tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post1790198976918794400..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: How to Use Timers to Be More ProductiveGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47738703731419891452012-04-17T05:52:32.807-07:002012-04-17T05:52:32.807-07:00Sounds like you've really mastered the art of ...Sounds like you've really mastered the art of the timer! :DAva Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-24563408531863933582012-04-15T13:09:27.571-07:002012-04-15T13:09:27.571-07:00Thank you, Steven! I personally use Times New Roma...Thank you, Steven! I personally use Times New Roman pt. 12, double spaced and whatever the preset margins are in Microsoft Word. In the end, I wouldn't worry too much about formatting--as long as you don't use anything distracting (TNR is pretty standard, but there are other acceptable options as well), in the end it's the writing that's the most important. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-44919675766385034612012-04-14T18:34:06.951-07:002012-04-14T18:34:06.951-07:00I use timers for everything! Writing, housecleanin...I use timers for everything! Writing, housecleaning, keeping the kids on-task... anything that requires me to stay focused, I set a timer & don't stop what I'm doing till I hear the buzzer. Very effective strategy for the little one, as it turns whatever we're doing into a game. And quite effective when I'm writing, because if the fam wants to interrupt my writing, all I have to do is point to the timer & they know it means I'm in the middle of a timed session & to wait till it's done. LOVE me some timers!!! :)<br /><br /><br />Andi-Roo<br />/// @theworld4realz<br /><br />http://www.theworld4realz.com/<br /><br /><br /><br />theworldforrealz@gmail.comAndi-Roohttp://www.theworld4realz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-43070871895540871572012-04-14T14:41:47.254-07:002012-04-14T14:41:47.254-07:00Great post as usual. :) Right now as you may have ...Great post as usual. :) Right now as you may have picked up, I'm in the plotting stages of my book(s) (forever it seems!). But when I do write short stories to keep my fingers nimble and my mind sharp I use a timer. I also use it when I decide to cautiously begin the first chapter of the first book haha. Speaking of which, I was wondering what formatting you use when you write. What font, font size, spacing, and margin size do you use? I keep changing my formatting because I keep getting mixed answers. I also try to get the average 250-300 apparent words a page most novels have so I can get an idea how long my book would be if it were on paper but I also try keeping a traditional, publisher accepted format. Thanks!<br /><br />~Author Steven :)Author Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-44971123939280240212012-04-14T08:34:02.743-07:002012-04-14T08:34:02.743-07:00Sure thing, Gene! I'll admit I was a little he...Sure thing, Gene! I'll admit I was a little hesitant to use Write or Die, but once I tried it out, I realized it worked very well for me (and it's certainly boosted my writing sprint word counts). Good luck! Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47851961091529586112012-04-14T08:16:15.802-07:002012-04-14T08:16:15.802-07:00I haven't used timers - but - for all the reas...I haven't used timers - but - for all the reasons you listed, I've been considering using one. Sometimes I can wander off for a few hours and get lost in a five minute task - or something *grins*<br /><br />I think I'll try out Write or Die, you are the third person I've heard recommend it. Thanks for the helpful advice, Ava!Gene Lempphttp://genelempp.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-61976031518379764802012-04-14T04:44:13.587-07:002012-04-14T04:44:13.587-07:00I have my moments.I have my moments.Matthew Rowehttp://twitter.com/RoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-68096443381076304302012-04-13T18:39:08.890-07:002012-04-13T18:39:08.890-07:00I have to say, that's a very clever strategy. ...I have to say, that's a very clever strategy. :DAva Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-90856493887493339002012-04-13T18:38:18.812-07:002012-04-13T18:38:18.812-07:00I haven't used the Pomodoro technique, but I&#...I haven't used the Pomodoro technique, but I've heard a little about it before. Interesting that noisy timers work better for you than silent ones--I've thus far stuck to silent timers since I feel like actually hearing the seconds tick by might make me a little antsy...but it might be worth a try. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-59896556788564149052012-04-13T18:13:11.574-07:002012-04-13T18:13:11.574-07:00Good advice, but unfortunately self-imposed restri...Good advice, but unfortunately self-imposed restrictions don't work for me. I know I don't have to, so I don't. It's like trying to get up at a reasonable time on non-work days. I can never do it. However, what does work for me is to use my laziness against me. If I disconnect my internet when I go to make a cup of tea, I get distracted for a bit, then I have my tea, I come back to write and bam! I'm too lazy to get back up and turn the internet on again, so I write until my next tea breakMatthew Rowehttp://twitter.com/RoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-49559637657356449552012-04-13T07:08:15.304-07:002012-04-13T07:08:15.304-07:00I am operating with a timer right now. I time EVER...I am operating with a timer right now. I time EVERYTHING I do and take a brief stretch after every 30 minutes of work. But here is one secret: the time needs to be NOISY. For several years, I'd stuck by my silent digital timer to accomplish my pomodoros (see: http://bit.ly/HFUsTr ). I figured that the noise of a clicking timer would be distracting. Now that I've made the switch, however, I find the noisy timer wonderfully invigorating. It reminds me that I'm supposed to be writing (or doing whatever task I've designated) rather than surfing the Internet or checking email. I highly recommend it. You can always use an inexpensive (noisy) kitchen timer, but here's a description of the software I like: http://bit.ly/HsXAzw Daphne Gray-Granthttp://www.publicationcoach.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57039877942736204362012-04-13T06:16:25.167-07:002012-04-13T06:16:25.167-07:00A kitchen timer can work, although there are also ...A kitchen timer can work, although there are also free timers online that can be just as useful. :) Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-85184348611366436252012-04-13T06:14:04.610-07:002012-04-13T06:14:04.610-07:00I keep intending to get a kitchen timer for this p...I keep intending to get a kitchen timer for this purpose.<br /><br />But lazy writer is lazy.Chihuahua Zerohttp://www.youngaspiringwriter.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com