Tag: Discipline

PUBLISH DON’T PERISH — TIP #5: Apply APODS to Your Life

This incredible APODS Series, written by Amanda Cabot is a must read for not only writers, but EVERYONE and I recommend you apply APODS to your life. I am a writer and a practicing attorney, and I found it extremely useful in mine. This post will take you through a summary of each article and a link where you can find more. Even if you’ve been following along, I highly recommend reviewing this Series again. Thank you Amanda for sharing your invaluable expertise!

GETTING TO THE END WITH AMANDA CABOT


The End

This article is the first in the series on time management and getting to the end. Although time management is only one part in the multifaceted solution to getting to the end, it’s an introduction to a system that goes by the acronym APODS — Analysis, Priorities, Organization, Discipline and Support. Get a quick peak at each of these five areas.

APODS — ANALYSIS: ANSWERING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS

The analysis phase is the focus of this article. Every author should answer these 3 tough questions:

  • Why do you write?
  • Why is this the book of your dreams?
  • What is keeping you from finishing the book?

Explore what Amanda offers and think about why writing and this book in particular are important to you.

APODS — Analysis: The Three Ps

The analysis phase of APODS includes three Ps:

  • Personality Type
  • Productive Times
  • Present Use of Time

This article takes a closer look at the first — personality type.

APODS – Analysis: The Three Ps, Part Two

Conclude the analysis phase by looking at time. Before you can manage time, you need to understand how you are using it.

Amanda Cabot, time, writing, books, publishing
Time Management

APODS — Priorities: Getting Started

To address priorities, you need to first establish those priorities, understand the opportunity costs of those priorities, and accept the fact that we cannot do everything.

Learn how to make writing your #1 priority.

APODS — Priorities: The Four Ps (Part One)

The Four Ps include: Purpose, Picture, Plan, and Part.

Take an in depth look at the first, purpose.

APODS — Priorities: The Four Ps (Part Two — SMART Goals)

SMART is an acronym to obtain meaningful goals:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Relevant
  • Time-Bound.
SMART goals, William Bridges, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound, Amanda Cabot, time management, APODS
APODS – Priorities: The Four Ps (Part Two – SMART Goals)

Explore what it means, why they are important, and how they serve as guideposts. See how to reach for success!

APODS — Priorities: The Four Ps (Part Three — Plan and Part)

Create the Plan and organize it into a logical sequence. It can be done if you break everything down into small tasks. Check out these tips!

APODS — Priorities: The Opportunity Cost

Are you familiar with opportunity cost? Explore the opportunity cost of writing. Remember, “Time to write is not free.”

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Priorities

APODS — Organization: Advice from the Experts

This article focuses on ideas gleamed from Marilyn Paul’s book, It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys. Amanda discusses 4 of her points she found particularly useful.

APODS — Organization: Part Two

The discussion of Organization is wrapped up with advice from two experts.

APODS — Discipline

Eight particularly useful suggestions are provided to help you get to “The End.”

APODS — Support

Support is the final step in the APODS Series. You will not want to miss this article!

This Series has been an invaluable resource for so many, especially me. What did you find most helpful?

Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot is no stranger to getting to “The End.” She juggled a sixty-hour a week job with nonnegotiable deadlines and building a house long-distance at the same time that she wrote two books a year. Whether or not she kept her sanity during that time is debatable. Amanda is the best-selling author of over thirty novels, eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city.

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot

Out of the Embers, the first of the Mesquite Springs trilogy, has an official release date of March 3, but it’s currently available for preorder at all the major online retailers. If you prefer brick and mortar stores, your local bookseller should be able to order a copy for you.

You can find Amanda at:www.AmandaCabot.com https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot
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APODS — Discipline by Amanda Cabot

When your goal is “Getting to the End,” it doesn’t matter how much analysis, prioritization, and organization you’ve done if you’re not willing to take the next step and discipline yourself to write.

I know, I know. No one likes the word “discipline,” so let’s call this the “Just DO It!” step. It’s not necessarily easy, but this is a case of practice making perfect.

8 Suggestions

Here are eight suggestions I’ve found useful when trying to get to “The End.”

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Thyme for Writers
  1. Schedule a time to write every day and then WRITE during that time. It may seem difficult at first, but like exercise, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
  2. Remember that five minutes of writing is better than none. No matter how busy we are, every one of us can find five minutes each day. I challenge you to find those five minutes and use them. Chances are, you’ll write far longer than five minutes, but even if five minutes of writing is all you accomplish, you’ll have taken the first steps toward making daily writing a habit. And that’s a habit we all need.
  3. Remind yourself that writing is your #1 priority. Now’s the time to dust off those signs that you developed during the prioritization step and post them everywhere you’re likely to be distracted. It may seem juvenile, but visual reminders are powerful.
  4. Do whatever it takes to meet your weekly goals. Again, this sounds difficult, and it may be at first, but the more often you meet your goals, the more energized you’ll be and the closer you’ll be to reaching “The End.”
  5. Optimize your research time. Writers tend to fall into two camps: those who love research and those who hate it. It doesn’t matter where you are on that spectrum. The key is to spend the minimum amount of time gathering the information you need. One technique I use is to avoid doing detailed research during the first draft of a book. Instead, I keep a list of the questions I have – things like “how long does it take to ride a horse from San Antonio to Austin?” When I finish the first draft, I have a better idea of whether I really, really, really need to know that. And, if I do, I can look for the answer to that question at the same time that I’m researching all the other points I listed during the first draft. That’s more efficient than stopping to investigate each point and possibly heading down the proverbial rabbit holes.
  6. Remind friends that you are working. I doubt your friends would stop in for a visit or want to have a lengthy chat during the workday if you were at an office, but the fact that many writers work at home makes us more vulnerable to friendly distractions. Now is the time to politely but firmly tell friends and neighbors that you’re working and can’t be disturbed.
  7. Use voice mail. This is a corollary to the previous point. I consider answering machines and caller ID among the essentials of life and answer calls during my working hours only if they’re from my publisher. Sorry, robo calls. You don’t get answered EVER, but you do get reported to the Do Not Call Registry.
  8. Consider email, texting, and internet surfing a reward. Again, the goal is to keep your focus on the manuscript and avoid everything that prevents you from writing. A number of my writer friends have discovered the same thing I have, namely that if we check email before we begin to write, we’re much less productive. The reason is simple: whatever was in those email messages, no matter how trivial, is competing for space in your brain and lessening your focus. Don’t lose your focus on what’s important: your manuscript.

I won’t sugarcoat it. Discipline is hard, but the rewards are worth the effort. Just DO it!

(c) 2019 Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot is no stranger to getting to “The End.” She juggled a sixty-hour a week job with nonnegotiable deadlines and building a house long-distance at the same time that she wrote two books a year. Whether or not she kept her sanity during that time is debatable. Amanda is the best-selling author of over thirty novels, eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city.

Her most recent release is A Tender Hope, the third in the Cimarron Creek trilogy.

Amanda Cabot, Cimarron Creek Trilogy
A Tender Hope, by Amanda Cabot

You can find Amanda at:

www.amandacabot.com
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot
https://twitter