Constance Phillips - A Writer's Musings
Powerful stories about passion and surrender.
There will be two more installments to my ‘accomplishing a lot in a little time’ series next week, but I couldn’t resist joining the rest of the world today…
Today, I am blogging about Princess William, Princess Katherine, happily ever after at the MVRWA group blog. Check it out!
Today I’m continuing my series on taking advantage of the extra few minutes.
In last week’s posts I gave some advice on building a busy bag and then using its contents to prepare to write your next scene.
That preperation was meant to be used when you had a nice chunk of time to write, but it is possible to work on that next scene when you only have a few spare moments on the clock.
Here are a couple ways to accomplish a lot of writing with just a few moments.
1) The important thing to remember is to play to your strengths. Now, this is going to require a little self-examination. For me, it was easy – dialogue. Dialogue comes to me as if it’s a scene in a movie playing out in my head. I can write pages of dialogue (with no more than tags) in a few moments. Then, when I have more time to flesh out the scene, the backbone is already there. For you it may be setting or the emotion that is easier to write. Take your extra moments to pull out one of your notepads and a pen, and play to your strengths.
2) Depending on the type of writer you are, another good way to take advantage of those moments is to expand on the notes you made in prep mode. For example, look at the notes about the conflict for the scene and the pov. Starting in that POV start expand on your initial thoughts in what ever way is most comfortable. These draft writings may change dramatically between now and finished project, but what you write, will help you when you sit down with more time to work.
Just remember this key point: Baby steps count. What ever you accomplish in your few spare moments are pieces to the big picture.
What are some of your time saving writitng tips?
Today, I continue giving the highlights from a workshop I presented at a recent MVRWA meeting.
For those of us who lead busy lives, finding the time to write can be hard. But what some of us don’t realize
is we let precious moments slip away because we don’t think we have enough of them to do anything substantial or productive.
Here is a list of a few things you can do with those scant moments that will help prepare you for your writing session.
But first – remember that busy bag we put together on Monday? You’ll need a few items from there: paper or note cards and a pen. (If you are comfortable with a digital recorder…that would work too. Or an electronic device that you can use for notes.)
For those fellow pantsters out there, it might seem like I’m going to ask you to plot. It’s okay. Take a deep breath. This isn’t plotting, it’s preparing–and we’re not going any further than the next scene you plan to write. For plotters, this exercise will most likely come very easy.
Think about the next scene you plan to write and answer the following questions.
a) What point of view will I write it in?
b) What needs to come out in this scene (question asked, question answered)
c) What is the conflict of the scene?
d) How can I amp up the tension?
Try prepping your next few writing sessions by answering these questions before you even sit at the keyboard. I found it made my time spent writing much more effective, and I hope it will work the same for you.
If it does work, you will have not only put those few minutes to good use, but saved time at the keyboard.
Do you have any secret writing prep tricks?
This past Saturday I presented the topic “Accomplishing a Lot in a Few Minutes at my RWA chapter meeting. I would like to share the information I gave there, with my readers here. The next several posts will break down all the information. Beginning today, with the basic “busy person” essential: A Busy Bag.
A busy bag for those of us trying to fit writing into an already jam-packed life is very similar to the ones mothers carry for their late-preschool, early-elementary children. However, instead of crayons, coloring books, and a few select toys, we should carry the essentials of our trade.
Here’s a peak inside my busy bag:
2 yellow legal pads: For scribbling notes as they come to me, jotting out plot or dialogue, or just to make additions to my shopping lists.
Pens/highlighters: I carry a few colors of each. Red pens are a must for editing work. Blue and (of course) purple for jotting notes. Highlighters also come in at least two or three colors becuase I have a coded system for editing.
Notecards: For creating character notes.
My iPad: I feel very lucky to have this handy piece of electronics in my busy bag, but I know it doesn’t fit in everyone’s budget. If you have one, they are great for catching up on email when you have a few minutes or also jotting notes into your w.i.p.
I’m not a ‘vocal’ person. It feels un natural to speak into a mini-tape player or a digital voice recorder, but this would be a great addition for those who are comfortable using them.
Now that you have your busy bag, how does it work?
Carry it with you when you expect to have spare moments in the day. While your picking up the kids, waiting at the doctor’s office or auto mechanic’s shop. These are lost moments we can recover and use if we’re properly prepared.
Do you have any additional items in your busy bag?
This song makes me laugh. And right now I need to laugh.
One of my favorite lines is:
“I’ve seen Betty happy, but she’s never been like this / She glows like someone’s girlfriend in the middle of a kiss,”
Too bad Betty is cheating!
Hope you enjoy this song too.
Anyone who knows me could probably guess that I was curled up in my favorite chair with a blanket and a big bowl of popcorn last night when 9:00 pm hit. 
The TV tuned to Discovery. I’d been waiting all fall and winter for my favorite fisherman to return to my tv. Dealiest Catch Marathons can only go so far to soothe the longing.
When your world gets flipped upside down like mine has in the last few weeks, there’s something to be said about doing something familiar. Something comfortable. Indulging in the lives of my favorite fisherman has to be better than indulging in comfort foods. Right?
More than what I was feeling, however, it seemed to be a common theme running through the first epiosde of the new season. (Last week was a recap. Loved it, but not counting it!) Last year, Edgar Hanson of the Northwestern spoke of needing a change, about leaving the boat. We watched the Harris boys live through the tragedy of losing their father. Even the Hillstrands seem beaten down by life on the Bering Sea.
I wouldn’t have blamed any of them for seeking change.
Yet, they were all on the perspective boats. Ready for a new season.
Captian Sig summed it up by saying that at the end of every season his brother talks about giving it up, but at the beginning of the next, he’s back to work.
There’s comfort in familiarity. Thank goodness. Because I don’t know what I’d do with out my Tuesday night guys.
As promised, today I want to take a look at some of the advice I was given when I headed back to a full time day job two weeks ago. Also, I want to give you an update on how I’m handling the new schedule.
In this post Lisa McKay commented, “Prioritize what needs to be done when you’re off the job. Don’t try to do everything — Wonder Woman is a mythical creature; don’t try to be her.”
I love this comment, and really took it to heart. It’s part of my nature to try and take everything on. I want to be the one who ties up the lose ends and makes everything just right. Taking on too much is something that I could easily do, and I have tried very hard to be very conscious of what my limitations are.
Linda K also offered some advice. She said, “I’ve also found that setting and sticking to my routine helps me along the way, too.”
This is another great piece of advice for me, because I recognize that I’m a creature of habit. Routines are what keep me sane. The hard part has been developing those routines…but I’m getting there.
Patrice Kavanaugh also had some advice that I liked: One idea: ask your family for help taking care of “to do’s” (like cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.) that you would normally keep on your list.
I’m happy to report that, for the most part, my family has been very understanding and helpful with this transition and upheaval to our life.
I’ve taken all the offered advice to heart, and had the support of some close friends, which I find invaluable, but the real question is how’s it all working for me?
There have been definite ups and downs, that’s for sure. For the first time in years, I have broken the chain of writing every day — I’m not even working on my books everyday like I have been in the past. This past week has been better than the previous and on the positive side, I do find the time I do spend is focused. My goal for the coming week is to write/edit five days.
I’ve been focusing lately on time management and stress. Today, I want to change things up and share five of my guilty pleasures with you. These are things I do (and enjoy) that are selfish just for me.
In no particular order:
A Cup of Coffee with Friends
This “pleasure” is really two fold. 1) I love me some rich, bold coffee, especially when it’s sweetened with a touch of sweet Italian cream. 2) Spending time with good friends is the best way I know to let go of what ever is bogging me down. Even if I’m only able to leave my worries at the door of the coffee shop for an hour or so, it does wonders for my soul.
A Glass of Merlot
Where coffee can be my pick-me-up, a nice glass of a bitter-sweet Merlot does just the opposite. It washes away my cares and helps me relax. Add the next “guilty pleasure,” and I’m sure to get a good night’s sleep.
A Steamy Soak
Weather it’s in my hot tub or a steamy bubble bath, a 20 minute soak is the short track to pure happiness.
Retro Music
I really do listen to all kinds of music, but if I need a lift, the music I grew up on is sure to put a smile on my face. How can it not?
Reality TV
Of all the guilty pleasures on my list, this is the only one that made me cringe a little to type. Yes, I know Reality TVs reputation. Does it make it any better that I like the closer-to-reality-than-tv type. Dedliest Catch, Auction Hunters, Auction Kings, First 48… well, you get the idea. No? Doesn’t matter. These are my guilty pleasures. All that really matters is they make me happy.
What are some of your guilty pleasures?
I remember when I was little and just starting school. Of course, the favorite part was recess and — more precisely — the swings, but it wasn’t the type of thing I could do on my own. I was too little to even touch the ground. 
Once I got started, I could swing high, but first I needed a little push.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds themselves procrastinating. And I find it even harder to find motivation now that I’m back to work. After putting in long, tense days, it’s hard to get motivated to sit myself back down in front of a computer, and even harder to tap into my creative side when I’m mentally exhausted.
Wouldn’t it be nice, if like back on the playground, we could count on someone to give us a little push, just get us started. Everyone knows once we get ourselves moving, staying with it is easy.
But if you get connected with a support system, it can be just like the playground.
For me, my support system consists of my friends in my RWA chapter — MVRWA — as well as other writing friends I’ve met on facebook and twitter.
I know that all I have to do if I want that push to get me moving is shout out a help, whether by email, post or tweet, to one of these people, and I will get a helping hand in the way of encouragement.
So, maybe we can’t go back to the playground. Things will never be as simple as they were when we were a kid, but it is possible to have a network of support people like we did back then. To me, at least, those people are just as valuable as that group of best buddies on the playground.
Who can you turn to when you need a little push?
