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Writing Time vs. Thinking Time (OR How to Squeeze Extra Writing Time Out of Your Day)

There comes a point when each of my Finally Write Your Book VIP Mentorship Clients looks at the calendar and freaks out over how much they still want to write on their book and the time they have left in the program.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the tip I give them to squeeze “extra” writing time out of the day:

Think More.

Yep, think more.

This isn’t WORRY more. It’s not beat yourself up because you’re not writing in this very moment.

Imagine what could happen if you re appropriated “wasted” time in your day to be planning what you’ll work on in your next writing session.

Here’s an example:

Say you’re going to write a story about that time you screwed up at work. You know you need to get yourself back into the moment:

  • What were you feeling?
  • What was said? By whom?
  • How did you get to the moment of screw up?
  • What happened next?

Not to mention the other details:

  • Where were you?
  • What did that place look like? Smell like? Sound like?
  • What were you wearing?
  • Who was there?
  • What did they say, do, wear?
Move your Thinking Time out of your Writing Time - and see your word count go up! Click To Tweet

Putting all of these details in are how your reader engages and feels emotion. And because it’s non-fiction, you can’t just make up. You’ve got to bring out the pertinent details (and invent what you don’t remember clearly.)

No wonder your mini-goal writing session is hard! That’s a lot to think about, to capture on the page.

Move your Thinking Time out of your Writing Time.

Do all the remembering, both real and invented, during times when you’re on autopilot. Like while you’re in the shower, doing dishes, folding laundry, or exercising.

Note: this isn’t a great exercise for while you’re driving. But if you’re a passenger, go for it!

Then, when you sit down to write that scene, you don’t need to “get into the mood” or dive into the memory. That is already done! All you need to do is capture it on the page.

And just like that, you’re getting more writing “done” without sacrificing family time, your business, or your sleep!

I know that you set big goals for your book and your message. The pressure of the clock is universal. And all the gyrations and upheaval of 2020 have NOT helped that feeling. One day it feels like your rocking life, and the next, you’re looking up from the couch and wondering where the week went (not just the afternoon!)

But don’t give up!

Don’t let arbitrary dates and deadlines derail you from your dream. Even if you want to write off the rest of 2020, don’t write off your dream of FINALLY writing your book.

I’m just about to head into a short maternity leave (well… I’ve been threatening that all month and it WILL happen – sooner or later!) but I still want to talk to you about your book. If you want to make real moves in 2020, then respond to this email (or leave me a comment on the blog.) When I’m back (mid-September) YOU will be the first person I contact about opportunities to work with me in Q4 2020.

Kim Galloway
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