Friday Speak Out!: Why I Write, Guest Post by Babette Hughes

Why I Write

by Babette Hughes

People who know that I write for love and not money probably think there’s something wrong with my moorings. They don’t quite comprehend that writing can be an end in itself, even a profoundly rewarding one. In fact, writing goes into the making of a good life.

A good life, for me at least, means making connections with the world around me. It means a heightened awareness of people with sensitivity to all sorts of subtle shadings. It means an existence without murkiness. The discipline of writing conditions the mind for this kind of life. It has enabled me to develop a tri-dimensional or stereoscopic habit.

The women in my life become more defined over time in their own uniqueness, and, as I write, I feel a sisterhood blossom like spring flowers. We are wives, widows, daughters, mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and aunts. We run houses and businesses, we nurture babies and husbands, and we take care of parents. We garden and run for Congress as we listen and console. Writing reveals these fulfilling, frustrating, and satisfying roles to me in a new dimension, exciting my imagination.

When I sit down to write, I change places with fate. I am its master at last. For a little while I am no longer one of millions dominated by forces outside my control--I become truly omnipotent. What could be sweeter? I create my characters and make things happen or not happen to them. I make them happy or sad. I look at life from a few steps back, as if viewing a painting. I fashion, manipulate, and maneuver. I know what is going to happen because I make it happen.

We women are a mixed lot--invincible and vulnerable, independent and needy, insecure and powerful. I have tried, in my writing, to understand and celebrate the gloriously complicated lives of women for my own and my readers’ discovery. To me, this is the supreme function of all writing. It is no easy calling, but its rewards go so far beyond the mundane that I hope to practice it for as many years as I have left on earth.

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Sunstone Press just released Babette Hughes’ second book, The Hat, a historical novel about a bride coming of age amidst the Cleveland Mafia during Prohibition. Babette lives in Texas with her husband, JD, and dog, Polly. Visit the author at http://www.babettehughes.com/ and join her fans on Facebook.

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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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Leave a Comment Authors, Babette Hughes, female authors, Friday Speak Out, writer inspiration

In Review: DARedit Editing Software from AutomatedEditing.com

I love to write. Taking in the information from the world around me and transmuting it into what I hope is a cohesive structure that others can understand and relate to gives me a sense of purpose and connection. Once I feel that I am close to being finished though my enthusiasm takes a dive—it’s editing time. All the time spent reading and rereading the same document hoping I don’t miss a mistake and knowing that I probably will—it’s such a grind! If the editing process lands you slumped in despair banging your head with your mouse you need to check out AutomatedEditing.com.

After listening to an author’s frustrated ranting about the time and expense of editing a new book, Don Russell, a nationally known software developer, took up the call. Combining his talents with those of an author and a teacher Don created an ingenious, user-friendly site where writers and editors can cut their editing time by hours or even days!

I had the opportunity to try the Standard version of Don's software which allows up to 10,000 characters per document. It worked great! DARedit caught punctuation, grammar and even style issues (like low numbers being spelled out). I'm impressed. Below, I share with you how to use the software and what I've found along the way.

How It Works:

The magic lies in linguistic algorithms that evaluate sentences for what might be wrong. Simply paste a copy of your already spell-checked manuscript into the window provided. The DARedit Manuscript Editing System then matches the text against an already substantial and constantly expanding bank of knowledge and offers back an analysis.

Anything that says "cut and paste" sounds like something even I can handle, so I gave it a whirl. I fed it emails, .pdfs, text from Blogger, and Word .docs complete with embedded links and highlighting. Here is what the readout looks like:

The summary states character count, word count, sentence count and how many errors were found.


The detailed report shows errors in punctuation, improper word usage, participial phrasing, clauses of reason and more. Hard Errors are those known as problems 80% of the time; Flags are suspected errors that need a discriminating eye. Copy the analysis and save it in your own file. Knowing which areas to review and which ones are clean frees up time to devote to those processes of editing requiring human evaluation such as Point of View. Read more information on DARedit’s capabilities at the end of this page.

What I Found:

DARedit will analyze the body of the text in emails but doesn’t like the email addresses, everything else went through just fine.

There is a slight discrepancy (less than 2%) in word count statistics between DARedit and Microsoft Word, but then, I can get two different readings in Word depending on if I use the Tools or the Spell-check function.

DARedit is based on CMS (Chicago Manual of Style), I had the opportunity to compare a DARedit analysis with a professionally edited version of the same document (the ultimate test).

I found that the professionally edited version was stricter on comma usage. DARedit assists with the editing process; it does not entirely eliminate the need for professional editing. However, it did catch a few things that the human editor missed! For instance, punctuation outside of quotation marks and quotation marks missing when the quote spanned two paragraphs. It also gave hints about passive voice, suggested I change "felt like" to "felt as if" and reminded me that when using "which" there is a comma but when using "that" there is not.

Try It Now for FREE:

Go ahead…try it! Open up any file and copy the document (up to 2000 characters). Click here. Paste the document into the window and click GO. You will receive a summary without the error detail.

Note: Manuscript must be in Microsoft Word or compatible format, written in English and spellchecked. At the present time DARedit can not accept documents from screenplay programs or web design programs and can not guarantee results for advanced technical terminology. Click for more information.

The Benefit:

The true benefit of using the DARedit system is the time saved in locating errors. Although the detailed report will lend hints as to what the errors may be it will not tell you how to fix them. Think of it as an expert pair of eyes combing through the text marking all the places that need attention. Although some of us may need to keep that stack of reference books on our desk, with AutomatedEditing.com we have a better chance of producing a clean manuscript. No more grind!

Costs: As mentioned above, you can try it out for free, but the paid version includes all the features. Prices start at $25 a month for membership, which includes a 2,000 character limit (roughly a 6-page document) per day. You can find all of their service pricing here. I suggest their one month trial.

Coming Soon: DARedit is constantly upgrading services. Soon to come:

- Checkboxes to customize your readout

- Verb tense editing

Members remain informed about update news via a window on their screen.

Other services: In addition to software-assisted editing DARedit offers complete editing services and author evaluations.

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I hope you'll find the DARedit software as helpful as I did. Try it for flash fiction, short stories, and novels, or nonfiction articles, blog posts, and emails. It will help polish your work before you hit the send button. Enjoy!

By Robyn Chausse

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Leave a Comment AutomatedEditing.com, DARedit, Don Russell, editing services, Robyn Chausse, Writer's Tools

Interview with Janel Gradowski, Fall 2010 Contest Runner-Up

Janel Gradowski is a wife and mother who lives among the farm fields in Freeland, Michigan. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the last 12 years, but has an Associate in Desktop Publishing from Delta College. She decided she wanted to be a writer in the fifth grade after her story about a talking car received glowing reviews from her classmates and an A grade from her teacher.

After the birth of her second child she began making jewelry. Soon after she began designing beadwork and had her first pattern published in an international beadwork magazine in 2004. Since then she has had over a dozen patterns published in magazines and online. In 2010 she switched her writing focus back to her first love, fiction. She enjoys writing micro, flash and short stories. She can often be found writing with her Golden Retriever, Cooper, napping nearby. You can find pictures of Cooper and observations on life as a writer at her blog: http://janelsjumble.blogspot.com/.

If you haven't had the opportunity, do read Janel's winning entry, A Relationship with Food, then join us for our interview with her.

Interview by Jill Earl

WOW: Hi Janel! Welcome to the Muffin and congratulations on your win! How did you develop the idea for A Relationship with Food?

Janel: I am thrilled to be a runner-up! It’s an honor to be recognized with so many other fantastic writers. A Relationship with Food came about because of a combination of two things. I love culinary fiction. I actually have a bookshelf, which happens to be overflowing, dedicated to culinary fiction books. I decided to try my hand at writing a food-centered story. At the same time I had also read a story where lists played an integral part in the plot. I loved the list idea and challenged myself to incorporate grocery lists into a story.

WOW: As a die-hard foodie, I loved reading your piece and enjoyed how the grocery lists showed the course of the character’s relationship. A clever way to create a story, and you definitely rose to the challenge! Can you tell us what your daily writing routine looks like?

Janel: During the school year, I write while my kids are in school. I’m working at setting up a writing space in the basement that I can retreat to this summer. I find that I write best in the late morning and early afternoon, after my morning coffee has kicked in. The weekends are family time, so I usually take the time off from my writing.

WOW: It’s so important to have a dedicated place to write, so here’s hoping you’ll get that writing space finished. Looks like you’ve got a good work-life balance going, too. And I’m there with you on the coffee jump-start---love that miracle liquid! Moving on to writing influences, what tools, books, authors or styles inspire you?

Janel: I am a writing book junkie. My favorite chair to write in sits next to a bookshelf full of writing books. On Writing by Stephen King, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg are classics and you can’t go wrong following the advice in these books. A few of my other favorites are The Power to Write by Caroline Joy Adams, A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves and Thinking Write by Kelly L. Stone.

WOW: Those are some great selections from your writing book collection, thanks for sharing. Let’s talk a bit about your writing history, starting with your return to fiction writing in 2010.

Janel: When I was in the fifth grade I wrote a story about a talking car. My classmates liked the story so much they asked the teacher to read it twice. I was hooked, but life got in the way and I never seriously pursued my writing. In 2002 I found a new hobby that I enjoyed, beading. I quickly started designing my own beadwork patterns and soon set my sights on publishing those patterns in beading magazines. My first pattern was published in 2004. I turned 40 last year and had a sort of writing mid-life crisis. While I have enjoyed the creative and technical challenges of writing beadwork patterns I decided to return to my first writing love, fiction. Writing in short forms - short, flash and micro fiction, is now my passion.

WOW: From writing beadwork patterns to writing fiction---that’s quite an interesting path towards publication. And your passion for short fiction definitely shone through your winning entry, good work! Now you’re a member of She Writes, an online community. For readers who might not be familiar, can you tell us about your experience with them?

Janel: She Writes is a community for women who write. I have found some wonderful writers who I now consider friends because of She Writes. There are many active groups within the community where you can connect to everyone from flash fiction writers to mothers who write and even book bloggers. I recently participated in a blog hop organized by one of the groups and I was delighted to meet so many new people as we all visited and commented on each other’s blogs.

WOW: You’ve inspired me to check them out myself, Janel. Can you tell us what projects you’re working on?

Janel: I would love to have a short story collection published. I have several ideas for themed collections that I want to explore. I will most likely go with a small press or e-publisher. I have even been researching self-publishing e-books, but I haven’t decided to go that route yet.

WOW: Sounds wonderful, good luck with everything! Wrapping things up, what’s some of the best writing-related advice you’ve received and what advice would you like to leave our readers with?

Janel: You have to write if you want to be a writer. I think if you spend time with your writing, really try to hone your craft, you will succeed. Good writing will find an audience. Write the best stories that you can, then find the courage to submit your work. You will never be published if you don’t submit anything. Be courageous and don’t take rejections personally. Rejections happen to EVERY writer. Mourn a bit, if you want, and then move on. Tenacity and resilience are good qualities to adopt if you truly want to succeed as a writer. Most of all, enjoy writing. If writing makes you happy, it will show in the quality of your work and success will follow.

WOW: Such wise words, Janel, thanks for encouragement we all can use! Many thanks for chatting with us today and best wishes with your writing!

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6 comments Contestant interview, Fall 2010 Contest Runner Up, Janel Gradowski, Jill Earl

Linda K. Hubalek, author of the Trail of Thread book series, launches her blog tour!

& Book Giveaway Comments Contest!

Linda Hubalek's sixth grade teacher assigned her to write the traditional paper on what she wanted to be when she grew up, but Linda had an untraditional answer. She didn't want to be a nurse, teacher, or mom. She wanted to be a farmer! Her dream came true when she graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Agriculture/Horticulture, and went on to spend years doing agronomy research, and eventually started her own business, Prairie Flower Creations.

Much like her own ancestors who headed West, Linda found herself in California tending a cement garden and longing for the fields of Kansas. Lind "visited" her beloved Kansas by writing the Trail of Thread series about Kansas pioneer women.

Although Linda is back in Kansas (growing bison this time, not prairie flowers), she's still writing about Kansas women. Her fourth series, the Kansas Quilter series, will be released later this year.

Find out more about Linda by visiting her websites:
Author website: www.LindaHubalek.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindahubalekbooks
Blog: www.LindaHubalek.com/feed/rss



Trail of Thread book series

The Trail of Thread series includes three books based on the lives of the author's ancestors. Each book, told from the viewpoint of a pioneer woman through letters she writes to those "back home," tells the tale of a family moving from the settled East to the wilds of the newly opened territory of Kansas in the mid 1850s.

The first book, Trail of Thread, tells of life on the trail West as a family makes the cross country journey from Kentucky to Kansas. The second book, Thimble of Soil, is the story of a widow and her children traveling from Ohio to Kansas and trying to establish a home amidst the skirmishes that riddled Kansas, as the slave state and free state supporters battled over the fate of the Kansas territory. The last book, Stitch of Courage, takes place during the Civil War years and tells of the marriage between the two families portrayed in books one and two and how the war was fought in the West.

These books are written in letter form, covering the years 1854 to 1865. Twelve quilt patterns are featured in each book of this series.

The books are available as ebooks for Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, or for Kobobook's Kobo. You can also order autographed paperback books through BisonFarmGiftShop.com.

Book Giveaway Contest: If you'd like to win the Trail of Thread series (3 Kindle eBooks), please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in a random drawing. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #TrailofThread, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, May 12th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday May 13th. Good luck!

----- Interview by Robyn Chausse

WOW: You based your Trail of Thread series on your own genealogy. How did you come to decide to write historical fiction based on your ancestors?

Linda: Writing was not my career choice when pursuing my college education. My degree is in horticulture from Kansas State University and I first worked as an agronomy researcher before starting my own wholesale flower business in the 1980s. But I had to make major life changes when my husband’s job transferred us to California for a two-year project.

I sold my business and all of a sudden I was without a job and an identity while trying to adjust from rural life to big city living.

I went to a local community college after we moved and took a course on “What to do with the rest of my life.” When making a list of goals and dreams for that class, I remembered a visit to my late great grandparents’ homestead in 1983. It had been such a sad occasion that I had vowed to write a book about my great grandmother Kizzie Pieratt someday.

This vow, along with being homesick for my family and our quiet life in the Midwest, gave me the inspiration to write about my ancestors and the land they homesteaded.

What resulted from this idea was my first book Butter in the Well, based on the Swedish immigrant woman who homesteaded our family farm. (My parents still live there and my brother farms the land.)

My book first sold in my hometown of Lindsborg, Kansas (a tourist town known as Little Sweden USA) and tourists bought it, read it, and called me—wanting to know what happened to the family.

I ended up writing four books for my Butter in the Well series and that started my new career in writing.

In my second series, Trail of Thread, I followed my maternal ancestors who traveled to Lawrence, Kansas in the 1850s. These three books relieve the turbulent times the pioneer women faced before and during the Civil War.

Planting Dreams, my third series, portrays my great-great-grandmother Charlotta Johnson, who left Sweden in 1868 to find land in America. These three books trace my family’s journey to Kansas and the homesteading of their farm.

Recently I formatted and published my original ten books into eBooks and I have been marketing them to a whole new audience of readers.

WOW: Tell us about forming your characters. There must be times when you do not have much information to go by...

Linda: Luckily, because my book series have been based on real people, old photos of the actual character, or someone in the next generation, have given me a hint of their physical looks. Finding facts and hearing stories of these people have also helped form my characters’ personalities. But if I have no photo to look at—as can happen with minor characters—I go with the situations that make up their lives.

I also make lists of the time span, with what year each character was born so I can keep everyone straight in relationship to the time frame I’m working in.

WOW: Why do you write your stories in series of three smaller books instead of one novel?

Linda: Because then I have readers buying three books instead of one. This means more sales (income), plus the readers look forward to the next book to continue the story of the family. They always want to know “what happens next.”

WOW: Good marketing point! You began self-publishing your books in 1994, before it became a popular and acceptable thing to do. Tell us a little about your decision to self-publish.

Linda: I wanted to see my books in print so I decided to learn the process and do it myself versus taking the time to submit and hope that someone else would publish it. Through my company, Butterfield Books Inc., I have control over the rights and can keep the books in print forever.

WOW: What is involved in setting up your own publishing company?

Linda: Start with the Small Business Administration’s website at www.SBA.gov. If you are going to start a publishing company you need to see what all is involved in starting a business first. Lots of thought and planning needs to go into this before you even apply for licenses and tax ID numbers. Next you need to check with your state (and city) to see what rules and regulations you have to do for them.

THEN you search “how to start a publishing company” to see all the steps required to actually get your book edited, designed, printed, and marketed.

Look through published books to see what is on its copyright page. Search on the internet on “How to get an ISBN,” etc. to find the right agency to register your book’s information.

Of course there is a big difference depending on if you’re going to print a book or just post it online as an ebook, but you still need to have a business plan and the proper licenses in place to protect both you and your work.

WOW: Once you have your company up and running, how do you market your books?

Linda: As you’ll hear time and time again...the writing was the easy part...

I published my first books before the Internet really started, so I sent news releases, books out for reviews, local book signings...all by mail and in person.

Nowadays, besides being able to email everything, there are “how-tos” on the internet to guide you through the process.

BUT, you still need the excitement of one reader to tell another reader to get the word out about your book. Be it in person, or through social media—“word of mouth” is the best way to promote your book. And, you need a good book for it to even be talked about, so be sure to have it read and edited by an outside party to polish the book to its best potential.

WOW: Yes, professional editing and formatting is essential and well worth the cost. What would you say are the pros and cons to publishing on your own label?

Linda: You are in control, so all decisions, good or bad fall on you, or who you hire to help you. It’s a big commitment to follow through to get your book published and to stay available for the potential life of the book.

WOW: That is a good point, to stay available and continually market your book instead of just allowing it one run. Looking back on your journey, what advice would you most like to share with other writer’s?

Linda: I have a quote on my desk that says “Talent is a gift and a responsibility. Don’t let your skills go to waste or you’ll feel guilty forever.”

For some reason, even though I didn’t major in writing in college, I have a special talent in writing history. I put the reader in the shoes of the main character, and they feel the happiness, despair, and every other emotion, right along with the homesteader in the story.

I use my gift to write history in a way a reader can learn and appreciate what their ancestors did for them.

And so my advice is to go with your passion of telling a story for others to read. But remember, you—or someone else that you have to find—must take the next step to getting it published.

WOW: Thank you for sharing those thoughts with us. What is your next project?

Linda: Now I’m finally researching and writing the book about my great grandmother Kizzie Pieratt who has been on my mind for almost 30 years. Her life story will be portrayed in the Kansas Quilter series.

WOW: That’s wonderful! Congratulations on another series.

----- Blog Tour Dates:

Join Linda on her tour! Check out these dates and mark your calendar. You can also snag a copy of WOW's Events Calendar HERE.

May 10, Tuesday @ Writers Inspired: Learn about "Writing Fiction Based on Factual Events" from historical fiction auithor Linda K. Hubalek. You can also win an ebook from Linda's first series about pioneer women, Trail of Thread.
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

May 12, Thursday @ Aunt Pitty Pat's: Have you ever wondered about the life of pioneer women? Linda K. Hubalek, author of four historical fiction series about pioneer women, will be giving readers the facts. She'll also be giving away an ebook of Trail of Thread, a book about Kansas, quilting, and family.
http://auntpittypats.blogspot.com/

May 13, Friday @ Fresh Fiction: Stop by today to learn a bit more about historical novelist Linda Hubalek and enter to win a copy of Trail of Thread!
http://freshfiction.com/

May 16, Monday @ Lori's Reading Corner: Stop by for a surprise guest post and the chance to win an ebook from Linda's Trail of Thread series.
http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/

May 18, Wednesday @ Cathy C.'s Hall of Fame: Will you inspire your descendants? Historical novelist Linda Hubalek writes about how her ancestors inspired her series Trail of Thread and gives away an e-copy!
http://www.cathychall.blogspot.com/

May 19, Thursday @ The Book Tree: Stop by for a book review of Trail of Thread today!
http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/

May 23, Monday @ Caroline Clemmons: Caroline reviews Trail of Thread by Linda K. Hubalek today. But don't forget to come back on Wednesday for an interview and a chance to win one of her books!
http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

May 24, Tuesday @ Quilting Gallery: Linda tells us about how quilting is intertwined in her historical series. She's also giving away an e-copy of Trail of Thread.
http://quiltinggallery.com/

May 25, Wednesday @ Caroline Clemmons: Stop by for an interview with historical fiction author Linda Hubalek and a chance to win an e-copy of her book!
http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

June 2, Thursday @ Books, Books, The Magical Fruit: Learn more about Linda Hubalek, author of the Trail of Thread historical series, as well as three other historical series. Also, enter to win an ebook copy of Trail of Thread.
http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com/

To view all of our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar HERE.

Get involved!
If you have a blog or website and would like to host Linda Hubalek or schedule a tour of your own, please email Jodi and Robyn at: blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com

Book Giveaway Contest: Enter to win a ebook copies of Linda K. Hubalek's Trail of Thread historical series!

Here's how to enter:
1. For your first entry, just leave a comment on this post! Leave a comment or ask Linda a question, to be entered in a random drawing.
2. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #TrailofThread, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet.

The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, May 12th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday May 13th, and if we have the winner's email address from the comments section or profile, we will also notify the winner via email. Good luck!

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16 comments author blog tour, book giveaway, Civil War years, historical series, Kindle contest, Linda K. Hubalek, quilting, self publishing tips, Trail of Thread

Moving in New Directions: The Freedom to Create New Paradigms

Last night my partner brought me flowers and tools: diagonal pliers to replace the ones he broke, and joint pliers because mine do not work very well. Another woman might have offered an evil eye for a gift of tools, but for me it was perfect.

Embrace who you are.

I learned a long time ago that I don’t fit in the usual boxes. To some people, like my sister, my having nine careers in thirty-four years seems flighty and unfocused. Others see my ability and willingness to shift lanes as adventurous. For me, it has just been the natural progression of my life.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

So often we become stuck in society’s boxes of what is acceptable or what is required of us to move forward. Almost every writer experiences these judgments at some point. When leaving a well paying corporate job to work from home. The stigma of following a creative passion versus a good business position. The credentials needed to fulfill a dream.

A friend once told me, “If God gave you the inspiration you are already qualified.”

The world is in a topsy-turvy state. We are in a flux where no one decision is the “right” one. Work for yourself or someone else? Stay in the business world or pursue creative drive? Print publications or eBook? What kind of platform works best and is FaceBook really necessary? With the economy constantly shifting, the benefits of long-term employment no longer secured and conventional marketing loosing ground society has no choice but to roll with the shifting sand.

Don’t be stressed, be happy!

This chaotic state offers us the gift of choosing our own way, the space to create new paradigms. It is as if a big, dry-erase pad is sweeping through all the old, tired models and leaving us with a big, blank board. The only question is…

What will you place on it?

by Robyn Chausse

Photo Credit: arztsamui/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Leave a Comment career, choosing a new path, courage, Inspiration, Moving in New Directions: The Freedom to Create New Paradigms, Robyn Chausse

The Creative Side of Superwoman

Superwoman.

Yes, when my kids were young, people asked me how I handled being superwoman. After all, I taught full time, instructed a college course, edited a popular and fast-growing online literary magazine, and still managed to cook, clean (well, with help), and raise my kids.

I was lucky. I had a great support system, a.k.a my children. And I constantly challenged myself. For me, failure was not an option.

Unfortunately, many women feel their creativity and inspiration being suffocated, due to expectations established by society. Often, these strong, creative, intelligent women are forced to choose between caring for others and reaching for their own dreams.

It's a choice that should not have to be made.

I'm not saying my journey was easy. It wasn't. My husband was against a summer fellowship I landed at one of the nation's most prestigious theater and speech programs. He did not understand how editing an online magazine would lead to bigger opportunities in the publishing industry. He considered it selfish on my part. (I considered it selfish for him to ask me to give up dreams and aspirations just so he could feel good about himself. Sorry, but it's true.)

I'm positive it wasn't easy on my children, either. They ranged from fourth grade to a high school freshman during this time. They needed their mother to be a reliable presence in their lives.

But they knew, as did I, that if I cut back on the creative endeavors, I would not be happy. They realized writing and acting pushed me, provided inspiration. Those activities actually translated into a deeper connection with my daughters because I included them in my creative process. All three were interested and learned from my experiences. I'm proud to say I have three creative daughters.

Have you ever wondered how the world would be different if you pushed your creative sense to the edge? What possibilities would open? What would suffer?

A few years ago, a wonderful film, Who Does She Think She Is?, examined the lives of five women who gave up their creative passions. One of the women is involved in theater; the other are artists. How do they regain control of the longing to create?

It's an interesting film that offers the opportunity for dialogue about finding balance between family obligations and the destiny of a creative woman.

Am I still Superwoman? Life has changed a lot in 15 years. That marriage dissolved, allowing a new beginning. I have a supportive husband who understands that writing and theater let me express myself, and I can earn a pretty good living doing what I enjoy. My children are adults, some with children of their own.

They understand the delicate balancing act, where family is in one hand and creative expression is in the other.

Have you sacrificed creative pursuits for the sake of others?

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's writing at her website, Writing on the Wall.

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1 comment creative, creative artists, creative expression, Inspiration, who does she think she is

Friday Speak Out!: Really? That’s a Story Idea!, Guest Post by Juliann Wetz

Really? That’s a Story Idea!

by Juliann Wetz

For years, I always ate lunch with my co-workers on Mondays. That was our time to connect and share what we’d done over the weekend. On one particular Monday I didn’t have anything special to share -- or so I thought. But as I recounted the shift I’d worked at my part-time job as a domestic violence counselor, I realized that my story might be of interest to more people than just the co-workers sitting around our table.

One of the males in our group, Scott, asked me what I actually did at the shelter. I told him that I managed the shelter during my shift, making sure that everyone was safe and doing what they were supposed to be doing, whether it was household chores or getting to social service appointments. I did intakes on women coming into the shelter, or departure interviews on those who were leaving. And sometimes I answered the crisis hotline, which I’d done over the weekend. But I hadn’t had an actual crisis call, just another obscene phone caller.

“Really?” he asked. His mouth hung open and his eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. Apparently this was news to him.

I nodded. “We get prank calls and obscene phone calls all the time.”

Scott sat back in his chair, a look of astonishment fixed to his face. “Really?” he repeated. And that’s when I knew – here was a story I needed to write. A tale that needed to be told.

Somewhere in my reading past a writer gave this advice: when you are recounting a story and someone interjects the word “Really?” you know you have a story.
That word should be a writer’s cue that the statement he/she has just made sparked interest in the listener. The speaker has just relayed something incredible, incongruous, new or provocative that the listener wants to know more about. Like the sad fact that crisis line workers often get pranked with obscene phone calls. It’s part of the job, but I hadn’t realized that there was a story in that until I heard Scott’s reaction to something I’d taken as routine.

Now I often use the word "really" as my litmus test. If I begin a story or tell the premise of a story and hear that goldmine of a word, I know I’ve got a story idea and a potential audience. Really!

* * *

In addition to raising a family and working many different jobs (including one as a domestic violence counselor), Juliann Wetz has been writing for more than 20 years. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Boys' Life, Cappers, Good Old Days, Child Life, Reading Today, Dog Fancy, and 50+. In addition, she wrote restaurant and book reviews for the Cox Newspapers of southwestern Ohio.

She is currently working on two novels and keeps her writing skills sharp by blogging daily. Read more at http://juliewetz-dailysnapshot.blogspot.com/
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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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2 comments Friday Speak Out, generating new ideas, getting ideas, Juliann Wetz, writer inspiration

Am I Writing YA or MG?

One question that I am asked over and over again in the WOW! writing middle-grade class and when I critique manuscripts with my freelance editing business is, "Do you think my story is young adult (YA) or middle-grade (MG)?" I am also asked: "What's the difference? Which is better?"

There's not an answer to which is better--it's all what you want for your career and for your story. Both of the series pictured here are popular and have a huge following--Gossip Girl is YA for teens and Beacon Street Girls is MG for girls 9 to 13 (according to the publisher). 

As for the difference between the two, that's huge. Think about the audience. There's a huge difference between teenagers and pre-teens in what they think, how they feel, what they look like, and how they deal with life issues--and the type of life issues they have to deal with. So, the first point to consider when you're writing either YA or MG is the audience. You were this age once. Think about yourself as a fifth grader then as a sophomore in high school. Huge difference, right? 

Here are a few more points to consider when deciding if you are writing YA or MG:

• YA main characters should be in their mid to late teens. MG main characters should be between 11 and 13. (There are always exceptions. That's why I say SHOULD.) 
• YA subject matter can be edgy. Your YA main character might be dealing with serious issues such as pre-marital sex, drug addiction, gang violence, abuse, and so on. With MG, your main character will face less edgy issues, such as dealing with low self-esteem, sibling rivalry, peer pressure, fitting in, and so on. Think about the topic of drugs. In YA, the main character may be addicted to meth. In MG, the main character may have thought about trying a cigarette. 
• Adults should always play a background role in any MG or YA book. But in MG books, the characters are still really dependent on their parents or caregivers and may still be family centered. In a YA book--especially if the character is between 16 and 18--parents and adults will REALLY take a backseat role. For example, in Twilight, Bella's dad is in the story, and you know he loves her and provides for her; but the story doesn't deal with him, and he doesn't affect the decisions she makes. That's YA.

I like to make this comparison. Think of the TV shows: Hannah Montana and Beverly Hills 90210. Hannah Montana--middle-grade, Beverly Hills 90210--young adult. 

It is important to know what you are writing and your target audience. Prospective agents and editors have to know where your book will fit on the shelf. So, figure out where your story fits and go for it! 

Margo's Writing the Middle-Grade Novel class will start again on May 11 if you are interested in writing a middle-grade novel or you've started one and want some guidance. Check out the class listing for more information. For more information about Margo Dill, please see http://margodill.com/blog/.

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6 comments children writers, children's books, middle grade, WOW Classes, young adult novel

Eileen Granfors, Runner Up in Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Congratulations to Eileen Granfors for placing as a runner-up in the Fall 2010 Flash Fiction contest with her story, "Shave and a Haircut." If you haven't had a chance to read the winning story, you can check it out here.

Eileen lives in Santa Clarita, California. A former army brat who was born in New Orleans and lived in Germany, she and her family settled in Imperial Beach, California, where her mother’s love of body surfing turned her into an avid surfer girl. Eileen is a proud UCLA alumna. She has published her first novel, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead, a coming-of-age multicultural look at the Hispanic tradition of the Day of the Dead. She is working on its sequel, So You, Solimar. Come on out to meet her at the Los Angeles Festival of Books. Follow Eileen on her blogs: www.eileengranfors.blogspot.com (book reviews, poems, and word etymology), and www.marisolsomeriversend.blogspot.com (news and events pertaining to my published novel, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead).

WOW: Welcome, Eileen, and congratulations on your winning story. What themes are you exploring in "Shave and a Haircut?"

Eileen: One main idea in this story is the idea of unconditional love Grandpa Joe has for his granddaughter,who has so many issues.  He loves her and enjoys her company and together they can just be themselves. He doesn't judge her.

The second idea is a grace-under-pressure hero.  Here's Grandpa Joe, dying of emphysema, and yet finding things to laugh about and taking each day he has to live, to teach, and to learn.  He wants to share with Susan the idea that every day is truly precious, and we should not take a single day for granted.  There's no use in fixating on the past.

WOW: Where did you get your idea for this flash fiction piece?

Eileen: This piece started as an exercise in setting for a class. I wanted the setting to reflect the character of Grandpa Joe.  After that, I added in the conflict by bringing Susan to visit.

WOW: That's awesome that this winning story started in a class. It goes to show that we should always take writing exercises seriously, as we never know where they will lead. You have written and published a novel also. What's different about writing a long piece rather than a short piece?

Eileen: I know a novel is a series of scenes.  I have no problem in writing a particular scene. But piecing the scenes together into an interesting and unfolding story, the layering, is much harder for me. My first novel, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead went smoothly from beginning to end because it had a clear time frame and a clear goal for Marisol. But the sequel, So You, Solimar, is stuck at the moment.  I'm deciding (again) on the narrative voice and what Marisol's role will be. I am also setting the sequel in 2016, so thinking about the future and bringing that into the setting is difficult.

WOW: Both works sound really interesting! What do you find similar about the two forms of writing?

Eileen: The similarity is the best advice to writers, BIC--butt in chair.  You cannot simply dream your writing into being. You have to sit at the keyboard and write!

WOW: That is the best advice. You also have a blog. What types of things do you write about on your blog?

Eileen: On my blog, I share a book review, a linked poem (usually one of mine, but sometimes my husband's or another writer's), and also a piece of etymology.  The history of words has always fascinated me. I try to update my blog twice per week.  I read a lot, and I like to help people find books to enjoy.

WOW: Sounds interesting!  What is your writing routine like?

Eileen: I am fairly organized about writing.  I walk my dogs at 8 a.m.; and as I walk, I think about the goals I have for a particular day's writing. If I can't make the writing happen as I have visualized it, I may take some time out to write a flash fiction story, a six-word memoir, or I get out my coloring book to make ideas flow. I write from 8:30-11:30 or 12 noon, Monday through Friday.  Sometimes I will proofread in the afternoon but not always.

WOW: What a great routine. It's also helpful to see what different writers do when they are stuck. Coloring in a coloring book? Great idea! Why do you suggest entering contests even when you have publication success like you do?

Eileen: Contests are a way for me to sharpen writing.  Flash fiction especially requires that I look for extraneous information.  I have to make the conflict clear from the beginning.  I also like the anticipation of waiting for results.  And if a story doesn't go anywhere, I know I need to work on it more fully. I'm putting together an anthology of flash fiction right now, pieces not entered into contests, for all the people who tell me they don't have time to read.  It's called Flash Warden and Other Stories.

WOW: Thank you, Eileen, for your time today. We wish you much success in your future projects! 

interview conducted by Margo L. Dill; http://margodill.com/blog/  

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3 comments Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Contest, Margo L. Dill, Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health & Happiness by Mari L. McCarthy, Blog Tour & Book Giveaway!

Are you up for a challenge? Do you want to transform your life in less than a month? If so, you're going to love this blog tour!

Mari McCarthy's new workbook, Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness, guides you through short journal writing exercises to help you identify old, unhealthy patterns in your life and make positive changes in your thinking and behavior to achieve your true potential. The workbook is designed to be completed in short blocks of time in a period of 27 consecutive days, and this commitment is what challenges and motivates you to create lasting change.

27 Days allows you to face fears, set goals and create a plan for success in many areas of your life, including: career, money, spirituality, and emotional and physical health. Use this workbook to:

• Increase self-awareness and access the full power of your talents, skills and creativity
• Heal old wounds and learn to live in the present, not the past
• Reduce stress, manage inner critics and conduct healthy self-talk
• Reconnect with your inner kid and start having fun
• Overcome writer's block and keep a regular journal therapy practice

Personal growth and development can be hard work, but this workbook makes it easy. It's the next best thing to having a personalized journal therapy coach sitting next to you day after day, cheering you on every step of the way!

Download a FREE chapter here (left hand side of web page).

Book Giveaway Contest: If you'd like to win a copy of Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness, please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in a random drawing. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #27Days, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, May 5th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday May 6th. Good luck!

Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness by Mari L. McCarthy is available as an ebook or a spiral-bound workbook at CreateWriteNow.com. You can also find it for the Kindle at Amazon, the Nook at Barnes & Noble, and for iBooks (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch) at iTunes.

----- About the author:

Mari L. McCarthy, The Journal/Writing Therapist, helps you start, keep up and earn all the personal results you can with a daily pen-to-page Journaling Practice. Learn more about journal writing therapy at www.CreateWriteNow.com where you'll find Journaling for the Health of It™ inspiration, ideas, and resources, and The Journal Writing Therapy Transforms You Blog.

You can also download the FREE e-book, How to Use Your Journal to Cure Writer's Block Now.

The Weekly Thursday Journaling Therapy Cures newsletter provides unique journaling tips, prompts, and writing exercises. You can sign up here and also view the e-mail archives: http://www.createwritenow.com/journaling-newsletter-archive/

And be sure to check out Mari's latest e-book, Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life, as well as Marcia Peterson's review of the ebook here.

----- Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: Mari, you now lead journaling workshops and have written books on journaling including Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness. Tell us how you first began journaling.

Mari: I had a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) episode one winter about 13 years ago, when I lost feeling and function on the right side of my body. I needed a method to teach my left hand how to write. I started Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages and I could read my left-hand writing within a month!

WOW: At what point did you realize that journaling had become more than an exercise in physical therapy?

Mari: Probably within two to three weeks, I started hearing rhymes and began writing poetry for the first time in my life. Soon after I started hearing voices (later identified as my "Inner Critics," lots of them!). I began recalling snippets of my childhood and experiencing all kinds of new emotional and physical feelings. I wanted to see where I’d go next so I wrote and wrote and wrote every morning first thing.

WOW: Do you journal every day? Is it always at the same time or at the same place?

Mari: Yes, it’s always first thing in my office each day before I power up my computer.

WOW: Is it a part of your routine like brushing your teeth or do you just journal when you have something significant to say or explore?

Mari: Yes, it’s part of my daily routine. I do at least a page every day. I use that Journal throughout my work day for helping me with my writing, to help me set priorities and to work through problems--I ask her lots of questions. I keep a Journal on my nightstand for dreams and night notes when the spirit moves me. I take my Journal with me to the dentist's office, the hairdressers, anyplace I know I’ll have some me time.

WOW: What do you feel journaling does for you?

Mari: It helps me discover more about myself and create new, more positive thoughts, be more productive and accomplish more goals. It’s my primary care provider and saves me trips to the doctor and pharmacy.

WOW: What benefits do you think readers could gain from regular journaling?

Mari: They’ll understand what makes them tick emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. They’ll learn how to dump their baggage from the past, live in the present and create the future they want.

WOW: Sounds like everyone should be journaling! What makes people hold back from starting a journal or just not keep up with their journaling habit?

Mari: Journaling is for everyone. Fear is the biggest obstacle. We have to realize that we have grown up chronologically but we’re still carrying around the erroneous messages (thoughts, feelings, beliefs) about our self that we created as children. To our Inner Kid, Journaling is seen as questioning authority and it means being selfish, spending so much time on our self when we are supposed to be saving the rest of the world. Some people have experienced someone reading their Journal and they never went back to their pages.

WOW: That’s a powerful reaction to having your words read. Is it because the emotions of a journal are so private?

Mari: Yes, I've had several clients who really want to get back to journaling, but they're so traumatized (they were teenagers and their mother or boyfriend read it, one's ex-husband read it during their marriage) and they need help in healing those wounds and trusting themselves again.

Sharing your journal is a personal choice. I have no problem if anyone wants to read mine. It often works well if you have a friend who journals and you can swap and share. Most people are still very much afraid of what other people would think and/or say.

WOW: What types of things do you journal about?

Mari: Any and everything. I just sit down and write, write, write.

WOW: Do you ever get "writer's block" when thinking what to journal about next?

Mari: No, because it’s part of my daily health routine. Like brushing my teeth, I "just do it" because it keeps me and makes me healthier.

WOW: Give us one or two tips about starting a journal.

Mari: Be good to yourself. Pick a pen and notebook from the drugstore or office supply store that call to you, that catch your eye, that you will have fun with. Find your place to set up your practice. Sit with your Journal, tune into yourself and take some meaningful breaths. Date the page and start with a statement like “today I feel…” or a question like “What am I doing this for?” then just write and write and write.

WOW: Do you do any other types of writing or artistic expression?

Mari: I’m a singer/songwriter (a goal I uncovered in my daily Journaling) and am working on "A Baby Boomer’s Christmas" album. I’m also taking up Art Journaling, something completely new for me.

WOW: Art journaling? What is that?

Mari: I haven't gotten my Art Journal kit but it contains paints and pencils and a journal and you express yourself in artwork rather than just words. My artistic experience is stick figures and smiley faces so I'm looking forward to doing this for me but also to work it into my journaling therapy business somehow.

WOW: I’m not an artist either but I can imagine images would be a great way to express some thoughts, or at least be a first step to expressing something in words. What can we expect from you next?

Mari: I have two eBooks in the works: Dark Chocolate for the Journaler’s Soul: 20 Ways to Heal and Grow Your Life and What the Health? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Master Your Money.

WOW: We’re looking forward to hearing more about them!

----- Blog Tour Dates:

Join Mari on her tour! Check out these dates and mark your calendar. You can also snag a copy of WOW's Events Calendar HERE.

May 3, Tuesday @ GaGa Sisterhood: Thirsty? Don't miss "Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Living with a Chronic Illness," a guest post from Mari McCarthy.
http://gagasisterhood.com/

May 4, Wednesday @ Donna's Book Pub: Enrich the journaling experience by using all five of your senses. Learn more from Mari McCarthy, and you can also win an ebook copy of Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling for Health and Happiness.
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/

May 10, Tuesday @ Empty Nest: Mari McCarthy talks about SIX journals everyone should be familiar with...five by well-known journalers and the SIXTH you should be writing. Readers can also win an e-format or print copy of Mari's workbook!
http://emptynest1.blogspot.com/

May 11, Wednesday @ Musings From a Midwestern Writer: Journaling expert Mari McCarthy gives readers tips for unleashing their creativity. Don't miss the giveaway of Mari's workbook Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling for Health and Happiness.
http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

May 13, Friday @ Books, Books, the Magical Fruit: Celebrate the month of May with "A May Basket of Journaling Prompts" from Mari McCarthy. You can also enter to win a copy of her workbook.
http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com/

May 17, Tuesday @ Writers Inspired: Can the kid in you help improve your writing? Mari McCarthy shows you the way to your inner-kid. She'll also be giving away an e-copy of her book to a budding journal writer!
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

May 19, Thursday @ Adventures in the Writing Life: Think about new ways to create writing prompts for your journaling with "I Smell a Great Journal Topic" by Mari McCarthy.
http://adventuresinthewritinglife.blogspot.com/

May 20, Friday @ Lori's Reading Corner: Stop by for journal writing tips from Mari McCarthy and a chance to win an ebook or print copy of her workbook Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness.
http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/

May 24, Tuesday @ Colloquium: Want to know the inner you? Colloquium reviews Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness, and gives away and ecopy or print copy--winner's choice.
http://www.jhsiess.com/

May 25, Wednesday @ Women's Memoirs: Stop by today as Mari tells the story of writing Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness.
http://womensmemoirs.com/

May 27, Friday @ Women's Memoirs: Ever wonder what it's like to be an author on a blog tour? The ladies at Women's Memoirs get the inside scoop from Mari McCarthy as she finishes her WOW! blog tour.
http://womensmemoirs.com/

To view all of our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar HERE.

Get involved!
If you have a blog or website and would like to host Mari McCarthy or schedule a tour of your own, please email Jodi at: blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com

Book Giveaway Contest: Enter to win a print copy of Mari McCarthy's workbook, Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness.

Here's how to enter:
1. For your first entry, just leave a comment on this post! Leave a comment or ask Mari a question, to be entered in a random drawing.
2. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #27Days, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet.

The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, May 5th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday May 6th, and if we have the winner's email address from the comments section or profile, we will also notify the winner via email. Good luck!

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46 comments author blog tour, book giveaway contest, CreateWriteNow.com, journal writing, Mari L. McCarthy, Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness

Queen of Multitasking

I'm writing this article, watching TV, talking on the phone and drinking my coffee. I've always done more than one thing at a time. I believe myself to be the Queen of Multitasking. In fact, it's hard for me to only do individual tasks. Just the other day I was scanning the aisles of Walmart, reading my shopping list and talking on the phone. To my friend I said, "Lettuce." She asked, "Let us what?"
People can't multitask very well, and when people say they can, they're deluding themselves," said neuroscientist Earl Miller. He said, "The brain is very good at deluding itself.
You're not paying attention to one or two things simultaneously, but switching between them very rapidly."
At a lab at the University of Michigan, researchers are using an MRI scanner to photograph test subjects' brains as they perform different tasks. Two red items were shown to the man, so his brain searched for which one was larger. Then the subject was shown a green item; the brain had to decide which item was more important. The MRI showed the brain pausing before responding. It had to store information about the red item and search for what information it had stored about green items before deciding to focus on the green. 

           Miller says, "Part of the brain that does this is called the "executive system." It's a bit like one of those cartoon conductors telling the orchestra: louder, softer, faster, slower. You come in here. You be quiet for a few measures."  
   


  Peter Bregman tells about a study which showed that people distracted by incoming email and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQs. What's the impact of a 10-point drop? The same as losing a night of sleep. More than twice the effect of smoking marijuana.
Doing several things at once is a trick we play on ourselves, thinking we're getting more done. In reality, multitasking slows our productivity down by as much as 40%. We don't actually multitask. We switch-task, rapidly shifting from one thing to another, interrupting ourselves unproductively, and losing time in the process.
We need to learn to do one thing at a time. Otherwise, we are putting too much stress on our brains, and this keeps us from concentrating on what we are doing. If we devote more energy to doing the single task at hand, we will have more energy to finish that task. 
How not to multitask is a difficult task. Realization that you need to channel your focus is your beginning. It is better to set aside small chunks of time to work on a task then  to do several things at one time and not finishing any of them in a timely or efficient fashion.


Some multitasking is inevitable:

• Bouncing baby on your hip as you fix dinner.
• Yelling at kids while driving.
• Playing fetch with Fido while reading a novel.
• Tending to Farmville while talking (texting) on the phone. 

Multitasking is not thinking of one thing and doing another. My mind works out many plot problems while I'm sweeping the living room. Multitasking is doing one thing and then switching, to another task and then coming back to the first. 
To finish this blog, I turned off the TV and hung up the phone. I finished it in half the time it normally takes me to write a blog. I am less stressed—okay, I am still somewhat stressed—over the tasks that I need to accomplish before the day ends, but I feel good about my accomplishments so far today.
What multitasking chores do you do at the same time? How does this effect your writing? Would you have less stress if you concentrated on only one at a time?


Resources:
Photo Queen:  http://www.librarising.com
Photo Conductor: http://www.thestarpress.com

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11 comments blog, Cher'ley Grogg, chores, concentrate, finish, multitasking, queen, stress, switch, tasks, time, writing