Friday, July 16, 2010

** Writing & Books & Friends, Oh My! **

Lots of info to share tonight, and almost too tired to type!

1)  Fantastic website for Writers and More: Kristen's Guide. Numerous articles about health, food, family. My favorites though are on Writing and Getting Organized. It offers lots of Free Printables, from chore lists and money management lists to calendars. Again, my favorite is a calendar that offers a Weekly Routine. It has time slots from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm, Monday thru Sunday. This is exactly what I need! I printed a few pages to get started. I'm going to write down every single thing I do, and how long it takes. I know this will show me in black and white, just how much time I waste in a day's time, and how much time I really do have for writing. Also, in the Writing section, there are great little tidbits of Writing Advice, and other really cool areas like: Words to Use Instead of "Said". And finally, a very cool dictionary:  The Free Dictionary. It has all kinds of goodies: Word of the day, quote of the day, birthdays, dates in history, and of course....a dictionary!

2) I've had a widget on my blog for about a month that shows Words of Wisdom and says my blog will soon be featured as a Blog of Note (B.O.N.)  Well, I was just notified this evening that my blog will be featured this coming Monday, July 19th! So, please be sure to stop by anytime Monday and see what it's all about! And then....friend Tammy's blog is highlighted on Wednesday, the 21st! Stay Tuned! (sorry I got the date wrong, eariler, Tam!)

3) My friend Lynn shared one of her writing tips which I recently remembered to try. I'm so glad I did, because I discovered it works really well for me, too! Most of us need  a little something to get  inspired and motivated to begin our writing day. That's true, too, I believe whether our writing time begins in the early morning hours or very late at night. I've tried having a certain piece of music be my Starting Song, and that didn't really work. I've tried to just make myself start writing before I check my e-mails or blogs or anything else that will distract me. That hasn't worked at all. What can I say??  BUT, Lynn's suggestion works for me!! Lynn begins by reading a chapter or two from one of her "How To" writing books, or one of her "You Can Do It" type books. I have three that I can read even a few sentences of and I get kicked into Writing Mode! They are: A Time to Write, by Kelly L. Stone, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott, and This Time I Dance!: Creating the Work You Love, by Tama J. Kieves.

* Last, I'd like to acknowledge that today, July 16th, was my sister Jo Ann's birthday. (Earlier this year, I chose today as my deadline for completion of my book, but realized it just wasn't possible.) Happy Birthday, Jo Ann. You were so unique. You were my sister, my friend, my mother. I miss you, still.*

"An older sister is a friend and defender - a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too." -- Pam Brown

"Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve." -- Mary Kay Ash

20 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gosh, you were thinking overtime last night, Becky. Thanks for all the great leads and tips. Stay cool today.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the info links! You're a busy bee, as usual. Enjoy your weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful links, Becky! I love the idea to read a writing book to get started with your own writing. I have been reading writing "how-to" books almost continuously this summer and I am finally coming out my summer stall and writing again. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Becky, boy, you are sure full of great info today! I enjoyed looking through the links that you provided.

    I hope that your weekend is full of the happy times that you spent with Jo Anne over the years.

    Take care!

    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations again, and thank you for mentioning mine! But it's Wednesday and not Tuesday! What a sweet tribute to your sister. Sounds like you got more out of the time you had together than most people do in a lifetime.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the links! Appreciate you sharing them with us:)

    What a nice remembrance for your sister. I am sure she would understand about the deadline.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thinking of you as you think of your sister, Becky. Hugs to you. My older sister passed away about 30 years ago. I still think of her and miss her too. Thank you for the links and tips. Hope your weekend is going well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. cong. on your recognition of yur blog. hope the tips work to help with your writing. sorry to hear about your sister. have a good Sunday,

    ReplyDelete
  10. I do enjoy reading your blog ! Sending warm thoughts your way as you remember your sister, JoAnne. So glad you got to experience the love of a sister.
    Liked all the tips and also that you realized the goal you set for completing your book was not possible and to be okay with that decision. Accepting yourself, for who you are, with what you have, the moment you are in.....says The Turtle Lady...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Can't wait to see your blog featured tomorrow :)
    And lovely post by the way, thanks for the links!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congrats on being a blog of note! This is great...but will you still remember us when ... :-)
    I love how you share all these great resource finds with us! and so sorry to hear about your sis.

    Have a wonderful day and thanks for your sweet comment on my Sunday Sketch.

    Smiles

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Sue! Thank you! And please come back tomorrow!

    Hi Claudia! Thanks so much! I'm staying as cool as can be!!

    Hi Lisa! You are welcome! And yes, I AM a busy BEA! (that's what my husband has called me for years! When he refers to me as "Becky" it sounds so strange!)

    Hi Janel! Thanks, and yes I remembered you told me that was working for you, too! That's great!

    Hi Kathy! Thanks, and especially for the sweet words about my sister.

    Hi Tammy! Thanks..and as always you worded it so beautifully about my relationship with my sister.

    Hi Karen! Thanks! And yes, my sister would definitely understand about my deadline problem! She was notorious for being late!!

    Hi Daisy. Thank you so much. Gosh, I don't think I knew you lost a sister, too. Jo Ann died in 1984....almost as long ago as yours...

    Hi Rose! Thank you! You're always so good to stop and leave a comment. I really appreciate it!

    Thank you Miss Turtle Lady!!

    Thanks, Estrella! I'm kind of excited about seeing it, too!! :)

    Hi Julia! Thanks so much, and you better believe nothing could ever happen that would make me forget all my writer and blog friends!! Even if...no...WHEN I make it big!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. had to drop and say your comment on my blog post re postcards was funny. you have a good mind and good sense of words.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Rose! Thanks, again! That was very sweet of you!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy Birthday to your sister and congrats to you. sandie

    ReplyDelete
  17. my twin brothers died within 24 hours of their birth over 40 years ago, and I never got to see them - I often wonder what our lives would have been like had they lived.

    ReplyDelete
  18. "Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve." -- Mary Kay Ash

    That's so true - I took early retirement at 52 to become a full time undergraduate, just graduated with first class honours - I probably wouldn't have done if I'd done it as a teenager. I set out with the intention of gaining a first, and gradually improved until I finally got there - just believe in yourself and go for it!

    ReplyDelete

I'm still getting quite a few spam comments that are Anonymous, so I'm trying "User with Google Accounts." If anyone tries to comment that I know, and it won't let you, send me an email, okay? Thanks so much.