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
