Write More using the Pomodoro Technique! #MyFriendAlexa Post 4

Sitting is considered by doctors as the new smoking. The more you sit, the more you are lowering your chances of a long and healthy life. But that is a not possible for writers. We sit for long hours in front of our computers. 

So what is the solution?

That is where the Pomodoro technique comes to your rescue.

Pomodoro technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros, the plural in English of the Italian word pomodoro (tomato), after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student. (as explained in Wikipedia)

Stretch, walk about, do deep breaths, do whatever that will help your body to relax during the breaks.

The output of this technique is unbelievable. I use this technique regularly while I write or blog. Your productivity can increase manifold if you create a distraction-free environment during these sessions.

I have written 1000 words per session using this technique. Just imagine how many sessions can you squeeze in a day!

Because of this technique, I am able to cross off most of the items on my to-do list.

There are Pomodoro apps you can download. Or you can use the timer on your computer or phone or watch.

How can you write more using this technique?

1. Before you start, plan what you will write during the session. Make notes about the post/scene you are going to write.
2. Switch off the internet, so that you are not distracted during the session with pings, emails or social media notifications.
3. Stop when the timer goes off. This will be helpful to make you remain in the flow even after the session ends.
4. Take a break and resume writing in a fresh new session.

I have completed writing a novella within a month using this technique. That too while blogging, doing my household chores, reading, exercising and looking after a naughty 8-year-old.

I don’t spend hours staring at the blank screen thinking about what to write anymore. When I sit in front of my laptop, I have a note in front of me which will guide me. All I have to do is to expand the ideas.

Have you tried the Pomodoro technique?

 This post is part of #MyFriendAlexa campaign by @Blogchatter

I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.

Where do I Find my Stories? #MyFriendAlexa Post 1

Whenever I make a new acquaintance and I tell them I am a writer, I often get asked this question. Where do I find my stories?

I believe every story finds its writer. Sounds esoteric, but I have reasons to believe it is true.

Get it here

This September 26^th, the eBook version of my novel ‘Without You’ will turn two. It has remained in the top 100 books in its category ever since it release-date and reached the #1 position on Amazon multiple times. Amazon gave it the #1Bestseller tag recently. It has 244 ratings on Goodreads, and 59 reviews on Amazon India till date. All these stats are organic. My Kindle reports tell me thousands have read my book till now worldwide. 

And this story idea came to me in a dream. I saw the entire story like a movie.

I remembered only the prominent scenes by the time I woke up. I immediately jotted down whatever I remembered. The names of the characters, the places it happened, I jotted them all down. The reason I got the dream was I was troubled about the Mangalore Plane crash of 2010.

Till now, five of my short stories have been published traditionally. Four are in paperback and one as a standalone eBook short story on Juggernaut Books. I have signed a contract for 9 other short stories.

 I have a published novella which was co-written with 7 other bloggers. I have three books for kids published online as well.

Some of these stories came to me out of nowhere. I have never sat in front of a blank screen brooding about what to write. Sometimes, I have a clear idea about the story, as in, scene by scene clarity. But sometimes all I have is a vague idea and an urge to begin.

Read this quote by Games of Thrones writer George R.R.Martin.

“I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners.

The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they're going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there's going to be. They have the whole thing designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up.

The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don't know how many branches it's going to have, they find out as it grows. And I'm much more a gardener than an architect.”

I am neither an architect nor a gardener. I am a hybrid. I have to plot my scenes, give my story a structure before I sit down to write. But when I start a story, it has a mind of its own. Then I watch how it unfolds and go along with it.

I have a few good mentors. I turn to them whenever in doubt. I also need to have a clear head before I sit to write. Meditation helps in a big way.

This post is part of the campaign #MyFriendAlexa by @blogchatter

I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.

My current Alexa Rank is 1,19,4423