Taste of Cyn

For a writer, there’s nothing better than disappearing into a literary world for hours, days, weeks and simply writing, focusing all of our energy on creating fascinating characters, enthralling situations, gripping conflict.

To do this, we have to turn off social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, all of the distracting noise from the outside world. I thought this was impossible but a buddy challenged me to this cyber vacation.

I did it (taking a week off social media)!!! And yes, it WAS rejuvenating. My creative wells went from empty to overflowing. I have ideas I can’t wait to write and a renewed passion for the business.

This cyber vacation wasn’t without its challenges. I thought I’d share the lessons I learned so your experience is even better than mine (though I question that is possible – smiles).

Planning

I don’t recommend you take the time off without planning for it first. Facebook friends will worry about you. Email buddies will get irritated that you’re not returning their messages. Business will be disrupted. Plan for this week (or more) off.

Choose the right time for this cyber vacation (preferably at least a month in advance). Release week is NOT the right time (laughs). The week (or more) should be slow. I chose a week with a long weekend.

Once you choose the week, block it off. Don’t accept any invites for this time. I could guest host a Facebook party or Facebook takeover a day. I turned all of these requests down for the week. Other writers understand. We’ll still love you!

I have a separate email address for my agent, editors and family members. This is the only email I checked during my week off. I told them I was taking the week off. This didn’t stop the urgent emails though. (grins) I’m glad I checked this email address.

I changed my Yahoo loops and Facebook groups to no notifications. I figured if it involved me, a buddy would email me and point to the message (which they did).

I posted on Facebook that I was participating in this no social media challenge. NEVER post that you’ll be physically away from home. Thieves scour social media, looking for these types of messages. But a cyber vacation is different.

I usually allow all of my buddies to post on my wall and tag me. However, this means I receive a lot of spam which I have to delete. As I wouldn’t be checking my wall for this spam, I turned off the ability for anyone else to post or tag me.

I scheduled blog posts, tweets, Facebook posts for while I was on cyber vacation. Some reading buddies didn’t know I was gone!

I set aside a couple of days when I returned to answer emails, PMs, etc.

During The Week

For the first couple of days while on cyber vacation, I accessed my computer from places I feel nervous about logging in from. I don’t like typing in passwords on coffee shop or public library wifi networks. Yes, I realize they are likely safe but I avoid it. This removed the temptation to check email or Facebook.

Once I had spent a couple of days offline and was sucked completely into the story I was writing, I felt less of a compulsion to surf social media. I scanned the headlines of my emergency email account every second business day and that was it. There were some emergency emails I had to tackle but nothing world ending.

I also had goals. I wasn’t depriving myself of social media. I was indulging with the writing. It was glorious, freeing, relaxing.

When I Returned

Remember those couple of days I set aside for answering emails? I needed them. I receive over 1,000 emails a day (from writers, readers, reviewers, bloggers). I DID receive a couple of “where are you?” emails. I had missed two luscious limited time only offers (not the end of the world). With the rest of the emails, it didn’t matter that I answered them a week later.

Would I do this again?

Yes! Sure, I missed everyone but I think I was a much better friend when I returned. I appreciated my buddies more. I was relaxed. I was happy. I had a zillion new ideas and some fresh words written.

Have you disconnected for a day, a week or more? What was your experience?

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Belinda “Bee” Carter isn’t quite sure what she’s gotten herself into. She’s been receiving mysterious messages from a secret admirer who is sending her more and more erotic dares. Each time she fulfills his desires, she gets rewarded. She’s convinced that her mystery texter is one of two super-hot men—Nicolas, the handsome billionaire, or Hawke, the sexy biker—but she can’t tell which one it is. And she’s coming to realize that beneath her peaches-and-cream exterior beats a heart that longs to play out all of her most secret fantasies.

As the stakes are raised again, will Bee succumb to the sensual allure of this latest dare?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89HA

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-2-cynthia-sax/1119919836

Google: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9780062354129

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-2/id814153762