Writing in Chaos

This post was originally featured in my newsletter but I wanted to share it here too.

I know last newsletter I talked about modules and game design a bit, but this month, I am veering into a totally different topic. The month of June has been my most productive writing month this year. I've managed over 45,000 words written during June's 30 days! I'm incredible proud of that, since I've been really struggling this year. (For example, I wrote 18,000 words in May.)

Basically, everyone I know is struggling right now. Between the tension in the world, the crushing rise of AI in creative fields, and just general exhaustion, people are having a hard time. Me too. But this month, I put in some guardrails in place to help myself out and it honestly has made a difference. I wanted to share those and just some general advice for y'all. 

My word count for June! I haven’t put in the final amount for June 30 (today), but it puts me at over 45,000 for the month! Click on the picture for a link to where you can get the spreadsheet I use to track my words.

1. No Internet Before 9am or after 8pm

Why these times? Because it lets me start my day without social media/doomscrolling/news/memes taking over my day before its begun or when I should be settling in for bed. I've not been perfect at it for sure, but just making the effort of not turning to my phone first thing in the morning has been hugely helpful. 

2. Enjoying New Things

Finding new movies/books/games to focus on has been hugely helpful. Previously I had been very 'I'll watch *insert new tv show here* after I finish this project' and while that does have its place, it also means I don't get inspired by other's work as often. Allowing myself to fall into new things (like the manga series I mentioned above or the sensational K-Pop Demon Hunter) have helped to refill the creative well in my heart and made me want to work on my own projects. 

3. Improving My Attention

My attention span is awful. After years of short videos and doing 19 things at once, I have a hard time just focusing on any one thing for a period of time. But that makes creating especially challenging when I want to weave a complicated plot or clever puzzle. To help with that, I've been focusing on things that require my entire attention. For me, that's been Murdle (mostly in physical book form) and R.E.P.O. on my computer. Both require my total focus.
Murdle forces me to use logic to figure who the murderer is based on a limited number of clues. R.E.P.O. is a video game where you play as a little robot collecting items to meet the quotas a strange entity demands of you. BUT there are terrifying creatures waiting for you and a moment of inattention and its all over for your little robot. The game also has a bonus of being a great co-op game so playing with friends makes it more social (and falls into enjoying new things too)! 

4. Focusing On Things I Can Do 

It is so easy to collapse into the 'everything is on fire and I have to stare at it' mindset. I still often spend far too much time doomscrolling through the horrible things happening in the world and feeling hopeless and powerless. So what I've done is put together a list of things I can do. For me, that's call elected officials about issues I'm worried about, write letters to my local newspapers, donate to my local libraries, and volunteer with some organizations focused on literacy. When I get too overwhelmed, I turn to one of these things to help me feel less powerless. 

5. Lowering the Bar

I have very high expectations for myself. My to-do lists are usually 40-50 things a day, and I get stressed when I can't get to all of them. So I've started to put fewer things on my list where I can and trying to save my energy for the creative work I want to complete. That might look like dinner being a microwaved meal instead of something from scratch on days when I'm having a hard time with just existing. It also means trying to not beat myself up for making those choices. This is honestly the one I've struggled with the most, but it has made the biggest difference. 

It isn't a perfect system and I definitely still have bad days where I flop on the couch and stare into the void to let it consume me. But, I've had more days where I can at least get up and do some things, so I'll take that as a win. 

What kind of things have worked for you? 

Willpower and Cantrips

Routines and Schedules

One of the most helpful and boring things that I have found keeps me writing is my schedules and routines. Last year threw a lot of that off for a variety of reasons. I started a new job in January and that meant a whole new routine to deal with as well as a new commute and a lot of learning.

Then well... March happened and everything changed again.

This is why my focus for 2021 is on rebuilding routine and structure into my life as much as I can. When some things are automatic, it frees up brain space. We've all had those days where you get home from a long day at work where you had to make a million decisions. You flop onto the couch, can't decide what to make for dinner so you order a pizza and watch movies. Suddenly it's 10:00 and time for bed. Your willpower is depleted and trying to force yourself to do more, doesn't really work at that point. You've exhausted that energy.

For my Dungeons and Dragons fans out there, it's like spell slots. You have enough energy to cast a certain number of spells before you need a rest. Schedules and routines act a bit like cantrips: they don't take a spell slot to cast.

One thing I have built into the routines of my life is that Monday is laundry day. It's become basically automatic at this point. I know that anything that needs to be washed will be dealt with on a Monday so I don't have to allot any amount of worry to 'when am I going to get all these clothes washed?' It frees a tiny amount of brain space from that thought. There's no decision to be made, it's already been made by past me.

By building in these little decisions already being decided, you can free a lot of brain space. Set up a similar breakfast every day, wear a 'work uniform' even if you don't have to, have a set time for eating or going to bed or writing. When these routines become automatic, those things get done with less resistance and less willpower drain.

Consider that schedules are really just a gift that past you is giving to future you, isn't that thoughtful of them?

My Top 5 Writing Books

Ah, the never-ending world of writing advice... there are so many options of things to read and learn from. As always, advice is very selective with what matches your own experiences and what clicks best in your brain. So, I thought I'd share my favorite writing books!

1. 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron

This book didn't take me to 10k a day writing (I mean, to be honest, I rarely hit 2k days lately) BUT it did give me a better plan on what matters for me to have ready when I start writing. Instead of just thinking about how I'm going to write so much when I have time, I can focus on the specifics: next plot points, dialogue, and plan actions.

If you're looking for a way to get more laser-focused during your writing time, this short book is a huge help.

2. Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing: Revised Edition 2nd Edition, by Libbie Hawker

The fun title caught my eye but the contents really solidified what I was looking for. If you're noticing a theme with these first books, you're right. These books are to focus on what you really need for an outline, the bare bones of what a story requires.

I have a bad habit of getting into the weeds of my story and writing out a history lasting 1000 years but not my actual story. This book helped me narrow down and create outlines that give me the information and guides I need to actually do the writing work.

3. Writing with Chronic Illness: Improve Outlook and Productivity (WMG Writer's Guides) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Now this book surprised me. I started it to see about if it was any good to recommend a friend dealing with a new diagnosis. I was amazed at how much this book helped me (and her!) with managing of energy.

Even in someone not dealing with a chronic condition (though honestly I could see everyone calling the past few years a condition to struggle with) can learn a lot about what is going on.

The ideas here of figuring out high, medium and low-level tasks is a great way to navigate fluctuating abilities day by day. I learned a lot about figuring out what tasks I can do when my energy is low and what tasks can really help me make the most of a high energy day.

Honestly, Rusch has a ton of books out and a great blog that provides a lot of resources and advice.

4. Business Essentials for Writers: How to make money in an ever-changing industry by James Nettles

I had the pleasure of beta-reading for this book and it is everything I could have hoped for when I was starting out as a writer. There are so many questions when you start seeking publication... and a lot of contracts to worry about! This easy to use guide provides a clear guide on things to be aware of: from scams, publishing paths, social media, contracts and networking.

I keep a physical copy of this book right by my desk and reference it fairly often.

5. The Successful Author Mindset Companion Workbook: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer's Journey by Joanna Penn

This one is a bit of a cheat since it's technically a workbook that you complete yourself. However, there are good bits of text along the workbook to explain what to do and to guide you through your own hangups around writing. I was really surprised by how much writing out my own ideas, goals and hangups helped me visualize WHY I was writing.

I know we hear it a lot but the why behind what we're doing really makes a huge difference in keeping motivated. Finding and really honing in on that answer makes me feel so much more inspired to keep working towards my goals.

Those are my top five writing books for the moment. As always, take what works for you and leave the rest! Writing is a really individual task and you'll find the method that works for you with trial and error.

Liminal Year

What a year 2020 was, huh?

The end there got a bit dark and struggle-y for me personally but here we are, on the other side of that 0.

My hope for this year is to be more active here, read more books and write more. Of course, I also have those 'typical' goals of getting healthier, working out more, etc. What can I say? I'm only human.

2020 changed a lot of things for pretty much everyone I know. There are so many things I miss and so many things that I've learned about myself. For instance, I've learned that working without background noise is a real struggle for me and that I really like Lo-Fi music.

Today I spent a good part of the day getting all of my calendars set up for 2021 and writing down important events. Normally I have several conventions I'm going to but this year, I don't have a single one on my calendar. It makes me realize how much I do miss those convention conversations and hanging out with the friends I only see at these conventions.

I think 2021 is going to be a liminal year, full of transitions, strangeness and disorientation. We're in the middle of a reshuffling of a whole lot of ways of life and of people seeing a new way of doing things. Many places are already looking at more permanent work from home options and several conventions are looking at creating year-round online content. The way we live has fundamentally changed and this is the year that these changes take root.

I've always loved liminal spaces, the grocery store at 2am, the abandoned building or the airport in the dead of night (man, remember airports?). There is a potential in those areas, a quiet humming energy that stays unseen but sends the hairs on your arms standing on end.

For 2021, I have so many things I want to do, but I also want to give myself the time to both enjoy the potential and to adjust to the stress of change. No matter how exciting a change is, it's always stressful and 2020 really proved that. What a year. I've never napped so regularly as I did all this past year. It just felt like exhaustion was always crawling up my spine.

Right now I've set a few simple goals with solid numbers that will give me a clear 'yes or no' when it comes to the end of the year.

I want to write 500,000 words.

I want to earn $3000 from my writing/freelance work.

I want to work out five times a week.

Those are the basics that I am hoping for in 2021. They're pretty easily trackable and when December 31, 2021 arrives I can look back and see a pretty solid yes or no for those.

But at the same time, I also feel that this coming year is the perfect year to change and shift goals as the year goes. I'm open for leaning into that slightly unnerving liminal energy to see where the currents take me.

If you're reading this, remember you survived 2020 and saw the dawn of 21, that's exciting. Look towards the ever changing future and remember that it's impossible to predict what's ahead. Learning how to roll with those changes is a lesson I'm hoping to learn more about in the coming year because honestly, who knows what waits around the corner?

Camp NaNoWriMo!

July is just around the corner and that means that Camp NaNoWriMo will be kicking off soon!

What is Camp NaNoWriMo? Inspired by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) held every November, this camp offers the chance to try to complete a word-related goal throughout the summer. The goals are more flexible for you to set yourself (rather than the standard 50,000 for NaNoWriMo) and are open to all sorts of projects.

Because of the flexibility and customizable nature of the camp it can be a great launching point! I’m hoping to use the month of July to get started on some new projects!

Here’s one of my favorite YouTube channels, Heart Breathings, talking about Camp NaNoWriMo for her.

If you sign up, let me on so we can cheer each other on!

The Realities Of Saying No

Last week I had to make a hard decision about my capacity and what I can and can’t keep doing while also taking care of myself.

I post about the importance of not letting the hustle run you ragged but I haven’t been practicing what I preach at all. I’ve taken on more and more projects without letting old projects go. What I’ve ended up with is a plate overflowing with to-dos and a brain overwhelmed with tasks.

Finding myself staying up late night after night to finish projects and stressing about where I was going to find the time to do things. I still loved everything I was doing but I was doing it all poorly. So I had to face the reality that something had to go.

It sucks. There’s no real way around that but looking towards 2019 and the goals I have, I knew that things had to change.

So as December kicks off and 2018 begins to wind down, I encourage you to look at all your projects and see how they match with your goals and, more importantly, how they match with taking care of yourself.

Make hard decisions and be honest with yourself.