Finding Time to Write

As I sit here trying to get some writing work completed, I am ignoring my two children. One has been watching cartoons for the last 4 hours and the other just woke from her nap and is playing with the phone...hopefully she doesn't call overseas.

How do we busy people find time to write? With kids hanging off of our necks or fighting in the background, the only time that we can find some quiet is in the really late hours of the night. Either our children suffer or our sleep suffers.

I don't think there really is a solid answer for this. We can work when kids are napping, in bed or during quiet time. We can sneak in a few minutes of work here and there or just commit to working as soon as the kids go to bed.

But the best thing to do when determining how your day will go is to have an idea of what you want to accomplish. So, when those precious writing moments come about, you will know exactly what it is you need to do without thinking about it for five minutes (those five minutes could be spent on writing).

Got to go....I'm off to pry my child away from the T.V.

Creative Choppiness

Ever feel like you are struggling when writing a story? Kind of like writer's block but not. You're still writing, still going through the motions of writing, still putting words on paper....maybe not sentences, but at least words.

The thought process is almost choppy, slightly forced, but you know if you could just get the clutter out of the way, you'd find a constant stream, rather than dribbles and drips.

So, how do you get past the choppiness?

1) Keep writing. If the words are there but not quite flowing, that means that something wants to be unleashed. Something is lingering ready to push forward.
2) Step away from the computer. If you have been writing, but the flood gates are still closed, step away from your writing. Come back an hour later and read what you have written. Everything looks clearer when you come back to it with fresh eyes.
3) Have a nap. If all else fails, just sleep for 20 mins. Maybe your brain is tired and needs to restore some energy. Most of us never allow ourselves to have a nap. We just pluggin' away like machines. Take that time to help the brain rejuvenate.
4) Eat cookies. Sometimes a nice break of milk and cookies is what your spirit needs. Indulge a little bit and enjoy the moment.

Why You Should Keep Writing

We all go through feelings of uncertainty when we are writing. We wonder if all of this creating is worth it. We wonder why we do it. We also wonder if it will ever go somewhere.

Some of us write for fun, but most of us write because we want to reach the goal of becoming published and doing what we love for a living.

So, are most of us spinning our wheels?

Maybe you've sent out queries and have gotten the standard rejection letter back. Maybe you just can't seem to get that writing project completed because you may wonder what's the use?

This may cheer you up and get you writing again:

• Dr. Seuss was reject 100 times before he was published
• Richard Paul Evans self published The Christmas Box
• The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield was self published before selling to Warner Books
• Other self published authors: Deepak Chopra, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Lousie Hay, Virginia Wolff and many more.

I'm not sure how this turned into a blog entry on self publishing, but the point is, these people kept writing....and marching to the beat of their own drummer.

Keep on writing. There are people out there that want to hear what you have to say.

The Importance of Finding Your Genre

When writing, it's important to find a genre that you enjoy; something that you are absolutely passionate about.

If you are writing because you think it's a quick way to make money or an easy way to fame, and not because you love it, people will see right through that. Your story won't sound genuine and your readers will be left with a bad taste in their mouths. This isn't a good way to start a writer/reader relationship.

Readers need to build trust with an author. They want to see if you can continue to deliver the goods or if you're just full of it. A good thing to remember is to write something that speaks to you. Good stories will flow from your head to your hand without much struggle.

Today I released my ebook Dear Money. Although this isn't something I typically write about, the book seemed to channel through me and onto my computer.

The book spoke to me and I knew I had to write it. It was important to me and there was enough passion there to see it through.

When writing, make sure you have a love for what you are writing about. Your readers will love you for it.

Your To-Do List

I can't believe how time goes by so quickly. When I look back over the last 2 weeks, I wonder what I've done with my time. It all seems a blur.

I had some projects to do, mine and others. More home builder brochures and the completion my book Dear Money. I also finished an article for someone who is compiling articles for an ebook for new writers. It feels good to cross things off my to-do list. By crossing things off, I can continue to move on to more creative projects.

What's on your to-do list for today? Does it involve writing? And if it doesn't, why not? Even sitting down with a journal for 5 minutes will get your creativity flowing again. It doesn't take much to do a little bit of writing.

That's one of the great things about this writing gig--you can do it whenever and wherever.

Just make sure you always have a pen and paper handy for those spontaneous moments of inspiration.

Summer Nights

I love summer. Tonight I went for a walk with my dog and enjoyed the peaceful calm of a warm summer night.

It got me thinking about all of those summer nights during childhood. The late night games of Moving Statues out on the lawn or Hide and Seek throughout the entire neighbourhood. We'd be hopping fences and running through neighbours' yards trying not to get caught.

Or sleepovers in the tent in my friend's backyard. We'd go to sleep chilly but wake up boiling with the sun beating down on us.

I remember walking to the playground or the corner store to pick up Mojos and pop. Or hanging out at a friend's house watching movies and eating chips. One mom in particular was very attentive to us when we came over, always making sure we were well-fed.
And we'd always rent at least 5 movies and only get through 2.

Summer reminds me of the time when relatives would pull up in front of our house with their camper hitched behind the car.

When I think of all of these things now, there is longing and happiness and I hope my children be able to enjoy similar experiences.

What are your summer memories? Just by going back into your memory bank, you will probably come up with more than enough story ideas

Inspired Writing

Today, I am tired. Not just a little tired, but very tired. It's even an effort to turn on the computer.

So, where can inspired writing come from when there is no energy to take it from? Sometimes just sitting down to write a blog entry is all that is needed to get the creativity going, even if it's only for a little bit.

Right now, I'm trying to revamp my freelance writing/mentoring businesses. Where do I want to go with them and what would make me extremely happy?

Novel writing is my first love. My secondary thing would be to inspire adults and children to write freely without fear or judgement. I want to take my workshops out to the schools and to corporations where things are a little stuffy and stagnant.

I read recently that employers are now looking for people who can utilize both the left and right side of the brain. The left side is for logical thinking. The right side for creative thinking. Employers are finding a major benefit in an employee who is 'right-brained'. These people can easily think outside the standard.

This is why it's so important to bring creativity into the schools and workplace. Not only are employees well-rounded but children will gain the confidence they need to achieve more in adulthood.

Now, how does this tie into me being tired? Not sure, but it was a good intro anyway.