tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post3190824417649893887..comments2024-03-29T00:35:40.557-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: 3 Tips for Writing When Life is Chaotic and CrazyJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-16320433120041913582012-10-05T16:55:54.561-04:002012-10-05T16:55:54.561-04:00Hi Lissa!
I honestly can't think of a recent ...Hi Lissa!<br /><br />I honestly can't think of a recent time when my life hasn't been crazy! So, yes. Most of the time we just have to just do it anyway! Wishing you all the best!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-29820381688326071222012-10-05T16:53:38.799-04:002012-10-05T16:53:38.799-04:00Hi Heather,
I think taking a weekly approach is a...Hi Heather,<br /><br />I think taking a weekly approach is also a good one. I set a weekly goal of writing 7000 words. But I generally break my goals down into daily bit-size chunks to help keep me on track for the week. But if I do less one day and more another, that's okay.<br /><br />Glad the post resonated! Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-14197886001905691882012-10-05T09:23:11.228-04:002012-10-05T09:23:11.228-04:00I couldn't have come across this article at a ...I couldn't have come across this article at a better time! All week my head has been swimming with the thought, "How in the heck do I fit 'my' writing in to the schedule? Life is pretty crazy, but you nailed it when you said, "We can't put off our writing because we're busy." Thank you, Jody!<br />Lissahttp://www.psychoticscrivener.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68801521782688397012012-10-05T09:19:28.211-04:002012-10-05T09:19:28.211-04:00I've been looking at this idea of finding time...I've been looking at this idea of finding time and also of finding balance--that elusive thing. I am inspired by a TED talk where the speaker (Nigel Marsh) asks people to not look at balance in terms of a day. I am now thinking about it in the terms of a week. That's a much better time frame for me.<br /><br />And, I pay a lot of attention to my mood swings and energy spikes. Certain times during the month, I am in a much more organizational mood. Instead of forcing myself to organize the other times, I just save it for that week. Instead of battling my hormones, I am trying to work with them. :)<br /><br />If I sit down at the computer and open up my document, I will get work done.<br /><br />I know some of this is slightly off-topic to your blog post, but this post made me make tons of connections. Writing is like having a baby. There's never a great time. You just have to jump in and do it!<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughtful post! Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-29350428154863253972012-10-02T10:29:45.488-04:002012-10-02T10:29:45.488-04:00I'm with you on this! But who was ever remembe...I'm with you on this! But who was ever remembered for their pristine housekeeping anyway? I have two kids under two so when I do clean/tidy it's all undone within half a day. So long as the house isn't a serious health-hazard or totally depressing to live in, it'll do. <br /><br />Since having my two kids I've written end edited nearly three novels. People ask me how - my answer: I don't do enough housework - but it's enough for me!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11484157546455266778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60646648302446124752012-09-22T06:35:13.804-04:002012-09-22T06:35:13.804-04:00Have you considered the possibility of setting asi...Have you considered the possibility of setting aside a certain amount of time each day just for YOUR writing, like an hour? Maybe if you give yourself permission to do it every day for an hour, and then after that hour get to work on your other projects, perhaps you won't feel so guilty? Just a thought! Or you could do your other work for a couple of hours and then reward yourself with 30 minutes of your writing. I think the key is building the time into your schedule for both!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-50341863041716750962012-09-21T19:54:55.871-04:002012-09-21T19:54:55.871-04:00Yes, it's the day job! I'm a freelancer by...Yes, it's the day job! I'm a freelancer by day, and my job is the way my roommate and I pay rent. I struggle with feeling guilty for writing when I should be working on my clients' books to pay the bills...Any suggestions?<br />Veronika Walkerhttp://veronika-walker.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-23071026558142536462012-09-11T10:08:34.479-04:002012-09-11T10:08:34.479-04:00It is the eternal struggle for writers, isn't ...It is the eternal struggle for writers, isn't it? Especially those who are parents or who have a demanding day job.<br /><br />My main method of keeping my eye on the ball is using writing dares. Daily reporting, or at least weekly, to a group of like-minded writers keeps you honest. I've used A Round Of Words In 80 Days, which is not only ongoing and year around (a week or so off each quarter) but it lets you set your own goals so that your goals fit your life.<br /><br />Lately I've been using blogging deadlines, though, and that works better than anything I've done. I'm publishing what I write on the blog as a serial, and that public deadline really keeps me in line.The Daring Novelisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01676188266569869059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-76079176532348924992012-09-11T07:08:23.648-04:002012-09-11T07:08:23.648-04:00So true! Writing is very much like going to the gy...So true! Writing is very much like going to the gym or exercising. Once we skip, it just gets easier to skip the next time! Thanks for that thought!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-56928348698583522432012-09-11T02:22:30.083-04:002012-09-11T02:22:30.083-04:00Distractions are the worst, and will take you away...Distractions are the worst, and will take you away from your writing if you let them suck you in by even the thinnest margin.<br /><br />And great advice about "we're always going to be busy." I've found that writing is like going to the gym - the more you skip it, the easier it becomes to skip the next day as well.RD Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15152909771651635284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-43627127202979483712012-09-10T17:56:39.309-04:002012-09-10T17:56:39.309-04:00Great post. Your life sounds somewhat like mine--I...Great post. Your life sounds somewhat like mine--I also juggle homeschooling and a publishing contract, and carving out daily time for writing is a big part of making it doable. (I also make up lost writing time on weekends.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-66185915667525169692012-09-06T11:17:02.869-04:002012-09-06T11:17:02.869-04:00#2 caught me procrastinating on finally getting st...#2 caught me procrastinating on finally getting started on my novel again....by blog reading. I went outside without the internet and did what I was supposed to be doing. :)Kathleen Basihttp://www.kathleenbasi.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15416186469463128112012-09-06T07:54:31.284-04:002012-09-06T07:54:31.284-04:00You know, in the four years since I've started...You know, in the four years since I've started writing, I don't think my house has ever been truly clean. It's not that I avoid cleaning all together, but I take time to write no matter what. And my poor house seems to suffer the worst from my writing time. :-)Naomi Rawlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02431203734855694561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-91632432193443970002012-09-05T12:45:05.937-04:002012-09-05T12:45:05.937-04:00hmmmmmm.... I too just posted on this topic, but w...hmmmmmm.... I too just posted on this topic, but with a different opinion FOR ME! hahaha<br /><br />http://tomsmiscramblings.blogspot.com/search/label/writing<br /><br />Like I said on the blog, whatever works and makes you happy, go with THAT... not just what others do. <br /><br />Keep up the good work!Thoughts from all over...https://www.blogger.com/profile/10643761743290637714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-84325862102266087402012-09-05T07:02:42.848-04:002012-09-05T07:02:42.848-04:00Hi Becky,
Some days I find myself showing up not ...Hi Becky,<br /><br />Some days I find myself showing up not as prepared as I'd like to be too. But for a planner like myself, I think God is stretching me to not have to be quite so on top of everything! It truly is a lesson in humility! And I agree, word count goals keep me going every week. Even if I fall short because of the busyness, at least I've written something. And eventually it all adds up!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-25692120898628346112012-09-05T07:00:45.540-04:002012-09-05T07:00:45.540-04:00Oh wow, Brandi! Your fall sounds very hectic. On t...Oh wow, Brandi! Your fall sounds very hectic. On the one hand, I'm sure you're excited to have your husband home! But on the other, a move is always a stressful time. I wish you all the best as you write on! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-22963017116322049772012-09-04T21:04:34.323-04:002012-09-04T21:04:34.323-04:00Jody,
SHOW UP! That's my mantra for everythin...Jody,<br /><br />SHOW UP! That's my mantra for everything these days. Even showing up not as prepared as I'd like to be is better than hiding my head under the covers. Besides, it's a great practice in humility to bump my head against my inability to DO IT ALL!!!!! <br /><br />Things like word counts goals, weekly (not daily) to-do lists, etc. are absolutely necessary for me, that's for sure.<br /><br />Thanks for the gentle reminder,<br />BeckyBecky Doughtyhttp://www.beckydoughty.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-38645445862043018242012-09-04T19:29:05.840-04:002012-09-04T19:29:05.840-04:00My fall's shaping up to be hectic. My husband&...My fall's shaping up to be hectic. My husband's coming home from deployment and we're planning another move crosscountry. So it looks like I will definitely be writing under pressure :-)Brandi Boddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08017741568841209088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-21031106809640585352012-09-04T12:11:39.877-04:002012-09-04T12:11:39.877-04:00Like I said, it's THAT time of year! :-) I thi...Like I said, it's THAT time of year! :-) I think we're all trying to figure out how to make it all work!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-59824439065269272982012-09-04T12:09:10.632-04:002012-09-04T12:09:10.632-04:00I have a daily word count goal too. And I've f...I have a daily word count goal too. And I've found that it eventually all adds up!! We just have to stick to the goal! And I agree, the more doable we can make it for our circumstances, the better.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-67753949475582258132012-09-04T12:08:00.419-04:002012-09-04T12:08:00.419-04:00Thank you!Thank you!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60823520090702507682012-09-04T12:05:31.861-04:002012-09-04T12:05:31.861-04:00I always seem to have a meltdown in the fall when ...I always seem to have a meltdown in the fall when I look at my schedule! But somehow, I always seem to make it all work. I think the key is just writing amidst the chaos and not waiting until life is perfect.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-24201240455834036072012-09-04T12:03:40.029-04:002012-09-04T12:03:40.029-04:00I'm totally re-vamping my sleeping schedule fo...I'm totally re-vamping my sleeping schedule for the fall too! Less sleep for sure! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58179191866910130962012-09-04T12:03:01.529-04:002012-09-04T12:03:01.529-04:00Hi Dina!
Yes, we definitely have to push through...Hi Dina! <br /><br />Yes, we definitely have to push through those difficult days! I, too, have accomplished some of my best writing on the days when I kept going. Sometimes it takes those hours of slogging before the words really start to flow! And I LOVE that line from a League of Their Own. SO inspiring and SO true!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-27001190295120068152012-09-04T10:39:17.050-04:002012-09-04T10:39:17.050-04:00I always find it interesting when someone in the u...I always find it interesting when someone in the universe has the same inspiration around the same time. I just wrote my own version of how to get things done with a million things going on. I like your guidelines and think they are spot on.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.competitivewriter.com/2012/08/ten-time-energy-and-sanity-saving-tips.html" rel="nofollow"> Article here </a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00052775732906474764noreply@blogger.com