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| Kathryn J. Bain |
Do you ever become frustrated because you’ve allowed
distractions to stand in the way of reaching your writing goals? It happens to
me all the time! What can we do? Author Kathryn
J. Bain shares tips she’s learned, and she encourages us to stay
focused on our goals. ~ Dawn
Too
Many Noises
in My Head
How many times have you sat down to write, only to have
twenty other things pop into your head? There are chores needing to be done,
the phone ringing, or guilt for taking time away from your family to do
something for yourself.
The devil uses any distractions he can so you never complete
that Christian book. The following are ten tips will help you keep focused and
tick Satan off.
1. Pray
for focus before you start. If what you’re writing is God inspired, He
will see to it you finish.
2. Set
goals. Number of word or pages each hour, even just writing
straight through for 50 minutes. Once you hit your goal, get up and move
around. Listen to some praise and worship music to keep focused on who you’re
writing for. Then return and do another hour, setting a goal like before. And
pray before each hour for focus.
3. Jot
down any idea that pops into your head on a separate piece of paper. Write
just enough of the information so you won’t lose the thought.
4. All
phones off. Nothing is more distracting than a friend who
thinks your writing is just a hobby. If you don’t take it seriously, no one
else will either.
5. Turn
off the IM. Every time instant messaging dings, you stop
what you’re doing and glance over at who’s trying to reach you. See, you just
did it.
6. Turn
off all social media. Facebook will suck away your time faster than
you realize. Give yourself thirty minutes each morning for social media, and
then it’s off to work.
7. Get
plenty of sleep the night before. Being tired makes it hard for
your mind to concentrate on any one thing.
8. Don’t
edit. Just write. The more you stop, the less you get done. Some
authors edit at the end of the day, some once the whole book is finished.
Choose what works for you, but your goal is to get the manuscript complete.
9. Turn
off the television, and if you can, work in a quiet room. Years
ago, I cut cable and bought a television with Wi-Fi so my computer monitor is
also my TV screen. No way can I watch ID Network non-stop if I have a
manuscript to complete.
10. Give
yourself a reward when you’ve reached your goal for the day. It
might be some time outside, or even a snack. Don’t forget to thank God for
helping you reach your goals.
Zig Ziglar once said, “Lack of direction, not lack of time,
is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.” Lack of time is one of the
largest complaints in the writing community, but it’s really just a lack of
focus. By using some of the guidelines above, you will not only finish your
manuscript, but, hopefully, have a product worthy of publication.
Tweetables:
Author Kathryn
J. Bain shares 10 tips that will help writers stay focused. Click to tweet.
Do you remember
to thank God for helping you reach your goals? Click to tweet.
Zig Ziglar once
said, “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. Do you agree? Click to tweet.
Beautiful Imperfection
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| Beautiful Imperfection |
When
witnesses to a mass murder start dying, breast cancer survivor Teddy Federline
must push aside her anger and trust an ex-boyfriend to ensure she lives long
enough to testify against the killer.
Detective
Sloan Michaels still has deep feelings for Teddy but realizes that after the
way he left her years ago, he has a lot of making up to do. Now, he must keep
his focus on the case and off the woman he loves. If Sloan doesn't keep Teddy
safe, he'll never get a second chance.
Award winning author Kathryn
J. Bain’s fifth book, Beautiful Imperfection, was released September 29,
2013. Her book Catch Your Breath took Third Place in the 2013 Heart of
Excellence Contest for her inspirational romance and Breathless took First
Place for Inspirational Romance in the 2010 Royal Palm Literary Awards. She was
the President of Florida Sisters in Crime from 2010-2012 and is currently the
Public Relations Director for Ancient City Romance Authors. Kathryn has also
been a paralegal for over twenty years and works for an attorney who
specializes in elder law.
To learn more or connect with Kathryn, please visit:
Website: www.kathrynjbain.com
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1exEzPu
