The Trusty Bookmark

Trouble focusing is one of the top reasons for slow work and missed deadlines.  In a multi-tasking obsessed world that is constantly inundated with notifications, it can be hard to sit down and grind away at your WIP.  But don’t despair!  Whether you’re brainstorming, spilling out your first draft, or slogging through edits, the following are my tried and true methods for boosting focus on the task at hand.

1. Create a Ritual

Create a ritual you perform at the start of each writing session. This can be as simple as getting out a specific pen, making a cup of coffee/tea in your favorite mug (this is my habit!), or turning on your Book Playlist (re: next tip). Perhaps you’d like to organize everything on your desk to precise right angles. Or you simply need to go to your designated writing space.

Pick an action you will associate with focus and perform this each time you write. With repetition, your brain will recognize this “writing time” trigger and easily transition into a focused mindset.

2. Play Your Book Playlist

Use music as a way to build a natural link between hearing a specific genre, soundtrack, or song and your time to focus. Curate a playlist for your novel as a whole, by individual setting, or even per main character. Alternatively, pick one genre to write to, no matter the book.

Save and play this exclusively when you write. When the music starts, your brain will form a natural spark, “Hey! It’s writing time!”

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