I was sitting here at my keyboard, thinking there was something I should no doubt be doing. Then I remembered not only the blog, but a contest entry I have been working on. Currently working on is a relative term. It has been sitting on my desk and I haven't looked at it since last week. The contest deadline is tomorrow.
Will I make it? I'm not sure, but I'm going to try. The thing needs an entire rewrite. I had my critique partner look it over last week. She made the same comments I was feeling. Then for some reason, I have suffered brain death. I hate it when I get scattered and can't concentrate.
Off to go see what I can do with it. I'll let you know if I make the deadline tomorrow.
Til Then~

It's been a few days since I've written. I took a few days off. Slowly getting back to it and catching up again. Today, I've got to get in my 1000 words and do some book-keeping. I'm so very behind on that. It's amazing how much bookwork there can be, even though you are your only workforce. One of these days I'm going to hire an assistant. Until I can, I will continue doing what I do.
More tomorrow.
Til Then~

I woke up this morning and informed my husband that Jesse James was alive and well teaching Scientology in Ft. Lupton, Kansas and on Thursday, all the mothers who love their sons too much are to be hanged by the neck until killed.
Now, lest you think I've lost my mind, let me explain. These are a couple dreams I had last night. I don't know where any of this info came from. Most of it doesn't even make any sense. The only thing I can even vaguely relate is the Scientology because I saw Tom Cruise on an "E" Program. The rest, I have no idea.
I bring this up because I want to point out that even though dreams are mostly absurd, we can get ideas from them. I also thought it was funny how my subconscious had the old western law papers printed with "hanged by the neck until KILLED". Hmmmmm.
Anyway, pay attention to those dreams you have. If you haven't been keeping a journal up until now, start today. Dreams are a gold mine for writers.
Til Tomorrow~ Sweet dreams.

As humans, and particularly as adults, there will be times in our lives when things don't go as planned. I am finding these 'things' can and usually do happen on a daily basis. What one has to do is accept these occurrences and move on. When something changes in my daughter's plans or she feels like things aren't going the way she wants them to, she says 'God hates her'. I tell her 'not so'. My husband gripes, complains about everyone around him and blames them. I have several friends who drink and then there is the friend who cusses like a sailor. Ah, good people one and all, but they all need to be flexible.
Things happen, but when they do, one has to move on. One can't dwell on the circumstances or the way things are. Just keep plowing forward like a snowplow does through a huge snow drift. If you keep plowing, pretty soon you'll be able to see what you should be doing.
Keep on, keeping on.
Til Tomorrow~

One word at a time. That's what I've had to tell myself all day. I began working on that writing program book today. I've had an outline written for over a year now and planned on getting the proposal finished last year. The hold up? ME. When I began thinking about this project, I knew it would be a bear So much to cover. So much to do. SO much to be clear on. I've thought about the project, but every time I'm ready to begin the work, I see the big picture not the small one.
This morning, I got up, sat down at my 'puter and repeated one word at a time, one word at a time, one word at a time. Books are written that way. And a proposal must be written that way too. So today I worked on the outline. It's not perfect, but it's something..and I can work with 'something'.
What's keeping you from getting on your project?
Til Tomorrow~

A new day, a new view. Yes, everything is good.
As those who read this blog know, I am watching my new grandbaby. It has actually turned out to be a very good situation for me. I was a little afraid at first, not having babies for so long. But he sleeps quite a bit and while he sleeps, I write. This is beneficial in so many ways.
First of all, it keeps me in my office and at the keyboard. Before he came along, I would find myself out running around, just because. I'd be gone to town all day. My husband had me running errands for him all over town and by the time I would get home, I was exhausted. Now, I have to stay home. My gawd, have you ever tried to go anywhere with a baby? Even to the store, it's like a 'great move'.
Second, my baby keeps me focused. I know he goes down for his morning nap around 10 and sleeps until about 1. I have that three hours to write. He wakes up and after he's changed and fed, he sits in his bouncy on the floor, I sit beside him and we do marketing stuff like filing, ripping magazines, etc. We will occassionally do the art project and to be honest, I can't wait until he gets old enough to hold a crayon in his hand. We are going to have 'art' everywhere.
Third, he's my reason for getting up in the morning. Before he came along, I would sleep until 10, maybe get in my office by 1. Now, I'm up at 6:30 because he arrives at 6:40. I get breakfast, exercise, dressed for the day and we're in my office by 8:30, first cup of coffee and 6 ounces of formula successfully down.
He really is a blessing and a miracle. And when my little 'sugar bear' smiles, it is so worth it.
Til Tomorrow~

Today has already been an interesting day. I haven't gotten anything accomplished, but I've been thinking and pondering working on a lot of things. In lieu of that, I am hauling out my Daytimer and will making a list again. I have a tendency to be very disciplined when I have my list written out. I've not been keeping a list, so I dwaddle a lot. Writing things down helps keep me focused and instead of just sitting and thinking about things, I actually do them. It truly is amazing how much a person can get done if he concentrates on doing it.
Funny thing my Daytimer. I've been thinking about writing my to-do's in it and have been moving it here and there with me, but have yet to jot any notes. Am going to change that here in a bit.
So, I'm off to find myself some discipline. What are your plans for today?
Til Tomorrow~

It's tough being the only positive person of your acquaintance. I am surrounded by so many 'but' people, it's amazing. I truly believe a person can change his life by the way he thinks. Because we live in a negative skeptical world however, everyone has to rain on what we optimist think. I have been laughed at (just yesterday as a matter of fact) and given the 'yeah, but....' speech so many times, I've lost count. And those looks. You see them in people's eyes when you tell them your dreams. I have found myself getting wrapped up in their skepticism and doubt. And that is something I can NOT and will NOT allow myself to do...especially if I am to reach my goals. Granted they may not be easy, but dad gum I know they're possible. So there.
Keep dreamin'.
Til Tomorrow~

Where do great ideas come from?
Great ideas come from everywhere. The thing is you never know when they're going to show up. And sometimes, your idea may be brilliant, but if you don't move on it right away, someone else will steal your thunder. Whoever said great minds think alike, knew what they were talking about. I've had many a good idea. At times I have moved on those ideas/hunches right away and it has paid off. However, there have been times when I've dragged my feet, second guessed myself, and when I've contacted an editor, find another writer beat me with his query. At times like that I want to punch myself.
How do you know if it's a great idea? I say go with your first instincts. Does it feel right? Are you excited about it? If you are, then chances are other people will be too.
So get on those ideas. What do you have to lose?
Til Tomorrow~

Life is wonderful! What an adventure! I live it every day.
Years ago when my kids were in grade school, they had this principal who would always ask us 'what adventure are you having today?' I like to see my life like that.
This will be short as I am off to face my pages today. It's a fun ride. I do so enjoy writing, creating, and discovering all the places I can go.
Where are you off to today?
Til Tomorrow~

Why do certain people like to drag dreamers down? I have set goals and when I've shared them with family, they laugh. My dad is probably the worst offender. I can still hear him laughing the last time I told him I was going to make a lot of money from my writing. He called it my "hobby". I can't talk to my husband because when I do, he just rolls his eyes and tells me I need to do something to make reeeeallll money.
I've done well with my writing so far. I have set goals and achieved them. It's not easy to break in to the publishing business and I have been blessed with what I have accomplished. I have more I want to accomplish and I know I will with or without encouragement from my family. I am strong. Are you?
Til Tomorrow~

I have to admit yesterday was a pretty good day. I got my 1000 words in and worked on a non-fiction book to boot. My grandson slept for a good four hours. I found it amazing all I could do in that four hours just by concentrating on what I was doing and moving from one project to another.
Amazing, because I know for a fact I can flitter away a whole day and get nothing accomplished.
Today, see how much you can get done in one hour. You'll be amazed.
Off to work on my book this morning. I plan to have my 1000 words in, in an hour. That usually works for me.
Til Tomorrow~

I did something extremely foolish last night and I know better. My girlfriend and I have been working on this book. We've been trying to figure out categories for it so I can give some kind of description in the proposal. When I went to bed last night the categories were coming to me in a flurry. Didn't get them up and write them down like I should have. Typically, I do because I know when I wake up the next morning they will be gone if I don't. But last night, I was just too tired.
Thankfully, when I began working in my journal this morning, all the categories came back to me. I wrote them down immediately.
Tonight I am putting a pad, pen, and flashlight by my bed, so if I'm too tired again, I won't have to get up. I can just write my ideas down still in bed. That's the lazy woman's way I know, but I'm tired of losing ideas..obviously not that tired or I would get up and do something about it.
You don't do what I do. Do as I say. Get up and write those thoughts down. You'll feel better for it.
Til Tomorrow~

Okay, let me start out today by admitting something I'm not proud of. I am lazy. That is the only explanation/excuse I have for not jumping on some great opportunities. It makes me so mad. I tell others how to write and sell articles while writing their books, but I never seem to get around to it myself. I have pockets of time here and there that is perfect for looking through magazines, jotting notes, roughing an outline, so when I do have more time I can hammer out a piece. But do I take advantage of those small times, NO.
Sure, I get my 1000 words in a day, but I could do so much more. With that in mind, I am going to make a public committment, right here and now, to do something towards an article every day. Rome wasn't built in a day. I can do this. I can and I will.
What about you? What committments do you need to make?
Til Tomorrow~

Am back from the conference. It was a hot time in the City. Saw old friends, made new. Learned some new information, although that was from networking out in the halls and smoozing. Sometimes that's the best place to be.
Off to sleep. Besides the conference, I have been up two nights in a row because of the storms moving through. Argh!
More Later~

Heading for the conference tomorrow. I'll be gone for a few days. Will write when I get back.
Keep writing.
Til Later~

I've been puzzling over something for a few days now. Over the weekend I received an email from a friend. I hadn't spoken to her for a while, had emailed her and asked what she had been writing. She wrote back and said she hadn't been writing. It bored her. Years ago, she taught creative writing, had articles published, and now she's not writing. That doesn't make sense to me, but it does bring to mind other instances where I've heard people quit.
One day, I stopped by to visit one of my creative writing classmates. She had a box of her writing magazines packed up. When I inquired what she was going to do with them, she told me she was giving them away. She was not going to write anymore. She had just had several articles published and I wondered about her decision.
A few years later, I was at a huge writer's conference. All the attendees, myself included were in awe of one writer. She was on the New York Times Bestseller List with her tenth book. At an after party, she told everyone she was retiring and hasn't had a book out since. I guess she meant it.
I've pondered that decision through the years too. I wonder how one just quits. I've tried. Sometimes writing can get so frustrating, I wonder if it's worth all the problems, then bam I find I have a pen in my hand and I'm jotting something, anything.
I'll continue to write. I could NOT write anymore than I could NOT breathe. I love it.
What about you?
Til Tomorrow~