Need More Writing Time? Learn to delegate

by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan

The summer after I graduated high school, I worked as a waitress at a local family 24-hour restaurant.

During a particularly busy rush after the bars closed at 2 a.m., I maneuvered through a crowded dining room, carrying a large oval tray above my head loaded with hot food. I approached the customers’ table and started serving their meals.

A rowdy gentleman, who had consumed large quantities of alcohol, pushed his chair out, slamming it into my back. My knees buckled, but I struggled to keep from face planting in someone’s mashed potatoes while holding onto the heavy tray with the rest of the food.

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Finishing the Hat

Hey, all, Normandie here. I want to introduce you to one of my critique partners, the delightful Jennifer Fromke, whose words of correction and inspiration help hone my stories. When she told me about Seurat and his painted hat, I knew she had to share it with you. So, Jenn, you have the floor:

FINISHING THE HAT, a guest post
by Jennifer Fromke

George Seurat held his paint brush aloft as he worked on a wall-sized painting. When the woman in his life said, “It’s time to go,” his answer sounded something like, “But I just started this hat.” He couldn’t fathom going anywhere, doing anything, until he’d added the dots to construct the hat in his painting. Adrift in the world of his creation, he chose the hat over the woman’s world. . . because he had to. At least that’s how I remember it from Sondheim’s Broadway show, Sunday in the Park with George. The show is about Georges Seurat, as he paints one of his greatest pieces, A Sunday on La Grand Jatte circa 1884.

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WRITING TO DEADLINE: Friend or Foe?

by Normandie Fischer

When I hear an aspiring author say he’s been working on a manuscript for ten (or fifteen or twenty) years, my first thought is that he’s a perfectionist. He’s learning his craft.

Great idea.

But then he says, “My problem is that I can’t find the time to finish it.”

Aha. Time.

His words beg the question: Do all published authors have hours of silence, hours with no demands, hours when they’re not expected to play some other role? Because if they don’t, how do they ever finish a manuscript?

Could it be that finding time to write is all about making time to write?

Many of my writer friends are under contract to produce a certain number of books per year, which means that much of their day is dedicated to writing the next book while marketing the ones already released—if they’re not busy plotting or writing the next book while they wait for edits of a recently submitted manuscript. Traditionally published authors have two main jobs—writing and marketing—both of which take an inordinate amount of time.

And what about indie authors? These folk are acting as their own small publisher—writing and rewriting, then hiring editors (both developmental and copy) and proofreaders and cover designers and formatters. They decide on release schedules and get hopping on that marketing of the old and the new. If they want to create an audiobook, they have to research the narrator and oversee the production. The onus is on them for every aspect of every book, all of which takes an inordinate amount of time.

Which brings us back to: “I can’t find the time.” If there are only a limited number of hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a month, and months in a year, how do some manage to publish while others can’t find the time even to finish a draft?

I see the hands waving and suggestions flying that some are called and some are not. Fine. Agreed.

And yet, isn’t it possible that some absolutely brilliant writers remain brilliantly hidden because they haven’t made the time to write, hiding behind the idea that they can’t find the time?

I am a new convert to the idea that, whether traditionally published or indie published, we all need deadlines. A few months ago, I would have scoffed at the notion of an indie needing a deadline. I did the traditional dance with my first two books and then skipped happily into indie land. (And, yes, it was probably about control. Sigh.)

One of the elements I was certain would work well with my personality and work ethic was the freedom to set my own pace.

Until that pace stalled. And this always-on-time-if-not-early person found herself flailing in maybe-later land.

The only way I got back into production was to set a goal—x number of words a month—and a deadline—a send-to-editor-by date. Sure, the deadline was arbitrary. If the date came and went minus a checkmark for task completed, no agent or publisher's editor would flail me with a verbal whip. But I’d know. And I might miss my own editor's window.

The process worked. The Christmas book released. And here I am, ready to do it again on my next manuscript.

So, what's your time-management story? Have you blamed lack of time when you failed to complete a writing task? Has setting a goal helped?

TWEETABLES

Writing to Deadline: Friend or Foe? by Normandie Fischer (Click to Tweet)

Dare to Deadline or Finish that Novel ~ Normandie Fischer (Click to Tweet)

The only way I got back into production was to set a goal ~ Normandie Fischer (Click to Tweet)


Normandie Fischer studied sculpture in Italy before receiving her BA, summa cum laude with special honors in English. She and her husband spent a number of years on board their 50-foot ketch, Sea Venture, sailing in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. They now live in coastal North Carolina, where she takes care of her aging mother. She is the author of six novels. Read more on her website, Facebook, and Amazon.

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Time Management and the Dreaded Deadline

By Normandie Fischer

Time slithers through my fingers like noodles slide off chopsticks. I try to make both work, but life gets in the way of time and those chopsticks get in the way of a full stomach.

And if time shrinks (or slides on by when we’re not looking), what happens to our dreaded deadlines? What do you do when one looms while you’re tackling life issues?

Of course, the super-organized among us will tut-tut and suggest that we ought to have taken delays into account and been ahead of the game. Once upon a time, I was that person: researching early to finish the paper before its due date or studying early to ace the test. When a task loomed, my motto was “Get up, get it done, and relax later.”

Then I took my perfectionism into the writing life, but I left my organizational skills on the floor of my editing job. It was easy—it is easy—for me to edit, pare, revise, and organize others’ tomes or even my own fully realized story. It is painstakingly difficult for me to plot my way through a first draft in a way that doesn’t require cut and paste and flip and toss during the rewrite phase.

Take the novella I started last summer while Two from Isaac’s House was in the hands of its editor. I only needed to write 100+ pages. That’s nothing, right?

It’s nothing for some, perhaps for the gifted writer of short prose.

I write poetry. Short; concise; full of meaning, sound, and fury—or delight. Shouldn’t a poet be good at short?

Obviously, this poet wasn’t. Or at least I wasn’t good at it without a lot of work over a long time. Without a kick from one of my critique partners. A rewrite. A missed deadline—happily, though, merely a self-imposed one. (If I’d been under the chopping block, my old habits would have reasserted themselves, surely, and kept me up nights or roused me at daybreak.)

Thus a story that was supposed to be released in December of last year will move into the hands of my editor soon. It is now March.

I’m going to blame time. Busyness. Life. And I do have excuses: a new grandbaby and time dedicated to him, his mother, and his sister. Travel, illness, chores. Stuff. But I could have written during the evenings or early mornings or any time at all that wasn’t offered up to the pleasure of being with my babies.

I am without excuse. The noodles fall off, life intervenes, but I had choices in each case. A fork, for instance. Or time management.

The push that propelled that novella into completion had nothing to do with a deadline and everything to do with the tug of another book. The characters of my next story whispered their worries in my thoughts and in my dreams. But I couldn’t allow myself to return to them until this one had The End typed on its final page.

What about you? What do you do with the deadlines in your life? Do you outline your day, your month, your writing? Do you use a flow chart? Are you faithful in following through with expectations, either self- or other-imposed? And what propels you to finish something that’s no longer fun?

I’d love to know how you work, and what tricks you use to keep focused.

TWEETABLE:
Time Management & the Dreaded #Writing Deadline - @WritingOnBoard on @NovelRocket http://bit.ly/1TOfntl  (Click to Tweet)

Normandie studied sculpture in Italy before receiving her BA, summa cum laude with special honors in English. Known for her women’s fiction—Becalmed (2013), Sailing out of Darkness (2013), and Heavy Weather(2015)—she ventured into the realm of romantic suspense with the release of Two from Isaac’s House. In early 2016, a novella, From Fire into Fire, will continue the Isaac House saga. Normandie and her husband spent a number of years on board their 50-foot ketch, Sea Venture, sailing in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. They now live in coastal North Carolina, where she takes care of her aging mother.

Normandie's Website
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Author Care: Three Things Every Writer Should Be Doing

By Kimberly Rose Johnson

Busyness is a common problem, especially among writers. We are often being pulled in several different directions from marketing, to writing on deadline or simply doing that everyday thing called life. The demands on our time can become overwhelming.

I know firsthand exactly how stressful this life we’ve chosen can be. I sold my first book in 2012 to Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents line, and it changed my life. I went from writing for fun, to writing because I had a deadline. To date I’ve contracted five books with Heartsong Presents. My seasoned critique partners warned me how difficult juggling all the demands on my time would be. Once my first book released, I understood the warning.

How are we supposed to do everything?

We can’t.

Problems are bound to pop up when we are over-worked and stressed out. We must take care of ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

There is no cure-all to our overly busy lives, but there are some things that we can do to ease the strain.

Take time out.

What that looks like will be different for each of us. For me it means waking up early so I can have some quiet time reading my Bible and thinking about how I can apply what I read to my life. It also means starting my day with a healthy meal. I also incorporate exercise into my day. Most of the time my exercise time is a walk with my husband and dog.

I realize we are often under tight deadlines, and it’s difficult to even consider the idea of working out, vegging out, or spending quality time with the Lord. But, I’m proof that these things matter. I’m not suggesting a huge chunk of time. Take a walk around the block, spend a small amount of time to savor something you enjoy. That may be ten minutes of reading, or a bubble bath or reading in a bubble bath. Be creative. We’re writers, that’s what we do. J

About a year ago, I realized on the days I skipped my morning devotions my writing time did not go well. It took me twice as long to accomplish the same word count as when I took ten to twenty minutes with the Lord. I’ve been known to cut that time to five minutes when very pressed for time, but for those five minutes I was focused on Him.

You are not God

Your time is finite and valuable. You cannot be all things to all people. You are one person. Translation, choose to invest your time only in what you are passionate about. I know we have things that are “required” of us as writers, but if it’s not your thing, delegate the task or skip it if it’s optional.

Learn to say no.

Do not over commit. It is tempting to take every speaking engagement, every blog opportunity, and every contract, but it’s not always the wise and best choice. Remember, we are not super humans. We each have the same number of hours to work with.

In conclusion, before committing to something ask yourself, “Is this something I need to do or want to do, or would it be best to pass?” Be honest with yourself and ask for help if you need it. 

Kimberly Rose Johnson is the author of:

A HOLIDAY PROPOSAL

Holly Miller Is Steering Clear of Mistletoe 

Just out of nursing school, Holly can't risk any distractions. She knows a slipup could cost a life. Like the mistake she made years ago that still plagues her conscience. When she runs into old high school friend Matthew Cook, she hesitates to let romance into her life. Even if the handsome baker is as delectable as his fabulous pastries. 

She didn't notice him back in high school, but things have sure changed. Now that Matthew has Holly's attention, maybe the holiday season is the perfect time for him to show her that she deserves to have it all—work, family, friends and a love that lasts a lifetime.

ABOUT KIMBERLY ROSE JOHNSON

Kimberly Rose Johnson holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two teenage sons, and their yellow lab. She writes sweet Christian romance for Heartsong Presents and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys taking long walks with her husband and dog, reading, dark chocolate and time with friends.

You may contact Kimberly via her website at http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/

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Bill Murray, Tom Cruise, and You

What do Bill Murray and Tom Cruise have in common? They’ve both starred in movies (Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow) where they must re-live the same day multiple times until they get it right.

Why does that theme resonate so deeply with us?

I think it’s because we want to come through by saying or doing the right thing – but usually misstep in the heat of the moment. We long for a do-over where we know what’s coming...and are ready.

Novelists are used to controlling the element of time in their stories – but it’s much harder in their own lives. And, let’s be honest, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to get everything done most days no matter how many chances we’re given. If only we could slow time. Or had 28 hours a day. If we could somehow get a little smarter or juggle everything a little better, perhaps we really could get it all done. Come through as the lover, the provider, the hero, the best-selling author.

What about your life as a writer? Do you feel you have enough time to spend on your novel? From the phrases most authors use, I’d say the answer is pretty clear. They refer to themselves as:

* buried in work

* fighting a deadline

* drowning in revisions

* running on empty

Buried. A line of death (deadline). Drowning. Empty.

These phrases sound more like death than life. And it’s hard to write words of life when you – as creator – are burnt-out, worn-out, or stressed out.

Taming the To-Do List

In my early professional life, I relentlessly tried to tame my to-do list. It was my main focus. How good my day was depended largely on how much I got done.

But I never got it all done. Never was able to keep my incoming e-mails at zero or cross every item off my list. And any intrusion in my day was seen as an irritant because, well, it just put me further behind.

I was reviewing my new year’s resolutions with my father-in-law recently. It was clearly too aggressive. Each day was filled to the brim. He graciously let me finish going down the items and then said, “Son, I’m not sure you’ve left any room for God to show up in your day.”

His words went deep.

A few days later, I was telling my wife how overwhelmed I felt. She asked, “Do you really think God won’t give you enough time to get done what he’s called you to do?”

That question rocked my world.

If God gives us time to do all he’s called us to and yet I have a list of undone tasks, then I must be filling my day with a lot that isn’t from him.

After all, he doesn’t promise us time to do everything.

Just the things he’s called us to do.

If he’s called you to write stories, he will give you time to write them.

But everything on your list isn’t necessarily from God. What are you filling your days with that God never invited you to take on? What projects have you said “yes” to without ever asking if that was God’s desire? What are you continuing to do out of obligation or for validation or escapism? Rather than asking God for a rescue when you crash and burn from an overfull list, give him free reign over your time. Simply be about the Father’s business and let the rest go.

Authors are used to putting their characters through a non-stop pace of obstacles, adventure, love and loss.  Page turners, by definition, have to keep things moving. Readers want books that are adrenaline-laced rollercoaster rides. But remember, the pace of a good novel isn’t the pace of a good life.

All the Time in the World

When we give God our days and follow his lead, we live in his abundance. To the Creator of time, there’s no such thing as a shortage of time. He never plays catch-up.

That’s why the psalmist says of God, “You’ve got all the time in the world – whether a thousand years or a day, it’s all the same to you.” (The Message, Psalm 90:4).

It’s Satan who is stressed over a lack of time. “He’s wild and raging with anger; he hasn’t much time and he knows it.” (The Message, Revelation 12:12). God is cutting our enemy’s time short. The enemy may try to distract you or waste your time,  but he can’t steal your time. He doesn’t control time.

So don’t buy the lie that you don’t have enough time. You have an abundance of time when you allow God to set your agenda.

Live a Wildly Unbalanced Life

One last thought about time.

The phrase “a balanced life” sounds so appealing. It plays to the illusion that we really can do it all / have it all if we just balance everything in our lives perfectly.

Unfortunately, it’s an illusion.

You can have a deep and satisfying family life.

You can be a workaholic.

You can live a life of simplicity.

You can let social media consume your day.

But you can’t balance the above four items, much less all your life. And why is balance the goal anyway?

Love God. Love others. That’s all that really matters.

So pursue those opportunities above all else.

Give your best to your best.

And just enough time to the other things that must be done.

You do have enough time for everything God calls you to.

But only if you’re willing to live a wildly unbalanced life.

Do that and you’ll never need to re-live your day endlessly like Bill Murray and Tom Cruise.

And don't forget the Oregon Christian Writers Conference 

Allen Arnold loves the epic adventure God has set before him. From the mountains of Colorado, he leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries (led by John Eldredge). Before that, he spent 20 years in Christian Publishing - overseeing  the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. But that doesn't really describe the man. Allen savors time with his family, craves the beach, drinks salsa by the glass, is hooked on the TV series "Once Upon a Time" and is passionate about helping storytellers write from an awakened heart. 

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Changes in Latitude? Change Your Attitude! Writing on the Move

Maybe it’s the 80 degree weather down here in the south that made me think of that old Jimmy Buffet song. I’m writing this post from my new (or I could say, most recent) house in Georgia, with the kitchen counter serving as my office. My husband and I have been in the Peachtree State for exactly one week and two days on official military orders. Our household goods are still in transit somewhere between I-25 south of Denver and west of I-95 Atlanta, as far as we know. I can’t say we’re completely roughing it. We do have the luxury of metal fold-out chairs, Chinese take-out, and the Internet.

To be serious, most people will experience a move during their lives. It’s hard on everyone, but for writers, we tend to take an already stressful situation and compound it with guilt over not being as productive as we think we should be. How can we stay at or near our level of productivity when life is all packed up on the U-Haul?

·      Start with your attitude

This one has been a toughie for me because the moves we do in the military are beyond my control. In the past three years, my husband and I have relocated four times to different states. That being said, no one has the power to alter my perspective but me. The same goes for you. Have you embraced the changes in your life by accepting that transitions can get crazy messy, or are you telling yourself that you can’t/won’t write until everything returns to normal? Getting settled takes a while. You may even find that your old routine doesn’t work like it used to. Letting go of the idea that life has to present an ideal environment for you to write is the first step towards recapturing your productivity. Who knows? You might just like the new normal.

·      Lose the great expectations

     “I’m going to write a thousand words today.” “I’m going to have this story completed by the end of the week.” That’s what I said the last couple of times that I left an empty house and faced an open road. I felt like I needed to make up for lost time that could have been spent in the office. This mentality killed the progress I did manage to make. The twenty-minute writing session I squeezed in between unpacking the boxes was not good enough in comparison to the blocks of hours I had at my disposal before I moved. Am I saying don’t have goals? No, but tailor them to what you can achieve at the moment. If all you have time for is five minutes of character sketches while the TV dinner is heating up in the microwave (or in our case, on the stove), then in that five minutes, give it all you got. And be proud of yourself for having taken that time to be productive.

·      Establish familiarity in your new place, but don’t get precious

We all know writers that can’t start a session unless they’re sitting near the east window of their houses with the filtered sunlight warming their backs. They have to have their favorite pens and the right acid-free, archival quality notebook next to their laptops before they even think of words to put down. Obviously, this will not do if all you have is the floor for a chair and an empty box to rest your computer upon. By all means, have a few creature comforts on hand to make yourself feel more at home as you write, but don’t think you have to create a zen den in order to get anything done. It all goes back to attitude and letting go of the myth of the ideal environment.

·      Get plugged in!

One of the best things about moving to a different area is the opportunity to discover new things you’ve never seen or done before. When the boxes are scattered all over the house and the kids are screaming because they don’t know what else to do with themselves, take a family tour around the neighborhood, or go by yourself if you wish. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells. You might catch a conversation from the locals that sparks a story idea in your head. Better yet, go up to them and introduce yourself. The best writers are those who’ve actually experienced life and lived to tell about it.

·      And finally…

Trust God to steady your landing. You took a huge leap of faith by moving.  If you embrace where you are right now, He will make sure you reach the destination He planned for you and your writing.

Brandi Boddie is the author of the forthcoming Brides of Assurance series. Her debut novel, tentatively titled Garters For Lace, is scheduled for release in Fall 2013. In addition to writing, she is a fellow traveler with her husband on the road of life. Along the way, she takes the time to enjoy swing dancing, costuming, and the perfect cup of coffee. She and her family currently reside in sunny Georgia with their resident food critic, a cocker spaniel named Noodle.  

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Taming Time by guest blogger Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children. When she isn’t ferrying kids to soccer and tennis, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school. She belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Authors Network. She is the author of the Wings of Glory series—A Distant Melody (Revell, March 2010), A Memory Between Us (September 2010), and Blue Skies Tomorrow (August 2011).

Taming Time—Practical Tips to Increase Writing Productivity

“How on earth did you find time to write a book?” a friend asked.

Perhaps it was my ability to type at the speed of light or my complete lack of a personal life.

Um, no. Snails type faster than I do, and they don’t have fingers. I’m a mother of three, teach Sunday school, and have a part-time job. But I make time to write. This year I’ve made the transition to published author, and time management has become vital.

Four tools for increasing productivity are herding up goals, corralling blocks of time, lassoing the on-line beast, and harnessing snippets of “wasted” time. Honestly, I don’t write Westerns.

Herd up Goals

We’ve all been there—you finish a busy week and have nothing to show for it. Setting goals is the best way to prevent this. Even if you aren’t published yet, make deadlines—it’s good practice for when you have a contracted deadline. Set yearly goals, then break those goals down by month. At the beginning of each week, I look at the month’s goals, and set daily goals to keep myself on target. My goal sheet hangs over my desk. Staring at me. Prodding me.

If you hate charts and organization, make it fun with color coding or cute logos or stickers. Why should kids have all the fun?

Corral Blocks of Time

“I am a professional. I am a professional.” Repeat this until you believe it.

Now, act like it. Keep office hours. Even if you only have one hour a day to write, use it well. During your office hours, act like a professional. Review the day’s goals and get to work. No excuses, no distractions, no phone calls—use Caller ID or (gasp!) unplug the line. Very few calls are emergencies. Also remember, professionals take breaks—walk the dog, play with the kids, chat with a friend—then back to work.

Having children at home complicates things, but even a toddler can learn to respect office hours. I started writing when my youngest was a year and a half. I did most of my work during naptime, but he learned that when Mommy was in her writing place, he could play by himself for a while. Despite what parenting magazines say, a child does not need constant entertainment by an adult—in fact, when a child learns to entertain himself, his imagination grows.

I strongly recommend Making Work at Home Work by Mary M. Byers (Revell, 2009) for fantastic, practical advice.

Lasso the Internet

All right, I’m still working on this. Many days I’ve logged on to check my e-mails—and then it’s noon. E-mail loops, blogs, Twitter, Facebook—they’re necessary for platform and publicity, but they can drain away that time you corralled.

Set strict limits. Some people avoid the internet entirely until their work is done. Since I’m in California and my publisher is back east, I can’t do that.

My plan…should I choose to follow it…is to check e-mails and Facebook and Twitter notifications first thing in the morning. I deal with anything urgent immediately—or schedule a time to do so—then save the rest for later. After my lunch break, I do another check. In the afternoon, when my children are doing homework and need my availability, I answer non-urgent e-mails, read blogs and loop digests, and scan Facebook and Twitter feeds.

If necessary, use a good old-fashioned kitchen timer.

Harness Time Snippets

One of my favorite ways to boost productivity is by using snippets of time while waiting at the baseball field, doctor’s office, ballet studio, or department of motor vehicles. Why not use that “wasted” time to your advantage? You’ll be amazed what you can accomplish in ten-minute spurts.

Be prepared. Have your laptop case ready to go or a clipboard box stocked with paper, pens, and sticky tabs.

Here are ten things you can do in ten minutes:

Study: Read a book on the craft of writing, peruse an online writing course, or listen to a conference CD.

Story Research: As a writer of historical fiction, I always have a pile of books to read for research. A book and note paper, and I’m set.

Market Research: Thumb through a book catalog or read a book in your genre.

Pre-write: Scribble down an outline for a novel or chapter, fill out character or plot charts, or work on a synopsis or query letter.

Edit: Editing is my favorite on-the-go activity, well suited to interruptions. Clip a chapter together with a binder ring, and mark it up with highlighters and a red pen. And God bless laptops and the track-changes feature. I did a significant part of my publisher’s content edit for my first novel while my daughter practiced soccer.

Critique: If you belong to a critique group, time snippets are great for reviewing your partners’ work.

Communications: With a smart phone, you can take care of phone calls and e-mails on the run—and free up time at home to write.

Publicity: Public writing means free publicity. People will ask what you’re doing. So tell them. Make sure you always bring business cards or bookmarks. Maybe your dental hygienist doesn’t read in your genre, but maybe her daughter does. Use those serendipitous encounters to build word of mouth publicity.

Observe: Stuck someplace without a laptop or writing materials? Don’t hyperventilate—release your observation skills. Watch people, listen to dialogue, observe the weather or landscape, and let your mind roam. And always have a notebook with you.

Write: Use a time snippet to write. Really. Try it. This is easiest when you’re in the flow and have to leave for an appointment. Take it with you. Finish it.

So, my dear writer friend, how do you plan to improve your time management this year?

A Memory Between Us

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge—until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.

As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II. Each book stands alone.

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Writing. For the Fun of It. ~ Don Reid

Don Reid is a member of country music’s legendary Statler
Brothers, has three Grammy awards, nine CMA awards, thirteen gold albums, and eight platinum awards and is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He has published four non-fiction books, and /O/ /Little Town/ was his first novel. Reid lives with his wife, Deborah, in Staunton, Virginia. Learn more online at www.DonReid.net.

I have read so many times of writers bragging about their work schedule. “I get up every morning and write 500 words before dawn,” they like to say.

And I like to say, “Are you sure? Every morning? Always 500?”

My next question to them is do you really enjoy
writing? Are you sure it’s not a burden to you?

Come on now, don’t take the fun out of it. I love to eat but I don’t get up early to do it.

Writing should be a pleasure. You shouldn’t feel pressured to have something to say. If you force a paragraph, it will usually sound as if you have. Let it flow. Let it be a joy and a release.

Every day does not have to be a production as long as you are comfortable inside the deadline you give yourself to finish a project. Just be sure you’re being reasonable when you set those guidelines and you’ll see the thrill come back in what you’re doing.

I’m serious about my writing but not about my schedule. I like to live with an idea long before I commit anything to paper. I may walk around with an idea for a novel perking in my head for a month or six weeks.

I toy with it and change it and test the logic of it. I talk about it inside my head. I scold myself, praise myself, disagree and argue with myself until something akin to a plot completes itself somewhere in the foyer of my mind. Now I’m ready to develop but not write.

Believe it or not, my dog Chipper plays an important part from here on in. We stand in the driveway, sometimes for hours, and toss the tennis ball. I throw and he retrieves while I think of names and locations and settings for scenes. We go to the track and walk untold laps while I test dialogue out loud. Chipper turns every once in a while and looks at me with his head cocked to the side. He thinks I’m talking to him.
I don’t fear losing ideas with this technique. I figure if the idea is good it will stick with me; if I lose it, it probably wasn’t any good anyway. So after all this time of living with these people and a story in my head, it has become as much a part of me as my memories. Now I go to the desk and begin to type. Chipper is lying at my feet and glad this stage has finally come as he likes sleeping much better than the track or even the tennis ball.

Still I’m only typing the outline. I list the characters that I want to interact. I list the chapters and note to myself what I want revealed with each one. This keeps the plot from surprising me someplace along the way.

I always know what I want my characters to do and where I want them to wind up, but I’m not always sure how they will react to certain situations and conversations. This is one of the real thrills of writing - surprising myself with little unexpected jolts as the people take life.

My agent said to me not long ago, “Isn’t
writing fun?” And you know what? It is. Working in the coal mines, farming, standing the factory line, greasing cars; that’s work.

But writing should have plain old, scrubbed-down, unadulterated joy right in the heart of it. It should leave you so exhilarated and high that you can float across the furniture. And if you’re not feeling this, make a change and try it my way. Don’t leave that keypad tired and exhausted; weary and drained. Leave it with an expectation that you can’t wait to get back to. Some days I get so involved I can’t even remember if I’ve eaten or not.

That’s when Chipper figures in again. He always lets me know when it’s time for lunch.

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