Writers in the Storm

A blog about writing

storm moving across a field
Guardians of Creativity: Writing Safely in Public Spaces

by Susan Watts

Writing in public places, such as coffee shops and libraries, offers a unique blend of inspiration and potential challenges. As both a martial artist and author, the combination of creativity and personal safety comes naturally. However, for others, safety may not be a major consideration. Drawing from my experience as a black belt and self-defense seminar instructor, I offer these tips for writers to balance safety and creativity.

The Art of Location Selection: Choose Well-Lit and Crowded Spots

Just as a martial artist assesses their environment for safety, writers should be discerning about their chosen writing spaces. Select well-lit and populated areas where the flow of people ensures a reasonable level of security. Avoid secluded corners or dimly lit spots that might pose safety risks. Your writing sanctuary should inspire creativity without compromising your well-being.

Strategic Positioning: Sit Facing Entrances for Enhanced Awareness

In martial arts, practitioners learn the significance of positioning themselves for optimal defense. Similarly, when writing in public places, sit facing entrances and exits. This strategic placement not only allows for a clear view of your surroundings, but also enhances situational awareness. Observing who enters and exits establishes a mental map of the immediate environment, helping you to focus on your writing without neglecting your safety.

Engage and Disengage: Knowing When to Look Up

Immersing yourself in your writing is crucial, but so is periodically disengaging to assess your surroundings. Establish a rhythm—write for a set period, then take a moment to look up and scan your environment. It's a dance between creativity and vigilance, ensuring you remain connected to both your work and the world around you. Designate breaks in your writing session to focus solely on your surroundings. Use these moments to reorient yourself and ensure your safety protocols are intact.

Make a habit of being mindful of those around you and any unusual behavior. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is. Being mindful of your surroundings helps protect your creative flow from unexpected disruptions.

Guarding the Arsenal: Keep Valuables Secure

Martial artists safeguard their weapons, and for writers, the laptop or tablet is a formidable tool. Be mindful of your belongings—keep your laptop, bags, and personal items within reach. Avoid leaving them unattended, as distraction can provide an opportunity for opportunistic individuals. By maintaining control over your possessions, you safeguard both your creative work and personal safety.

Digital Fortifications: Use Lock Screen Features and VPNs

Just as martial artists fortify their defenses, writers should fortify their digital presence. Enable lock screen features on your devices to protect your work and personal information. Use strong passwords or biometric authentication for an added layer of security. When working on public Wi-Fi, avoid accessing sensitive financial or personal information. Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) for added security, ensuring that your digital activities remain shielded from potential threats.

Strategic Alliances: The Buddy System for Writers

In martial arts, strength often lies in alliances. Likewise, writers can benefit from the buddy system. If possible, work with a writing partner or a friend when venturing into public spaces. Having someone by your side not only deters potential threats but also provides a safety net, allowing you to immerse yourself in your writing without undue worry.

Emergency Preparedness: Establishing Plans and Contacts

Martial artists rehearse emergency scenarios, and writers should do the same. Familiarize yourself with the location's emergency exits and procedures. Ensure someone knows your whereabouts and can contact you in case of an emergency. Share your location or schedule with a trusted friend or family member, establishing a safety net for unforeseen circumstances.

Trust Your Intuition: The Writer's Sixth Sense

Just as martial artists trust their instincts, writers must trust their intuition. If something doesn't feel right, don't dismiss it. Whether it's a subtle discomfort or a gut feeling, your intuition is a valuable tool for detecting potential threats. Trust it and take appropriate action to protect your safety.

Safe Transitions: Traveling to and from Public Places

When traveling to and from public places, use reputable transportation services and inform someone about your itinerary. Ensuring a safe transition to and from your writing sessions adds an extra layer of security to your overall experience. If you are traveling by car, remember these important safety tips:

  1. Always lock your car when you leave it.
  2. Leave your car in the safest place possible. Park as close as you can to your destination, and park under lights.
  3. When you return to the car, have your key ready to get in.
  4. Before getting in, make sure no one has tampered with it. Look under the car, and in the back seat, while approaching your car.
  5. Avoid leaving valuables in the car.
  6. Always know where you left your car.
  7. When walking to your car, avoid walking close to parked cars or other places where people might hide.
  8. Once inside, lock the doors. Crank up and drive away.

Remember the BAIL System

B = Buddy System - make sure somebody knows where you are.

A = Awareness - be aware of your surroundings. Be observant and critical, identifying potentially dangerous areas and opportunities.

I = instincts (trust them!).

L = leave - if you feel uncomfortable. If something just doesn’t feel right, get out of there!

Writing in public places can be a liberating and inspiring experience, but prioritizing safety is essential. By incorporating these tips, you can immerse yourself in the creative atmosphere while remaining vigilant about your well-being. Choose your writing locations wisely, practice situational awareness, and fortify your digital and physical defenses. With a mindful approach, you can navigate public spaces confidently, crafting your words with both creativity and security in mind.

Do you ever write in public places? What are your favorite venues? What do you do to ensure your personal safety?

About Susan

Since her earliest recollections, Susan Watts has been crafting stories. As a child, she loved nothing more than opening a blank notebook and embarking on a new adventure through writing. While she enjoyed reading, creating her own stories brought her even greater joy. Under the pen name Michelle Allums, she authored a young adult urban fantasy titled, The Jade Amulet and is currently writing the sequel. Her short stories are also included in the anthologies Christmas Roses and Forever and Always. She will be a presenter in the upcoming writer’s symposium “Polishing Your Mirror: Self-Care for Writers” on March 23-24, 2024. 

Susan has dedicated over four decades to training in multiple martial arts styles and holds the impressive title of a five-time US Karate Alliance world black belt fighting grand champion. Through her karate school, she is able to impart martial arts and life skills. Susan also incorporates her martial arts knowledge into her writing. An avid triathlete, she keeps in shape by running, biking, and swimming. She lives in the country with her husband, where they raise animals and enjoy being outdoors. Susan also has three grown children and numerous grandchildren. In addition, she is a CPA and VP of finance for a company in her hometown. 

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

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Optimize Creativity During Life's Ups and Downs, Part 1

by Holly Lasky

In writing this blog, I was struck by the title of this group, which is “Writers in the Storm.”  In the “about” section of this blog, it states, “Along the way, we’ve discovered that there’s more to life than writing, and sometimes life can be the richest story of all… Every writer must weather the storm within: self-doubt, rejection, deadlines and balancing our writing passion with everyday life. Not to mention the storm raging outside — the paradigm shift in the publishing industry.”

Speed bumps on the writing journey.

It is exciting to consider, in the ups and downs of the storms of life, that our creativity can be an expression of the journey.

  • How can we bring “The richest story of all” into our writing?
  • What happens when those ups and downs don't feel very manageable or we're in crisis mode and all of a sudden, our best intentions go sideways?
  • What do we do when our carefully, meticulously plotted schedule takes a left turn, and we find ourselves at the end of a very busy day and still haven't accomplished any of the things we wanted to accomplish?
  • Instead of being tossed around in the storm, what would happen if we could ride the waves and be empowered instead of drowning?

It's easy to feel frustrated and beat ourselves up thinking there’s something wrong with:

  • Our ability to focus.
  • Our ability to organize.
  • Being able to do what we love in our creative expressions, be it writing or anything else.

Andy Andrews said, “If you're not in a crisis right now, you've just come out of one or you're about to be in one.”

This idea of crisis, or ups and downs as a way of life, can take on new meaning for us. It's important as we navigate these times to have tools and strategies so when we are in moments of:

  • Overwhelm.
  • Crisis.
  • Middle of those days that just go completely wrong.

there are ways to:

  • Create momentum.
  • Spark our creativity.
  • Encourage ourselves.
  • Be empowered in the choices we're making.

BREATHE!

The first tool is one that sounds really simple, which is simply breathe. We underestimate how valuable this particular tool actually is. When you have that moment where things are going wrong, stop and take a few moments to mindfully breathe.

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Find your own pace with the breathing. Check in with your body and scan your body. Just let the moment be.

One of the things that naturally happens when we do this kind of breathing is a reset in our physical body and in our system overall. It naturally creates a flow state. This kind of breathing creates all the happy chemicals in our brain that we're missing - dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin.

Breathe in through your nose and forcefully out through your mouth. Just breathing and having those few moments of quietness and introspection can work miracles as you naturally reset.

Getting out of overwhelm.

Being overwhelmed happens to all of us. Like having a huge list, and even though we keep crossing things off, other to dos add on. So, when we get to the end of the day, it doesn't look like we did anything, even though we've been busy all day long.

Maybe you have a big project or an approaching deadline and the mere idea of even beginning is unthinkable.

There's two different ways to approach getting out of overwhelm.

One way is to categorize and create lists or buckets of different activities, whether it's professional, personal, household, bigger projects, so you're categorizing the different things you want to accomplish.

A way to begin to use the buckets is to have the details of something. Some people need the big picture. So, if you're a big picture person, you would ask yourself,

  • What's important to me about this project?
  • What's important to me about this task?
  • How does this support the bigger vision of my life?

Then when you've reminded yourself of the big picture, then ask yourself,

  • What's my next best step, right now, today?

If you're a person who needs details and you've got a whole list of steps to do, you would look at the list of things, breathe and ask yourself,

  • What's my next best step, right now, today?

Your unconscious mind will automatically give you the next best step. Whatever pops up first is the next thing to do.

This question is important because no matter how you organize or look at the world around you and the goals and visions you have for your life, breaking it down to what's my next best step will always create momentum—forward motion to get us out of the overwhelm.

Eat That Frog for 90 minutes a day.

A technique that's become very popular because so many people struggle with focus (whether you have the symptomology of ADHD or not} is “Eat That Frog.” So often when we have a project, task, or something we need to get done. It's easy to start scrolling on social media, or watch the end of that episode on Netflix, or get really busy organizing that stack of papers on your desk that has nothing to do with what you actually need to be doing in that moment.

A great book to read is, Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy. “The Frog” is whatever you’re procrastinating on doing. Start the momentum of eating the frog by setting your timer and for five minutes do that thing, whatever that thing is. Starting the timer creates forward momentum and we're able to keep going and do more.

Another variation of this idea is something that Darren Hardy, author and speaker in the personal and business development field, recommends. Mr. Hardy made a practice of studying success and productivity in many contexts.

If we spend 90 minutes a day of uninterrupted time doing what we need to do, we'll have more focused time than most CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. When you structure your day so you have a 90-minute sprint in the morning as part of your morning routine, and perhaps do a second 90-day sprint later in the day, then you've already doubled your productivity.

You are now twice as productive as most CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Final Thoughts.

The idea of optimizing creativity when things are not going well in life is a priority. Often, in those moments, it seems like time has slowed or stopped. Maybe you’re dealing with a loss, illness, or the car broke down and you're stuck by the side of the road. Whatever it is that causes your day, week, or month not to be what you expected, we can get unstuck by taking small steps every day. The small daily decisions compound into massive growth, change, and progress in our life.

What do you do to optimize your creativity? How do you keep from being overwhelmed?

* * * * * *

About Holly

Holly is an Internationally Certified Master Coach, Professional Musician, Writer, International Speaker, Encourager & Founder of Aligned Optimum Vitality Coaching. Holly coaches Executives, Entrepreneurs, Coaches, High Performers & Creatives in eliminating blocks and trauma in the areas of life they most need & then create  intuitive, congruent goals. Holly helps her Clients achieve repeatable, optimum results without rah-rah motivational & accountability coaching, toxic positivity, unnecessary & unproductive busywork & years of therapy. 

You didn’t come this far to only come this far!

Click this link to learn more and to connect: https://linktr.ee/HollyLasky

Let’s chat and get clarity on what’s blocking you. Interested in one-on-one coaching or our new group coaching program? Click the link above to reserve time on my calendar.

BONUS

Go to https://linktr.ee/HollyLasky and click on "WITS Special Invitation". 

Submit your info and receive an email with a link to a custom meditation created especially for WITS to help build trust with and learn from your creative self.

Top Image by Tung Huynh from Pixabay

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Author Education: A Crucial Investment

by Penny Sansevieri

Author education is a topic that often gets overlooked in the creative process, but it's a vital aspect that can significantly impact an author's success in the industry. Today, we're diving into why educating yourself as an author is crucial and how it can save you both time and money in the long run.

Why Author Education Matters

When you’re knee-deep in the creative process, adding a layer of education to all the work you’re already doing can feel like a lot, I get it. But there’s a reason that I’m so passionate about author education. Let’s dig in!

Avoiding Costly Mistakes

Without a basic understanding of the publishing industry, authors may find themselves making costly mistakes, such as choosing the wrong publishing options or overspending on production costs. Educating yourself on publishing basics can help you make informed decisions that align with your goals and budget. Now I’m not asking that you become a publishing expert overnight – that’s not the goal here, but you want to know what’s working and what isn’t, and you want to know what the norms are related to publishing options.

Protecting Yourself from Exploitation

Unscrupulous individuals and companies often prey on authors who lack knowledge about the industry. By educating yourself, you can better identify red flags and protect yourself from scams or unfair practices. This includes:

  • Understanding contracts.
  • Asking the right questions.
  • Seeking professional guidance when needed.

You really want to be aware of marketing tactics that just aren’t reasonable. And I’m not talking about something someone in your writer’s group did that maybe didn’t work as well for you. This is really about marketing scams, because there are a lot of them. And what I always tell authors is if it seems too good to be true, it very likely is.

Maximizing Sales and Platform Building Opportunities

Preparing for your book's release involves more than just writing the manuscript. Educating yourself on pre-order strategies, early marketing tactics, and platform building opportunities can give your book a competitive edge in the market. Part of why this is important is because things change a lot – and again not asking you to become an expert in any of this, but it’s worth knowing what works and what doesn’t. I also love it when authors focus on their platform, and it doesn’t have to be extensive but it’s absolutely worth the investment of your time.

Avoiding Flashy Marketing Ploys

In an industry filled with flashy promises and marketing gimmicks, author education acts as a safeguard against falling for misleading offers. I mentioned this earlier in this post: if it seems too good to be true it likely is. And by understanding standard marketing strategies and timing, you can make informed decisions about where to invest their resources for maximum impact. If someone is guaranteeing you book sales, or promising you an interview on The Today Show, be wary. No one can promise either.

Empowering Yourself as an Author

Education isn’t just about learning but also about empowering yourself to take control of your publishing journey. Whether it's attending writer’s conferences, reading industry blogs, or seeking coaching from professionals, investing in your education equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complex landscape of publishing.

And speaking of writer’s conferences – this is something I really love, partly because it’s a chance to dig into some great information, explore new ideas, and connect with other/similar authors.

Now that I’ve shared my thoughts on author education, let me give you some places to either join or follow. All of these folks are rock stars!

Great Resources for Author Education

  • Jane Friedman: Known for her insightful blog and industry expertise, Jane Friedman offers valuable resources on writing, book marketing, and the publishing industry. She also has a paid newsletter: The Hot Sheet, which I love and highly recommend!
  • Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi): ALLi provides a wealth of educational resources, including classes, blogs, and industry insights tailored to independent authors.
  • Publishers Lunch and Publishers Weekly: These industry-specific publications offer news, trends, and insights into the publishing world, helping authors stay informed about the latest developments.
  • Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast: A bit of a brag here, but I have a podcast which I hope you’ll give a listen to as well. Hosted by myself and Amy Cornell, one of my awesome team members, it’s a weekly show packed with some great information and insights (if I do say so myself!)

Final Thoughts

And of course, it goes without saying that following the posts on Writers in the Storm is super helpful, but so are the comments. When was the last time you did a deep dive into some of the post feedback? I find in particular, on this site, the comments are always smart and thoughtful – you might pick up a nugget or two!

Author education is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for anyone serious about succeeding in the publishing industry. By investing time and effort into educating yourself, you can avoid common pitfalls, protect your interests, and maximize your book's potential for success. So, whether you're just starting your writing journey or navigating the complexities of book marketing, remember that knowledge is power—and in the world of publishing, it can make all the difference.

* * * * * *

About Penny

Author bio pic

Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a bestselling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.

Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon visibility campaigns as well offering national media pitching, online book marketing, author events, and other strategies designed to build the author/book visibility.

She is the author of 18 books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon, Revise and Re-Release Your Book, 5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and From Book to Bestseller. She also hosts the top ranking podcast Book Marketing Tips and Author Success.

AME has had dozens of books on top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal.

To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, visit www.amarketingexpert.com

Top Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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