Make a
“Writer’s To-Do List.” If you’re working on a manuscript, plan for the next
writing session. When you finish for the day, briefly write “continue with
chapter 2” or something specific to the plot, such as “loses key.” When you
return for the next writing session, you’ll see the to-do note and hopefully,
that will keep you focused on the continuation of chapter 2 or writing a scene
about losing a key. Know what you’re going to do during the session as soon as
you begin.
Work on one
manuscript at a time. If you hit a roadblock, try different scenarios to keep
the story flowing. The key is to stay focused. Force yourself to complete the
manuscript. Four half-finished manuscripts does not equal one finished,
polished story. A story cannot be polished unless it’s finished. Editors want a
manuscript to be finished before a contract is offered, especially with writers
who are not published.
Call for
submissions for adult writers:
FrostFire
Worlds is a quarterly magazine for younger readers published by Alban Lake
Publishing in February, May, August, and November. The first issue was released
on 1 August 2013.
Submission
guidelines at http://albanlake.com/guidelines-frostfire/
Check out
more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
Focus, focus, focus. Always the hard part for me. I tend to be all over the place. Thanks for the reminder post.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm writing a chapter book and stop at the end of chapter 3, I begin the next writing session by reading chapter 3 to get me in the mindset of the story. If I'm writing a picture book, I start at the beginning of the story to reestablish the focus.
ReplyDelete