Group Writing Sprints: A fantastic productivity hack—by Susan J Bruce

There are so many great insights available about writing nowadays. Head over to Amazon and you’ll find thousands of books on the writing life and productivity hacks. These books are detailed and thought provoking and if you’re like me, you’ll devour them and…

 

It makes no difference.

 

None. Nada. Zilch.

 

You want to write. You’re compelled to create art through words. You love having written. But resistance to writing leads to feelings of futility. You know you’ve got a lot more words and stories in you than that. 

 

This problem led me to write my earlier blog post: Resistance is Futile.

 

But…

 

This year I found a way that worked for me.

 

I discovered group writing sprints

 

I’d been praying for the ability to be more productive for a while, and I had the chance to attend a mini conference run by Craig Martell of 20 Books to 50K fame. 

 

As with most short conferences, the real power is in the networking. After the conference, one writer I met asked me if I’d like to do writing sprints with her a day a week.

 

Nothing fancy—just meet on Messenger on Wednesday mornings and write together. Three lots of thirty-minute sprints with some chatting in between.

 

For me, sprinting is a misnomer. It’s more like a writing 'plod'. A bit like when you are out for a walk and you overtake the person 'jogging' because they are moving slower than you are.

But, miracle of miracles, I began to get words down and make progress in my stalled story. 

 

These sprints were so helpful that I started another sprint group on Friday morning and invited people from The Christian Writers' Downunder (CWD) Facebook group to join. Then some of that gang joined in on the Wednesday sprints.

 

Writing. Began. Happening.

 

And it was fun!  

I’m still slow by many authors' standards. I know people who can write in one day what I can in a week, but it’s working.

 

I finished my second draft of my new cosy mystery novel (more on that soon). I’ve written most of my new lead magnet and I’ve started plotting the second in the series.

 

Is this me? I’d pinch myself, but I bruise easily and don’t like pain 😎.

 

It’s sooooo good.

The Pomodoro Technique  

This whole idea is based on tomatoes. They’re great in a salad, but who knew they were so good for writers?

 

I’m talking about a tomato-shaped timer 🍅. 

 

Pomodoro Timer

The classic Pomodoro Technique (pomodoro is Italian for tomato) involves productivity sprints of 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break—all timed with a tomato-shaped timer. You do this 4 times, then take a longer 15-to-30-minute break. You can find more detail via this YouTube Video. But you don’t have to do all that in-depth analysis to benefit. 

 

And I use my phone timer. No tomatoes come near my desk. It’s a rule.

Why group writing sprints work for me 

After a hard morning of 'sprinting'

We're all different, and if the idea of writing online with others is anathema to you, ignore all of this. But here’s why it works for me:

• I’m a people person—a mild extrovert—and I get energy from being with others. I work from home as a content writer, so I need P.E.O.P.L.E. around me or I go stir-crazy. Group sprints are the next best thing.

• I overcome resistance better when I do tasks with other people. 

• I have a strong sense of responsibility toward others and I’m better at keeping appointments with other people than I am with myself.

• I like getting to know other writers—encouraging them and praying for them. And, hey, I also like being encouraged/ prayed for. Group writing sprints create an environment where this can happen.

• It gives me a point of focus. Even if I only do two hours of work on my manuscript twice a week, I do those two hours.

• Once I’m in a manuscript, I can keep going. There have been days where I’ve written a thousand words in the 2 hours of sprint time, but then I’ve tripled that in the afternoon because I’m into the story. And then I’ve written again on the following weekend.

If this sounds like you—If you’ve been having trouble focusing, or you’re plagued with resistance to starting writing, then I’d strongly encourage you to get together with another writer or a group of writers and try group sprints. 

 

Start for two hours, once a week, then take it from there. It could make a huge difference to your writing life.

 

If you’re already doing sprints (or focused ‘plods’), I’d love to hear about your experiences, so let me know in the comments below. Similarly, if you’ve questions about writing sprints, I’ll be happy to try to answer them.

 

 Happy writing!

 

Susan J Bruce is an author, artist and animal addict who writes mystery and suspense stories—with heart. Susan is a former veterinarian and animals often run, jump, fly or crawl through her tales. Her writing group once challenged her to write a story without mentioning any animals—she failed! Susan has a MA in Creative Writing and her first novel (YA), Running Scared, was awarded the 2018 Caleb Prize for an unpublished manuscript. 

Get Running Scared at your favourite online retailer.

Visit Susan at www.susanjbruce.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Write?

Mazzy Adams

I’ve been a fan of Time Team for many years. Classic episodes from the British television series, which enjoyed a twenty-year run from 1994 – 2014, can still be enjoyed via their new YouTube channel, together with new episodes. As their website states, this ‘ground-breaking history series presented by Tony Robinson helped to popularise the field of archaeology’. While I’ve no doubt that statement is true, it was my father who piqued my personal interest in archaeology when I was little more than knee-high to a grasshopper. 

Cyrus Cylinder (Image by Prioryman)

In the mid 1960s, in connection with his work, my father was involved in a tour of archaeological artefacts and replicas that came through our hometown. I still remember him holding a replica of the Cyrus Cylinder (pictured above) while he explained how those strange markings were an ancient form of writing, called cuneiform. The actual words were commissioned by Cyrus the Great, the same Persian King spoken of in the Bible. I’ve never forgotten the thrill of seeing those 'words' that had been written more than two thousand years before I was born; words that people living thousands of years later had learned to read.

Fast forward a few decades, and I can still remember that same little girl's intense concentration as she wondered which ancient princess had also gazed upon these pretty lapis lazuli beads long ago.

I see that same excitement in the intrepid Time Team experts when they uncover ancient artefacts, or notice discoloured patches in the soil or strata which, to their trained eyes, reveal a wealth of information about the people who occupied the land in centuries, or millennia past. Other experts read the lumps and bumps in the landscape, or old hand-drawn maps, or written records that describe everything from the purchase of land and cost of construction materials and wages to the ideal qualities of a Roman soldier. Satisfaction and certainty grow when archaeological discoveries are confirmed by written records and vice versa. 

I must admit that, while I find the process of Time Team’s explorations fascinating, it is the affable, often mischievous, way host, Tony Robinson, brings the whole story of discovery together that clinches the program’s entertainment value for me. 

Nevertheless, uncovering one piece of archaeological information, no matter how intriguing, does not reveal the entire story; it takes two, three … or many … pieces to bring the stories of our predecessors and their interactions with each other, with creation, and with the spiritual realm, to life.

Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay

I don’t know about you but, when God shows me something three times in succession, I pay attention. In recent weeks, on three separate occasions, in three different ways, via three different sources, I've been challenged about the importance of leaving a written legacy for future generations. 

On the first occasion, the challenge arrived via a comment from my beloved, who tempered my concern over the monetary cost vs return aspect of writing and publishing by saying, ‘But now your book is out there. You’ve created a written legacy.’ 

Two days later, after a blessed time spent lifting up the Name of the Lord in praise and worship, I sat with a bunch of writers at the recent Brisbane Omega Showcase to listen to an inspirational message by Andrew Stone of Stone Creative. Andrew’s key verse was Psalm 45:1:

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer.

There, in the midst of the manifold wisdom he shared, God reiterated His message as Andrew spoke of how words could transcend time and space. ‘Your book will outlive you,’ Andrew said. ‘When you write, you’re going to speak to generations.’

Once, twice … I might have missed the subtlety of the third iteration of God’s message, had its impact not already begun to settle deep into my spirit.

It came a few days later, as I watched a dramatic piece of historical fiction which implied King Alfred the Great had a passion for writing things down in English because a written message could not be forgotten, or misrepresented, as easily as a verbal message. 

But … television … fiction … I decided to check out the historical accuracy of the reference.

I found it in the printed pages of my trusty, if voluminous, Norton Anthology of English Literature, which speaks of ‘a king totally committed to, and actively engaged in, learning’ who could ‘see “the footprints” of former lovers of knowledge’ and was ‘determined not to allow recent forgetfulness and destruction to obscure those traces forever’. As a direct consequence of that commitment, I’m able to read a contemporary English translation of King Alfred’s Preface to the Pastoral Care more than 1124 years after his words were first inked onto parchment.  

Unfinished Business 

I’m looking at another page now, one I printed out in 1988. It holds the words of a two-part duet I composed back then, based on Psalm 102:18-22. 

‘Let us record,’ my first verse says, ‘for a generation to come,
Record … what the Lord our God has done,
So that a people yet unborn will know He came,
So that a people yet unborn will know,
And praise His Holy Name.’   

There’s a second verse and a chorus. I can still hear the melody, complete with the interchange of parts and harmonies in my head. I can read the letters I added to indicate which chords to use. But I lack the expertise needed to record the tune in musical notation, or competently play it on a musical instrument. Without that record, as a song, it remains an unfinished project, its melody a fading shadow.

Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay

I hear the words of Psalm 102:3 echo and I ask myself, will I let my words, like my days, ‘vanish like smoke’? Or will I heed verse 18 which says, ‘Let this be written for a future generation.’

On one Time Team episode I watched recently, they uncovered an ‘unfinished pot’. It had softened over time in the damp surrounding soil because it had not been fired. An expert commented that, in all likelihood, the maker of the pot had not bothered to finish it off in the kiln because it was not intended for daily use, but only as a vessel for holding a grain offering to the gods, buried with the dead …

It all makes me wonder …

What kind of literary vessels are we making? Are they filled with the fruit of our experience, with offerings gleaned from the harvest of wisdom and blessing we have reaped during the rich and the harsh seasons of our lives? Will they endure as a legacy for future generations? Or are they temporary? Unfinished? Perhaps discarded because they’re chipped, or broken, or not worth the effort … half-hearted enterprises buried in the ground of failure, sacrificed to the gods of death …

Here's the challenge:

If our literary vessels, filled with the words God gives to us, are to endure as a legacy for future generations, we need to finish them, and dare to submit them to the fiery kiln of public scrutiny. Sure, there’s a risk that some of our vessels might crack in the kiln. The heat may reveal imperfections, but isn’t it worth taking the risk if it means future generations will one day discover the whole glorious story?

What unfinished project is God prompting you to finish so that future generations will benefit? 

 

Mazzy Adams, Author, Genre Rebel
Intrigue and Inspiration with an Upmarket Down Under Vibe

 

A published author with a passion for words, pictures, and the positive potential in people, Mazzy Adams happily identifies as a bona fide genre rebel. Her picturesque, tongue-in-cheek writing style injects a quirky Down Under vibe to intrigue and inspiration alike. Mazzy's debut thriller, Licence to Die (GRUnGE.001) hit the market in September, 2022. Mazzy also employs her think-outside-the-box neural pathways and passion for words, pictures, and the positive potential in people to guide students through the perplexities of English written expression. Best of all, her wonderful husband, amazing children and delightful grandchildren make Mazzy’s otherwise ordinary life most extraordinary. For that, she is eternally grateful. 

Discover more and connect via https://mazzyadams.com

References:

Cyrus Cylinder image attribution: Prioryman, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Quotes about Alfred the Great selected from page 109 of The Norton Anthology of English Literature Eighth Edition Vol 1 Greenblatt, S. Gen Ed. published by W W Norton & Co New York

Time Team website: https://www.timeteamdigital.com/

Omega Writers | From the Known to the Unknown

By Jen Richards

When you sit at your keyboard or notebook to write, there are parts of the craft that come naturally – the comfortable, well-worn patterns of practice you’ve employed since you were first inspired to write.

Then there are techniques you’ve sniffed out through reading, tasted through blog posts, or feasted on at conferences. 

 Perched between blog posts and conference lectures are Masterclasses. These professional development opportunities for writers of all levels of experience are: 

• Short (usually an hour) 
• Accessible (online, economically-priced, and spread throughout the year) 
• Taught by experts in their field. 

Feedback shows these courses are particularly valuable for emerging writers, but also for writers in the early stages of their development, and established writers.

“I would highly recommend Omega Writers Masterclass to others as professional development in the writing industry. The presenter brings a knowledgeable perspective as well as expertise with which to sharpen your personal writers armoury.” (April 2023)

Since September 2022, Masterclasses have been part of Omega Writers’ commitment to equipping and encouraging Christian writers. Masterclasses so far have included: 

• Focus on Fiction with Meredith Resce, September 2022 
• Writing for the US Market with Carolyn Miller, November 2022 
• Author PR with Katrina Roe, April 2023 
• Amazing Book Blurbs with Laura Tharion, June 2023 
• Hunting for History with Tamara Wenham, August 2023 

Our next Masterclass will focus on marketing principles. Jen Richards will help authors understand and utilise their unique selling point (USP) in their marketing. The workshop is suitable for authors at all stages looking to hone their marketing, including those who are pre-publication.

6 November 2023 at 7:30pm AEST Save the date. We’ll have registration links soon.

So… we’d love your input!

The Omega Writers Committee is planning out the Masterclass program for 2024. We already have excellent feedback from past participants, but would love to know what you would like to see on the program. Please take a couple of minutes and click here to complete this survey.

Future Events

Keep an eye on the Omega Writers Facebook Page for these and other upcoming events. We also share external events and competitions via the Omega Writers Group.

A word about the Omega Writers website and membership

Many of you have been asking about the progress of our website refresh and member access. The site is very close to launch and is just awaiting testing for our new member platform. We plan to be in touch with all current and recent members to confirm the status of your membership once the new system is up and running.

Thank you for your patience and prayers during the last few months. If you have any questions or concerns, please email secretary@omegawriters.org.

Know Your Reader by Jeanette Grant-Thomson

 

So you’ve written a good novel. It has likeable characters, an interesting story line, even some gripping suspense. But now … who will read it? And how will you keep their interest after your initial year or so of online spiels, pics, blurbs, emails, and other promotion?

One key I believe is often overlooked. In getting started, we writers are lucky these days. We’re swamped with books, articles and teaching on how to write well. Many of these focus on plot and structure, characters, writing style and various other aspects of the craft. Even the necessary thing, marketing. But one of the keys I found most important at first is Knowing your Readers.

The birthing of Jodie’s Story

When I wrote Jodie’s Story (my first novel after having many shorter pieces and Sunday School books published), I broke all the rules. I squished my writing into any bits of spare time, even writing a chapter in squiggly lurching handwriting on the train going to Brisbane. I didn’t do any re-working at all. None. I didn’t have it edited before submitting it to the then largest Christian publisher in Australia. (NOT recommending any of this!) I knew nothing at all about current popular writing techniques as it was about twenty-five years since I’d been to an in-person writing course. I attended a writers group in Nambour and found them helpful but they didn’t touch on many issues that had arisen in recent years. And I was shocked to hear a visiting speaker tell us, ‘If Peter Carey submits a handwritten novel written on butcher’s paper, we’ll probably publish it. Ouch! After all my trouble and having had my sister type it up beautifully for me. (I didn’t even type then!). As an unknown, what hope did I have?

I’d gone from writing the Teen Challenge newsletter about rehabilitating drug addicts and other troubled young people, to teaching Speech and Drama to all ages but especially teens. Perhaps you’d think there’d be no overlap there. 

But I soon learnt that some of my pupils were struggling at home or school. There were drugs in some schools. Some pupils wondered what life was all about. Several made Christian commitments (not with any pushing or input from me. Some attended Christian schools.)  

I came to know some of my pupils well and cared deeply about their futures. So … out of that, I wrote Jodie’s Story for them, praying it would abort their following in Jodie’s footsteps.

    My publisher was dubious at first, as Chris Kline (the ex-girlfriend of one of Mick Jagger’s managers) had just published A Brilliant Deception, which targeted similar readers. But I believe God wanted Jodie’s testimony published and it ‘just so happened’ that Teen Challenge decided to celebrate their first twenty years in ministry. They offered to buy the first 1000 books, so … Anzea Publishers said ‘yes’, in 1991 Jodie’s Story was launched at the Teen Challenge celebratory dinner … and it was popular!

Why? 

After all, it’s not an appealing topic. But I knew those teenagers and what they cared about. I wrote it for them.

This little book has continued to be popular with teenagers in particular and has sold many copies. It is in its third edition and has been sold in many countries.

After Jodie’s Story was published, I was asked by a small magazine to write an article sharing some keys to successful writing. So I wracked my brains and came up with Know Your Readers. Know what they like, what they fear, and what issues they care about. It had been a real key for me.

My WIP

My current work in progress – Riverview – is also a novel. I’ll call it women’s fiction but … who am I really writing for? Theoretically, some of my friends again – baby boomers or middle aged women. A few men. I know my immediate friends will almost certainly read it. If they like it, they’ll recommend it to their friends or families. 

Needless to say, I now rewrite – and again and again. I also pay to have my work professionally edited. The ball is really in my court now to give it my best shot so my friends and associates, when they read it, will like it so well they talk about it to their own friends. I keep an ear open to hear what my friends enjoy reading about. What they care about. Good reviews are a great help but over a long period of years, I think word of mouth (or online ‘mouth’) is the most significant factor in promoting our books. 

Another type of writing

It’s worth remembering though: there is another type of novel-writing. Writing for oneself or for God. I think it’s so important we don’t lose the joy of writing in our quest to get results. Writing simply because we love it is so fulfilling. We writers enjoy creating and words are our medium. 

Jeanette Grant-Thomson is a S.E.Queensland based author. She has been writing and having work published since she was a child and has enjoyed writing in most genres.

Her first novel Jodie’s Story, now in its third edition, is a true story which opened the door for her to write several other works.

Apart from writing, Jeanette enjoys the mountains, the beach, swimming and having coffee with friends. She is a sincere Christian and attends church regularly.

She can be contacted on Facebook, LinkedIn or Goodreads and her books can be seen and ordered on her Author Page - www.facebook.com/jeanette.grantthomson   Her blogs are  

godwhispersjgt.blogspot.com and Jeanette’s Journalling.blogspot.com