Having a tough time focusing and feeling productive these daze, er, days? I sure am. Here are some tips from me and Benji that have helped. Take what makes sense to you and ignore the rest. We've got this! #writers #creativity #productivity #focus #dogs

1. Begin the day with habits that prepare you for work. I walk Benji with @PhillyGep, do yoga ( @yogawithadriene) and brew a mug of tea or coffee. When I do these things, my mind knows the next step is creative work. (Notice checking #Twitter, #FB & #email are NOT on this list.)

2. Check in w/an accountability buddy. @angeladegroot8 and I begin each workday w/a quick email sharing our writing goals for the day. During #NationalPoetryMonth, Angela includes a #poem with each daily check-in. Here's Angela's part-time office assistant, Sully. #dogsoftwitter

3. Make your goals super specific and break them down as much as possible. Last week, my goals were to revise a seven-page synopsis and the beginning of a new middle grade novel and send them to my agent. I reached that goal. *Elbow bump, Muse! #Goals #CelebrateTheWins

4. Because it’s hard to focus and easy to become distracted, I used the Pomodoro Technique https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique. It helps you use whatever time you have more efficiently. It's how I wrote 8 novels, a picture book & dozens of essays while raising kids. I'm using it right now.

5. Breaks are vital. For those in the back row: BREAKS ARE VITAL, especially now. These days, I allow longer breaks at the end of the workday to take a walk, read, prepare a #vegan dinner, chat with friends, sip on the patio, watch #TheDogHouseUK on @hbomax. Naps are good too.

6. Take weekends off, if you can. Your brain requires more time to rest nowadays. Besides, if you have steady work habits, when you’re not working your subconscious IS – figuring out knotty plot problems and putting separate pieces of information together in interesting ways.

7. If you need extra time off or are unproductive one or two days or more, let go of the guilt. It doesn’t serve you. It doesn’t serve the work. These days, I clock about 2-1/2 days out of 5 that are complete duds. Can’t even complete a shopping list. Accept that and let it go.

8. Your process during this challenging time is your process. Don’t compare your process to someone else’s because you’re comparing your messy inside to their shiny outside. It’s like comparing your first draft to someone else’s polished, published book. Don’t do it!

9. Try something new. If novels are too daunting right now, write a funny essay, an article, a poem . . . or a Twitter thread. Find joy in these things. Baby steps. Forgive yourself. Love yourself. We’ve got this. It’s hard. We're sensitive souls, but we're resilient, too.

10. FIND COMMUNITY: When I left Florida 2 years ago, I lost my monthly critique group after 18 years of friendship, support & celebration. I don’t know how I wrote my novel, ABBY, TRIED AND TRUE without them. In April, we reconnected for twice-weekly critique meetings on @zoom_us

11. During these twice-weekly critique meetings, we do more than critique each other’s work. We check in with each other and offer support when one of us is having a hard time. We show our s and s. We toast each other’s successes, no matter how small. (Any excuse for .)

12. I joined a #BookClub for #MGlit over @zoom_u. I watch live craft webinars from @SCBWI. I listen to podcasts for inspiration, like #BookFriendsForever by @pacylin and @planetalvina and @FirstDraftPod by @SarahEnni. Reach out; connect. Nurture your soul & your creative spirit.

13. Change your exterior space to ignite your interior space. @PhillyGep and I splurged on two nights in a @vrbo in #Princeton for a different working environment. While there in the cozy loft space, I rediscovered my love for funny essays. Benji rediscovered his love for naps.

14. Mostly, take care of your precious self. Fill your well at every opportunity. Your job's getting through this tough time. Creative output is a bonus to celebrate. Your work matters. Your voice matters. Your story matters. But your physical & mental well-being matters most.