Hello friend, šš¾
I started writing (well, plotting) a new book last week, which is as exciting and daunting as any new adventure. Figuring out how all the pieces fit together is one of the most fun parts of writing for me.Ā
It wasnāt so long ago that I couldnāt imagine how anyone could write an entire novel. Now, starting in on my eleventh, Iām still not entirely sure š .Ā But like all journeys, I figure if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, Iāll get there, eventually. Or if not the āthereā I expected (which is a perfect manuscript that matches the book of my dreams), Iāll at least be some place, and Iām hoping that place will be pleasant (e.g. a readable manuscript that will offer readers a few hours of entertainment and inspire thought).
I have a favor to ask. If youāre enjoying this weekly email, would you mind leaving me a quick testimonial? It will only take a minute and would be much appreciated!
š Reusable Sticky Notes?
I bought a Rocketbook about a million years ago. Iām a huge fan of gadgets, and the idea of a notebook that, once you finished using it, could be erased in the microwave was too much fun to miss! Well, it took me years to finally fill that notebook, and I greatly enjoyed microwaving it to erase all the pages. Now the same company is crowdfunding reusable sticky notes, and you know Iām on board.Ā
Here are a few other tools for those who hate to waste paper. All things Iāve bought, used, and would recommend.
Fluidstance Slope Desk Whiteboard. Itās a small whiteboard for your desk. I love it!
Swipies reusable paper. These use wet erase markers instead of dry erase. (Think overhead projector markers for those old enough to remember such things). You literally wash the paper off with water. Sounds crazy, but it works great!
Remarkable 2. Love it and use it every day. Feels better than an iPad Pro to write on.Ā
š A Cat Full of Whimsy
On the theme of not wasting paper, Iāve been trying to get away from using sticky notes and index cards to plot my novels. They can be very helpful as a way to record scene ideas in a low stakes way, without the commitment of putting the ideas into one of my plotting worksheets. However, space concerns have largely pushed me into the digital realm. Since Iāve just started plotting a new book, Iāve been in the free whiteboard app Whimsical a lot this past week. Iāve tried a bunch of alternative methods, but this is my current favorite. If youāre a plotter, and a fan of Blake Snyderās Save the Cat beats, you may find my Save the Cat template for Whimsical helpful!
š 5 Tips for More Productive Days
Newsletter guru Josh Spectorās list of daily productivity tips is worth checking out. Most of these are things Iāve found over the years to be helpful. For example, blocking out the first hour of your day to work on your most impactful task makes sense. The first thing I do every day is write. For an author, few tasks are more important. Tip 2 is to say no more. And while I donāt feel the need to say no to one thing per day, I am practicing the art of declining.
The last two: choosing how long to work and what to do last can be game changers. Iāve tried having an organized end of day routine, but after failing many times, Iāve settled on just remembering to close my browser windows and actually get up and leave my office by a certain time each day. Actually leaving my house for scheduled exercise is a ninja tip and should get productivity bonus points.
Having trouble staying motivated & focused throughout the writing process? Finding it difficult to flesh our your story idea? Unlock your story's potential with the Story Seed Mini-course! Iāll show you the way I start all my new projects.
š Quick Bites
ChatPDF - Upload a PDF and the chatbot will summarize it for you!
Audiopen - Convert your spoken thoughts into clean summarized text.
The Collective Noun Catalog - A murder of nouns? A gaggle of nouns? A conflagration of nouns? I could do this all dayā¦
āDon't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.ā
āHoward Thurman, Author, Philosopher & Civil Rights Leader
šļø My Imaginary Friends: Episode 216 - My First Week Plotting a New Novel
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing, where I share insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this weekās best thing.
Watch on Youtube | Listen to the podcast
Mentioned:
Imaginary Worldbuilding: Creating Fictional Worlds for Writers
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
Prioritize Like a Pro free webinar mentioned last week
Imaginarium Book Festival - May 20 & 21, 2023, Washington, DC
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How exciting you started working on a new book! Best of success to you. All these reusable things are helpful. And anything to save more trees is a good thing.