Twenty-Four hours and I'm re-addicted...

There's a lot of debate about the  pro's and con's of writer's building a platform through social networking. One of the biggest ones for me has got to be my addiction to it.
Just recently I re-established my facebook presence and for the next day, I was hardly off it. I haven't edited, nor have I written.
It's awful really. I want nothing more than to write, but Facebook has other plans for me.
And I know I'm not the only one. It happens to a lot of people.
You see school kids on their phones all the time and if you ask them, nine times out of ten, their probably on facebook talking to the friend they just said goodbye to.
Yes, Facebook, Twitter, BLOGGING and Goodreads are great ways to build up your audience, to gain readers. But please, don't  let it distract you from what really matters: The book YOUR readers are waiting for.
So, in order to break my addiction, I've devised a plan. And you might like to do the same.

Number One: Two birds with one stone:
Set goals! Set a word goal. It might be 500 words a day or 5000 a week! And make time for it. Not only will you be inclined to finish that manuscript, but I'm hoping it'll keep you from clicking that 'like' button on all your friend statuses. :)

Number Two: Get a watch:
Set yourself some limits. Block out a period of time during your day that you dedicate to social networking. Your writer's platform is important. Don't neglect it either.

Number Three: Save some money!
If you're like me, the second that modem clunks out, its hard to find the effort to get out of that comfy chair and turn it back on. So why not try it? Turn it off. Say goodbye to the Mr. Green Light. And if that doesn't stop you... It's time to play Hide and Seek.

Number Four: Hide and Seek.
If your living with someone, be they friend, sister or hubby, get them to help you. Once you social time is over, hand over the modem. That's right, give them the modem. And get them to hide it.
Now I haven't tried it with the modem yet, but I'm telling you, it works for everything else.
Your social network is an addiction. So treat it like one.

Number Five: Cut down!
If your really someone who struggles, perhaps a change of plan is your only hope. And I mean your Internet plan. Contact your server and get them to cut down your usuage. Limit yourself. That way, if you get a little Facebook crazy, your won't be able to go on for the rest of the month. It's like being grounded.
You didn't stick to your plan. You did want you shouldn't have. And now it's been taken away.
I'm on a phone plan and my internet usage is very limited. So I make it stretch. And if I go over, I'm punished with a bill.
And  hey, I haven't had a bill yet!

And finally: Stick to it!
Discipline is the key. Exercise that willpower. And please, don't go on Facebook as a reward...You're just asking for trouble there :)

Well I hope this helps someone! And I'll be sure to let you know if it helps me.
Whitney

Well, it's been a while...

Happy Easter everyone! I hope the Easter bunny was good to you (as he definitely was to me) and that you're feeling as sick as I am hehe (I can see a health kick happening in the very near future)
Just popping in to say 'Hi' and apologise for my blogging neglect. It's been a little hectic of late and i've only just found the time to get back into the things I love doing.
If there's one thing I've noticed over the last  two weeks it's that life is a lot harder when a writer isn't allowed to write.
Writing is my emotional outlet and as I hope it is for all readers, an escape. It's a time where we can lose ourselves, forget the rest of the world and put on someone elses shoes.
I've definately missed it and now that I have some  time off, I plan to catch up. :)
Once again, wishing everyone a Happy Easter as well as some time to escape. There's nothing quite like reading. That is of course, unless you're like me and  find writing more fulfilling.
Whitney K-E

When the time is WRITE - Is it your time?

I've meet very few author's in my career so far and if there's one thing I've noticed it's this. Age.
Many have been writing for years, others decades and some only a few months. And what is often discussed is, why have you chosen now to start writing?
I am very fortunate in that I seem to have the time and the mind to write at this early stage in my life, busy though it is. Others I have met however, have had aspirations to write for decades and yet, they have only recently, in the middle of their life, began to fulfill those aspirations.
I have a twin sister, who of course, is the same age as me (I'm honest when I say I have had to emphasis this to a handful of people in the past) and she too has aspirations to write.
As a teen, she had a poem published by Random House, but since, has not written a thing. And she worries. But I don't think she should. If there's one thing she lacks at the moment, if there's one thing holding her back, it is her lack of obssession.
You have to be obssessed to write a novel. You need to go one step further than being comitted. Set yourself goals and endeavour to met them or beat them. And then reward yourself.
Just last night I said with gritted teeth, 'I've lost it. I can't write'. But I pushed through it, forced myself to continue and Ta-Da! in an hour I'd achived my goal and started on the next.
But the whole point of this post is to say this:
Don't set those goals if the time isn't 'Write'. Don't give up, keep planning, but until you're ready and you have that story up there in your head, ready to go and you know those characters like the back of your hand, leave the pen and paper.
It's like growing up. You've got to go through stages. Things have to happen.
And never give up. Wether your writing now, or you're planning to, don't ever give up.
But if your stuggling, perhaps your time is yet to come. Find your passion, find your voice and then, write the bestseller.

Well, I hope this has help some people and if not, given you some food for thought.
Wishing everyone the best this year in their writing careers!
Whitney