When I first started writing I struggled with finding the time to write. It was still just a hobby at that time, and I always waited until the family was asleep so I could write in secret. Until I was introduced to The Practice Room. It was there that I became a writer and practiced it everyday with the companionship of other writers. I'm happy to share with you today my awesome friend Tina, creator of The Practice Room.
I'm very thrilled that my good friend, critter and TPRer extraordinaire, Amy McBay, invited me to guest over here at the Dojo. I love any chance I get to talk about The Practice Room. Thanks, Amy, to you and all the folks here at the Dojo!
If you are anything like me, it’s hard to write while the bathroom floor is filthy and the kids demand cereal. To make it even harder, my family is way more invested in whether I get the laundry folded than whether I finish this manuscript. And that makes a lot of sense, because this writing thing takes a long time. Who has the attention span for it. Even for me, vacuuming provides way more immediate gratification than siting down to sweat over that awful manuscript. So what to do?
I schedule an hour in The Practice Room. TPR is a blog that serves a fantastic community of fantastic writers. It has become a place where we support each other, keep track of each other’s progress and cheer each other on. The community shares links, advice, and trials and tribulations and has become a beautiful support network. And seeing as I am saying this at the Dojo, I'm sure readers understand exactly what that means!
So even when everything else is piling up, I make myself write. It’s an hour that I will not check my email (most days). I will not look at Facebook (almost always). I let my family know that I am off-limits (unless it’s an emergency). It's a scheduled hour where the writing can come first. TPR is about productivity and community.
This is how it works:
First, EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Check the schedule. I set up the week’s unplugged hours on Sunday and post them in a new post and on the sidebar. At the allotted time, Post 1 appears 30 minutes in advance of the unplug (barring unusual circumstances). This gives everyone a chance to set our goals in the comments and also get the last minute emails and blog surfing out of the way. Post 2 announces that it’s time to turn everything off and just write! The rules: no procrastinations and work toward a writing goal. When the time is up, Post 3 appears with a chat box and we get a chance to compare notes.
Read about a typical first time here (Link: http://www.tinalaurellee.com/
Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, scheduling suggestions or just to introduce yourself! tina dot laurel at gmail dot com
Hope to write with you someday!
About Tina: I have an MFA in creative writing, an unpublished YA novel under my belt, and a second MG on the way.
What a great place. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a nickle for every time I got frustrated and swore I'd get farther ahead scrubbing the toilet than spending ten more minutes writing, I'd be cashing checks like Amanda Knox.
ReplyDeleteOkay, maybe not a nickel. If I had a dollar. Okay, a twenty.
I think this is fantastic. I've visited TPR a couple times, but was a little unsure of myself. I think we need to add TPR info to the dojo so we can encourage members to write there--especially if they're in need of recommitting themselves to a new writing schedule/goals.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting today Tina, and for telling us about The Practice Room!
Thanks, Ali! This is a really wonderful place you have here! Thanks, Amy, for thinking of me.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed to say I thought this was being posted today and not on Wednesday, otherwise I would have come over sooner to check my guest post out. (I have been making mistakes like that a lot this week, my kids are hating me!)
As far as you're unsure-ity, Ali, I think that makes sense. TPR has been unclear in the past. I hope I have improved it. People are really wonderful over there so you can't make a mistake. But if anyone has questions and concerns, please email me. Also I would love feedback as to how to make TPR more approachable. Thanks everyone!