Trade journals versus forums and newsletters

Recently I started a poll at the StoryCrafters forum. I asked how many of my fellow writers subscribed to trade journals. The results surprised me. Twenty-five percent of those who responded do not subscribe to any. They cited various other avenues to find trade news and helpful tips to improve their craft.

From forums, to websites, to online newsletters there is a wealth of information out there to help writers-- and much of it is free. So, I had to ask, why is it that I pay for three trade journals when I can get good information for no cost at all? Not that trade journals aren't helpful, but if I am struggling to keep expenses down wouldn't it be prudent to subscribe to free newletters and participate in forums. Then I could afford business cards, stationery, or maybe even a professional website to promote my work--which will certainly increase my exposure and hopefully lead to more sales.

Sure looks like 2007 will be the year I change the way I handle and promote my writing career.

Cheryl

No Brags, Just Facts

Here is another great entry from Gwanny. She asked me to post it for her while our favorite troll is recovering.

Cheryl

I spend a lot of time each day perusing the Storycrafters site. Not a lot of time in hours, but a lot of visits per day. It gives me a frequent and refreshing break from what can otherwise become a solitary, lonely existence.

Storycrafters is a lot of fun. There are jokes, posts by just published writers and talk of homelife. But while it’s enjoyable it is also very educational. And that’s what I love most about the site.

Here at SC you will find something for everyone. This is not a woman’s only club; this site has no agenda. Anyone who wishes can join. And that includes Aliens, Elf’s Troll’s and the like. No matter who you are, or what you write there is someone here who can either benefit from your knowledge, or can assist you as you aspire to become the best writer you can be.

Give this short list of published authors and their genre a look see and I bet you will find someone here you can relate to.

Speck…Romance, Mystery, S.F. Non-fiction and almost anything you need to know about anything in the great big publishing world. Query letters, cover letters, and summaries. She is amazing and we all run to her moat in search of writerly wisdom.

Madame Sassy…Romance, Specializes in Talking Head Syndrome. Critiquer Extraordinaire. Also a person you want to talk to if you need help navigating the biz. Sassy stays in trouble quite a bit in the Storytrain. Check her out.

Ccmal…We call her CC. Non-Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Mystery, and Romance. And if that’s not enough, she will give one of the most professional critiques you will find anywhere. CC forever inspires us to be the best we can be.

Mad Hatter…Our Court Jester. Southern Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Stories and giver of terrific advice. Mad knows the publishing world very well. She also gives us a laugh or two every day. Ask her what a Cathead Biscuit is.

Forest Elf…our wanderer. Y/A Novelist, Non-fiction, Romance and all around knower of interesting and helpful fact. Another great helper when it comes to the publishing world. She also happens to drive over the road long haul for a living. She has answers to things I didn’t know had questions.

I could go on but every one is so great that this post would wind up looking like an acceptance speech from an Academy Award recipient.

So come join us, I mean really join in. For those of you here every day, talk to us, help us, and let us help you if we can. For those of you who might be thinking of joining us, please do. The more the merrier.

Storycrafters is the best thing going for an aspiring writer, and I ought to know, cause I are one.

Sherry

Websites and Promoting Them

For the last couple days I've been working on my personal website. I changed hosts and it was inactive for a while. It is nice to have it back online but I have to wonder how valuable it really is. If no one ever sees it, then it does me no good.

Same thing for this blog. If no one knows it is here, then it does us no good. We have a wealth of info here that deserves to be read, we just have to let others know it is here.

So, how do we make our online presence known to the rest of the web? Here's a couple ideas.

Business cards. These are relatively inexpensive. You can even do them at home with a decent printer. But what do you put on them? Start with the obvious...your name and website. Maybe a brief blurb about your book. I'd not recommend putting your home address and phone number but maybe a special email just for the purpose instead.

Once you have them, what do you do with them? How about putting them in your bill payment or leaving on the restraurant table with your tip? Never can tell, they just might reach a reader. When I sold Avon, I always sent a book through the bank drive in when I was there and actually had quite a few sales from them. Many stores have a bulletin board too. Why not stick one there. Taking your car to the shop and waiting; leave a couple on the waiting room table.

Check with your insurance person, dentist, eye doc and any place you do business. Sometimes you can leave business cards in their office waiting areas. These are places filled with people who will read just about anything to avoid being bored. And again, who knows you just might connect with someone. Many writing conferences also have a table in some visible area where writers are encouraged to put out business cards and such. Be sure to take some with you.

I'm pretty sure all of us email. One way to get the word out is to add a personalized signature to all your emails. You can add a catchy saying, website or blog addy and a personal invite to stop by.

And what about our writing buddies? Why not add a "cool links" page to your website and add them. If we all link to each other, we can spread the word about our websites all over the web with very little effort.

These are just a couple ideas I have. Please share any promotion ideas you have in the comment section.

Speck

New addition to blog...

Hey all...scroll way down and check out our new counter:--) I guestimated visits since Jan. 1st so it isn't exact but thought it might be cool to keep up with how many visits we get.


Speck

The procrastinator in me

I put off writing this entry. I told myself over and over again that I had plenty of time. So, I played on the Internet last night, chatting with some friends and posting at a few forums. I figured I could post to the blog early this morning after getting the little one off to school. I don't even remember right now what my original topic was going to be.

But today, real life reared its interferring head and instead of typing away at my computer to meet my deadline, I was calling around to get my microwave serviced. After finding out it would cost more to repair the darn thing than to buy a new one, I cancelled the service call and began comparing models online. Then I drove to the local appliance stores. And then I stopped to have the passenger side rear tire repaired on my husband's truck because it had a slow leak. Needless to say, I had no time to compose my blog entry.

Now, I am finally home and am busy catching up on all that housework I would have done if I had been around all morning--washing dishes, doing laundry, making the bed, cleaning the house.

In between sprints from one end of the house to the other, I am rushing to get this entry done. And why, because I just haven't taught myself to sit down and write every day. I wander aimlessly around the World Wide Web looking for great sales instead of parking my posterior in my chair and working on my next project. There really is no excuse for it--I just like the pressure my procrastination creates.

But today, I am determined to change all that. As of this moment, I will procrastinate no more. My writing will be better because I am not rushed through a first draft and final edits. My thinking process will be clearer because my mind is not clouded by the looming deadlines hanging over my head. The inspiration will be there every day because I have told it to be ready and waiting. I will have more time for writing, reading, and playing because I am not in a panic to accomplish what needs to be done. I have the power and I will use it.

Who will join me?

Cheryl

Free Writing

Writer’s block is a term we all hear a lot and use ourselves when it’s fitting. I don’t know where the term came from or when it was first used but I know I detest it. It’s a cop out, pure and simple.

After many years of writing, and claiming writers block during the times I haven’t written, I have found that I use it as an excuse. ‘Well, I haven’t been able to write for the last many weeks because I have writers block’- or- ‘ Can someone please help me figure out this scene? I seem to have writer’s block.’ Nonsense.

I don’t have writer’s block, I don’t even believe in it anymore and I will never again use it as an excuse for not sitting down to write. I’ve done a lot of research on the subject (I had plenty of time to research while I suffered from writers block lol), and I discovered that the term, as well as the act is rubbish.

This is how it works. We sit down and pull up our word program. Then, nothing. We stare at our empty screen and nothing at all comes to mind. Now I ask you, is that even possible? For nothing to come to our mind? Of course it’s not possible. When was the last time your brain was as blank as the screen in front of you?

We are always, and I mean always thinking on something, even if it’s the fact our screen is blank. So start there…’My screen is blank’… now keep writing. This is called the act of free writing and it’s one of my favorite things to do. It doesn’t matter what you write, you simply write down the thoughts in your brain. They don’t have to mean anything; they don’t have to tell a story. They can and likely will go like this…

I wonder if that was the dryer going off…man that dog snores loud, wonder what I’ll fix for supper tonight…gotta clean the litterbox it’s awful…

When we free write, writing down what we think now and nothing else, we give ourselves permission to write. Once we begin, our brain is unclogged and before we know what’s happening, we are writing a story. Maybe not a good one but first drafts rarely are. See what I just said…first draft. That’s right. In the middle of our free write appears a first draft. We can then delete the free writing we did to get us started and we have the makings of a story.

Next time you allow yourself to tell yourself you have writer’s block, tell yourself that’s impossible. Sit down and free write and you will soon find that blocking the thoughts of a writer is as impossible as plugging a hole in a dam with your finger.


Sherry Heidelberger-Blackburn (aka) Gwanny

Why do you write?

When I first starting writing seriously, I had the mistaken belief that books were easy to write. That once I had the book written all I had to do was send it out to the agent of my choice, wait a few months and before I could even say bestseller, it would be book signings and the Oprah show. Money would come pouring in and in about a year I'd be living high on the hog.

But wow, did that idea crash and burn soon. I discovered writing well enough to connect with the readers is darn hard work. With a bit more study I learned how the publishing industry really works.

Writing well is a craft that has to be practiced and perfected. Agents are swamped with submissions and can pick and choose who they want to represent. Book signings aren't all they're cracked up to be and if I want to do them, I'll probably have to set them up myself and even then there is no guarantee of success. And as far as the Oprah show...well, I'm not going to hold my breath.

Yet, here I am. Four years later still working hard at learning my craft and studying the publishing industry.

Writing has given me an outlet to express myself. I can play with dragons, catch the bad guys, romance a hunky hero, visit the outer reaches of the universe or write something that will touch and inspire others.

I once read the statistics that many doctors, lawyers and professional people wanted to be able to quit their day jobs and become writers but only rarely did a writer want to change jobs and do something else. I can believe that. What other job lets us play with dragons, become heros and travel to lands far away all from the comfort of our homes. And sometimes we even get paid! How cool is that!!!

Speck

Back it Up

I feel like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. I’m running around pulling my hair out and screaming, “I’m late, I’m late….for everything.” This drives me insane. I’m never late for anything. What’s worse, I put myself in this predicament.

The motherboard on my computer blew taking with it the processor and the hard drive. Did I listen to the wise people before me who shared their disastrous computer breakdowns? Well yes, I listened and felt empathy for them. However, I didn’t take it to heart, so I didn’t faithfully back up my work.

Thankfully, I do have a few items in hard copy. They’re mostly earlier versions and will need revisions. It’s a fitting punishment for my foolish folly.

I broke into a sweat thinking about how much worse it could have been. What if I'd had a brilliant partial sitting on some editor’s desk and he/she requested a full manuscript? That didn’t happen but what if it had?

Speck shared the clever way she saves her work. She emails it to herself. That’s simple enough to do. I was able to retrieve the e-mailed assignments I did with BIP course. Anything that wasn’t an assignment is just plain gone. I cringe when I look at my novel binder and knowing I’ll have to start over from the beginning.

Here are a few suggestions for busy the writer:

Back up often…once a week or bi-weekly or if you're a brave heart monthly

Email your stories and articles to yourself

Print hard copies

Don’t put off these important steps because a computer crash doesn’t give you fair warning.

On the bright side, lessons learned the hard way usually stay learned.

Lori

Fears...

Gwanny posted something at StoryCrafters today that caught my attention. And I think it is true for a lot of us.

Here's her comments...

"I admitted to Lee tonight that the fear of failure re this query letter has been eating at me since Friday.

...I am a coward and for some reason afraid of succeeding...make sense? Prolly not, but I know failure better than I know success. It's like an old friend."

Fear of failure is a biggie for probably all of us at one time or another. Why else do we edit, rewrite, edit and then rewrite and edit some more before we send out a piece. Sure, we want it the best we can get it but there are times we edit and rewrite to the point we are just changing things we changed three rewrites ago. That's a sure sign we have gone over the rewriting cliff.

Fear of failure is also the reason submissions sit on our desks so long the price of stamps go up and we have to redo the submission package.

But...the fear of succeeding, that seems to make no sense. Yet how many of us know we write well (at least well enough to sale) and still don't send out things?

Here's where the troll bares part of her soul:--) I'm dealing with this to a degree right now. I'm not afraid of being rejected with my nonfiction project. But what if he loves the first chapters I send? That means I have to write the rest of it even better. What if everyone who reads it loves it and recommends it to others who love it? That means the next project must even be better...and again I wonder if I'm able to live up to those expectations.

Most of you know I have Mary for my Long Ridge novel course instructor. Gosh how that scares me at times. Yeah, I insisted on her when I signed up. Because I knew she would be best able to teach me what I need to know but sending assignments to her really, really take nerve. Why you ask? Because I've seen so much improvement in my writing, I feel I'm expected to not make mistakes. She knows how much I've improved and expects me to write well...and I don't want to let her down. Yes, that is a personal issue I'm dealing with now and not something I've gotten from her but it still bothers me at times.

Also, what could success bring to us writers? Fame and fortune we hope. But what about fans who expect a great next book? Can we write books that people want to read again and again or is one good book all we have in us??? And that fame and fortune, what does it bring? Book signings, speaking engagement and more of the unknown future.

As Gwanny said, failure is an old friend. We've all gotten rejection letters. We are used to them. If truth be told, I bet we expect them more than we expect acceptance letters. I mean, why else do we have several places in mind for each piece we gather the nerve to send out?

So...I guess the thing to do is decide what we are going to do with our fear. I think I'll suck it up, gather my courage and get to work. Want to join me?


Speck

I Cannot Tell a Lie

Write what you know. How many times as writers have we heard that? I’ve heard it so much I never want to hear it again.

Okay, this is what I know. I know about communications both the art and the science thereof. I know about raising kids and what a joy it is to be a Granny. I know about people and dogs. I know about all kinds of things that most of the rest of you know too. We are a very smart society.

Okay, so I know stuff.

Now, what about the things I don’t know. This list will be much longer. I don’t know how to kill a guy. I don’t know much about romance, and what I do know would bore you to tears. I know nothing about outer space or what’s under the sea, and my lack of knowledge about warp drives and hard drives boggles the mind.

Suffice it to say that I don’t know more than I do know. So, what do I write about? How do I kill someone in a work of fiction? How do I lay a clue, or put together a couple of steaming bodies and create a love scene. Better yet, how can I take you into galaxies far, far away and make you believe it, when I don’t know Orion from the Big Dipper?

Writers do it all the time and I have finally figured out how. They write what they know. I am learning what I know best for example is people. So, let me stick with that. I will write about what makes them tick and I can write it honestly and from their point of view. I am going to stick to making the people the story. Then when I need to I’ll research how to effectively commit murder and I’ll kill off one of those people I know so well. I won’t get heavy into particulars because I don’t know enough about murder to make you, as my reader believe that I do. But I can learn enough to know that the way I do it is honest.

I can go on, but you get it, right? Writing what we know becomes the theme of our work. Writing the things we don’t know is what makes the things we do know more interesting. No matter which we are writing, we must be honest with our readers. They will know in a heartbeat if we are trying to lie to them about what we know, and they will never read us again.

Now, I’m off to research what I don’t know about baseball. I don’t need to research the guy holding the bat, him I know.

Gwanny

To Had or to Had Not

All writers have their favorite quotes. Most of them are quotes from writers we admire, those who have succeeded at their craft. We post them around our offices, on our bulletin boards and even at the edge of our computer screens. They encourage us, making us look deeper into ourselves and what we put down on paper.

My favorite is one I hate. I love to hate it, but I hate it. The first time I read it I thought, well this guy is a jerk. He obviously doesn’t read much.

It goes like this:‘Words are like leaves and where they most abound, much fruit beneath is rarely found.”*

After reading it a few times, all the while burying myself deeper into my craft, I began to get what he meant. Writers use one thing, words. It’s all we have. Words are the tools we use to create our art. What I am coming to realize is that we tend to think the more words we use, the better our creation. We can wow our readers with all of the words we know. This simply isn’t true.

Right now I am working to take the word ‘had’ out of my writing. It’s just a little word, doesn’t take up much space and adds nicely to our word count. I call it a ‘cheater’ word. It’s an empty meaningless word that all of us ought to strike from our writing, unless it is absolutely needed.

Here’s a quick example of what I mean.

He had not given her his answer.
He did not give her an answer.

She had never seen him before today.
She never saw him before today.

The word had takes the action right out of a sentence. An entire scene can be flattened by the small, meaningless little word.

Give it a try. Look over your latest story and see how many times you have deflated a sentence by using the word. Re-word your sentence, replacing had, and see what you wind up with. My guess is you will be much more pleased with the flow of your sentence, and your scene.

Sherry

*Essay on Criticism-Pope

Posted by Speck for Gwanny cause Blogger and her puter don't seem to be able to play nice together.

COURAGE

Hey all...

I have this posted on my office wall where I can see it. Thought I'd share with you.


COURAGE

Confronting the dragons
Overcoming the obstacles
Understanding the risks
Really living
Always believing
Going the distance
Expecting the best

I like this. It applies to a lot of things in life, including writing.

First, those dragons of doubt. How hard they are to deal with sometimes. Not only do we have to deal with dragons and shoulder vultures, sometimes our family and friends become obstacles. But, when we understand rejection letters and such are a normal part of the process we can write and enjoy it, really living so to speak. Success with our writing comes with always believing in ourselves and going the distance when we'd rather give up. Naturally, we should always expect the best from each submission.

I find this to be an almost daily process. Some days I'm not bothered so much by the dragons but other days they seem to arrive in a large numbers determined to have me for lunch. Life throws obstacles my way all the time but how I deal with them is my choice. By studying markets, learning my craft and becoming a better writer I can get rid of some of the risks but no matter what, I have to always believe in myself. I have to choose to not give up and to expect good things.

I hope you confront your dragons, believe in yourself and really live:--)


Speck

Working from home

When I decided to stay at home with my children and work on fulfilling my dream of becoming a writer it seemed liked paradise. Who could complain about shuffling out of bed to play with her little ones and then sauntering over to the computer in her pajamas to type out a few words?

But as the weeks turned into months I found myself upset a lot of the time. I snapped at the kids for no reason, I didn't feel like eating, and I wasted valuable writing time surfing the Internet. Life at home didn't end up being as peachy as I thought it would be. Feelings of isolation crept up on me. I didn't know how to change the way I felt, but I knew I couldn't put my girls into day care and return to working outside the house just to make me happy.

So what could I do?

Here are a few quick tips to help quell the feelings of isolation those who work from home can experience:

* Use email to chat with friends and colleagues
* Join chat rooms or forums
* Change the scenery by getting up and going out
* Attend professional conferences
* Volunteer in your community

I've used more than one of these tips over the past three years. That's how I stumbled across StoryCrafters. I find if I keep in touch with people and make a point to get out of the house at least once a week--even if it's just to the mall for lunch--I can cope with spending the majority of my time at home. There are still days when the kids are cranky and I don't feel like accomplishing much, but knowing how to push those feelings of isolation aside, helps me be in the right frame of mind to handle just about anything--like my girls getting into my craft supplies and pulling balls of yarn from one upstairs room to the other while I edited an article.

That sounds stupid!

Convince yourself that you are working in clay, not marble, on paper not eternal bronze: Let that first sentence be as stupid as it wishes.
— Jacques Barzun

I found this quote quite recently and it hit home. Which of us doesn't have days where we stare at our computer screen, or our paper, for hours without writing a word? Or, we do write, but delete everything we say within a few minutes of writing it because it's 'so horrible'?

For the past six weeks I have been away from writing anything of substance. I have edited. I 'changed it up' (as per my last post), and wrote mindless RPG. But, I have goals to meet. I have to get back to actual writing.

For the past three days I've tried to do just that. To buckle down and begin writing again. I pulled up to my desk with a certain level of excitement at knowing I was halfway done. The upcoming chapters promised so much in my head.

I haven't managed to write one word. Six weeks of time off has made my muse run for the hills at the very thought of trying to write something that doesn't sound stupid. I can't break past that first sentence.

So, once again procrastinating, I started surfing the web. I literally stumbled upon this quote and it fairly screamed at me. I need to JUST WRITE. If the first sentence sounds stupid, who cares? I'll be going back to edit anyway, I can fix that later.

At one point in time during NaNo I got stuck on a transition paragraph. Nothing I wrote worked. So, I 'skipped' it. Literally. I wrote this in its place:

Insert transition paragraph here because I have no clue what to write and I just want to get past this block. The best way to do that is to pretend I’ve written it and come back later with a more powerful statement then what I have in my head that sounds like fluff and filler and basic crap.

It got me through the block, I wrote almost 3000 words that day, and I went back and fixed it during editing this past month.

So, today I'm going to sit down. I'm going to write the first sentence of the rest of the book, no matter how stupid it sounds.

Write through the block. Allow a stupid sentence. You're going to edit half of them away, anyway!

Funding a Writing Career

Funding a Writing Career

I’m cheap, always have been. When the kids were little, I made the Hamburger Helper type meals from scratch. A little pasta, add some vegetables and meat; you’ve a complete meal that fills their little tummies.

A writing career is a home based business and therefore, requires a certain amount of funding. There are classes, seminars, office supplies, mailing supplies, books, market guides, promotion expenses and magazines. Like any start up business you initially put out more than you take in. That’s where being a thrifty type person comes in handy. It takes a little sacrificing but in the end…

This year I want to attend a writer’s conference so I’ve brain stormed a way to save some money for one. I like going out to eat and probably do that once or twice a week. I’m giving up one night a week and putting that money in a piggy bank. That’s about $30.00 a week or $120.00 a month!

As writers, we use tons of paper every week. At an average of $3.99 per package the costs adds up. I recycle my paper. I keep a box next to my computer and after editing a hard copy of a manuscript it goes into the box. Then I use the backside of that paper for character sketches, re-writes, notes, doodling and brainstorming.

Ink is another costly expense. When I started taking writing classes I took a serious look at the cost of things and realized that I needed to cut expenses. I do most of my editing on the computer screen. This saves on ink, but for me it’s not the same as a hard copy; when it’s as close to polished as possible, I print it out on my re-cycled paper. Then edit again. I also have a rule, no printing web pages that use color unless it’s a necessity. This way I’m buying black ink only.

Writers are avid readers too. I’ve spent a fortune in books. Now I’ve put some boundaries on my spending. The library is the cheapest way to study a new genre. If you’re like me, you like owning the books you read. This way if it gets a little wet while I’m soaking in the tub, it’s no one’s loss but my own. I save money by buying books for genre study at the second hand stores. One exception to this rule is when a writer friend has a book or article published I buy that brand new. After all, we need to support each other on the way up.

With a little sacrifice and creativity, you can save a dime here and there. Trust me, it adds up.

Lori

Stepping out...

Hey all...

Remember the last Indiana Jones movie where Indi has made it through all the hidden traps and is standing at the edge of the cliff? He has to continue on, but there is no visible means to cross the great chasm. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and stepped out. And his faith held him up and carried him to the other side. Good movie but what does this have to do with writing you ask?

Today I sent two applications to present workshops at a National Christian Writers Convention. Hitting that send button was like Indi stepping out from the ledge. Not only did I have second thoughts but I had to smack the shoulder vulture that kept whispering that I had nothing to say that anyone would want to listen to. But, I took that deep breath, wanted to close my eyes and hit the send button anyway. Naturally the shoulder vulture had to laugh and make a snide comment about how if they did like the idea I'd choke in front of a group of people. I smacked him again and now I have feathers all over my desk:-)

But each of us have to take that step if we want to be published. Yes, we will get rejection letters and they will hurt. That is just one of the realities we have to face as writers. Not every reader will love our writing and that is fine. Not every place we submit will want to publish our work. When that happens we just have to take a deep breath and send it right back out.

So...let's all take a deep breath and step out of our comfort zone. Try writing a different genre, you might like it. Got an idea for an article? Find a market and query or write it and then query. Either way, take that step and try something different. Got a story or article ready to go out but haven't gathered the nerve to send it? It's time to take that deep breath and send it out.

Yes, the shoulder vultures are going to make snide remarks and laugh. But who cares what they have to say...not us for sure. Smack them:--)


Speck

Dedication

Everyone has dedication to some thing in one form or another. For me, dedication means to carry through with my goals and dreams until they become a reality. My main goal is to write, second is to have a large press publish more than one of my novels. In other words, I want to succeed with my writing. Of course, when I first started, I did so not with the thought to become published. I assumed that was impossible for me. After all, the published authors were special.

Well, guess what? I’m special too. I may not write like other authors but that doesn’t make my work lesser than theirs, just different. What makes me special is the fact that I have persevered. I move forward. I no longer whisper that I am a writer. I tell everyone that will listen. I submit, receive rejections, and submit again, and I learn everything I can about my craft. Day after day, I practice to make my writing better. This is dedication.

To succeed, I have to set goals, stay focused on them and never give up on my abilities. That’s what being dedicated is all about.

Judy

Anxiety and Self-doubt

In Heather Sellers' book Page after Page she says in order to learn how to write every day, "writers have to gently embrace ambivalence, anxiety, not-sure-ness."

Usually, I have my blog entry planned a week in advance; not the words, but the idea is formed in my head enough where I can type it up with ease, edit it a couple times, and then hit "publish post." But not this week. I drew a blank. What did I have to offer of value to anyone? There are many members on StoryCrafters whose experience in the field of writing surpasses mine. These peers--can I even call them that since I am so lame compared to them--post in the Bragging Rights section about their latest sales, while I have struggled along for the past three years squeaking out only one sale, a finished novel that might never go anywhere, and another whose progress seems destined to stay at the 15,200 words I wrote for NaNo. And yet, here is Sellers telling me I have to embrace these feelings. What kinds of drugs is this woman doing, and where in the heck can I get some?

"Anyone can start writing," claims Sellers. "To keep on creating and grow as a writer, you also believe you suck." Ok, now I'm sitting here screaming, "She understands me!" but she says it's a good thing I feel this way.

What? How can that possibly be? I must read more.

Then Sellers tells me, I have to start looking at self-doubt and anxiety in a whole new way. "Being unsure," she says, "is one of the things that helps you steer in revision." So, there is a good reason to feel this way. Hmmm...

What do you know, experiencing self-doubt and anxiety doesn't make me a worse writer, it actually helps me. Who would have thought? Now, I'll have to think of self-doubt and anxiety as my friends instead of my enemies. I'll have to be careful they don't move in and take over my house, but without them hanging by my side, I wouldn't be pushed into making every article, every paragraph, every sentence, each word, the best it can be.

I guess, I could hope to be one of those writers whose first drafts are close to their published works. Maybe I would feel better if my resume had a long string of impressive writing credits. But that doesn't make me a writer. The actual art of sitting down and putting pen to paper or typing out words on a keyboard is what makes me a writer. No one can tell my articles or stories the same way I can. And that is the value behind them.

More on goals...

I've been doing a lot of reading about setting goals lately. One thing that caught my attention dealt with setting goals we have no control over. For example...I want to sell my dragon fantasy to Tor this year. Well, that is nice but it is something I have no control over. Someone else is in charge of buying for Tor. A better goal would be to submit my dragon fantasy to Tor this year. That is something I do have control over and a goal I can accomplish.

But we also need to break our goals down into bite size pieces we can chew easily. So, using my dragon fantasy novel for example, I have to look at it and decide what it needs before it can be sent to Tor. It most definitely needs some revision so if I revise just one chapter a week, it will take approximately 9 months.

I also need a synopsis, cover and query letter. That should be doable in a month. So, in ten months I should be able to accomplish the goal of sending dragon fantasy out.

By breaking down the "overall" goal into smaller pieces, I can see when I'm ahead of schedule, or behind and what I need to get done.

The most important thing about goals though...make them realistic. With my schedule I can't revise a chapter a day. Setting that as a goal is setting myself up for failure.

So, the point of my blog post is this: Take a look at the goals you set the first of the year. Are they something you have control over? Are they realistic for your situation? Do your goals need to be revised?

I posted a Writing Goal Workbook link at StoryCrafters today in the Potpourri section. It is a spreadsheet thing that is way over done for the way I work but maybe you can modify it or use bits and pieces. Check it out...check out your goals and get writing:--)


Speck

Changing it up...

Have you found yourself in a rut? You've been writing something for so long, perhaps it's the "Great American Novel," or maybe just an article that you've written, edited, and rewritten over a dozen times. You have reached a point where you can't even bear to open up word anymore.

What's a writer to do?

Change it up. Do something different for a day, a week, a month. Whatever it takes to come back with fresh eyes.

That's what this writer is doing now. For one month I've been laid up, not able to get to the computer much. I spent hours editing the first twenty chapters of my novel. I still have ten more to edit, plus plenty more to write but (and I never thought I'd say this), I'm sick of it. I open Word to write the next chapter, and everything sounds horrible to me. I pull out the chapters to keep on editing, and all I can think is I have to rewrite from the beginning. It's not that I lack confidence in the writing or the story. It's that I'm overloaded (or bored, if you must put it like that) with it. Keep in mind, this is my second draft. I've been writing this novel, or it's sequel, for nearly two years now.

So, I change it up. I work on mindless fanfiction, I work on my FTT article...or I RPG. RPG gives me an interactive element of meshing minds to come up with a plot line (which usually wind up totally crazy and convoluted...but that's half the fun). I don't care about how WELL I'm writing it, because it's a 200 word post at most, and if I'm an adverb whore, nobody cares. It gives me an excuse to let my imagination go insane without being too harsh on WHAT I'm writing. Then, when I get back to my novel's pages, I feel like I can focus on the 'proper' way to write, and do better at it.

So if you feel overloaded, bored, or ready to pull your hair out because you can't get something perfect...Change it up. Focus on something else, even something that has nothing to do with writing, for a while. Give your eyes, and your internal editor, a break for as long as you need to feel refreshed. Then go back. We all need a vacation...even our 'great works' deserve a break now and then.

Writing Classes

Are writing classes worth the time and effort? I’m on assignment 10 of the Long Ridge Writers Course and feel I can look back over the past year and say, yes, absolutely.

I’ve lived just long enough to be skeptical of anything that seems too easy. When I took the aptitude test and passed; well, I was my worst enemy. I allowed all those negative thoughts like; oh, they accept everyone, to dampen my joy. My husband tried to convince me otherwise. Then Student’s Services called and personally praised my essay. I must confess my ego took flight.

I sailed through the assignments until I hit number 8. The instructor wanted a rewrite! How could she possibly ask me for a rewrite? It’s funny, as a newbies, we want honest critiques of our work and on the other hand, we’re devastated when the person reading our work didn’t see the brilliance of our masterpiece. Even some seasoned writers have difficulties with this. I asked one instructor if she has a hard time letting an editor critique her work. She said she’s come to a place where she enjoys the challenge of working with the editor to make that piece the best it can be. This is the attitude I’m adopting, because it’s open and allows for the freedom of learning.

I took this course because writing is what I love. A year ago, I didn’t have a clue what show, don’t tell meant. I didn’t understand the art of writing tight. I’m still not a master, but at least now, I have a glimpse what the editors are looking for. I’ve had my share of bruising and my skin has thickening. I’m submitting more work so now the rejections will start and I’m glad I’ve had a few knocks to prepare for them.

Put your work out there for critiques and open your mind to accept them as a helpful tool. Story Crafters has many places for you to get this experience. Speck recently did a workshop on the art of critiquing, copy and print it out. When you get your manuscript back that has a line-by-line critique, full of marks, read through it quickly. Then put it away for a few days and let it simmer, pull it out and start the real work of writing… the rewrite. Story Crafters has every level of writer, there are bound to be critiques you agree with, and some you don’t. It’s the experience you owe yourself and your writing.

After a year of classes and hanging out at Story Crafters, I fully appreciate the idea of giving to other writers. Let’s help each other reach our goals. Pass it on. Study hard, good writing doesn’t just happen, it’s work and it’s a life long journey. Enjoy.

Laura A. Bethuy

Posted by Speck to get her started. Welcome to the StoryCrafters blog team:--)

Resolve to Resolution

I tried hard today to come up with something other than resolutions to write about. However, it’s New Years Day and resolution is on my mind, just not in the way you may think.

All over the world today people are jotting down their resolutions for the New Year. They are resolving to be better people, to give to the poor, to do their part to make the world a better place. Some resolutions are not so noble. Some folks are resolving to lose weight, exercise, eat better. There are those who will resolve to make 2007 the year they marry, go after that longed for promotion or pay off their credit cards. (good luck on that one) Regardless of what we resolve to accomplish in the upcoming year, or how vehement we are at this moment that we will succeed, there is a voice in the back of our brain whispering,

“It ain’t gonna happen kiddo…why put yourself through all this.”

I decided this morning before I got out my journal and began my yearly list of resolutions to first look into the formal definition of the word “resolution”. (by the way, I did not go back to see if what I had resolved to do in 06 had actually been accomplished), I got out my tattered old Webster’s and did a Wiktionary search on -line. Just as I suspected. Resolution is the act of resolving to accomplish a certain thing; bummer. I was hoping to find a definition that did not hold me to such a high standard. So I continued my online search of the word, hoping against hope that a definition of the word more suited to my personality might emerge… Eureka! A little research really can go a long way. Now this definition of resolution is one I can work with.

Resolution:

Refers to the sharpness and clarity of an image.

You know, as in the resolution of your computer screen or TV set.

I opened my journal and began to write. ‘On this New Year Day 2007, I resolve to bring into clarity the image I have always carried of myself. The image that I am a writer. I will spend this year sharpening my skills as a writer. I will not let the visual I have had of myself since childhood, that of a wordsmith, tapping out the next great American novel be muddied any longer. I will clear the snow from the screen, bring every dream of authorship I have ever had into perfect focus. I will bring that image to life.

”As soon as I closed my journal, my resolve set right, came that little voice.

“It ain’t gonna happen kiddo…why put yourself through all this”.

So I opened my journal and wrote,

“PS….turn the volume all the way down and rip the knob off.”

Here’s hoping that we all clarify and sharpen whatever resolution we may make today.

Happy New Year



Sherry (aka) Gwanny


Posted by Speck cause blogger is still giving Gwanny a hard time. I was supposed to do this yesterday but was lazy:-)

Romance or Erotica?

Romantic Times explained it this way:

Erotica - Contains explicit sexual content. Anything goes. Sex is the story. The descriptions are frank and the language graphic. Don’t look for a happy ending here.

Erotic Romance - The hero and heroine make love very early on in these books. No Flowery euphemisms in bed, just straight-talking graphic language. There’s a solid plot and the sex scenes are integral to the relationship. Although multiple partners are acceptable, most couples are in a monogamous relationship and there’s a happy ending.

Hot Romance - Sexual tension permeates these books, and the love scenes, although steamy, are not as frank as in erotic romance. The language and descriptions are tamer. They follow a strict romance format: monogamous relationships and happy endings.

I believe Romantic Times' descriptions are excellent.

Now you ask why I am writing about this subject. Well, for one thing, I had a conversation with a friend and she was really confused about the differences between the genres. She wrote a love scene and was really upset with herself about it possibly being erotica. I read it and no it wasn’t, but to her (she’d never written a love scene before) this was a line crossing. She had entered a place that subconsciously she was embarrassed about, which is very common not only with authors but readers also.

As for me, I write romance--Fantasy and Contemporary Romance, and I'm proud of it. Why? Mainly because I love to read it. I also write love scenes in my novels. Why? Because that is the natural flow of what two people in love end up doing. So what is wrong with that? Well, if you’re honest, there’s nothing wrong with two adults in love making love.

I don’t write Erotica or Erotic Romance. I’m not even sure if I ever will but I don’t believe in saying never. That always comes back to bite you. So if one day I do make an attempt at it, I will do so with my eyes open and focused on the story.

Each of these genres has large followings. Each one sells tons of books. It’s up to the reader to choose what they want to read. If you’ve never read any of the above genres, look them up, buy one of the better authors and read it. Then you decide whether or not you like it.

Now, as an author, I feel in my heart that to close the door to an avenue of growth will stunt my ability to write. If I decide to write Erotica one day, does this make me a bad person? No, I don’t believe so. If I end up writing a thriller, I am still the same person I was when I wrote romance. So just as you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover don’t judge an author by her genre.

For those who have never read any of these genres, keep in mind that just because you don’t read them doesn’t place them in the off-limits category because of the sex/love scenes. Just like in Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, you might like Green Eggs and Ham.

Judith Leger


Posted by Speck for Judy, home on vacation with no internet:--)

Why does it matter?

Hey all...

I've been reading Miss Snarks Happy Hooker Crap-o-meter most of the week and had an epiphany early this morning.

One of the things she mentions quite often is why? Why does it matter, why should she care? I know we have to hook the reader, agent, or editor. But I applied this question to my novel and came up something I thought I'd share.

For example...in last year's NaNo novel...Dragons of Jade...I have the bad guy killing dragons. But it hit me this morning as I was snuggled under my covers trying to sleep...why does it matter if the dragons die? I need to have an important reason the killing must stop. Just cause I like dragons doesn't count. Talk about a not so polite way to wake up:--( Sure my dragons have special abilities...but what does that mean to the people in the novel? Why should they care if all the dragons are gone? I've got some pondering to do....sigh.

In a romance, we know the big stakes are the hero/heroine getting together and living happily ever after. Them not being happy is the "why it matters, why we should care". For most romance novels, that is enough.

But...for other stories...we need a powerful "why" to hook the reader.

So....take a day or two if needed. Ponder your work in progress and see if your "why" is powerful enough.


Speck

Setting realistic goals

In a few short days, we will bid farewell to 2006 and welcome in the new year. Since I began writing full-time, I've used the final days of the year as a kind of review - what did I accomplish and where did I fall short.

The funny thing about goals is that you have to be realistic when you set them. On the heels of NaNo I posted I would finish "A Shepherd's Journey" this month. Who in the heck was I kidding? I knew how busy this month would be, and I also knew how much research I needed to do to move forward with this project. Yet, I set that lofty goal knowing I had an ice cube's chance in hell of achieving it.

Some might say it's good to push yourself; I would tend to agree. But when you continually set goals which you can't possibly meet, all you do is guarantee failure. And over time, not obtaining your goals will affect how you approach your writing.

Putting together a list of realistic goals takes a while, but I suggest every writer compiles one. Consider what you can honestly dedicate to each item on that list. While it might feel good in the beginning to write out 30 things you wish to accomplish in the next six months, you will soon become bogged down when it is March and you haven't even finished the first 3 items. Just because one person's goals include a dozen writing related projects for the first quarter of 2007, doesn't mean you have to work at the same pace. You are the only one who knows how much time you can dedicate to your writing.

After sitting down to write this blog entry, I thought about my own little list of goals posted in the Elevator section. I think it's time to take my own advice and review it to see if my goals are realistic. I still want to push myself, but I also want to be sure I am able to complete items on my list on a fairly regular basis. If I can't, then those feelings of failure will come creeping around the corner, and I don't have the time to waste in dealing with them. Do you?

Cheryl

Merry Christmas

That's right, Merry Christmas. The day is almost upon us. It's sorta lurking over the shoulder laughing at us as we make that last trip to the store with everyone else in town.

Take the weekend off from everything but enjoying the family. Of course I know some of us will be cooking and such, but put the writing aside along with all the things that can wait. Enjoy the time you have with your kids, grandkids and each other. Time is a precious gift, one that we can't ever get back. When my kids were little, someone gave me a pix with poem. I don't remember it all but part of it was this...

"...cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow, cause babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow, so quiet down cobwebs dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby cause babies don't keep."

Making memories with our family is so important. So, take time this holiday season to make some great family memories.


Speck

Fourth of July 07

I know, I know, we haven’t gotten through Christmas yet-why think about the Fourth of July? Because that’s what the major magazine editors are working on…issues due out in July. (Well, probably June but there aren’t any holidays in June so to make my point I needed to use July J )
It is going to be tempting to write a cute story about something that happened to you or someone you know this Christmas. Your muse may even give you a sweet little fiction short that will be perfect for your favorite women’s magazine. But editors don’t run after Christmas stories the way Wal-Mart runs after Christmas sales.

Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t hang onto the story/article, filing it away until next year. It may be a good idea to write the story while the tree is still up, using the visuals to inspire you. The minute the tree comes down though, we should begin to think of stories and articles about summertime. A Fourth of July bar-b-q where the slab of ribs -on closer inspection- looks a little too human for your characters taste. Or friends June wedding that is called off at the last minute because the bride -to -be just caught her maid of honor loving up on the prospective groom. If non-fic is your thing, you might have a great travel article about hiking and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains that you have been meaning to write.

If freelance is your choice, or at least what you want to do with your writing to make some money while writing the next great American novel, learn to be timely. Search out your favorite magazine markets and find out how far in advance they plan their issues. Most e-zines for example layout their issues about a month ahead of publication. You can send them your Christmas story in October. But, if you want to send a Christmas story to Readers Digest, or Good Housekeeping, you want to get it to the editor no later than July. Each magazine differs on deadlines for submitting timely articles so do your research. You don’t want your article rejected by an editor with a note saying they loved the story but you got it to them too late for inclusion in their December 2007 issue. GASP!

While the weather outside is frightful, dream of warmer days ahead. Picture yourself or your characters on a sailboat off the coast of Maine wrestling with the great Atlantic. Or maybe a beach house in the Bahamas, the site of a gruesome murder. If you are like me, warm weather brings to mind gardening and maybe doing an article on healing herbs you can grow in small spaces. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s finished and ready for submission by the end of January.

And don’t despair if you have written a Valentine’s story or an Easter article but haven’t submitted it yet. There are always the e-zines, (and yes, some of them do pay) as well as magazine contests where your story may find a home. And, if nothing else, you can file it away for those same holidays in 2008. I have a filing cabinet with all of my writing stuff in it. Some things are filed by story/article titles, but some are filed chronologically. The stories I write over this holiday season will be filed away under June, for submission then. It’s a good system I learned from studying how the pros of freelance run their businesses. You may want to give it a try.
In June of 2007, while you are sunbathing in the backyard, sipping on a wine cooler and editing your novel think "snow". Then grab your Christmas story and dash to the post office. The goodie that fills your stocking Christmas 2007 may just be a check from Woman’s Day.

Show vs. Tell

As a writer, I now have the ability to surf the web or go to the library to research writing techniques. That’s all very good, but to achieve what published writers do, the best way that I've found is to read the type of books, articles and stories that I enjoy and would like to write. The next step is to utilize what information I gather from reading and put that into my own writing. This is where the test is passed or failed. To touch my readers and to invoke a reaction from them, I have to show not tell the story.

Webster's Dictionary meanings:

Show – to cause or permit to be seen, exhibit, reveal, disclose, a demonstrative display, a theatrical presentation.

Tell – narrate, say, to inform.

When I first started to write, I often wondered about the difference between the two. After much research, I realized that the main ingredient for accomplishing showing was missing in my work. I wasn’t including the five senses in each scene. No matter what I describe, I have to add the senses to it. Does the grass tickle your bare feet? Cool the bottoms off, dampen them with the dew? Are birds chirping and flying across the clear blue sky? Is there a strong pang of black coffee in your mouth and the rich aroma of the steam traveling up your nostrils?

I find that when I immerse my whole mind into that of the character’s Point of View that I’m in during the scene, the showing becomes almost second nature. How do you do this? Well, I am an observer in that character’s mind. Every reaction, touch, and thought that he or she has or feels, I share and I put all of this into words. Sure, I don’t use all of what I've writen but sometimes it’s better to have too much than too little. As an author I can go back and review my work and change, delete or add to what I’ve already have in the scene.

For me, my favorite method is to show by pretending I am staring through a telescope. What does that mean? Well, when I am in my character’s Point of View, I take notice of all about me, atmosphere, room, decorations, taste, smell, etc. Not only do I have external aspects to consider but also internal ones also.

In other words, I don’t want to tell a story like I would at the office to a friend. I want to put on paper a black and white movie that will play the story out for the reader. I want them to not only see the beautiful scenes but I want them to feel the anguish and laughter of the characters inside and out. When I do this, I have a longer version of what I want to say. I create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind thus causing them to react to the story. One way that I do this is to replace linking verbs with more active ones. I also use very descriptive adjectives and nouns.

In the end, my story is stronger, fresher and has a wonderful flavor to it.

Practice with the senses. See how this will work with your story. I’m happy I did.

Judith Leger
www.judithleger.blogspot.com
www.judithleger.netfirms.com


Posted by Speck for Judy

Jumping Up and Down

I had this week's blog entry figured out in my mind days ago. I even considered writing it and saving the entry as a draft to make my life easier. I' m glad I didn't, because late Monday night my free newsletter from Writer2Writer popped into my Inbox.

Do you know what was inside that newsletter? My first paid piece.

Wow, does saying that feel good! So now, I am in a euphroic mood because not only am I writer -- I am a paid writer. While I consider all my clips valuable, it somehow feels different to say I got paid for my work. Like it validates the opinions of those who have believed in me since I started my writing career.

I hope I don't embarrass her when I say this, but I owe a tremendous amount of debt to our dear Sassy. She was the first person outside of my family and friends to tell me the articles she saw were good enough to publish. As Editor of Destiny3 Fiction she gave me the confidence to move forward with my ideas and to continue plugging away at my writing when I felt I was headed towards failure.

Thank you Sassy. I will never forget it!

So as I jump up and down, trying to type this little note to you all, let me say one other thing (if I can find the right keys), for all those of you who are still waiting for news of an acceptance -- it will come. If you are determined enough to make it happen -- it will.

For those of you who have already known the joy I am feeling, good for you. Can you remember what it was like when you got that first check? I bet you can, no matter how long ago it was.

And to all of us, as we leave 2006 behind and move into the New Year, let it be with firm resolve that we decide to make 2007 the best year (yet) for our writing careers. With all of our friends at StoryCrafters behind us, we can make it happen.

Good luck!

Cheryl

The Disease of Writing

"Against the disease of writing one must make special precautions, since it is a dangerous and contagious diesase." Peter Abelard, 1079-1142

I found this quote the other day and just had to save it. For me, writing is an obsession. No matter how often I get discouraged, I still come back to it. I love the "rush" that happens when the words just flow, the way time seems to stand still and everything around me disappears. Everything except the story.

I even like the hard times. Those rejection letters without comments cause me to study my writing and improve my craft. The days when words come hard give me reason to consider the direction I'm trying to go and decide if it really is "right" for the story.

I like the many things that go along with the life of a writer too. The 3 a.m. visits from the plot bunny, the "ah ha" moment in the middle of shampooing my hair, or how that problem scene just seems to come together about the time I hit 75 mph driving down the highway and I have to pull over and make a note.

I like brainstorming ideas with writing buddies. I like just chatting with other writers, knowing they know how it feels to get that form rejection or what's it's like when the words don't want to be put on paper.

One of my favorite writer things to do is just listen to more experienced writers. When I was growing up, my grandmother had a stitched picture of an owl sitting on a limb. The poem under said..."The wise old owl was a wise old bird. The more he heard, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. The wise old owl was a wise old bird."

For some reason, that has stuck with me over the years. And you know what...it's true. It's amazing the things you can learn just by listening. One of these days, I want to be the one new writers are listening to and learning from. So, today I study, I listen to wiser folks and do my best to apply the knowledge.

For me, writing is definitely a disease. It has consumed me. Heart and soul. There is no cure...I've got it bad. And today, I don't mind at all:-)

Speck

187 Pages

One hundred and eighty seven pages of text. That's what this writer will be doing on her unplanned 'vacation' from the keyboard. Editing. One hundred eighty five novel pages, and two pages of an unfinished article. Nearly one hundred thousand words. It seems like so many, until I saw them printed out in black and white, printed by PIP, paper and ink. Suddenly it seems both small and overwhelming at the same time.

When a writer is cut off from their keyboard and doesn't care for hand-writing, what are they to do? Apparently, they edit. They read, and take time off.

This writer will be enjoying the holidays and editing the first 1/3 of her novel. Using notes from beta's and thoughts that have been nagging in my own head, I will drag out the red pen and move to strike. It's a task that I've been longing for, and afraid of since I started this rewrite. Now knowing where I went wrong, and sometimes still unsure I have to face my fears of finding horrid writing and unleash the internal editor I've kept chained up for six months.

So, here's to food and drink to the unchained internal editor.

Here's to the holidays.

Here's to continuing on our paths to success, however life lets us.

P and P

I am blessed to have a dear friend who is one of the best psychologists I have ever known. She goes right to the heart of a problem, never dancing around a subject. Life is short.I talked to her once at great length about procrastination. Of course it took me a while to get around to the subject as I was afraid of what she has to say about me. Nevertheless, I had to know why I’m this way so I can cut it out.

If you want to continue being stuck in the rut of “I’ll do it later”, then close this blog now. But if you want to stop this nonsense and get on with it, then read on.

“Procrastinators are perfectionists.” Linda gave me a minute to let this sink in.

How can that be? Procrastinators are notorious for never accomplishing tasks or putting them off until they must be done then running around like a chicken with our heads cut off trying to finish up. Perfectionists, on the other hand are folks who strive for perfection. They don’t stop until their task is free of imperfections.

“There is no such thing as perfect Sherry. Think about it.”

I did.

What happens to a perfectionist when they realize that what they hope to accomplish isn’t turning out perfectly? They quit. They make excuses. They put off the task because it isn’t turning out perfect.

Hmm…sounds much like a procrastinator doesn’t it? That’s because the two go hand in hand.Now that we understand that procrastination/perfectionism is a two edged sword, what do we do about it? The answers are not as hard as you may think.

First, we have to identify which type of P&P we are. There are two types; normal and neurotic. Let’s start with the ‘normal perfectionist’. They set high standards for themselves but drop their standards if the situation requires it. A normal P&P will set high standards that are just beyond their reach, enjoy the process as well as the outcome, and bounce back from failure quickly and with energy. We (I say we here because I have identified myself as this type), keep our failures and fears within bounds. We see mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow and we react positively to helpful criticism. (If we understand it that is)

Then there is the neurotic perfectionist. They never feel that they have done their job well enough. They are very intolerant of mistakes and extremely self-critical because they set standards beyond reach and reason. They are never satisfied by anything less than perfection and become horribly depressed when they fail. In other words, they set themselves up for failure. They become pre-occupied with failure, see errors as evidence of unworthiness and become overly defensive when criticized.

No matter which type of P&P you have identified yourself as being here are a few ways to kill the beast and get on with a productive, healthy and happy existence. By the way, I don’t know where this list came from originally but Dr. Linda Willett gave it to me.

Tricks to deal with procrastination:
 Take advantage of impulsiveness. When you get the urge to start working on that project, start right then. Don't put it off.
 Figure out what you need to do first. Then do it. What needs to come next will probably fall into place as you're doing the first step.
 Use your imagination. If something seems terribly hard to do, go over it in your mind, imagine doing it, or talk about it aloud with a friend.
 Be your own best friend: be positive, not critical, of yourself.
 Work in a study group
 Ask for help Use your friends. Talk about it with someone; let all your frustrations out in an e-mail to a friend or family member, etc. This may help get a block out of the way. (Don't spend too much time and let this turn into another procrastination technique, though!)
 Remember that nobody's perfect. Don't expect your work to be either.
 Rewards: give yourself rewards when you complete a task--and really earn it, don't just let yourself have it if you haven't accomplished your goal
 Tell people what you're going to do. Be affirmative, direct, and clear. Say "I will ..." (not "I'm going to try to ..." or " I think maybe I'll ..." or ...)
 Get off the phone. Yes, you. Delegate when possible. If you're the president of the ScubaSurfing club, you don’t have to do ALL the minor tasks involved in running the organization.Ask others to help you.
 Avoid busy-work rationalizations: Your room can in fact be messy.
 Relax before you start. This will help deal with fears and perfectionism, which you can handle better when you're relaxed.
 "The Secret to conquering procrastination": Start now. Just begin. Don’t agonize, do. It will be much easier to work on it once you’ve begun.
 Ask yourself if this is a piano. A what? A piano. Is what you're working on a piano or a barn frame (picture?)? Not everything you do has to be perfect. You can spend less time on the little things and when a piano (or a term paper) comes around, you can spend extra time on the minor details.

I’ll close with this; a parable called The South African Monkey Trap. Dr. Linda says the reason so many P&P’s never change is because we can’t let go of our idea of perfectionism, even when we know our thinking is wrong. I have this parable on my bulletin board next to my puter. See if it helps you as it does me.

The trap was developed by villagers to catch the many small monkeys in that part of the world. It involves a hollowed out coconut shell chained to a stake. The coconut has some rice inside which can be seen through the small hole. The hole is just big enough so that the monkey can put his hand in, but too small for his fist to come out after he grabs hold of the rice.

Tempted by the rice, the monkey reaches in and is trapped. He is unable to see that it’s his own fist that traps him. He rigidly holds onto the rice because he values it. He cannot let go, so he is trapped.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be trapped by P&P. I want to succeed in my endeavors so I am learning to open my hand. I hope you will too.


*Posted by Speck for Gwanny cause blogger is being a pain:--)

StoryCrafters

Procrastination

Top ten reasons I procrastinate:

1.



You've seen this, right? Okay, I read Speck's entry about writing less during the holidays and not stressing over it. While that is very true, today I had the distinct displeasure of realizing that I am still a procrastination queen. So, while I flitted away another hour in a hot bath, I decided to make a wish list of sorts for this blog. I am a bit early with the New Year's Resolutions and I generally don't make them. I feel like I'm setting myself up for failure that way. Here is a Procrastinator's Wish List for the Coming Year. (Forget about it in December as our illustrious troll has given us permission).

In 2007:
I will set a schedule and stick to it.
I will learn to say no to things that are unnecessary.
I will learn to say no when I do not have the ability to help and quit trying to find every solution under the sun.
I will hide my MSN profile more often.
I will wake up early enough to exercise so that the body is fit as well as the mind.
I will find new ways to organize my thoughts and writing life.
I will stick to my commitments and not whimp out.
I will continue to reach for my goals, and when I reach them, I will set new ones.
I will love much, laugh often, and enjoy life at its finest.
and Sassy's own personal goal (I will earn my tattoo in 2007).

Maybe your list isn't as long as mine, or maybe it is longer. Either way, December will soon be over -- yes, I know it just got here-- and The Elevators will begin in earnest. Now is the time to take an evaluation of your career goals for 2007 and break them into reasonable time periods. Don't overload yourself but at the same time, make it a challenge to rise to the top. I'm sure you will agree that the sweetest victory comes through struggle.

Be careful on the roads now. Holiday shopping can be vicious!

Madame Sassy

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

What's that got to do with today's blog? Nothing:-) I'm just a bit cool and since it is Dec. first, it seemed appropriate.

Actually, why not? Christmas, or whatever December holiday you celebrate, is a general time of giving. We give to charities, friends, family and who knows how many others. But what do we give ourselves?

How about permission to write a little less during this holiday season. There are so many things going on and who needs the guilt.

And of course more time with the family. I say enjoy them while you can. The kids only stay small so long. You will always have dishes to wash, laundry to do and things to dust.

But don't forget to take time for yourself. Get that hot bubble bath, quiet alone time or bite of chocolate you've been wanting. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to get all the things you need to do done.

Oh...when someone asks what you'd like for Christmas, tell them. My favorite gift is that gift card from Books a Million. That lets me get the books I want, whether it be another writing book or just something to read for pleasure.

Now...if I can just find the dogs barking Jingle Bells cd:--)

Speck

Oh NaNo, where have you gone?

My first NaNo experience has almost come to an end. And guess what, I am nowhere near the 50K word count I thought I would hit by November 30th. Real life has this way of slinking in and taking over when I least expect it, and November has been full of real life trials and tribulations.

So let's see, I can do one of two things. I can sulk about it. This would include beating myself up over not being a better writer or not being dedicated enough to my career to have met my goal. There would also be a heavy dose of self-doubt included because then I would wonder if I am cut out for this business or if I really can write anything worthy of publication.

I'm really not liking this option very much because I do believe I am a good writer who is dedicated to her career. I know I am cut out for this business because writing is all I want to do with my life at this point, and I know I can write something worthy of publication.

I guess that leaves me with the second option. I can write as much as I physically am able to over the next few days until NaNo ends. Then I can pat myself on the back for writing a large portion of this book in a much shorter time frame than it took me to write six chapters of my first one. I will need to reassess my goals for the rest of the year and see if they might have to change to make room for me to finish my NaNo project by then. And finally, I will congratulate myself on a job well done because when NaNo ends on November 30th, I will still have more words down on paper - technically on my hard drive - than I did on November 1st. I did not allow my internal editor to strike down every sentence I thought was less than perfect, and I did not give up when real life turned me down a different path than I intended to go.

No matter what your final word count is on November 30th, I hope you too will take pride in your accomplishments. Being a writer is not an easy gig, and the fact that you have the determination and motivation to break in or continue in this business, is worthy of respect and praise.

Cheryl

Comparing, or her's is better than mine.

I've become quite unhappy with my writing lately. I know I shouldn't be but I am.

I think it all started about a week ago when I read Deborah LeBlanc's first book Family Inheritance. It isn't often I sit and read until I'm finished with a book. In fact, I have two started that I haven't picked up in weeks. They just don't do "it" for me...whatever "it" is. Then Thursday I read Deborah's second book, Grave Intent and became quite unhappy with my writing.

When I finished the book, I had several questions. For example, how did she weave plot, setting, narrative, dialogue and all the other bits and pieces together so well? How did she make me forget about the real world and join her characters in theirs? I'm a very quick reader...yet at times I couldn't read the pages fast enough. Most importantly, I wanted to know how to do those things in my writing. There must be some secret I don't know about right?

In chat last night, Mary happened to mention that comparing your writing to another's was asking for writer's block. And that is exactly what I've done. I've looked so much at the negative in my writing this past week or so that the joy is gone. So now what do I do?

First, I look back and see how far I've come and how much I've improved. I'm going to read the last couple rejection letters I've gotten with personal comments and invitations to send more to them. Then, I'm going to plant myself in front of the puter and write.

I think the last is most important. Writing is what makes us better writers. Just as my son gets better the more he practices the piano, I get better by writing.

I'm also going to get Deborah's third book. And I'm going to read and enjoy her mastery of the craft. Then I'm going to go write some more and one of these days my readers will lose themselves in my character's world too.

Speck

StoryCrafters

StoryCrafters

Turning Real Life into Fiction

Uncle Jimmy popped the videotape from Christmas Eve into the VCR. The family all gathered around to watch video of Aunt Louise singing while drunk on egg nog. Nobody told her it was the spiked one! Mixed with Aunt Louise’s completely original rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, the whole family heard Aunt Pam’s high pitched laughter and Mom Reese’s scolding.

Now, here is a story waiting to happen. But, not in its present form. Can anyone see where you could go? What if Aunt Pam and Mom Reese were talking about the new addition to the family - Cousin Jennie’s new husband who everyone thinks is a bit dense and only after her newfound lottery money? And, Cousin Jennie has a front row seat in front of the television. Cousin Jennie already dislikes Aunt Pam because of past holiday experiences. Really, this story could go anywhere. You could take this into a humorous piece or even murder plotting.

Who says you can’t take boring real life stories and make it profitable? Not me! In fact, I’m banking on it. So, pull out your memories and begin to play. Change names to protect the guilty. Turn dismal relationship endings into enduring love. The past is yours to change, even if only in writing.

Can’t think of anything that you find interesting? Then scan the newspaper for unusual human interest stories and begin to ask "what if?" From one such article, I created my story "Fine Print." The story about Andy Fischer selling his forehead to Snore Stop as a billboard got me to thinking about temporary tattoos and the consequences of having the wrong message on your forehead. So, I created the rebellious son having money woes. He got his comeuppance through a round about way. Try wearing "Valtrex, It works on my Herpies" on your forehead while meeting your girlfriend’s father-in-law and rich business associates.

I hope this gave you some ideas! Now get writing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

That's right! It's time to take the day off from everything but football, parades and help out with the cooking and eating of massive amounts of great food.

But, while everyone is on the couch after that last piece of pie, let's think about some of the things we are truly thankful for.

I'll start us off...

Our families...sure we may not get along all the time but they are "our" family, quirks and all.

Our friends...I'd like to give a big Texas shout out to Sassy and Judy in Louisana and Mary up in Oregon. Having friends who understand what it is like to be a writer is a wonderful thing and at StoryCrafters there are some great friends. Some I'd be proud to call family.

Our freedom...to get together, to make complete fools of ourselves, to come and go when and where we please. We take so many of these freedoms for granted so take a moment to think about them and say thanks.

Here are a few more things I'm thankful for...hubby that supports my writing and believes in me, reliable transportation (hate those car payments though), puters and the internet:--), thick socks, hot cocoa, milk chocolate and chocolate milk, kids that enjoy reading, finding escaped hamsters before the snake does, instant messaging, Long Ridge, StoryCrafters, pecan pie, bar-b-que and all the fixings...

I could go on and on...but you get the idea.

Tell us some of your favorite things and share the joy. Then go back for that second or third piece of pie:--)



Speck

The Write Time

Have you ever noticed that we writers seem to have talismanic behaviors, oddities that help us in some strange way to achieve our daily writing goals? For example, I have to watch Imus in the Morning, drink 2 cups of coffee, eat a nutri-grain bar, and make a fresh pitcher of iced tea before I can begin to write each day. When any one of these habits is missed, it is difficult for me to get going. My friend Rhette Devane (aka Madhatter) needs nothing more than a good cup of coffee each morning to get her writing day started.

I doubt that any two writers have the same approach to gearing themselves up for a few hours spent in solitude, grinding out a story. One writer I know walks the dog at 5 am, clearing his mind for the day. Another writer friend takes an hour in the hot tub relaxing and giving rise to her imagination. My brother in law, a songwriter has a worry stone he rubs during his compositions. He claims that without it he can’t write a single line.

I remember reading a creative writing self- help book that said if you don’t get up every morning and immediately write for one solid hour, then you ought to pack it in; you aren’t a writer. Desiring to be a writer I began to arise each morning and without benefit of Imus or iced tea, started to scribble away. This lasted about a week. I kept falling back to sleep before the hour had lapsed. Initially I became discouraged, telling myself that I must not be a writer after all. This time of discouragement did not last however, for as we know a writer must write just as we must breathe. I soon returned to my routine and was once again writing away.

The experience caused me to wonder just how other writers, the ones who became famous that is, begin their writing day. What I discovered is that each writer has his or her own specific way of doing it. Some are sensible, while others made me downright uncomfortable. All of them were fascinating however, so I decided it might be fun to share them with you. If you think that rubbing your miniature pigs belly before starting up, or talking to your now dead grandmother is strange, just take a look at these famous writers.

*Gustave Flaubert kept his lover’s slippers and mittens in his desk drawer.
*Alexandre Dumas, the elder, ate an apple at 7 a.m. each morning under the Arc de Triomphe. *Anne Rivers Siddons’ husband reports that she makes a nest of papers, like a mouse getting ready for winter, then she starts walking into walls just before she begins a new novel.
*Elena Castedo, author of Paradise repeats these numbers; 30,53,57. There are 30 years between Homers Odyssey and The Illiad,; 53 between Henry Roths first and second books, and 57 is the age of Cervantes when he wrote his first and greatest piece of literature.
* Alice Hoffman, author of Here on Earth gets up at 4:45 am, drinks lots of strong coffee and writes until someone else wakes up.
*Stephen King goes through these motions when he sits down to write; “I have a glass of water or I have a cup of tea. I have my vitamin pill I have my music; I have my same seat; and the papers are all arranged in the same places.”
*Gertrude Stein scribbled her poems on odd scraps of paper in her Ford, “Godiva,” parked at the curb. She had discovered her lofty position in the driver’s seat was an inspiring spot in which to write.
*It is alleged that Henry David Thoreau could swallow his nose. He also talked with forest animals. “I talked to [the woodchuck] in quasi forest lingo, baby talk, at any rate in a conciliatory tone, and thought that I had some influence on him.”
*Charles Dickens walked twenty to thirty miles a day. He also placed objects on his desk in exactly the same position, always set his bed in north/south directions, and touched certain objects three times for luck.
*Hans Christian Andersen put a sign next to his bed that read “I am not really dead.”
*Saint-Pol-Roux hung the inscription “The Poet Is Working” from his door while he slept. *Emily Dickinson wouldn’t see her dressmaker, go out of the house, or expose her handwriting. Her sister addressed all her letters.

And a few citing of sartorial eccentricities:
Edgar Allen Poe always wore black.
Emily Dickinson only white.
Mark Twain also attired himself in white, with shirts he personally designed that buttoned down the back.
Carl Sandburg sported a green eyeshade when he worked.
E. B. White tied on a surgical mask in public to protect himself from contagious diseases.
John Cheever donned his only suit of clothes when he went to his studio in the morning. He hung it up while he worked in his underwear, then dressed and returned home.
Allan Gurganus said he wears a moving man’s zip-up uniform because “I perspire so freely that I sweat my way through the fiction.”
Forest McDonald is said to write history on his rural Alabama porch - naked.

Unless you live way out in the country I don’t think sitting on your porch naked is such a good idea. But if that is the habit you adopt in order to write the next great American novel, then I say go for it. The point is that creating a ritual is vital for most writers, however strange or alarming these habits may seem to others.


Posted by Speck for Gwanny:--)

Self-doubt and leaping.

I always, in jest, call myself the Queen of Trauma Drama for what I put my characters through. If I am honest though, I am the Queen of Self-Doubt.

I could be Freudian and blame it on my parents. I could blame it on years of school-age trauma. I’m sure I could dig into my past and find a wealth of things to blame it on, but I won’t. Why? Because it doesn’t matter what caused it, I have it.

Most recently I’ve been ignoring it when it came ot my writing. I ‘know’ I can write. I believe I’m talented in it. So the writing itself hasn’t been the cause. No, instead I’ve been traveling the web on my breaks. I’ve spent time at blogs of Agents and their assistants. I’ve read about ‘nitwittery’ and ‘auto-no’s’.

Hey, who needs to doubt the writing, when you can doubt your ability to find an agent and/or publisher, right? After reading one particular post about some auto-no’s I started doubting how to do my novel.

The word count is going to be very high, that can be considered an auto-no. Okay, I could cut the novel in half and end it in the middle. It’s a very good, if a tad bit upsetting ending to those invested in the characters.

If I cut the novel in half, I have to consider the fact that I’d really want to present it as a series then. Oops, wait. Those are auto-no’s too. Either way, this book is a series in my heart, so I’m still facing that.

I know I can’t write a query letter to save my arse. That’s not self-doubt, that’s fact. But, I also know I have help in that area. Of course there’s the “Can I get the novel done in time? I set a goal for *this date*, but will it be accomplished?”

Then, this Monday I was forced to face my own self-doubt when the admins opened the Elevator. In the elevator I would have to announce, for all to see, my goals. I would be expected to meet them. Checked up on.

I’ll tell you what, my biggest flaw is lack of follow- through. I’ve wanted to write a novel for years and never gotten past the first few pages. I make commitments for so many things that I’ve never followed through on. My ‘dreams’ always seem to fly away on the wind. Here, at Storycrafter’s, the whole ‘world’ I’ve found could see my imminent failure if I posted those goals.

Yesterday I made that commitment post with shaking hands. I stared at the screen for two hours before I hit ‘submit’. My own self-doubt almost prevented me from making a solid commitment to something I believe in with all my heart, my novel.

I won’t tell you that I ‘got over’ my doubt, because I didn’t. I still stare at my post and say, “What have I done?” But, I’ll tell you how I did manage to hit submit after two hours of debate.

I closed my eyes.

Looking for a profound statement? Sorry, none here. I was scared out of my wits to make a commitment not only to my novel, but to writing quarterly ‘other’ items to submit. I’d HAVE to finish that article on FTT. Not only that, but I’d have to come up with others.

I wish I could say I did it because I’d had an epiphany. It simply isn’t true. The same facts were present when I hit submit as when I was waiting. I still knew my husband, though he didn’t understand, supported me. I still knew that I had capable reader’s to assist me. I still knew that I’d have the support of Storycrafter’s. Those were never in doubt.

What happened was I faced the fact. The same one that made me finally audition for local theatre shows five years ago after years of dreaming of being onstage. A simple sentence told to me by a performer I met and still admire.

Nearly six years ago I told him of my doubts of being able to audition. Standing there, at the stage door on Broadway, he reminded me he hadn’t started dancing until he was twenty. Despite that, he was standing there in the most intensive dance show ever. Then he said the one thing I’ll remember forever.

“If you do it and fail, you’ll have at least done it. If you don’t do it, you’ll never know what it felt like. You’ll always wonder what could have happened.”

He was as right about my performance dreams as he is now about my writing dreams.

It’s not an epiphany. It’s a leap. Not a leap of faith, a leap into the pits of self-doubt. I dare say I became successful in performance. Now it’s time to focus on this leap.

At least I know I’m not alone.

Sassy & Speck at the Con.

Here's a pix of Sassy and I at the conference. Can you guess who is who? I'll post a conference report soon.

Speck

The NaNo Experience

This is my first year participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNo). So what have I learned in the last fourteen days?

Let's see, the first thing was to stop procrastinating. I knew my story would take a fair amount of research, and while I did complete some, I could have done more if I didn't waste time surfing the Internet, and writing fan fiction stories so my friends could stroke my ego by telling me what a great writer I am. Note to self for next year's NaNo: Be prepared.

Then there was that little bit about character interview sheets and questionnaires. I've always kind of thought these things were dreamed up by writers who wanted to sound intelligent. They made good paper airplanes if you printed them out, and some of the questions could be down right interesting if I answered them myself - which I think I might still do. But with this story I finally bit the bullet and used the ones posted at the StoryCrafters forum, and I won't create another story without them. On numerous occasions I have referred to them to bring depth to my characters. In those character sheets I had posted specific details about my main character which have helped me to create a good picture of who he is. And because I filled these out early in the process, I knew what areas I needed to research before NaNo started. Next note to self: Never try to write a story without finding out who your characters are first.

So what else have I learned from my NaNo experience. I can write if I set tangible goals. I am more committed to my writing when I feel a little bit of pressure to get it done. Writing with a group of people is much more fun than doing it on my own. And, it's okay if my first draft is crappy, because that's what revisions are for. Last note to self: Make sure to sign up for NaNo every year.

Good luck everyone. I enjoy sharing NaNo with you.

Cheryl

It's Open!!!

Hey all...

Sassy and I decided we just can't wait any longer. We're going to open "The Elevator" section of StoryCrafters before originally scheduled. We came back from the conference so eager to get busy we just had to share our excitement.

So, the goal of The Elevator section is to get everyone to consider what they want to accomplish with their writing, when they want to get it accomplished and then make plans to get them where they want to go.

Also, by joining The Elevator, you are commiting to sending out an article or short story every 3 months. Yeap, even those of you just wanting to write novels. Because, those short stories will get you published and publishing clips look good in your agent query letters.

There are articles posted that deal with goal setting so give them a good read. Also, take a couple days to ponder what you really, really, really want to do with your writing. Do you just want a book with your name on it or do you want the brass ring and all that entails? And consider what you are willing to do or give up to accomplish those goals.

I'll be looking for you there!

Speck

Hi all,

I finally got my ducks in a row to come and say hello here. Many know of the recent computer issues I've had recently. Let me just stress the importance of backup copies and printed copies. I still have not recovered all I lost but I've gotten back into working condition. Yet still another solution is to take advantage of all the free email accounts out there and email all your versions to yourself. Tedious at best I'm sure but better safe than sorry. At any rate, I will blog more when I get to a better place with NaNo. Here's to all those writers who have jumped off the NaNo ledge and are still looking for that foothold! Have a good write!

Sassy Candela Martinez

Finding Time

The dreaded expression that makes every writer cringe. Time Management. When you’re a writer, you often do it for the dream first, the pay second. But if you ever want to get paid, you have to focus on your writing at some point. I can’t be pushed off constantly.

I hate the phrase “treat it like a job”. Not because it isn’t true, but because in my life, it’s nearly impossible. I know the realities of having to run and switch out the laundry so that the piles of clothes don’t take over your house. The reality of three kids all needing my attention at once. A husband who is just as needy, as well as my own needs and sanity. It simply isn’t reality that I will sit down eight hours a day and write.

I have found my own ways around this, as we all do. Have children? Nap time or school time are wonderful periods to write. If you’re an early riser, set your alarm clock one hour earlier and hop out of bed and write. If you’re a night owl, stay up an hour later then everyone in your house. Find one, two or three hours that work for you.

Keep in mind, these hours do not need to be concurrent. One hour in the morning, one in the evening. Finding a schedule that works for you, that your mind isn’t wandering to what you need to do around the house, with the family, out on an errand run.

The next, and most wonderful, tip I have ever received is this - Don’t force out an hours worth of work straight. I am an internet junkie (aren’t we all?). I find myself switching windows and surfing instead of writing. So, instead of forcing myself to write for an hour straight and getting antsy for the internet, I break it up. I have downloaded a minute timer (you could even use an egg timer) for Windows. I set it for ten minutes. For that ten minutes I am required to focus on writing. No wandering to the internet, no glancing at the TV, nothing but Word and me.

Once the ten minutes are up, I’m allowed a break. The timer is reset for two minutes (yes, only two). For that two minutes I’m allowed the freedom of surfing my heart out, watching that TV, grabbing my sweets to snack on. Then it’s back to my ten minutes.

To make it more enjoyable, I’ve even turned it into a game with another writer friend. We use an old childhood game for this, and call it “Red light, green light”. We challenge each other, set the timer and say ‘green light’. When we hit the red light break we must first post our word count to see what we accomplished. We do this to keep each other accountable. When she's at work and knows it's my time to work, she emails me to make sure I've been writing. Accountability keeps me going.

The best, and only tips, I’ve found that work are these three. In case they got lost in the story, I’ll shorten them up for you:

1. Find a schedule that works for you. Set it. Keep it.
2. Break your time up. Allow a little play time in with the work. It keeps you sane.
3. Keep yourself accountable. Find a friend, your S/O, a daily log to make sure you're still writing, no matter how much, or how little.

Don’t change your entire lifestyle, don’t ‘declutter’ so you don’t have to think so much. Don’t get the self-help books on time management. Only you know you. You know what works for you. Find a flow, and use it. Use your own weaknesses to your advantage to give yourself ‘rewards’. The important thing to remember is, at the end of the day, it’s your words that you have to face. We love them, we hate them…but they are a part of us. We have to make time for them like we do any other member of our family.

Sadie