<![CDATA[Yvonne Ventresca

<![CDATA[Yvonne Ventresca - Blog]]>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 22:35:23 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Blogging vs Newsletters]]>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/blogging-vs-newslettersThe IWSG Blog Hop

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts, Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia.

This month's question: How long have you been blogging?
(Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?

My very first blog post was on Halloween in 2013. I can’t believe it’s been ten years!

At the time, I thought I would focus on writing resources (a solid idea) and blog twice a week (oh, silly me). I ended my first post with a slightly blurry photo of our Westie, Rocky, and our Schneagle, Luna. (My mom commented about the photo (left) – where are Luna’s eyes?)

Sadly, Rocky has since passed away. Here’s a current photo of Luna (right) with better lighting. :)

These days, my monthly blog posts focus mostly on the intersection of creativity and productivity.

I’ve struggled through the years to define how my blog differs from my newsletter (which I started in 2015). The blog has remained writing resource-focused, while my newsletter (please subscribe!) is a little more personal, with reading recommendations, book news, life events, and funny memes.

One last thing: I also serve as the communications manager for Rebecca Dykes Writers, a group that serves as a resource for those who wish to write stories about violence against women and girls for young readers. If you're interested, you can sign up for the newsletter or join the digital community.

Do you blog and write a newsletter?
If so, how do you separate your content between the two?

]]><![CDATA[Waiting Doesn't Have To Be The Hardest Part (To Track)]]>Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/waiting-doesnt-have-to-be-the-hardest-part-to-trackIt’s common to keep a to do list, whether on paper, in your phone notes, or using some type of app. And knowing what we need to get done is certainly helpful. But what about things we can’t do because we are waiting for information or a response from someone else?

Productivity Tip: The "Waiting For" List

Sometimes we want to make progress, but we can’t. Say for example, we’re planning a family party. We’ve reached out to a restaurant that might host the group, but need availability and pricing information. I used to find it hard to keep track of these things, because they weren’t technically "to dos." It either cluttered my list because there was no actual action I could take or didn’t make it on the list at all. Then at some point, I’d remember—oops—I never heard back and needed to follow up.

Clearly, this was not a good system.

For something more regular and ongoing, like short story submissions, I keep a spreadsheet with dates and other relevant information. But for more random one-time projects, I've learned to keep a separate "Waiting For" list. I like to use a piece of brightly colored paper where I note in a black marker everything I need to hear back on. This "Waiting For" idea comes from David Allen’s Getting Things Done, and my current list includes the above-mentioned restaurant, feedback from someone else on my manuscript, hearing from an interviewee about available meeting times, and some writing I promised to critique but haven’t received yet. My own to-dos (plan party menu, edit based on comments, schedule interview, provide a critique) can’t happen while I’m waiting for the other people to answer.

Once a week (usually Sundays when I’m planning the days ahead), I check the list. I can cross off the items I’ve heard back about (and the next step becomes my "to do") or decide whether to nudge if I haven’t gotten a response. Either way, I find that keeping the "waiting for" details in a separate place keeps me more organized.

Quote from Yvonne about using Waiting For lists.

The IWSG Blog Hop

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages.

This month's questions is about artificial intelligence.

Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses,
or do you refuse to go that route?
How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?

I dread writing synopses, but I haven’t used AI. Rather than give a personal opinion on this complicated topic, I’ll share two in-depth resources: Martha Brockenbrough’s upcoming book, Future Tense: How We Made Artificial Intelligence and How It Will Change Everything, and The Authors Guild Best Practices for Writers.

One Last Thing....
For your listening pleasure, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite songs, Tom Petty’s "The Waiting".

]]><![CDATA[Compassionate Planning for Writing Productivity by Taryn Haas and IWSG Blog Hop]]>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/compassionate-planning-for-writing-productivity-by-taryn-haas-and-iwsg-blog-hopToday's productivity advice comes from writing coach Taryn Haas, discussing their compassionate method of creativity-related planning. Thanks, Taryn!

Compassionate Planning for Writing Productivity
by Taryn Haas

Managing my creative life has always been a struggle. I’ve tried all sorts of methods -- a billion planners, fun stickers, AI scheduling apps, you name it. None of them truly stuck, and I always blamed it on myself. I wasn’t trying hard enough, I wasn’t following the flowery directions closely enough, I gave up too easily.
I never took a moment to think about whether the methods were failing me, instead of the other way around.
Weirdly, my day job helped me out. I took a class on Agile project management, which is very popular in the tech industry, and it felt good in a way no planner had. Almost immediately I began implementing it for my writing projects. Now I coach others on creating a similar system for managing their own projects, with certain core elements.

Get the Tasks Out of Your Head

Whatever medium you use to manage your tasks, like post-it notes or an app like Trello, get all of the to-do items out of your head. Have a space for these items to live, so that they aren’t taking up even more space in your head. They don’t have to be perfectly written out, it could just be a thought, but put it down. You can flesh them out later.

Break Tasks Down Into Their Smallest Parts

I can’t be the only one to have drastically underestimated the amount of time a task takes. I’m far more prone to do this when I write tasks in generalities; “revise manuscript,” “submit application,” “send out 5 queries”. If I look at those tasks phrased exactly like that, my brain is like cool, I can do all of that in a week or two.
But let’s take a second to break down just the novel revision task. Revision is huge -- it’s re-reading, then analyzing, then puzzling out what to do, and then actually doing it. Even those can be broken down much farther, and the more you break it down, the more it becomes obvious that this is not a two week project (at least for me). Without breaking it down, I’m setting myself up for failure because I’m not acknowledging everything that goes into that work.
All that to say, break your tasks down as far as makes sense. Get specific with them.

Toss the Arbitrary Due Dates

Ok, bear with me on this one because it seems scary BUT I’m convinced arbitrary due dates are not helpful. I say this as a writing-my-paper-the-morning-hours-before-it’s-due level procrastinator. So many planners had me create dates that I wanted to have something done by, whether it was a draft or a revision or a million other things.
Nothing in that planning process considered what my life might actually be like in that time (to be fair, it can’t see the future). Maybe I’d end up switching jobs, or have a health issue.
Inevitably, I missed a goal date. Then came the flood of shame, disappointment, and frustration, all directed inward.
Now, I only set a due date for items that truly have one, like an application deadline, or when edits are due. My criterion is there has to be an externally-applied pressure or specific date to complete the thing. It can’t be me making up dates I have decided are when a thing should be done.

Assign Effort Points

I love checklists, and you’ll find them littered around my house. But I don’t use checklists for writing projects anymore. Why? Because one task is not equivalent to another in time and emotional drain.
Now, I assign effort points to each task. This can be whatever you want, but I think the fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13) works well (don’t judge me!). For each task, I think about how much it will drain me both energy and time-wise. As an example, if I just have to change a character’s name, I might only give that 1 point -- it’s pretty easy, and doesn’t take much emotional effort to accomplish. On the other hand, writing a traumatic scene, even if it takes just as much time as changing the name, would probably get a 5. It tires me out far more than the name change does.
It takes some time to get used to doing this and, inevitably, you’ll be wrong. However, looking at my week, thinking of how much I think I can handle given how busy (or not) I am, and then choosing the tasks to get done -- well, that all feels way more in sync with my life than following prompts that don’t know me at all.

Those are the main points that have really helped my productivity and energy around creating. Now I create realistic goals with a much better understanding of each task and how much I can handle. It feels more honest and compassionate, which makes me more compassionate to myself and the way my brain both tracks everything but demands perfection.

More about Taryn:
Taryn (they/them) is a Vermont writer with a passion for discovering what drives a story and the best ways to bring it out. They’ve written myriad genres, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror, and across formats and age ranges, from poetry to flash fiction to young adult to short stories. They have their MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. When they’re not writing, they’re hanging out with their dogs, playing board games, climbing, or snowboarding.

The StoryWilds is made up of Taryn Haas and Aurora Hurd. They are queer, neurodivergent writers who are looking to make writing and finishing stories with professional support within the reach of all who want it. By making the best parts of an MFA program available for a fraction of the cost in a more flexible format, their program is truly guided by you and your goals.
Whatever those end goals are -- if you are just starting a story, struggling to finish one, or approaching the editing and querying process -- they are ready to meet you where you are to support and propel you toward it.

IWSG Blog Hop

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine.

This month's questions is about websites:
What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?

It's not an author website, but one I adore is The StoryWilds (mentioned above). It's colorful and streamlined, and there's a simple elegance to it that I love.

Happy Writing!

]]><![CDATA[BookBub, BlueSky, and Dolly Parton]]>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/bookbub-bluesky-and-dolly-partonBookBub is a "free service that helps you discover books you'll love through unbeatable deals, handpicked recommendations, and updates from your favorite authors." Lots of writers (including me!) list their books on Bookbub and post reading recommendations. Following an author also provides notifications about ebook sales.

IWSG Monthly Blog Hop

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts Joylene Nowell Butler, Olga Godim, Diedre Knight, and Natalie Aguirre!

This month's question:

Do you follow back your readers on BookBub
or do you only follow back other authors?

You can find me on BookBub where I recommend middle grade and young adult novels, productivity nonfiction, and other books I find interesting. (Writing this blog post reminded me that it had been awhile since I was active there! I rectified that. 😊)

I don’t follow many people on BookBub. At one point I did a giveaway where following me on BookBub was an entry for the contest, and the resulting increase in followers was wonderful, but overwhelming in turns of following back. I basically gave up by default, and I mostly use the site to learn about ebook sales anyway.

It can be challenging to keep up with various platforms. My latest focus is getting started on BlueSky, a Twitter-alternative. You can find me there at YvonneVentresca.

Growth is controlled by an invite-code system. If you think you'd be active (there's a growing author community), I have a few extra codes. Email me, and I'll send them out on a first-come basis.

But first, consider whether you want another social media presence, what purpose it might serve, and how it fits into your life time-wise. If it feels like another thing to learn and manage, it's okay to pass. But if a fresh start is appealing, let me know.

"I don't like to give advice. I like to give people information because
everyone's life is different, and everyone's journey is different."
~Dolly Parton

]]><![CDATA[Simple Productivity Tip for Creatives]]>Wed, 06 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/simple-productivity-tip-for-creativesI recently had the joy of teaching a virtual workshop on my favoritie topic, Productivity for Creative People. Productivity for creatives isn't about efficiency, like getting more words written per hour. (Although sometimes that can be a result.) Instead, I like to look at productivity through the lens of how can we make the work of creating easier for ourselves?

One small tip that can have a big impact when you're trying to focus: Have an empty pad of paper nearby to jot down all the thoughts that invade when you start to write. Think of a great gift idea for someone? Make a note. Realize the car is due for an oil change? Another note. Research needed for the story? Mark a place in the manuscript TBD (To Be Determined) and note what you need on a separate research list.

This simple step keeps me much more focused on my work than if I try to remember All The Random Thoughts or stop for "just a minute" to look something up. (Because we all know how that ends up . . . .)

IWSG Monthly Blog Hop

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray.

This month's question:

When you leave a book reviews do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

I tend to be a positive book reviewer. If I don’t like a book, I typically don’t review it. Writing is hard work, and there’s enough negativity in the world without adding public criticism. How about you? How do you approach book reviews?

Abstract picture of a head with mix colors emananting above it. Quote:

"Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them."
~David Allen, Getting Things Done
Happy Creating!

]]><![CDATA[Improve Your Writing Process: Productivity for Creative People Online Workshop]]>Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/improve-your-writing-process-productivity-for-creative-people-online-workshopWe interrupt this regular blog to mention that registration is now open for my upcoming virtual NJ SCBWI workshop, all about productivity for creative people. It's online Wednesday, November 29th from 7 pm to 9 pm. Can't make it? No problem. Watch it when it's convenient for you for 30 days after the event.

Workshop Description

Yvonne distills practical and pivotal productivity research through the writer’s lens. This workshop offers actionable insights for applying productivity strategies to artistic efforts. Learn about developing a routine, planning your optimal week, improving focus, and using organizational tips and tools, all with the goal of making your creative life easier. Spend two hours in this workshop, gain back twenty.* *Estimated using non-patented productivity math. Results may vary.

Email me with any questions. I hope to see you there!

]]><![CDATA[Make National Novel Writing Month Work For You]]>Wed, 01 Nov 2023 11:30:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/make-national-novel-writing-month-work-for-youNaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it's a time when people join together with the common goal of writing 50K words during the month.

This month's related IWSG blog hop question:

Have you ever participated in National Novel Writing Month? If not, why not? Have you ever participated in National Novel Writing Month? If not, why not?

First, a thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for founding the Insecure Writers Support Group, and to this month’s co-hosts, PJ Colando, Jean Davis, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diedre Knight.

I'm a huge fan of NaNoWriMo. I've participated several times, and plan to do so again this year. It's great to feel a sense of community while writing, knowing that so many others are tapping into their creativity, too. I served as a coach in the past (here's my coach blog post of five helpful organizational tips) and continue to serve on their Writers Board.

This year, rather than track my wordcount, I'm going to track my hours. (I did this last year and found it really worked for me. My goal is 50 hours on a new project, so each hour gets logged as a 1000 words.) If you're interested in using NaNoWriMo in a nontraditional way, check out So You're A NaNoWriMo Revision Rebel by Becca Spence Dobias or How to Break the Rules for the Best NaNoWriMo Ever by Sue Weems. Both articles provide ideas for making the month work best for you. For more inspiration, check out these pep talks and the prep resources on the NaNoWriMo website.

Whether it's words in a new novel, creating a series of smaller projects, or revising an existing draft, there's still time to join the NaNoWriMo community.

Happy Writing!

]]><![CDATA[Banned Books Week 2023]]>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 11:30:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/banned-books-week-2023

It's Banned Books Week. In case you're wondering about terminology, according to the American Library Association, "A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others." Their preliminary data for this year indicates a "record surge of challenges in public libraries." Celebrate your freedom this week by reading a frequently challenged book.

IWSG Monthly Blog Hop

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts, Natalie Aguirre, Kim Lajevardi, Debs Carey, Gwen Gardner, Patricia Josephine, and Rebecca Douglass!

This month's question is about the use of AI. One recent hot topic of discussion is how existing books were used to train AI, so rather than offer opinions, I'll share this free Author's Guild resource: You Just Found Out Your Book Was Used to Train AI. Now What?

“Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” ―Isaac Asimov
Happy Reading!

]]><![CDATA[Happy Birthday IWSG!]]>Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:30:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/happy-birthday-iwsg

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts, J Lenni Dorner, Sonia Dogra, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James.

This month's question:

The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?

I learned about IWSG from member (and long-time writer friend) C. Lee McKenzie, and my first IWSG blog post was in February 2017 about Reading as a Writer. Besides the monthly blog hop, I completed the A to Z Blog Challenge a few times, including on my favorite theme of Productivity for Writers. My short stories have been included in two IWSG anthologies: Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life and Voyagers: The Third Ghost.

Over the years, I’ve connected with other members through the blog hop and the IWSG FB group. It’s great to read the monthly posts and share the creative journey with other writers. Overall, IWSG is a source of knowledge, opportunity, and writerly camaraderie.

One last thing....
Here's an inspirational quote in honor of IWSG's dozen years:
“Life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and need for defense) and risk (for the sake of progress and growth). Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.” ~Abraham Maslow

Never miss a blog posts! Subscribe here.

]]><![CDATA[IWSG, Black Beacon Mysteries, and Free Revision Handout]]>Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:00:00 GMThttp://yvonneventresca.com/productivy-for-writers/iwsg-black-beacon-mysteries-and-free-revision-handout

Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts, Kate Larkindale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence.

This month's question:

Have you ever written something that afterwards, you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?

Creating believable fiction is tricky. There's the idea stage (everthing's shiny and new!), the first draft stage (how to tell this?) and the revision stage (how to tell this better?). Unfortunately, not every good concept can fit within a single story.

I've written novel drafts where I try to cram in Many Important Things. It's hard for me to admit that *maybe* a particular topic doesn't mesh well with other themes I'm exploring. Can I make it work?

Not every time.

The good news is that time spent away from a manuscript, followed by rereading with fresh eyes, can often provide insight. What am I trying to say? What am I *really* trying to say? Am I achieving that? How can I improve these efforts? And then the next revision begins....

Free Revision Resource

I recently taught a revision workshop at NJ SCBWI's Annual Conference. If you want a free downloadable copy of my handout, I'm including it on my home page for a limited time. (It's listed about four paragraphs down.) I hope my notes help your own revision efforts!

One last thing....

Cover of Second Black Beacon Book of Mystery

My adult short story "Justice for Jaynie" was selected for inclusion in Black Beacon's Second Book of Mystery. You can read the anthology for free through Kindle Unlimited or purchase a copy through Amazon.

Here's a description of the collection: The Second Black Beacon Book of Mystery is even more challenging than the first. Our cast of intrepid investigators needs your puzzle-solving talent again, for these aren't merely stories, but fair-play mysteries. In this anthology, you'll be faced with impossible crimes. You'll find frightful amounts of poison...don't invite these authors over for dinner! There are clues to be collected and alibis to be checked, and your general knowledge and attention to detail will be put to the test. Does that sound like your cup of tea? Ah, best not drink that! Will you take the case? Great! We're counting on you!

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