Here are the links that got me thinking this week:

The 80/20 Principle: 11 Ways to Boost Your Life - The 80/20 rule applies to almost everything.  Here are some ideas to help you use the trend to your advantage.

Focus on Actions to Get More Done in Less Time – Yes, you can make more time!  Here are some ideas to help.

Time Management for Creative People - A free e-book from Mark McGuinness that I just discovered while reading copyblogger.

Indie Pulp – Guy Davis Sketchbook Spotlight – Indie Pulp interviews one of my favorite creepy artists.

What’s your writing routine?

Maybe you know; maybe you don’t.

Maybe you’ve never thought about it.  But, if you’re a writer, you probably should.

If, like me, you’re balancing your job as a writer with another career (as a marketer … or bookseller … or rodeo clown … or alien autopsy specialist … or what-have-you) the time you have to devote to writing is fleeting at best.  By developing an understanding of the writing strategies that suit you best, you can make the most of whatever time you have to spend on churning out the comic book or short story or novel that’s hidden inside the mushy recesses of your brain. 

There’s no magic bullet.  What works for one writer will fail for another.  Everyone tackles the problem in their own way.  I’ve heard of writers who work for 8 to 12 hours a day, virtually chaining themselves to their desk chair.  Others work in short 30-minute bursts, interlaced with equal time spent exercising or walking the dog or even watching situation comedies on TV.  Some wake up an hour or two early and write before the crack of dawn.  Others wait until the wife and kids have gone to bed and burn the midnight oil (not to mention the coffee and Mountain Dew).  I’ve heard of some who vomit up whatever words they can, just to fill the blank page, not worrying over the quality of writing until the work is going through re-write.  Others sweat over every word, wanting it to be “just right” the first time around.

Because I’ve been exceptionally busy of late, I’ve been paying closer attention to the routines and techniques that help me get the most out of the time I devote to writing.  Maybe this will get you thinking about your own writing process.  Heck, some of these ideas might work for you, too, so feel free to try them out.

Longhand - For me, first drafts work best when handwritten on good old-fashioned notebook paper.  This means I have to spend a little extra time entering everything into the computer, but I just consider that part of the second draft. 

Short, focused bursts – I work best when I concentrate on writing for 30 minutes to an hour, then do something else for a few minutes.  I’ll read something (see below) or watch a little TV. 

Inspiration close at hand – I like to keep my favorite novels, comics, and short story collections close at hand when I need a little extra jolt of creativity.

Non-linear – I seldom write a story in a linear fashion.  I write the part of the story I’m “feeling” at any given moment.  I can piece it all together when the first draft is done.

Quiet, please – I don’t listen to music while writing (at least not music with lyrics).  Sometimes, a movie score playing quietly in the background is all right, but usually I like it nice and quiet.

Muffle the internal editor – I don’t worry too much about editing the story while it is in-progress.  I’ve changed character names, locations, timelines, and even major plot points mid-way withour going back to fix what I’ve already written until I’m working on re-writes.

Don’t drink and write – I know some folks who swear they’re more creative while drinking.  Me, I’m just more sleepy.  I’ll save the beers for when I’m hanging out with my friends.

For that matter, don’t eat and write – I work better (not just when it comes to writing, but when it comes to just about everything) on an empty stomach.  Okay, not empty, but not overstuffed, either.  I have more energy when I graze frequently throughout the day instead of eating a few big meals.

A change of pace – Strangely enough, even though I like it quiet, sometimes writing somewhere like the library or a coffee shop or even the work cafeteria works really well for me.  The noise from other people quickly fades to my subconscious.

My precious notebook(s) – I keep little notebooks all over the place, and I usually have one on me at all times.  I never know when an idea will strike, so I need to be ready to write it down, whether it’s the beginning of a story, a bit of dialogue, or one of the many nonsense thoughts that clutter my mind on a regular basis.  I even keep one nearby when I’m writing, because sometimes working on one idea will feed another.

Mornings work well, but write whenever I can – I think I’m a better writer in the mornings, just after I get out of bed.  But if I tried to only write during that time, I wouldn’t get much done during the week.  For me, I write whenever I can steal even 5 minutes from the rest of my day.

So, that’s the closest thing I have to a routine for my writing.  I suppose it’s more of a list of tricks to help me get words on paper.  I know these little methods work for me, and I’m sure there are some gimmicks that will work for you, too.  In the end, you need to do whatever it takes (and whatever works for you) to make the most of the time you spend writing.

Here are the links that I’m excited about this week:

A Pair of Writers’ Resources – Mike Oliveri points us towards some nice web-based resources for writers.

7 Signs That You’re Drunk on Your Own Words – Because we’ve all been there a time or two … but sometimes we don’t realize it.

4 Reasons Why Curiosity Is Important & How To Develop It – Of late, I’ve become a big believer in learning something new every day and relentlessly pursuing new knowledge.

Top 6 Bizarre Online Gaming Incidents - While I’m not currently playing any online games, I’m ever fascinated by the phenomenon surrounding those who really live and breathe online gaming.

Now’s as good a time as any to cast my votes for my favorite posts from the Litemind List Group Writing Project.  So here they are:

• Ten Things I Didn’t Know Until Last Week - What a great idea for a regular post!
• No Cost Business Tools – 37 Free Applications to Make Your Life Easier - It’s free and it will improve my life?  Sign me up!
• 100 Things to Do Before I Die - Because goals, especially big goals, are inspiring.

There were lots of great posts for the project.  If you’d like to look through them all, read on …

Continue Reading

I like giant monsters, and so should you. Here’s a list to get you started. There are dozens of movies and books and toys you could dive into, of course, but I’m trying to focus on (what I consider to be) the basics.

1. Gojira / Godzilla Deluxe Collector’s Edition (Gojira/Godzilla [1954] / Godzilla, King of the Monsters [1956]) – This is the Godzilla movie that started it all. The original Japanese film was 98 minutes long, but when America got ahold of it, they chopped it down to 79 minutes and added footage of Raymond Burr. Both the original version and the Americanized version appear on this DVD. Despite the fun of his subsequent monster bashes, Godzilla was frightening in this film.
2. The King Kong Collection (King Kong Two-Disc Special Edition/Son of Kong/Mighty Joe Young) – What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys? Three classic movies featuring giant monkeys! These original films still blow me away. Even though the effects are a little dated, I love the artistry that goes into stop motion animation.
3. Essential Godzilla (Marvel Essentials) – In the late 70s, Marvel Comics released the Godzilla comic series, which was a lot of fun. Godzilla rampaged through the Marvel universe, and tussled with some of Marvel’s most famous superheroes.
4. King Kong Vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes – Aw, yeah! Monster throw-down! King Kong and Godzilla duke it out in the first film in this DVD set. What’s interesting about this movie is the lie so many of us have come to believe. I’ve heard dozens of people tell me there are two versions of this movie, one in which King Kong wins, one in which Godzilla wins. This isn’t true. While there are minor differences in the way the Japanese and American versions end, the final outcome of the battle is the same. Still, some folks insist that they’ve seen both versions … and one can only assume they’ve been sipping a little of the “red berry juice” King Kong liked so much in the film. The other movie features a robotic version of King Kong — Mechanikong — and he’s worth the price of admission.
5. Gamera Limited Edition Box Set – I know, I know; Gamera is the goofy turtle everyone remembers from MST3K. He’s the friend of all children, for chrissakes! But, I’m telling you, these new movies were awesome. The second of the bunch, Advent of Legion, is not only one of my favorite monster movies, it’s one of my favorite movies … period!
6. Destroy All Monsters – The ultimate monster slugfest! In many ways, Godzilla – Final Wars is a lot like this classic film, but I like the old school charm of this oldie but goodie.
7. Hedorah Godzilla Smog Monster 6″ Vinyl Figure – Vinyl toys are a big part of the giant monster culture, and you can buy just about any of your favorite creatures to stage your own version of Destroy All Monsters. There are far too many options to list, so why not start with Hedora the Smog Monster?
8. Daikaiju! Giant Monster Tales – A neat collection of giant monster short stories. There are two more books in the series.
9. Who’s Afraid of Godzilla? (Pictureback(R)) – Get your kids started on a Godzilla frenzy with this cute little Godzilla picture book.
10. Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo!: The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films – A nice overview of giant monster films in general.

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