1) Go full screen mode.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have several browser windows open while you’re writing.

The problem is every time I stop writing, I’m tempted to click on one of those open browsers and start reading something that I really shouldn’t be focusing on.

Dark Room is a simple Windows text app that covers your entire screen. In other words, you won’t be able to see anything else on the screen, except what you’re typing.

Write Room is the free Mac version.

2) Write non-stop in 10 minute blocks. I got this idea from Steve Manning at WriteABookNow.com, and it is absoluely awesome.

I find that when you sit around and contemplate what you’re writing, you tend to get stuck more often.

It’s much easier to quickly write a block of text, and then go back through and edit later on, versus trying to pen perfect prose.

3) Remember that most people in the world are either bad writers or scared writers.

When I read the stuff that I wrote last year, I swear it’s the most horrific thing ever. I’m VERY self-critical after the fact.

But I find that many writers are self-critical while they’re writing.

And if you’re constantly rating your work, you’ll slow yourself down. In some cases, it can halt a project all together. (Especially if you’re a new writer.)

What keeps me going is knowing that most people are so-so writers. The other quarter are timid writers, and never release anything they write.

So even though I’m hard on myself, I realize that I stand in a minority position.

Don’t attempt perfection. It’ll never happen. 

Just get your stuff out there and tweak as you go.

Save time and grow rich,

Alexis Dawes

Those of you who follow my forays around the world know that I was in Montreal over the summer. Well actually, I’m still here.

(I’m telling you, being a writer is the most awesome occupation on earth!)

Mini-me is enrolled in a bilingual garderie – (fancy French word for ‘day care’). I write and drink tea most of the day.

So yesterday I decide to go shoe shopping for Mini-me.

The Metro stop where I got off is the precise location where a gunman opened fire yesterday. There’s an underground passageway from the Atwater Metro that leads you directly past the Dawson College door.

Thank God I missed the gunfire. I was a couple of blocks away when it happened. But I have to admit, I was quite shaken seeing all those kids hysterically running down the street.

I walked (briskly) to Mini-me’s garderie, and brought her home. We stayed home last night (she missed kung fu). And I just cuddled her.

One of the teens who was hit by gunfire died yesterday. Two others are in seriously critical condition. Still others are in critical condition.

So today take a few extra minutes to hug your Mini-me’s (spouse, parents, friend, whomever) extra tight. Tell them how much they mean to you.

The people in our lives deserve such precious moments.

Alexis Dawes

My 4-year old LOVES boxes.

I ordered 4 pairs of boots from Zappos (the best freakin’ online shoe store in the world) and they came in this gigantic box. When mini-me saw the box I thought she was going to pass out.

She was just utterly amazed that I had gotten her this box. She gave up a Christmas morning gasp when she saw it sitting in the living room.

Now mind you, I get mini-me some really nice toys.

Leap Frog games, baby dolls with every possible accessory, all kinds of knick-knacks from around the world.

But toys mean nothing when they’re pitted against a great, big box.

And it’s not just my kid either.

My cousin says the same thing about her 4 and 2-year old. They constantly fight over the boxes that come in the mail.

The obsession with boxes – I think – lies in their simplicity.

With a little imagination you can turn a box into a car… a house… a push cart… a drum… a robot body… an airplane. So many options from a big piece of folded cardboard!

She can play with a box for hours on end.

But she’ll get bored with a Leap Frog game in less than 15 minutes.

Why?

I believe it’s because today’s games have too many buttons and lights and pieces and features. And kids just get overwhelmed.

We do too.

In fact, there’s a word for this overwhelming feeling. It’s called feature fatigue.

According to Word Spy it’s: “Mental exhaustion and stress caused by products that come with a large number of features.”

Normally this term is associated with items like digital cameras or software.

But I’m finding that infoproduct authors can be feature pushers as well.

Guru extraordinaire Dan Kennedy calls it the ‘thud factor.’ You sell a great big package so people feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.

I love Dan – but I despise the thud factor.

I recently purchased a $1,000 package from a well-known copywriter. I love this copywriter to death. When he talks about himself, I feel like he’s talking about my life. The similarities are scary.

But damn, I almost hate that I have like 7-10 books to go through.

When I start reading something I want to be done in a day or two. I’ve been going through this stuff for a few weeks now.

Even though I really enjoy it, it’s a lot to take in. Almost too much.

I understand the psychology of why there are so many manuals. And customers probably salivate when they get that back breaking box in the mail.

But I’m one of those customers who likes short, manageable chunks of information.

Just give it to me straight. And let me use my own know-how (imagination) to make it work for me. That’s all I want.

It’s no different than my daughter using her imagination (know-how) to play with the box.

More bells and whistles isn’t always better.

Create a small, quality product and those of use who suffer from feature fatigue will love you.

Think small and grow rich,

Alexis Dawes