The Key to Successful Writing

 “Before you go, what’s the key to successful writing?”

I stared at the professor with a look that had the heat of a thousand suns. I am not great at ad-libbing. This is why I am a writer, not a stand-up comedian. I have a chance to think my thoughts over and tweak them before sharing them with the world.

I had pre-planned my speech introducing his students to the college’s Academic Support Services, including me as a writing tutor. I had answered the expected questions about making appointments, e-tutoring, study groups, effective study techniques. And now he was throwing me a question from left field. Arghhh.

A kid sitting in the back of the room smirked. He knew I had absolutely no idea what to say and this was the highlight of the class for him. He leaned back in his chair, waiting.

“Well, that is an interesting question and so many things come to mind…” I gave the professor another glance, hoping he would jump in with whatever he expected me to say. No such luck. What did he want me to say?

An interesting opening. Consistency. Use of all five senses. Pacing. Organization. Solid research. 

“Time.” Wait. Did I say that? Where am I going with this?

"Writing doesn’t come easily for most of us.” Snorts from the audience. 

“Sometimes, I think writers – and you all are writers – think if we could just get the words out of our head and on the page or the screen the hard work is done. We forget that this is just our first draft. The first step in a process. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, ‘This is not the beginning of the end but it may be the end of the beginning.’

“So, give yourself the luxury of time. Time to proofread and smooth out your wording. Time to rearrange things. Time to put it away for a day then reread it and see if it still conveys what you want it to say. Time to read it aloud to a friend and get their opinion. Time to hate it and start over.

“Time gives you the opportunity to improve your writing. Time is the key.”

I knew I’d still get students coming in one hour before their assignment was due but maybe someone was listening. Later that week a student came in and started with, “It isn’t due for a month but I thought I should get started early…”

So tell us, if you were in that classroom what would you pinpoint as the key to successful writing?

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to pretzels to butterflies to treehouses.  She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb.

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3 comments Jodi M. Webb, time management, writing tips

Time Management with Tomatoes

 

Like most writers I start each day with a widely varied to-do list. Today’s included tasks for my work as a WOW blog tour manager, product testing for an upcoming article, a blog post, updating my social media, composing questions for an interview, revising an article’s introduction and background reading for a new job. And will there be any time left for creative writing?

From there my day usually goes one of two ways:

1. I start one of the tasks on my list and become so engrossed I forget to take a break until hours later when my hungry stomach and/or stiff neck protests.

2. I start one task but that annoying voice in my head keeps insisting “What about this task? What about that deadline? Wouldn’t it be easier to just finish that task from yesterday?” I end the day having jumped from task to task, starting many but finishing few.

If you also need help making the best use of your time, I suggest the tomato technique.

Actually the Pomodoro® Technique, named after the tomato shaped kitchen timer that Francesco Cirillo used when developing his time management methods. The Pomodoro® Technique is simple: predetermined chunks of time dedicated to one task with short breaks in between. Then, after four chunks of work a longer break. Cirillo pinpointed 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes for breaks as the sweet spot but you can adjust to what works best for you.

Originally developed as a study aid, I think this technique works well for writers also. The trick is to use your 25 minutes for one single task and ignore things that will “just take a minute” like emails, social media, and other distractions. Stick to task and dedicate one of your Pomodoro chunks to returning emails, invoicing clients and all the other business details of writing.

 Also, keep track of how many Pomodoro chunks it takes you to complete a recurring task. Can you write a blog post in one Pomodoro or do you need two? Is it better to dedicate two Pomodoros to your inbox at the beginning of each day or split it – one Pomodoro at the start of the day and one Pomodoro at the end of the day? Overall, this is about becoming more aware of how you are using (and wasting) your time and where you can make improvements.

I often found that my creative writing was last on my to-do list and, as such, often got abandoned in favor of other tasks. But with the Pomodoro® Technique you can schedule one Pomodoro for creative writing each day. It feels manageable because it’s ONLY 25 minutes. Looking at it another way, you get 25 scheduled minutes each day, something you might have skipped in the past in favor of other tasks or simply because you were wiped out after a day of concentrating on other tasks.

Cirillo prefers an actual physical timer (shaped like a tomato, of course) but there are many online apps to use. I like the fun (and free) Pomofocus app you can download to your laptop, desktop or phone. You can personalize it with different colors, sounds and time lengths. They’ll give you a heads up when you only have 5 minutes left in a pomodoro and compile a report tracking your time useage.

We’ve all heard that we should divide out days up into brief segments of focused work. Sometimes, we need a little help making that a reality. Try a tomato!

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to pretzels to butterflies to treehouses.  Sadly, the groundhogs have eaten all her garden's tomatoes. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb.

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3 comments apps, Jodi M. Webb, Pomodoro Technique, time management

Give Me Just a Minute

Have you ever come across those industrious writers—usually the ones who’re juggling upteen plates in the air—who recommend grabbing every little bit of time to write? 

You know who I mean…you’re waiting in the car line? Write! It’s intermission at the theater? Write! Sitting in the doc’s office, half-naked and shivering? WRITE! 

Yep, some writers just need a minute to get creative writing done. But not me. I need an hour of time I can commit to if I’m going to write anything more than a grocery list. Not that I haven’t tried but it’s just an exercise in futility. I need to know I’ve got a whole hour to relax into the process. Anything less and I’m in panic mode, rushing about and basically writing up a hot mess. 

But that doesn’t mean I can’t get other sort-of-writing tasks done in smaller increments of time. The same tasks that, once out of the way, free up my schedule to get that whole hour of writing in. For instance, give me thirty minutes and I can get a raft of research done! 

Say I need to check out author websites in my genre to see the standard; I can search three or four and take notes in thirty minutes. Maybe I’ve got an article on a subject that’s fuzzy on a detail or two. Give me a half hour and I’ll find specifics to support. Or maybe—which happens more often than I like to admit—I have a technology problem. In twenty minutes, I can hunt down and watch a video that’ll fix the glitch in a magical moment. 

What about fifteen minutes? There’s plenty I can accomplish in a quarter hour! I can read a newsletter (there are always a handful in my Inbox). And speaking of the Inbox, I can zip through my emails, tossing the ads that sneak through and maybe even quickly respond to a personal email. And beyond the Inbox, I can make a quick correction, whether it’s a blog post or a website error. I might even do a quick sweep in social media, given fifteen minutes. 

But maybe I have only five minutes to spare. If I’m watching a program, I’ll clean out my junk mail during a commercial. (Yep, I still watch regular TV with commercials.) And often, especially if I’ve been sitting for much of the day, I’ll walk around during commercial breaks, especially if I’m watching news. By the end of the newscast, I’ve done close to 20 minutes of brisk walking and I’m surprisingly rejuvenated for evening work that’s waiting. 

And sometimes, even if I just have a few seconds, I can get a task done. Today, I glanced at my To Do list on the kitchen table and realized I had an upcoming blog post here. That thought was floating around in my head until suddenly, in the seconds before I sprayed the cleaner on the floor and started to mop, I had this very idea about grabbing minutes for other tasks! So I grabbed a notepad and made a couple notes. I knew later in the afternoon, I’d have an hour to write. 

It’s all about time management, y’all. Give me a minute—or sixty—and I can get a whole lot of work done. (Except when I’m sitting in the doc’s office. Who can think when they’re half-naked?)

~Cathy C. Hall

Photo by Jordan Benton:

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Leave a Comment Cathy C. Hall, time management, writing tip

4 Ways to Find the Energy You Need to Write

 

It doesn’t matter who the writers are that I’m talking to. It might be my critique group. It might be my accountability group. It might even be my students. If someone is having troubles getting their writing done, they will blame it on time. And that makes a certain amount of sense. There are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. We can only get so much done. 

But long before most of us run out of time, we run out of energy. Think about the language that you use when you hit that low. You say you are run down, you don’t have any . . . energy. To find the energy you need to write, try these 4 things.

Monotask 

Is that a word? I’m not sure but I like it. Focus on one thing and do it well. When we multitask, we very rarely do several things at once. Instead we bounce from one thing to another and each transition uses up some of our energy and focus. When you write, just write. Don’t try to squeeze it in while you are making dinner or doing housework. And don’t have Facebook, Twitter, or your e-mail open while you write. Focus. 

Reduce the Decisions You Have to Make 

Every task, every decision uses some of your energy. Look for decisions that you can streamline. In our house, that involves what we have for dinner. The nightly debate is exhausting. “What do you want?” “I don’t know what do you want?” To avoid this, we plan a weekly menu. We always have a few extra meals in the freezer in case no one wants homemade General Tso’s and sesame green beans, but usually we stick to the menu. It’s amazing how much more energy I have when we don’t spend that time butting heads. What’s for dinner? Look on the menu! In your household meals may not be a problem but it would be a huge help to lay out your kids’ school clothes for the week. 

Move 

I’m not telling you that you need to run a mile every day. But do get up and move. Some sources say you need to do this every 90 minutes. Others say every 30. But the point is that you need to get your blood flowing. When you do, you’ll find that you have more energy and better focus. Me? I walk around the block, get on the rower for 10 minutes, or at least run something out to the composter or recycling and spend some time goofing around in the yard. 

Write What You Love 

I love writing nonfiction largely because I love to do research. There’s a reason a friend jokingly calls me the Credible Hulk. But writing nonfiction isn’t going to energize everyone. For some people, the only choice is romance or picture books or poetry. Don’t select a project just because you think it will sell. Writing something you don’t love is going to drain away all that energy you’ve found. Write something you love and you’ll feel excited and energized. 

Not that I’m saying writing is easy. Spinning stories from thin air is a lot of work and requires a lot of energy. Find the energy and you’re much more likely to find the time. 

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 27 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins April 5, 2021) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins  April 5, 2021). Her new course, Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work will begin on June 7, 2021).

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8 comments energy, energy management, finding energy, time management, writing time

Friday Speak Out!: There Is No Such Thing as Time, There Are Only Cycles and Seasons

by Deirdra Eden

The first step to controlling time is to realize that the concept of time, as we have been taught, is only a mortal construct. It is the attempt by humans to exert a measure of control over the natural world and calculate the intangible flow of cycles and seasons. 

However, this method painfully disconnects creators from natural energy cycles in order to conform to the eight-hour work shifts and deadlines of corporate and industrial productivity. Creative people don’t always work within finite mathematical boundaries.

Just like the earth, creativity also goes through seasons. Spring has fertile newness with exciting potential. Summer is the height of growth. Autumn is harvest time. And winter allows you to rest and gain strength again.

Spring

Creative cycles can be born through weeks of preparation or instantly when an idea strikes or you wake up from an inspiring dream.

This young creative idea is fresh, new, and exciting. Even though the creative project is in the fragile beginning stages, the creator feels a drive to enhance it and help it blossom into a full-grown creation that will produce beauty and/or bounty.

Summer

During this peak time, creators do their best work. You do not feel the panic or doubt of developing a newborn idea. You are often absorbed in the work and can experience adrenaline rushes and extra energy that will drive you to stay up late, get up early, skip meals, and take time off from other activities to work on the project. Sometimes you will have euphoric thoughts about the project and its success.

Autumn

A creator in the autumn phase of their cycle will often refine work and take time to critique it while at the same time admiring it. This is the best time to refine the work because creators can step back from the work and look at it with a critical eye without interrupting the creative flow. Then creators reap their own harvest and rewards by publishing the creation, displaying it, sharing it, selling it, or gifting it.

Winter

A natural end to a creative period is normal, yet sometimes creators will feel guilty for not working on a project or they may miss the excitement of a new project. Sometimes creativity is dormant, especially during times of stress, depression, fatigue, or illness. Sometimes creativity evolves.

Some people call this writer’s block or artist’s slum, but it is part of the natural cycle of creativity and should be embraced.

For creative people this is the time to prepare for the next project. Generally, the better the preparation, the longer the next creative lifecycle will last.

The Natural Cycle

We enter these same seasons and cycles in different phases and contexts throughout our lives and our creative journeys. Asking the question, “What season am I/is this in?” can bring a reassuring clarity to a convoluted situation.

In every phase it is important to remember that this is just a season of your life, and not your whole entire life. Give yourself grace and permission to slow down or pick up the pace depending on what is happening in your world right now and the season of your personal and creative life.


* * *

Deirdra Eden is a social and behavioral scientist and the author of Time Management for Creative People, in which she explores the seasons, cycles, and how to be in the right mind for right-brain creators. 

Website: www.DeirdraEden.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeirdraEdenWatchers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deirdraeden/

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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4 comments Creativity, cycles, Deirdra Eden, Friday Speak Out, seasons, time management

When Daylight Savings Time Ends

I think it was Monday of this week when I bounded out of bed and hit the day! I have a whole slew of “morning stuff” to do and off I went, accomplishing all kinds of things. Geez, I thought, my stomach sort of growling, all chores completed, it must be almost noon. I glanced at my watch. 

It was 9:37 AM. 

Thus begins my life when Daylight Savings Time ends. And though it may look swell, getting a head start on the day, I kinda hate it. And by “kinda,” I mean I really hate it. 

See, I work in “blocks” and when it gets dark earlier, that late afternoon block is all messed up; stuff has to be rearranged to accommodate the time change. I have to not only reset my internal clock but also the “blocks” so it’s basically My. Entire. Schedule. UGH. 

And lest you think I’m just ranting for the fun of it, I have a point (and it’s connected to writing). I’ve had some extra time (see above) to think a bit and come up with a few lessons learned applicable to writing (and probably life, too). 

First, the time change doesn’t have to be a negative for me; I choose to see it that way. That conclusion made me wonder how many times in my writing career I’ve made something into a negative because that’s how I choose to see it. 

 A rejection, critical feedback, a contest loss…sure, none of those fill me with glee. But taking a moment to see what I can learn from those experiences, and how I can improve my writing skills, is the positive side of those seeming failures. Bottom line, I can choose how I’ll react and so can you. Which brings me to the second point. 

Pushing the reset button on my schedule because of the time change is not that big of a deal. In fact, it’s completely doable. It’s just that I…(and now I’m gritting my teeth) don’t…want…to do it. And that made me wonder how often I’ve resisted change when it comes to both big and little writing things. 

It’s a simple fix, changing my writing schedule, but because I don’t want to do it, I spend a week or two dragging my feet. Meanwhile, I’ve blown a couple weeks and maybe momentum all because of my stubbornness (and let’s face it, an alarming lack of maturity). 

Looking at bigger changes is even tougher. I’ve spent months avoiding a major revision that was clearly called for just because I knew it would be hard. Funny, waiting six or seven months didn’t make it easier. 

Getting stuck in a crummy gig or with a crummy critique partner…I’ve been there, done that. And I resisted making the changes I knew were necessary because I just didn’t want to face the initial unpleasantness that often comes along with change. ‘Cause ultimately, change often brings something better. 

I’ve wasted a lot of time, resisting change. Probably way more time than it takes for me to get used to the time change. But the good news is, I’ve learned my lesson. 

At least until next November.

~Cathy C. Hall

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6 comments Cathy C. Hall, Daylight Savings Time, time management, writing advice

The Checklist Book by Alexandra Franzen Blog Tour (And Giveaway)

Simplicity at its best: The checklist is one of the world’s oldest―and most effective―productivity systems. If anything, author and entrepreneur Alexandra Franzen shares, it is just as valuable now as it was during the days of the Roman Empire. Writing out a simple checklist allows us to tangibly plan our day and set in stone what we want to accomplish.

Cut out unnecessary noise: There are countless apps and organizational systems out there to help us straighten out our lives, but often they only add to the madness. Trying to keep up leaves us feeling drained and overwhelmed. Learn how to choose your highest priorities, set realistic goals, celebrate tiny wins, and feel calmer every day with the magic of checklists.

Be realistic about the time in a day: By physically writing down our tasks on a single piece of paper, we force ourselves to limit how much we can do in a day. Too often, we cram our day with tasks and chores and leave almost no space for self-care or time with loved ones. We end up disappointed in our inability to complete our never-ending to-do list. Checklists help you plan your day in a more gentle, realistic way. You accomplish what needs to be done―and enjoy things you want to be doing, too.

In the life-changing Checklist Book, learn:

• The history of the checklist and why it remains to be relevant and effective today
• The science behind the success of checklists, such as the instant satisfaction we feel when we put a check next to a finished task
• How to create a basic daily checklist―and checklists for specific situations, like moving to a new city or navigating a divorce

Print Length: 160 Pages
Genre: Self-Help
Publisher: Mango
ASIN: B07V6GWGW5
ISBN-10: 1642501182
ISBN-13: 978-1642501186

The Checklist Book is available to purchase online at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Target, and IndieBound.

Book Giveaway Contest

To win a copy of the book The Checklist Book by Alexandra Franzen, please enter using Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on May 17th at 11:59 PM EST. We will announce the winner the next day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author, Alexandra Franzen

Alexandra Franzen is the author of several books, including So This Is the End: A Love Story (2018), You're Going to Survive (2017), and 50 Ways to Say "You're Awesome" (2013).

She has written articles for dozens of sites, including Time, Forbes, Newsweek, HuffPost, The Muse, and Lifehacker. She's been mentioned/quoted in The New York Times Small Business Blog, The Atlantic, USA Today, BuzzFeed, Brit+Co, and Inc.

Alexandra is best-known for writing about creativity, productivity, the power of setting tiny goals, how to develop more confidence in your writing skills, and how to stay motivated, keep working towards your personal and professional dreams, and never give up.

She also works as a copywriter, ghostwriter, writing teacher, and consultant. She helps her clients to develop podcasts, videos, websites, speeches, books, and other creative projects.

Find Alexandra's latest projects, classes, and hundreds of free articles and resources at: AlexandraFranzen.com

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First of all, I just want to congratulate you on your book! Tell me about why you decided to write a book about the checklist. As a list maker, this book has totally spoken to me. And I was reading your blog lately and I loved your suggestion for making a list during challenging times. For those who aren't familiar with the benefits of making lists, what is the benefits of making a checklist?

Alexandra: Thank you for the kind words!

Creating a book is definitely a labor of love, and it takes a village to make it happen! So many people worked hard to produce The Checklist Book and bring it into the world, and I’m so proud of how it turned out.

I’m a proud “checklist freak” and I’ve had a lifelong obsession with checklists.

I use checklists for all kinds of things: to plan my day, to divide big projects into small steps, to stay on track with my fitness and self-care routine, and more. I also make checklists to navigate stressful situations, like a painful break-up, house sale, or moving to a new state.

Basically, checklists are my “rock” in a very chaotic and complicated world. They keep me sane, and remind me to celebrate my tiny victories each day.

For me, it feels so powerful to take all the disorganized thoughts inside my brain and pour them out…onto a single sheet of paper…in the form of a list. When I make a checklist, it’s so calming. I feel immediate relief, and my intentions feel much more doable.

And the cool thing is, there’s science behind this! Studies confirm that checklists are powerful medicine for your brain. Making a checklist can help reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and boost dopamine (that’s the joyful feeling you get when ticking a completed box!), and basically, make you healthier, happier, more productive, and more fulfilled. The benefits are innumerable.

For those who are curious to learn the neuroscience behind why checklists work so effectively, this is something I cover inside my book, The Checklist Book, in the chapter called “The Science of Checklists.”

"If I write a book, essay, or article—and it helps even just one human being have a slightly better day—to me, that’s worth celebrating. Because helping one person is a big deal."

WOW: I find that so fascinating there is a science behind why checklists work. So, I hope you don't mind but I was doing a little digging around online and found a writing prompt that you suggest to your clients. I'm not sure if you still do this, but I read that you ask your clients to complete this sentence, "I want to live in a world where..." Why do you ask your clients to complete this thought?

Alexandra: I’ve written six books to date, and for me, being a writer is all about making a contribution, and hopefully, leaving the world in slightly better condition than I found it.

I write because I want to make a difference in people’s lives. If I write a book, essay, or article—and it helps even just one human being have a slightly better day—to me, that’s worth celebrating. Because helping one person is a big deal.

I sometimes get hired to coach and consult with people who want to write books of their own, or who want to launch businesses or podcasts, and do other creative things.

So, I love asking my clients questions like, “What kind of world do you want to live in? What kind of contribution do you want to make? What’s a meaningful project you want to complete before you die?” These kinds of questions are simple, but deep, and can really help you clarify how you wish to serve humanity.

I feel compelled to mention one of my all-time favorite books, Die Empty by Todd Henry, a must-read for anyone who wants to stop wasting time and start doing meaningful work.

So many people reach the end of their lives full of regrets, with projects they never started, adventures they never took, creative visions they never found the courage to do, with so many genius ideas still “inside” of them. Henry urges, “Don’t die with your best work still inside of you. Die empty.” Powerful words that echo inside my head, almost daily.

WOW: I love that sentiment and it's so inspiring. And you are such a prolific writer! How do you write for so many different audiences?

Alexandra: That’s so kind of you to say, thank you!

You know, I think when you do something 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 10 years in a row, you inevitably become pretty efficient and prolific.

I’ve been a professional writer for over a decade now, so writing isn’t really something I “struggle” to do. It’s my job. I just wake up, drink coffee, and do it. It’s not optional. It’s how I get paid. No writing, no income, no groceries! And my dog, Zuki, needs high-quality dog food and special treats, so I gotta keep writing.

Some projects are tougher than others, for sure—I’m still working on my third novel, and I’m definitely procrastinating a bit and being a slow-poke with it, haha!—but overall, like anything else (yoga, running, baking, etc.) the more you do it, the more proficient you become.

“Don’t die with your best work still inside of you. Die empty.”

WOW: I totally agree! I am so shocked to read you have no social media accounts! What led you to delete them (or what has kept you from creating any)?

Alexandra: One day, I sat down with a calculator, because I was curious to find out:

- How much time am I spending on social media per day, on average?

- How much time per week? Month? Year?

- If I continue using social media in my current manner (tweeting 3 times a day, etc.), how much time will I spend on social media by the end of my life? What’s the grand total?

I crunched the numbers and discovered the grand total would be: around 3.4 years. I immediately felt sick to my stomach, because that number—3.4 years—just feels like way too much time.

I started thinking about all the other things I could do with that time—learn a foreign language, write a lot more books, spend quality time with my loved ones—and something shifted inside of me. I realized, “I need to cut way back on my social media usage.”

I decided to take a temporary break from social media to see how things felt. That led to a longer break, and then a permanent break. I deleted all my accounts a few years ago, and I’ve never looked back. For me, personally, it feels like the right choice.

To be clear, I don’t think social media is “bad” or “evil.” It’s a powerful tool that can be used to do beautiful things like share your art, spread inspiring ideas, connect with amazing people, promote your work and earn a living. If you love social media, and it adds good things to your life…great! Use it. But I would advise, use it intentionally, and be mindful about how much time you’re putting into it. Maybe 10 minutes a day is sufficient. Maybe it doesn’t need to be 30 or 60.

Or maybe social media just doesn’t need to be part of your life, and that’s okay too. Just because “most people” use it doesn’t mean you need to use it, too.

WOW: That must have felt so invigorating and I hope more of us become more mindful of social media! Who do you hope reads this book? What do you hope they take away from it?

Alexandra: The Checklist Book is for anyone who feels stressed, overwhelmed, mentally fatigued, or who always feels like, “I have too much to do, and not enough time.”

I hope this book brings some calm and simplicity into your life. That “ahhhhh” feeling, like a deep exhale. Shoulders dropping down. Tension released.

I hope The Checklist Book helps you see your life from a fresh perspective. Maybe you don’t have to be so frenetically busy all the time. Maybe you can do less, and live more.

I hope The Checklist Book helps you become gentler with yourself, more compassionate, and more realistic about how much you can accomplish in a single day.

And of course, I hope it inspires you to make lots of beautiful checklists! A summer checklist. A self-care checklist. A survival checklist for difficult times. Maybe a daily checklist, like I do.

Whether you’re already a list-lover, or not, I hope you find a few gems inside the book.

WOW: I do too! What is next for you? What are you currently working on?

Alexandra: I’m working on a “top secret project” that involves detoxing from social media, changing your relationship with technology, and creating positive new habits.

Less time on your phone. Less time dealing with email. Less time clicking, scrolling, sitting in front of a screen. More time unplugged, offline, doing things that feel really meaningful, things that nourish and energize you.

If anyone is curious about this project and wants to be involved (I’ll be looking for some volunteers to test-run a new program soon!) they can join my email list: alexandrafranzen.com/newsletter

WOW: If you could share any advice with the world right now, what you would say?

Alexandra: Today is not over yet.

There’s still time.

Even if it’s 11:30 p.m. at night, today is still not over yet.

You still have time to meditate, stretch, drink a glass of water, call your mom and say “I love you,” write down a new goal, or do something else to end your day on a positive note. Still time to turn your life around, and get things moving in a new direction.

If you’re still alive, and still breathing, then today is not over yet.

WOW: You are so inspiring! I hope everyone picks up your book. Best of luck with everything coming up for you and on the tour!

---Blog Tour Dates

May 11th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Make sure you visit the WOW blog today and read an interview with author Alexandra Franzen and enter to win a copy of the book The Checklist Book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

May 12th @ Karen Brown Tyson
Stop by Karen's blog today and read Alexandra Franzen's inspiring guest post entitled, "You Are Going to Survive."
https://karenbrowntyson.com/blog/

May 13th @ World of My Imagination
Join Nicole as she reviews Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com

May 15th @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf 
Visit Veronica's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/

May 16th @ Lapidus International
Stop by the words for wellness organization today and read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about the importance of nature time.
https://lapidus.org.uk/news

May 18th @ One Sister's Journey: Keeping It Real
Visit Lisa's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://www.lisambuske.com/

May 19th @ Chanel Bevis' Blog
Stop by Chanel's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://chanelbevis1.wordpress.com/blog/

May 20th @ And So She Thinks
Visit Francesca's blog today and you can read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about what a checklist can do you for you.
https://andsoshethinks.co.uk/blog/

May 21st @ Reviews and Interviews
Stop by Lisa's blog where she interviews the author Alexandra Franzen.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

May 23rd @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda's blog and you can read her interview with Alexandra Franzen. Don't miss it!
http://bootsshoesandfashion.com/

May 25th @ The Frugalista Mom
Stop by Rozelyn's blog today and you can read her post about Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://thefrugalistamom.com/

May 27th @ Dog-Eared Days of Summer
Visit Courtney's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://dog-eareddaysofsummer.com/

May 28th @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi's blog today and read Alexandra Franzen's guest post unplugging more.
https://strength4spouses.blog/

May 29th @ Books Beans & Botany
Visit Ashley's blog today where she shares her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://booksbeansandbotany.com/

May 30th @ Memoir Revolution
Memoir and self-help expert, Jerry Waxler pens an article about the value of a checklist habit for memoir writers, inspired by his reading of The Checklist Book.
https://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/

May 31st @ Michelle Cornish' Blog
Stop by Michelle's blog today and you can read a guest post by Alexandra Franzen about shifting away from perfection. A post we all need to read today!
https://www.michellecornish.com/

June 1st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi's blog today to read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://strength4spouses.blog

June 2nd @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Visit Bev's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

June 3rd @ Rachael's Thoughts
Visit Rachael's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://rachaelstray.com/

June 4th @ Michelle Cornish' Blog
Visit Michelle's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog/

June 5th @ Editor 911
Stop by Margo's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://editor-911.com/blog

June 6th @ Megan Writes Everything
Visit Megan's blog today and she reviews Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://meganwriteseverything.com/

June 7th @ The New England Book Critic
Visit Victoria's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://thenewenglandbookcritic.com/

June 8th @ Dog-Eared Days of Summer
Visit Courtney's blog again and read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about focusing on tiny wins.
https://dog-eareddaysofsummer.com/

June 9th @ Alternative Grace
Stop by Amber's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://alternativegrace.com/

June 10th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Stop by Bev's blog again and you can read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about putting self-care into your daily checklist. An absolute must-read!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

June 11th @ Jill Sheet's Blog
Visit Jill's blog today and you can read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about getting the phone out of your room.
http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

To win a copy of the book The Checklist Book by Alexandra Franzen, please enter using Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on May 17th at 11:59 PM Central. We will announce the winner the next day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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5 comments Alexandra Franzen, checklists, organization, self-help, The Checklist Book, time management, to do list

What I Learned from a Diaper

When we get busy with the day to day activities of life, we can lose sight of what was initially our goal and focus. Sometimes it takes an outsider or a life change to help us get back on track. At our house, it took a diaper (or the lack there of).

Our last baby (the last of 6) recently decided she wanted to be "big like sissy" and she stopped wearing diapers. We have been 5 weeks in big girl undies with very few accidents. Initially I thought I wasn't ready for this milestone. We have had at least one (sometimes two or three) in diapers for the last 6 years. Not just any diapers either - cloth diapers! We had a routine and every other day I would wake up early to ensure all the regular laundry was out of the washer so I could start the process of washing diapers. My goal was to have the diapers out of the washer and into the dryer by bedtime so I could start a load of "regular" laundry. We had a system. The system worked. Had you asked me, I would have said I didn't mind the washing, drying, stuffing, organizing, of the diapers. It didn't seem time consuming; it was just something we worked into our routine.

A few days after potty training began, I washed every last diaper and put them into a storage bin. I am still unsure what I'm storing them for, because no one in this household is interested in wearing them anymore. I cried as I put them away. Endings have never been easy for me and I still can't explain fully if those were tears of joy or tears of sorrow. The following morning, I didn't have to get up quite so early. There were moments the washing machine wasn't running. It felt odd. I ran upstairs and started coming up with things to wash. I had always felt a bit ashamed about not washing bedding as often as I should, so I stripped my eldest sons bed, and moved right down the line. By the end of the first week, everyone had fresh and clean bedding and every blankie, afghan, and throw blanket had been laundered.

The job I once thought took no time at all had somehow freed up an incredible amount of time in my life. My FitBit average sleep number jumped from 3 hours of sleep to 5. This one small change was making a world of difference. I needed less coffee to get through the day because I was getting more sleep. Less coffee means less creamer - so I added a hole to my belt. The house was cleaner, I started washing bedding every 4 days instead of every 2 weeks, and I even had time left over for writing. My goal nearly 7 years ago was to have my novel published by the end of the year. Here we are, and I am finally back at writing on a regular basis.

I got lost in the mundane tasks of being a mom. Those tasks were enjoyable, but pulled me away from writing and dimmed my fire. With a little attention, those embers are sparking new life and it feels so good. I feel free and focused. Thank you to my littlest love for deciding it was time to get back on track. I am eternally grateful! And to you dear readers - there will be a novel forthcoming! Thanks for being here with us through it all!

Hugs,
~Crystal
About today's author:

Crystal is a secretary, council secretary, financial secretary, and musician at her church, birth mother, Auntie, babywearing cloth diapering mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, Unicorn Mom Ambassador, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their five youngest children (Carmen 13, Andre 11, Breccan 5, Delphine 4, and baby Eudora who will be 2 in a few months), two dogs, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns and horses, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff here, and at her personal blog - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade!

Now it's your turn:

**What is something you are doing that you could eliminate from your routine to make additional time for writing? exercise? meditating? etc...

**If you've eliminated something from your life to help you find joy - how did you recognize the hurdle? Did someone point it out to you? Have you ever done this for someone else?

**How do you take care of you? Your writing life? Your physical health?

**What is your goal for the remainder of this year?

Lease a comment on this post;

let's learn from one another and grow together!

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1 comment eliminating the mundane, finding time, finding time to write, focus, self care, time management, writing goals

Observations From A First Time Presenter (Or What I’ll Do Better Next Time)

This year, I vowed to challenge myself as a writer; I’d embark on the Great Challenge Writing Adventure and Growth Experience of 2016.

And so, jumping into the spirit of things, I sent in a proposal to present a session at an SCBWI conference. I patted my back; I’d “put myself out there.” When I received an email accepting my proposal, I nearly fell out of my chair.

Excuse me? Challenges are supposed to come in baby steps! I expected to send in a proposal three times at least before being accepted. This was a big, ol’ giant step, and I must tell you, I was not psychologically prepared to be a presenter this soon on the Great Challenge etc. etc. But I said yes because a. what’s a challenge if you don’t accept it? And b. the fee was pretty sweet.

I survived the session but not without a few blips. I need to do a better job. And I hope you’ll do a great job presenting at a conference, learning from my mistakes:

1. When I practiced my presentation, I went over the time allotment by 15 minutes. Huh, I thought, that’s just me, learning the material. I’ll come in on time when I’m completely familiar with everything.

Huh. I did not come in on time. I had to zip through the last ten minutes in about three minutes. You know what might have been extremely helpful? Another practice or two beforehand, setting priorities, getting my time organized. And speaking of organization…

2. I like to do giveaways. I frequently host writing workshops and I always have a giveaway or two. But I also always have a sign-in sheet that I use for the giveaway. Midway through my session, I realized I had no sign-in sheet and therefore, no way to handle the giveaway. Aaaaccck!

I did have my SCBWI business cards that I planned to give to each participant and so during an activity, I passed out the cards and participants wrote their names on the back of the cards. It worked out, but it took up more time than I’d have liked; time I didn’t have to spare. I’ll be better prepared for my next giveaway at a session.

3. And because I like plenty of good takeaway information, I packed my presentation with as much takeaway as I could. Unfortunately, all that information didn’t give much time for questions.

Questions are good; questions help us learn. And even when people have the opportunity to find a presenter and ask questions throughout the conference, they rarely do. And so I would have served the attendees better with a little less takeaway and a little more time for explanation.

And so my first presentation ended in a whirlwind but there was a lovely moment, too. As I hurriedly gathered all my stuff, a woman caught up with me, thanking me. “You gave me permission to write what I love,” she said.

Now I have the challenge for my next presentation: for every writer in the room to feel the same way.


~Cathy C. Hall

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11 comments Cathy C. Hall, organization skills, presentation tips, SCBWI, time management

Social Media - Friend or Foe?

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a dozen times: “Without social media, my happiness level would be much much lower.”


What? Wait? Lower? You ask…

When I make that statement, I often am met with a furrowed brow and curious expression. People have come back with assumptions that it must be because I work from home and/or that’s how I make money, make contacts, etc… I suppose a piece of the puzzle might be the extra income social media generates for me, but the human factor is much more important. If you’ve read my previous posts about being content and not comparing yourself to others, you’ll know that I’m an optimist. As an optimist, I should be able to find joy with or without social media. The part of me that craves social media is the human side. The empathetic part of my being needs to be part of a circle.

The same empathetic part of me struggles with social media, but I am getting better at just scrolling past anything that looks like it might be sad or ugly. I have found immeasurable joy in groups I have found on Facebook, LinkedIn, and GoodReads. If you haven’t discovered groups, you’re really missing out on the joyful part of social media. For example, there is a group for breastfeeding moms, unicorn moms, attachment parents, local gardeners, bakers, cloth diaper families, music lovers, organists, and that is just to name a few.

If you are having trouble with XYZ in your life, just query it on social media and I bet you’ll find a group of likeminded individuals or those going through a similar situation. There are cancer survivor groups, diabetes groups, spouses of alcoholic groups, and the list goes on and on.

If you have an unlimited amount of time to spend in person with your friends, then never mind anything I’ve said. However, if you are busy and trying to juggle too many balls, you may be just like me where you need a friend at 2am because you can’t quite figure out why the baby has a temperature or why the fridge smells weird. Social media never sleeps. There is always a friend out there to chat, bounce and idea off, or just lend a listening ear or sympathetic shoulder.

I went from being in a business setting with nearly 100 women, to being a stay at home mom. If it weren’t for social media and the relationships I’ve developed, I’m afraid to say that I’d be lonely. My husband works long hours, my kids don’t appreciate me anymore than they should at their age(s), and it’s so nice to lean on other people. Before you poo-poo the internet and social media, check out some groups and affiliate yourself with some positive online friends.

Do you have any favorite groups you’d recommend to others? How did you hear about them? Is social media a happy place for you? Share your thoughts and comments – we absolutely love hearing from you!

Crystal is a church musician, babywearing mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 9, Andre 8, Breccan 2, and Delphine 1), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at:http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/ and http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

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2 comments Facebook, facebook groups, friends, linkedin, online relationships, relationships, social, social media, time management