The 8-Minute Writing Habit

Create a Consistent Writing Habit That Works with Your Busy Lifestyle (Growth Hacking for Storytellers)

By: Monica Leonelle

Narrated by: Cindy Piller

Length: 1 hr and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Ready to establish a consistent writing habit, once and for all?

Monica Leonelle digs into the best literature on forming habits and shares the top strategies professional authors are using to make sure they write each and every day. Each tip is easy to implement and will get you writing more in the "in-betweens" - the inactive moments of your life where you are commuting, waiting in line, or otherwise physically stuck with your brain unoccupied!

If you've struggled to find time to write due to a day job, family, or an active, busy lifestyle, this book will help you clear your blocks around writing for good and get you writing more often, just a few words at a time.

For writers who still haven't found their rhythm and don't have time for long experiments, tracking spreadsheets, or full pomodoros - establish a writing habit that actually fits into your life!

Bonus: This book includes the full 8x8 Challenge: Eight days to implement the very best shortcuts to writing more, eight minutes at a time! Get access to the live version and do the challenge with Monica herself.

©2015 Spaulding House (P)2016 Spaulding House

A Great Approach to Consistent Writing

If you could sum up The 8-Minute Writing Habit in three words, what would they be?

Try The Challenge

What did you like best about this story?

This is a fascinating approach to writing that is different from others that I have seen. I am anxious to take the 8-day challenge described in the book. It is a simple approach and is explained clearly with lots of tips for your writing career. I've written one book and have two others that I am developing at this time. I will definitely try the 8-minute habit on the next book. There were good tips on dictation and some good tips on using mobile devices to improve writing productivity.

What about Cindy Piller’s performance did you like?

She speaks clearly and it is easy to listen to her. I know the book is a nonfiction book and they are usually read with almost no emotion. I did feel that Cindy could have used a little more emotion and emphasis on a subject is full of passion for authors. There were also a number of references that were described and it is necessary to pause, back up and copy them (I can't think of a good solution for this in an audio book, however).

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The 8-Minute Writing Habit?

I will try the approach described and will be writing 8 minutes every morning. I also plan on taking the 8-day challenge.

Any additional comments?

I think this audiobook is an excellent tool for writers and I would also recommend that the reader purchase a print or Kindle copy to use along with the audio. Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to review -- My opinions are my own and can not be swayed. I would have purchased this book on my own if I had known about it.

Only 8 minutes

I am always rushed and never feel like I have enough time for writing. This book opened my mind to other options to get writing in. Worth a purchase for these tips alone. Short but sweet!

SHOULD BE REQUIRED BY LAW FOR ALL WRITER-FOLK

Where does The 8-Minute Writing Habit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Full disclosure, I listened to this more or less back to back with Write Better Faster and have read the ebook version before. And if I'm pressed....feet to fire, I may have to say that I prefer this one AS AN AUDIOBOOK to Write Better Faster...although you really should get both. Seriously. Get Both. But what makes this work a little better AS AN AUDIOBOOK, is that it's condensed. The runtime is short; like that of a proper podcast. You can easily digest on one long run or a particularly grueling commute. A plane ride from New York to Miami and you're done. Because of this brevity, basically everything that comes at you is pure gold. Yes, I am a fan of Monica's and I think she's one of my favorite "virtual mentors"....one of the best peeps to which I've hitched my prose writing star in this, oh my year of learnin'. Monica is the real deal here folks. The great and beautiful thing about her is that everything she gives you in this book (and in WBF) is a PRACTICAL solution. Even the philosophical stuff she gives (decouple the outcome from the work) is a practical hack for your brain. You're not having to sift through hours of SEE YOURSELF AS A PROFESSIONAL....MANIFEST YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY (although, I have to admit I love those books too!) but rather, what you're getting is "hey...I'm a professional and I make my living writing...this is not a lottery win....this is an attainable goal and here are a bunch of kick arse solutions to helping you wade through the resistance and get some stuff on paper. The beauty of Monica is that she is so stripped down in her approach and so honest, that I can see a clear trajectory. There is a section in here where she compares being a professional writer with being a Doctor....I'm not going to tell you what she says because you should buy the book...but I can tell you that while I was listening to it in the car on the way to work the other day....once those words were uttered and once my brain pulled them out of the ether and smooshed them in my consciousness...I was so shocked by the revelation...by the enormity of the TRUTH of what she said that I actually, quite literally, screamed OH MY GOD YOU'RE RIGHT...WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS BEFORE...luckily I was alone in the car.

And the whole book is filled with stuff like this. PRACTICAL and TRUTHFUL solutions that allow one to write.

I'll go a step further and say...the only negative thing I can say about this book is that the title doesn't quite do it justice. When you read, "the 8 minute writing habit" you think...okay, this book is going to teach me techniques on how to build a consistent daily practice...which is does...BUT because so much of building a daily consistent practice is actually knocking down the blocks that keep you from consistently practicing daily (there I think I've said that in all available combinations) so what you ACTUALLY have in your grubby little hands and ears, is hands down, one of the best inspirational, cracking the codes of what it takes to be a writer books that has ever been. It hits me in a way that Steven Pressfield's The War of Art did...right in the soul....but this does it faster than a train ride from Manhattan to the Jersey Shore (I totally made that statistic up...but seriously...this is a short time commitment for such amazing stuff).

What other book might you compare The 8-Minute Writing Habit to and why?

Like I mentioned before, The War of Art would be a close companion to this one. They both touch on tackling the resistance. This also lives in the same universe as Write Publish Repeat, by the Sterling and Stone guys...as well as their new one, Iterate and Optimize. And don't forget the rest of Monica's excellent Productivity Bundle books.

Which scene was your favorite?

The book has three main sections: getting past the blocks to writing, 9 tips that the pros use and the actual 8X8 challenge. All are excellent but the getting past the blocks section could potentially change your life.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The aforementioned "being a doctor" comparison was a game changer for me. I don't want to delve into too much detail about the getting past the blocks section but let's just say the whole unit on "decoupling the outcome from the work" really resonated with me.

Any additional comments?

A stellar work. don't hesitate. buy it. listen to it. Follow it. you will improve.

Great books I plan to reread them to apply every

I just recently got your 8 Minute Writing Habit and your dictation books in Audible. They have  a lot of good info and advice. Thanks  I am also going to buy your Write Better Faster. I found out the 3 came in a boxed set after I listened to the first two.

excellent book

this book has a lot of great tips and great advice for authors. No more excuses, if you want to be a writer you have to actually write. Monica gives great advice on how to achieve this.

Excellent book. Writing Advice for Real People

What did you love best about The 8-Minute Writing Habit?

The best part of this book it that it gives a realistic process that anyone who wants to write a book can follow. There is so much out there on the topic but it can be overwhelming for the new writer. This book covers both the limiting beliefs as well as the actual strategies to develop a writing habit.

What did you like best about this story?

The challenges that the author developed to actually start and build the habit.

What does Cindy Piller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It provided a more human side to it, that the writer was someone who really understood where you were coming from due to the emotions in the voice.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The ideas around mobile writing, in particular are something that I plan to implement.

Any additional comments?

Excellent book and I look forward to more from Monica.

As fantastic as the book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Some people learn by reading, some by sight, some by hearing. This audio book helps things click where the book makes you say, "Yes, I should do this." Listening to The 8 Minute Habit, there were ah ha moments, If you want some sound ideas and processes to learn a daily habit of writing. As a professional writer and multi-published author, I needed this book. My day job requires my intense focus 10 hours a day, 4 days a week. It's a draining job, but this book helped me to discover where to carve writing time out for me and to get back to regular habits.

Have you listened to any of Cindy Piller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Cindy Piller has a crisp, clean voice that is perfect for this style of audio book. She possesses just the right amount of energy and emotion.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part discussing banishing butt in chair, really hit home. Reading it was good, but hearing it was emotionally connecting and truly a moment of revelation. Monica Leonelle does a beautiful job getting to the heart of writer blocks.

Any additional comments?

Whether you are learning to write or an established author, this audio book is the perfect addition to your craft of writing library. I listen to it regularly to keep me upbeat and on track as I revise my own writing program.

Motivation made easy.

Simple and straightforward strategy for success, Monica breaks down the Writer's Block wall with easy to implement "baby steps" - writing in 8 minutes a day!!!

Great tips!

I'd recommend this book to any of the writers I know. Looking forward to doing the 8x8 with my author friends.

Building volumes of books...8 minutes at a time!

Would you listen to The 8-Minute Writing Habit again? Why?

I actually listened to the first part of the 8-Minute Writing Habit TWICE. I've been a published writer for 40 years (yep, 40!) and have never (no, never!) experienced writer's block. However, I still found Ms. Leonelle's soul-searching narrative revealing even at my stage of the word game. I would definitely listen to Part One again; the other two parts, not so much. Though Part Two and Part Three offered some interesting insights, I discovered no "novel" ideas in the sections.

What other book might you compare The 8-Minute Writing Habit to and why?

Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication & Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams, Heather Sellers (Author)

A Writer's Time: Making the Time to Write
Kenneth Atchity (Author)

And, the many other books out there that teach the systematic approach to time management BEFORE teaching the writing craft itself!

Which scene was your favorite?

Again, I found the first part of The 8-Minute Writing Habit invaluable.

What did you learn from The 8-Minute Writing Habit that you would use in your daily life?

I tend to be too regimented and have incorporated Ms. Leonelle's "Plan C" into my life; do the minimal amount required to check the to-do item off your list. This idea eases my stress; good stuff.