Wednesday, May 6, 2020

IWSG & Zoning In

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.



Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!


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May 6 question - Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

Because I started writing when I had 2 young kids who were involved in multiple activities and a full-time job that averaged closer to 60 hours a week than 40, I learned early on to Zone In quickly and without a lot of fuss.

Give me a mug of tea and a laptop and I'm good to go.

It helps that my Tigger Brain tends to focus on something in my subconscious while I'm doing other things. Gotta find some positive uses for that bouncy brain! So when I have the time to write, I can usually dive in.

If not, rereading the last few paragraphs get me back in the swing.

How about you? Any other Tigger Brains out there? Tea drinkers (Chai or Green for me!)? Rereaders?

59 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You had no choice - slip into the zone quickly or not at all.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I'm a rereader, too. Although, I go back to far and edit. So, not as effective as the book gets longer. I need to go back just a few pages.

Mary at Play off the Page

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I reread a little to get me back into the story. And I positively have a Tigger brain!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I'm a rereader too! Wow, there are a bunch of us. I can't imagine how people who don't read over what they've already got do it otherwise. I'm still wondering. Hi Jemi! Hope sales of your book are exceeding your expectations.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Love that you mention your Trigger Brain. Mine has been sleeping, lately. I remember a time when no matter what I was doing my brain would be on a story, working it out in the depths of my psyche. I'm working on finding that place again.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I find this fantastic and can identify with some parts of it. My characters are almost always playing in the back of my mind when I am doing other things.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

cleemckenzie said...

There's no doubt that when you have just so much "free" time you learn to use it pronto! Good for you. Keep on doing just that.

Chrys Fey said...

I'm a big tea drinker. So...what tea is your favorite or go-to? :)

Yolanda Renée said...

When it works, it works! Love your attitude, that's half the battle!

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's great how you can dive in. I think when you have to juggle writing with a busy life, it can help you be productive.

mshatch said...

I wish I could just dive in. I think I need to make writing more of a habit or put it on a schedule now that I don't have one.

Cathrina Constantine said...

I could never write with my kids around. Too busy. I got serious with writing when they were lots older...and me too!

M.J. Fifield said...

Tigger brain. I love that. And I absolutely have one.

I also do the rereading thing.

Not much of a tea drinker, though. Unless it's the Long Island variety...

Elephant's Child said...

Love the Tigger brain thing. Mine is usually a lot less focused, but decidedly bouncy. I am glad that yours allows you to write. If you want anything done ask a busy person...

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly! And it works :)

Jemi Fraser said...

That's definitely a danger of the reread! I get stuck in editing mode, not writing mode :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Tigger Brains unite!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Joylene! I didn't expect to sell any at all, so all sales are good :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Tigger brains are good - except when they refuse to focus! Hope yours pop up again soon!

Jemi Fraser said...

Yes! I love when I sit down the next time and my characters have figured stuff out!

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm trying Lee! Little busier than normal right now, but still working :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Chai and green teas are my faves! You?

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Renee! It all about moving forward :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I think that old saying - if you need it done, ask a busy person to do it - has a lot of truth in it!

Jemi Fraser said...

Once the habit disappears it is SO tough to get back into the mode!

A Hundred Quills said...

Wow Jemi! I wish I could do it like you. I just need too many things in place for the muse to come.
Sonia from https://soniadogra.com

Jemi Fraser said...

I didn't manage to get any writing ready to publish, but I spent those years learning the craft and it has really helped me :)

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - one of the Long Island variety and I'm snoozing! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

My Tigger brain is very bouncy, but it can also be very productive!

Jemi Fraser said...

Everyone has their own methods - and that's what makes it fun!

Mason Canyon said...

I think a bouncy brain works good. If I focus too hard on writing something, it won't come to me but if I stop thinking about it and do something else the words I needed pop in my mind out of the blue.

Authors with Advice said...

At this time I think everyone's concentration is shot.

Sarah Foster said...

I like to think about my stories while I'm doing other things. Usually I can figure out what I want to to work on so that when I actually sit down to write, it's much easier.

emaginette said...

No Tigger brain for me. I think I missed on something big... hehehe

Anna from elements of emaginette

Carol Kilgore said...

Sometimes I can jump right in, but mostly I have to reread a little, even when I've left a note about where to go next.

Jemi Fraser said...

I do like my bouncy brain ... almost all of the time! :)
I use that strategy too - distract the brain!

Jemi Fraser said...

This is very, very true!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's always a good plan! I tend to do a lot of thinking as I'm trying to sleep - which doesn't always bode well for sleep :)

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - most of the time I enjoy the bouncy brain, but there are days!

Jemi Fraser said...

That reread is an important part of getting in the mode some days!

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly! Life is busy - no time to dither ... even when I really want that time to dither :)

Chemist Ken said...

I used to carry my manuscript with me on a USB stick. That way I could plug it into any computer that had Word installed on it and work on my story at a moment's notice. That story must have gone through a dozen computers during those early years. Glad to hear you can write any time you have time.

Jemi Fraser said...

That's awesome!! What a great way to always have your story on your mind as well!

Anonymous said...

I just need some empty space, my Rainymood.com, my laptop and I'm good to go. Of course, there's all manner of social media to be avoided and a cat to be shooed off the keyboard. But it's all good.

Debbie Johansson said...

I didn't get much writing done when my kids were younger as I'm easily distracted (yeah, Tigger brain). It's good that you managed it. Now that my kids are much older, they know that once my headphones go on to leave me alone. And yes, I'm another tea drinker - Earl Grey for me. ;-)

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - those cats are tough! And the social media might be even tougher some days!!

Jemi Fraser said...

I spent those years when my kids were little learning the craft and experimenting with various genres and age categories. Now they're older and I'm ready to get on this publishing thing!

Yvonne Ventresca said...

It's so great that you made it all work for you!

Jemi Fraser said...

Well, working on it!! :P

Romance Reader said...

Wow, Jemi! You get in the zone so fast!

Jemi Fraser said...

I do - which has saved my sanity on more than one occasion :)

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

I'm impressed! I think I have more of "Squirrel!" brain :p I don't focus well under the best of conditions, and these aren't that, though much better than many people suffer through.

Jemi Fraser said...

I sometimes have those Squirrel moments, but mostly just the Tiggers :)

Denise Covey said...

I'm with you on the tea drinking Jemi. Mainly black, but I often make a thermos of green tea and finish it off during a writing session.

Diane Burton said...

Tigger brain. I love it. I have to have coffee when I start. Rereading helps get me back into the story. Have a great writing month.

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI Jemi...

Lucky you! I wish I could bounce into a story that quickly. I am so distracted with so many other "Life's things," that I have a rough time getting back into my writing projects. I am still TRYING to finish the last four chapters of my current WIP. It is like walking submerged in mud.

Hope you are well!

Jemi Fraser said...

Mom loves black tea - but I've always preferred Chai or green :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, same to you!
*clinks tea mug with coffee mug*

Jemi Fraser said...

You'll get there. This pandemic is messing with all of our creativity. So hard to get into things at time!