changes in your life. You can’t help but notice the dusty corners of your psyche that need tidying up and the things you can no longer tolerate. Taking up the pen is taking up the sword in defense of a life you actually want to live.

Because it’s fun. Often in free writing, fictional stories will emerge from our pens. Free writing frees us to explore, play and enjoy a limitless freedom of our imagination. This is the giggly part of writing; not to be missed. 

Because you get to be free. You deserve to live without the weight of procrastination. Instead, you get to feel the exhilaration of your own creative flow. You get to move, and do things and share your world through your words. 

Because it’s good to express ourselves. I was in the audience at a conference when Brene Brown said “unexpressed creativity is not a benign force’. Tears flowed down my face. I’d known all along that our creativity is as vital to our health as is good food and exercise. To hear it validated by a researcher added wind to my wings.

Because you can. Freedom of speech is no small boon – take it and use it.  

Add your own tenth reason for writing. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and using the prompt I write because…write your heart out.

When asked what I do, I reply, “ I help people write books.” I’ve learned to super-simplify it, because I can’t go around firehosing people with “I’m an author, artist and coach who teaches people how to know, love and trust their process. I also lead creativity retreats in Paris and teach workshops online.” I’m exhausted trying to list all the things I do! 

But ‘help people write books’ doesn’t tell the full story of how I help my clients bring their ideas into form and into the world. In this article, I’ll open the kimono to show what, specifically, my book coaching can look like. We’ll walk through some of the ways I coached Paula Preschelack to write, publish, and promote her book. 

I love coaching Paula Preschlack. She’s a skilled, seasoned writer who wrangled her professional ideas and insights into a book that will reach millions. This year was ready to find a publisher. This is not an easy feat.

But Paula achieved what I consider the equivalent of getting an Olympic Gold Medal: she landed a book deal with an independent press. Chicago Review Press signed on to publish Paula’s non-fiction book, The Montessori Potential: How to Foster Indepence, Respect, and Joy and in Every Child. And, Paula signed an audiobook deal, too! Paula’s book comes out in February, 2023. 

I couldn’t be happier for her. I’m doing a victory lap for all her success; I know how hard she’s worked on this project. Here’s what brought us to this place. 

We’ve been working on her book for several years. I coached Paula through many drafts and life changes. We celebrated her new author life when she transitioned out of her career as head of school at a Montessori school into full-time writing and speaking. A coaching relationship with me is not just about getting things done. It’s much more than having someone you’re accountable to. 

Together we’ve worked through the following: 

How to write organize the material in her book This takes a lot of time and thought. Knowing what belongs in the book is one thing. Structuring the writing in a way that honors the material and the author’s style and voice is another piece. 

How to manage a busy life and stay focused on her book  This is a perennial subject that needs regular focus. There is no ‘normal’ week. Life is dynamic, throwing random things into the mix regularly. Often, we think we’ll have the same writing routine every week. But Paula learned she needed to be flexible and an ardent opportunist if she didn’t want life to overtake her writing goals. Every author will have to renew their commitment again and again. 

Transitioning out of her former career and into her writing career  This was a big life change. While she was ready for it, the change called for a lot of support. The emotional labor involved in a career shift is significant. I helped Paula process the feelings around all she was leaving and all she was moving toward. 

How to structure her time and energy as a writer and speaker I helped Paula think about the bigger picture of her career as an author. Once we identified what she wanted that to look like, we focused on both practical matters and mindset shifts required to go from employee to self-employed. 

Developing systems for her new work life  It was fun to help Paula design her work systems according to her specific writing goals. Taking time to set things up in a way that would work for her, rather than just adopting processes willy nilly, set Paula up for years to come. 

Writing pitch materials to get a publisher  This is a tough part of the author process. A writer has to shift from the person producing the writing to the person promoting the writing. Sales writing is a different animal. We spent a lot of time specifying the language she used that would convey the message of her book. 

Developing talking points around her book Paula is a seasoned speaker but needed help narrowing down a few topics she could discuss with the media. My feedback on her ideas helped to crystallize the most compelling points. 

Navigating the ups and downs of pitching a book  After the proposal and query letter are written, there’s the roller coaster ride of seeking the right agent and publisher. Then there’s the sending and waiting…and waiting. It’s emotionally challenging, and it helped Paula to have someone who understood the process. 

Celebrating a book deal with an independent publisher This is the moment she’d been working toward for years. Of course her family and friends acknowledged this big moment. I helped Paula to really appreciate her efforts and everything she had done to bring her to this point. 

Strategizing her book launch  Paula already has great contacts in the Montessori world. She’s a sought-after speaker and had several keynote speeches booked. I helped her strategize the pre-and post-launch tasks that would help her get the word out about her book. 

Helping Paula lean into her skills and gifts  Paula is a natural connector. While any publishing pro will tell an author they need to have a platform or public presence, I invited Paula to focus elsewhere first. I believed her vast network could be engaged to help her promote the book. She’s using her natural gifts to reach out, stay connected, and meet new people who will be interested in her book. We worked on setting up systems to make staying in touch easier. 

Developing a social media strategy Paula hadn’t spent much time on social media and didn’t know where to start. I encouraged her to sign up for a class that had helped me a lot. Now, she is active on several platforms and is doing a great job of bringing her message and personality into her posts. It turns out she’s a natural and her dog Louis makes regular appearances to help people get a feel for Paula’s sense of humor and style. 

There’s much more, but that’s the bulk of how Paula and I worked together. On a recent coaching session, Paula acknowledged my coaching skills. She said, “You really have a unique combination of gifts. You understand the needs of the creative person and your thinking is very organized. You manage to help me put order to all of my ideas. Most people have one skillset or the other. You’re both – creative and organized. I couldn’t have done all this without you.”

I love hearing that my work makes all the difference for a smart, experienced person like Paula. My 1:1 coaching has a much larger impact when a book like Paula’s makes its way into the world. 

The Montessori Potential gives Paula a chance to expand her passion beyond the school she helped to lead and develop. This book seeks to help demystify what Montessori education is and why it’s so effective. Find out more about Paula’s work and order a copy of her book here. 

Learn about how you can get on my coaching roster and bring your great ideas into the world here. 

Treat your writer self – and a friend – to these gifts for writers. These treats make it easy to gift your writer what they need to be happily productive next year and beyond.

The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book is the complete step-by-step approach to getting your book out of your head and onto the page. It’s not just for women!

Chasing Sylvia Beach will take you straight to Paris. Perfect for lovers of historical fiction and bibliophiles, this novel is great holiday escape reading. And, book groups love it; invite me to join your discussion virtually.

 

 

Perhaps you’d like my art on objects to inspire your home and studio. My notebooks make a great gift.

The Writer’s Manifesto gives ready inspiration when you don’t feel up to writing. It’s available as prints and on select objects.

I’ve just topped 40,000 words on the novel I’m writing. My goal is 50,000. I’d hoped to reach that deadline before I leave for London tomorrow. Alas, it was too ambitious of a goal* for me. 

I realized I wouldn’t achieve the goal about a week ago. It would be easy to go limp and give up entirely. Like if you miss a day, your focus goes ‘poof,’ and you abandon the goal entirely. 

But I don’t operate that way. Deadlines give me incredible focus and commitment. They help me prioritize the project, no matter what is happening in my life. I share this approach with my clients to great effect. Don’t get me wrong – there have been times when I have had to abandon a project due to life’s other plans.

I am confident I will meet my bigger goal of 50,000 words by December 1st. I have five more days after I get home. With only 10,000 words to write, that is completely doable, even with jet lag. I had the image of celebrating a complete draft in London. But no sweat. I will still celebrate those 40,000 words. 

Here’s the approach that works for my clients and me. 

Use upcoming trips, holidays, guests or other ‘disruptions’ to your routine to accelerate your focus. The question I ask my clients is this: “Where do you want to be with your project when you head out of the office/receive guests/start a new job?” This galvanizes their imagination and commitment. The disruption becomes less a reason to bail and more an ally to help them focus. 

By keeping my word to myself to write daily since October 20, I’ve gained an enormous amount of self-trust and confidence. Every day I write, I signal to myself that despite all my doubts and insecurities, this project matters. 

I leave the project with a clear sense of where I will pick it up upon return. 

I trust the break will give me the perfect amount of distance and perspective. This will enhance the writing and improve the quality of the novel. 

I don’t expect to write on the trip. While it would be nice to write on the airplane – nine uninterrupted hours – I know myself. I love to leave it all behind. I love the space and freedom I feel on a long-distance flight. I may read Story Genius by Lisa Cron. I may read an novel. This is ‘off’ time and I have the freedom to enjoy the vacation.

What I want most to convey to you is this sense of how I hold a deadline. I take it seriously, and it galvanizes my focus. But when/if I don’t achieve that goal, it’s not a problem. I know I have done everything I can to get there. I simply set a new deadline and reset the focus. 

*I don’t typically go for ‘write your book in an unreasonably short period of time’. Getting a book from idea to print takes time. Writing and revising is not a speedy medium. But to accelerate focus and get a shaggy draft out quickly, NaNoWriMo is handy. 

Do you use trips or other ‘disruptions’ to work in your favor? Share your experience below. 

Travel is one of those incredibly personal things. Many of my clients hope to get a lot of writing done while traveling. And some do. But if they don’t know how they write/travel, they can easily burden themselves with unrealistic expectations. It’s much better to plan according to your style of travel than to lug all your writing materials with you and never crack open your laptop. I coach my clients to know their way so they can set themselves up for success whether they bring their writing along or take a break.

Are you a traveling writer? Some people can write easily while on the road. Others can’t. Neither is better; it’s only important to know what works for you.

One client of mine loved his airplane time. It was the only place where he didn’t have to respond to work demands. Where he wasn’t responsible for his family’s needs. Where he had uninterrupted time to write. He got a lot done while away from his routine. Others find that work trips, family trips or vacations are too disruptive to focus.

Don’t judge whether you can or can’t write while away from home. What’s damaging to your confidence is having unreasonable expectations for yourself. Bringing a lot of stuff with you to work on and not getting to it can add unnecessary stress. Remember, the main thing we need to guard and access is focus. Some people can focus more easily when away from home. Others find that they can’t get much writing done while traveling.

Decide which you are—a traveling writer or a home writer. Set your expectations accordingly. 

Drop a note in the comments below to share your travel/writing mode. What works for you?