by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I thought I’d share a few tools that I’ve recently come across that might help writers stay focused and motivated.
First off is a free timer. I’ve mentioned here many times (including here and here) how helpful I find timers for nearly every task that I do. It somehow helps to get through a task when you know that it will be over quickly. It can also help me stay on track because I won’t allow myself to be distracted by anything else until the timer goes off. I’m a particular fan of the Pomodoro Technique (see more about it on the creator’s site here) , so when I found this free timer that aligns with the approach, I was excited to use it. The timer is also customizable.
Next off is a new twist on an old idea. It’s called a to-don’t list. I first found out about it when reading this article from Emily Price on Lifehacker. The idea is to stay focused by no allowing yourself to be distracted by your usual suspects…looking at Facebook or checking emails or Twitter, for example. You could use this in correlation with a timer, knowing that when the timer goes off, you can reward yourself on your break by checking in online.
The third is a tool that I haven’t tried myself (I’m more of a solo writer and not a gamer), but which I found interesting. It’s called 4 the Words and it’s set up like a game for reaching word counts. You win points for meeting writing challenges involving word counts. A caveat that it’s $4 a month, but there is a 30 day free trial where you could see if it’s helpful.
For a free year-long challenge, check out author and illustrator Debbie Ohi’s Daily Words Challenge. You can even collect badges. :) And it’s much more gently-paced than NaNoWriMo because you can set your own goals.
For other lists of tools to help with focusing, writing, or editing your work, see these posts:
67 Top Tools for Writers and Bloggers by Mary Jaksch of Write to Done
Top 10 Online Tools for Writers by Ali Hale of Daily Writing Tips
What helps you stay focused on your writing?
Tools for Keeping Focused as a Writer: Click To TweetPhoto on Foter.com
A to-don’t list? I could really get behind one like that!
Something a little different! Kind of makes ‘don’t check email’ a little more like a goal. :)
Those are really useful ideas, Elizabeth – thanks! I especially like the ‘to-don’t’ list. I’d never thought of something like that, but it really does make sense to consciously avoid things that distract us.
I think it’s nice to actually note down where our problem spots are! Helps draw attention to them. :)
Fab tips, Elizabeth! I really need to get back to using a timer…but I may need to set up one of those internet blockers to keep myself from checking email and Facebook whenever I get stuck during a writing session, LOL. At the time it doesn’t seem like a major productivity-suck, but it’s sneaky….
It’s sort of like a rabbit hole! I can look at something that links to something else, that links to something else… :)
I think the timer would help me the most.
It really can help to prevent those rabbit hole moments. :)