There are so many bells and whistles with MS Word that it’s easy to get caught up in the font and appearance rabbit hole, eating up hours of otherwise productive writing time.  There are several apps or downloads that can provide you a clean interface for writing and a simple Google search or a visit to Lifehacker.com will show you these.

However…since most of us write on Word they have addressed this issue.  You’re most likely already aware of “read-mode” under the view tab which gets you an almost distraction free writing surface.  You can take it a step further by clicking the down arrow in the quick access toolbar on the top left and do the following:

More commands/choose commands from/commands not in ribbon/toggle full screen view/add.

This will add a new icon to the top left which can give you the cleanest writing surface, push esc key to return.

Now…you’ll need to find something else to distract you from writing-stack the deck in your favor.  Happy writing.

doing something, than to be tired from doing nothing.  The feeling of having done it surpasses any hedonistic pleasure you get from putting it off.  It can even generate energy you didn’t even know you have.  It’s like an engine, we can sit in the car and wait for it to take us somewhere, or we can turn the key, put it in gear, apply the gas….and momentum takes over.

It’s the same with you… turn the key, in gear, gas…you know the rest.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MAN5WS0

Just a great feeling to have so many people interested in stuff I made up in my head.  Hoping you enjoy it, more to come.

right here…and continuing for 5 days under the Kindle select program.  If $3.99 has been stopping you from reading a high stakes crime thriller complete with femme-fatales, hedge fund con-men, diamond smugglers and a rogue ex-con turned international manhunter – now’s you’re chance.

If you like it let the world know with a review.

to just start.  Pick up the pen, open the document, put on the running shoes.  The rest will come, and then procrastination is non-existent.  You can read all the blog posts and websites and books about all the apps and tricks to get over procrastination, but just starting makes all that superfluous.

You’ve done this before and you can do it again, and I challenge you to recall an exercise or creative session that you regretted later on.  You won’t regret this one either.

For more take a look at a brilliant work on this: Mini Habits by Stephen Guise

J

The other day a friend asked if my main character in “Run For the Money“, Travis Black, was going to be in my 2nd book.  When I heard this it made me realize…something that hadn’t been there before was now made real.  If 2 people are standing on a porch talking about it, it exists.  And if you made it up, well…the feeling is magic.  You have sprinkled fairy dust and it came alive…write, and write some more, and feel the magic.

J

Most of us have it backwards, “When I feel motivated I’ll do…fill in the blank”  The truth of it is, and you know this, is that the act of starting is what makes you keep going.  Lighting the match creates the fire, start and then keep going instead of waiting to feel right.

Another way to say this is that action precedes feeling.  Now go do something.

We all say we want to: write a book, open a restaurant, do stand up, perform music…or whatever your creative dream is.  The difference between those who say and those who do is that one word: do. The ones who get there, they do something every day to move them closer.  That doesn’t include telling their friends about this great new idea, it means calling someone who can put you in front of somebody, it means writing 3 pages, it means practicing instead of watching TV, even while you practice feeling that common refrain:  “I don’t think I’m cut out for this, who am I kidding?” It’s a daily thing, or it’s not…you know exactly what it takes, just do it more often. J

If you’re familiar with James Altucher you may have already seen his post on writing today: http://bit.ly/1wUrXrl

if not…this is a guy you should follow if you’re  a writer or in a creative pursuit.  The post refers to an interview he did on his podcast with Andy Weir, author of The Martian. http://amzn.to/1wUuFgq

Brilliant insights into the creative process, self-publishing and why we’re in the best time ever to be a writer.  Read the post, check out his podcasts…Enjoy.