Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Latest Episodes:

#12: Rest and Productivity Jul 06, 2015

Show notes

In this 5:40 podcast, I talk about the paradox of rest leading to increased productivity. If you're reading this in an email, click through to the website to hear the podcast. Here's a glimpse of what we'll cover: It seems like a contradiction. A paradox. It seems impossible that more rest would result in greater productivity, but so we’re being told by study after study. Regular rest and renewal gives us the focus and energy we need to get our work done more efficiently and effectively. ... One answer is the formula for the perfect balance of rest and productivity. A 2014 Atlantic article by Derek Thompson says the numbers are precise: Work for 52 minutes, break for 17. ... I doubt there’s a perfect number for everyone—there may not even be a perfect number for you yourself. I mean, you could try a Pomodoro 25/5 cycle, Pomodoro Plus at 52/17, and then attempt a 90-minute chunk followed by a break, just to see. But in the end, as my friend Jenne Fromm would say, it’s about managing our energy more than it is our time, because that’s how we get our work done—with energy. Whether we’re talking about mental, psychological, or physical energy, low energy results in less work, or lower-quality work. Listen for the full presentation. Resources mentioned in the podcast: Why Summer Vacations and the Internet Make You More Productive A Formula For Perfect Productivity: Work for 52 Minutes, Break for 17 The Exact Amount of Time You Should Work Every Day Relax! You'll Be More Productive Manage Energy, Not Time Pomodoro Technique Pomodoro Countdown Timer Pomodoro Countdown App 5217 Pomodoro Plus App Rest - A Gift from the Sea * * * If haven't already subscribed to my blog's RSS feed, submit your email via this subscription form. Then, as I publish new website content such as an article, story, or podcast, it'll arrive in your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe to our mailing list * indicates required Email Address * First Name //

The Writing Life Podcast - Episode 11: Learn the Lingo Jun 12, 2015

Show notes

In this 4:16 podcast, I talk about importance of learning the vocabulary—the lingo—of the writing world. The following is not exactly a transcript, but gives an idea of what's recorded. Every industry has its own lingo—insider words that leaves outsiders feeling ignorant when they simply haven’t learned the terms and acronyms and phrases associated with that particular business. The publishing world is like that, too. Whether we’re talking about traditional publishing or the online writing world, lingo abounds. And writers are expected to navigate both arenas and understand the accompanying lingo. A lot of the writers I work with as a writing coach feel frustrated because they’ve got writing talent, skills, and experience, they’re trying to sell a book or start a blog or submit to an online magazine and end up confused and frustrated, lost in the lingo. Don’t be afraid. Learn the lingo. Type a new word into Google or Bing and read articles about it. Subscribe to relevant blogs. Watch YouTube tutorials to hear the word pronounced and see how experts explain it. Inform yourself. Start saying the words out loud and asking friends who know more about them to explain how things work. As you learn one word, you’ll hear five more new unfamiliar words, so keep a list and work your way through. If you do this work, I promise you that slowly, the unfamiliar will become more familiar, and you’ll have a base to build on. In time, you’ll learn the lingo and start to feel less like a foreigner and more like an insider. You’ll feel more comfortable and confident engaging in this online writing and publishing world. Before long, you’ll be tossing around those terms like an expert. The more you understand what the lingo means, the more you’ll understand how things work. And then, the more confident you’ll feel diving into this world to do the writing you wanted to do all along. * * * On Being a Writer “This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out.” — from “10 Great Books for a Writer’s Wish List” on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales “Ann Kroeker and Charity Singleton Craig show—wisely and winsomely—how the habits of writing are inextricably connected to the habits of being.” —Karen Swallow Prior, author of Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me ~~~

#10: Food for Thought May 08, 2015

Show notes

A writer—well, just about anyone—needs a focused, alert mind operating at its highest cognitive potential. Writers need to tap into their memory to make connections as they work. Writers need maximum brainpower. Listen for more about brain food for writers.

#9: Start Where You Are Apr 09, 2015

Show notes

It's been a while since my last Writing Life podcast. Day after day I kept looking at that item on my to-do list and finally resolved, even in the midst of life's complications, to start up again. Because I've learned that no matter how far you fall behind, you can get back in the game. Simply start where you are. * * * On Being a Writer “a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out.” — from “10 Great Books for a Writer’s Wish List” on Huffington Post PURCHASE TODAY “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

The Writing Life – Episode 8: Keep Calm and Carry On Feb 11, 2015

Show notes

In this week’s podcast (3:36) I explain the impact of my dad's health crisis on my writing life, and how I adjusted my work. It looked like I’d have to give up on my writing life. And I did have to step back from some responsibilities for a while until we figured out what this was going to look like. I stayed flexible and worked late and was able to continue with several commitments as we rode the roller coaster of my dad’s crisis. Eventually, it appeared I’d be able to continue with most of my existing work if I learned to stay calm and get creative. We never know what a day will bring, so keep calm and, as much as possible, carry on. Learn more: A Prison of His Own Fears and Rediscovering Community: With a Little Help from My Friends Keep Calm image by Stefany via Flickr through Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0. * * * Online Workshop On Being a Writer: 12 Simple Habits for a Writing Life That Lasts March 2 - May 22, 2015 8 Weeks or 12 Weeks Limit 10 participants Are you waiting for your writing life to begin? Have you wondered when you’ll discover the magic formula for getting inspired, improving your skills, getting published, and being part of a real writing community? The On Being a Writer workshop is for you. Whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever it is you are doing, you can begin now. MORE INFO/ REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Ep 7: Search and Destroy Jan 21, 2015

Show notes

In this week’s podcast (3:25) I share insight from a speaker who encouraged me to eliminate filler words from formal talks I give as well as from everyday conversation. I'm encouraging writers to do the same with their written work: search and destroy the filler words that distract from the meat of the message. Examples of filler words that show up in our speaking: um and uh like you know so… Examples of filler words in our writing: but and so and so very really that In the podcast, I mention the "search" function in Word or Google docs, which is more accurately the "find" feature. Learn more about how this works in Word and Google docs. * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

The Writing Life – Episode 6: What’s the Next Action Jan 16, 2015

Show notes

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to the website to use the audio player.) In this week’s four-ish minute podcast, you'll learn how I use one tip from the GTD productivity approach to break big writing projects into manageable chunks, prioritizing and ordering them as I go. Resources mentioned in the podcast: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (story told in the podcast found on pages 18-19 in the Anchor Books, Doubleday, edition) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

The Writing Life – Episode 5: A Writing Space with a Door Jan 05, 2015

Show notes

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-and-a-half minute podcast, you'll hear about the conditions and circumstances under which E. B. White wrote—and those under which Glynn Young and Ann Kroeker continue to write. I allude to a passage from Stephen King's memoir On Writing that I read years ago. It awoke in me a jealous and obsessive craving for an office door: The [writing] space can be humble (probably should be, as I think I have already suggested), and it really needs only one thing: a door which you are willing to shut. The closed door is your way of telling the world and yourself that you mean business; you have made a serious commitment to write and intend to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. (King 151, Pocket Books - a div. of Simon & Schuster, NY, copyright 2000, personal copy) I longed for a door. A door, I thought, would help me become a productive, efficient writer. I had a writing space. I just needed a door. Yes, a door ... to shut. If only I had a door, I could write. Websites and resources mentioned in the podcast: "The Daily Routines of Famous Writers" (Maria Popova, Brain Pickings) with E. B. White's reflections on imperfect conditions. "On Being a Writer: Writing" (Glynn Young, Faith, Fiction, Friends) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (Stephen King) Note: Amazon link does not match personal copy from which I quote, so pagination may be different * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

The Writing Life - Episode 4: Goals vs Systems Dec 28, 2014

Show notes

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-minute podcast, I share a few thoughts in response to an article by Jeff Haden in Inc. about the difference between goals and systems. After you listen, I'd love to hear some of your own responses both to the podcast and to the questions below. Do you tend to set goals and resolutions at the turn of the new year? How effective are they? Do you have goals for this year? Would systems work better for you than goals alone? What systems might you incorporate into your writing life this year to help you make steady progress toward your goal(s)? * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

The Writing Life – Episode 3: Collaboration with Charity Singleton Craig Dec 22, 2014

Show notes

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week's three-minute podcast, I interview my coauthor and friend Charity Singleton Craig about our collaboration, asking about some of the challenges and joys associated with our work together writing On Being a Writer. Her responses make me wonder about the collaboration experiences of my readers and listeners. After you listen to Charity's response, I'd love to hear your answers to these questions: What challenges did you face when you collaborated on a creative project and how did you work through them? Have your collaboration projects been filled with enough joy to balance out the challenges? Would you collaborate again? If so, what would you do differently? If not...why not? * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

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