Crazy, Productive

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: We’ve shared a lot about productivity on JRW. I used the blog’s search function to look for “productivity” efficiency” “time management” and “get to work” and had SO MANY hits I couldn’t pick just one or two to share here! We’ve talked about the Pomodoro method, and making lists and writing in sprints and the importance of physically moving and not just sitting on our keisters. (I’m trying to bring back the word ‘keister’.) We’re always open to trying new things to write better and more consistently, not to mention managing the busy, distracting lives we all share.

But you know, there are some weird productivity hacks out there. I remember back when I was going through menopause, and would wake up like clockwork around 3am and be unable to fall asleep again for hours. (Then Mr. Morning Lark would wake me at 6 and I’d have to restrain myself from mariticide.) I read an article urging women to use these hours to exercise, paint, or get the week’s meal prep done. First of all, excuse me? It’s 3am! It’s dark outside, and everyone in the house is asleep! I don’t want to be greeted at breakfast by the smell of the meatballs I made three hours earlier. I don’t want to get all sweaty and have to shower before going back to bed for what would be a half hour. And the only thing I’d be inspired to paint would be a reproduction of Edvard Munch’s THE SCREAM.

 

 

I recently discovered The Most Dangerous Writing App, and yes, that’s its real name. You set a time - three minutes, five minutes, etc. - and then write. If you stop typing for FIVE SECONDS the screen will blur and everything you’ve written during that set period will disappear. Forever! There’s a slightly gentler version, Write or Else (formerly Write or Die) that gives you the option to replace sudden death with a loud screaming noise.

I recognize this would work for some people. After all, efficiency hacks like “stop eating and only drink your meals standing up” also works for some. But it’s not gonna be me.

How about you, Reds? Have you seen any productivity/efficiency advice that makes you think, “Oh, no thank you…”?

 

 

HALLIE EPHRON: That “Most Dangerous…” writing productivity tool would make me want to give up writing completely. Because sometimes you just need to sit there, in a pool of quiet, and THINK about what you want to say. Or go rummaging around in your file directories to find the document that contains some previous thoughts you had on whatever topic you’re writing about. Or take a detour to Google for facts and inspiration. And it sounds like the app doesn’t count editing as writing. Which it SO is… because my first drafts are crappy.

 

 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: No way am I waking at 3 a.m. and going to write! Or do laundry or plan next week’s meals! As for the Most Dangerous Writing App, that would pretty much end my chances of ever writing anything. I’d be too anxious to have a coherent thought.

As for productivity hacks that DO work, nothing has ever worked so well for me as our little Reds writing accountability group. I do not want to be the one with no pages done at the end of the day. And we encourage each other, which helps enormously.

 

 

JENN McKINLAY: I’m with Debs. Our Reds writing accountability group has kept me on task, especially as a deadline LOOMS.

I had a friend who used an app where if you stopped writing it started to eat the words one at a time like a little Ms. Pac-Man. No thank you. I can’t write and have a panic attack at the same time.

RHYS BOWEN: Absolutely no hacks of any kind for me.  I’m a really disciplined writer. I sit down after breakfast and write 1500 words. I’m not allowed to stop until I’ve completed this. Some days it goes easily and get even more done. Some days I look up and it’s two o’clock and I had no idea. Other days I walk around, fling a load in the washer, get coffee and keep working. It’s like pulling teeth but I am not allowed to quit. I think what I have written is cr*p. But the next day it doesn’t always look so bad. Everyone has to find what works for them!

 

 

LUCY BURDETTE: I HATE the idea of those punitive apps. It doesn’t work for kids or pets, so why would anyone think this would encourage writers? I agree with Debs and Jenn–our little sub group is SO helpful. Though honestly, I’ve mostly been watching Jenn pile up her words for the last two weeks. Hopefully now that we’re back sort of settled in Connecticut, I’ll get back on that horse! 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: The very idea of that app makes me cringe! Yow. Absolutely the opposite of anything that's gonna make me write. Write  at the gunpoint peril of your own words?  Yikes.  I’m already panicked enough!  I have a words per day chart, my deadline is set in my mind, I’m reliable. 

 

I DO set a timer to keep me focused...34 minutes at a time, NO switching projects or doing the laundry or getting a diet Pepsi or checking  Instagram.  Solid 34 minutes of writing. It works beautifully, and most often, I’m so immersed that I just hit the start again and do it again. But yeesh, don’t threaten me.

 

 

 

JULIA: How about you, dear readers? Have you encountered any extreme productivity tips? (Apparently, getting up to work at 4am is the latest thing on LinkedIn...) What do you think of them?