Writing and Studying and Proofreading, O My!

Or, an update of what I’ve been up to the past month

While I’ve been off on “vacation”, I’ve actually been working at top speed on the Everlasting Dissertation. It now only needs a final proofread! And I finished a few days before my leave ended, so I had a few days off to let my mind remember that there is a world beyond the pile of books in front of me. That world includes more books and afternoon naps…

Some proper writing time

In the rush of the past few months I’ve only been able to jot down some ideas and not really giving much thought to my other writing endeavours. So, in my few days off, I indulged in some writing and am now busy with four short stories. (These are just too long to be considered flash fiction.)

The stories are all speculative fiction, though for quite different markets. I don’t want to divulge too much about the stories, but I can say that they include a Christian fantasy story, a zombie story and one for which I need to do some extra research on archaeological field methods.

Some Plans for the future

I’m also going to do Nanowrimo this year with one of my friends (if all goes well!) and I’m really looking forward to that. And there is another local competition I want to enter. The main gist of the idea is there, but it still needs quite a lot of world building.

Until then I’m burying my face in the Eternal Dissertation one last time before handing it in. Wish me luck!

7 Productivity Tips – Tested and Approved*

*by me

After some long hours and lots and lots (and lots) of typing and editing I finally feel that I’m getting somewhere with The Eternal Dissertation. And I am thanking my lucky stars that it’s a subject which I still find interesting! After these few weeks I feel I have some tips on staying productive:

The tips:

• Don’t let you computer catch on fire. Although I would have preferred it if Binky (my poor laptop) didn’t catch on fire on its own account. Very rude.
• A few supportive friends and a great sister (or sibling) who won’t mind you rambling off on a tangent about how much work you need to do on X or Y for a few minutes. Even if they have no idea what you’re talking about. 
• Get your cat to help (or get a cat). Sir T is only too happy to remind me to take breaks by going to sleep on top of my books or in my chair as soon as I get up to make some tea.
• Tea and/or coffee. But don’t overdo the caffeine (rooibos tea is a great option) or the sugar. And remember the biscuits – only to be used as reward, of course *cough cough*. I have yet to meet someone who likes chewing on carrot sticks the whole time they are studying. And a carrot is just not as good a reward as a biscuit – admit it.
• Notebooks! Pens! Sticky notes! While apps are great, I still find pen and paper the best way to get my thoughts ordered.
• Music. Whatever you like, whatever keeps your mind ticking or your fingers typing. My choices usually change during the day. On the days I get up at 4am it’s usually something like Meat Loaf (But not loud enough to wake my neighbours. Because even really nice people don’t want to be woken at 4am by Bat Out Of Hell. You do not want neighbours fervently wishing a lightning bolt would smite you.). During the day some Early Music, a few playlists with my favourite songs or soundtracks and in the evening something like The Parlotones, Theuns Jordaan or Josh Groban.
• Save. Save. Save your work! There’s nothing like losing a file (or losing something because your computer caught on fire) to make you lose all your motivation (Thank goodness this didn’t happen to me. I only lost a few sentences.)

And now it’s back to work for me. 

Image of hand by GraphicsFairy.com