I'm Dreaming of a Write Christmas

 So the Christmas season has officially begun, and I love it! Love the decorating, the shopping, the lights, the music, the giving, the whole wonder of it all, centering around, of course, the birth of our Savior. Right now I'm taking a break from decking the halls to type this, and as I look out my window, it's snowing outside - the first snow of the season! Totally adds to the whole Christmas mood.

But there's one aspect of the season I don't particularly care for: the lack of time I have to write. Basically, everything I love about Christmas takes away from my other love: writing. This lack of time is frustrating, and can get downright annoying. All I want for Christmas is the chance to plop my butt in the chair and type. And type. And type.

But, my type, type, type is replaced by the hype, hype, hype of the holidays.

Sigh...

But it's all good. I try to remind myself that the baking, shopping, wrapping, planning, decorating, and party-going will only last a few short weeks and then it will be back to a routine and productivity (and with a Spring deadline for Sylvie & Gold, I won't have much choice!) When I start to get whiny, wishing for more time to write in the next few weeks, I'll try to remember the reason for it all and readjust my focus.


So that brings me to a question for you. How do you find time to write during the busy Christmas season? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for adding words to your manuscript while still accomplishing everything you need to do.

In the meantime, I'll be shopping. And wrapping. And decking the halls. And baking...

P.S. Don't forget to come back on Monday for my annual "SUBSCRIBER MONDAY" giveaway!

Get Busy and Rest!

I'm currently making my way through Joyce Meyer's latest devotional, Trusting God Day by Day. Today's entry was titled "Stop and Smell the Roses" and hit my heart's target this morning. This is the takeaway she ends with:

Are you in a hurry? If you want to be at peace with yourself and enjoy life, you must stop rushing all the time. Trust God to give you the grace, energy, and the time to do everything you need to do at a pace that allows you to enjoy the journey.

Okay, so I don't leave the house every day for a 9-5 job. I don't leave the house for a "job" at all. I stay home, most of the time in sweats and a sweatshirt, and am glued to my computer all day. Yes, sometimes I waste time playing dumb computer games or chatting with friends, but the truth is, in spite of those few who think I sit home, watch soaps, and eat bon-bons all day, I'm busy. When I'm not working on freelance assignments from clients, I am marketing, blogging, and trying to make some sort of headway on my next novel. On top of that, I am involved again this year in my church's Christmas musical, How Christmas Saved the Grinch, which I had the honor of co-writing. We expect more than 20,000 people to attend this year, so it's no small production. And of course, this is all in the midst of my daughter's ridiculously crazy marching band season (with trips to State and Nationals for all of us), and the ridiculously crazy holiday season. Plus, my family actually expects dinner once in a while.

I don't say all that to complain about how busy I am (well, maybe a little). I know I am no more busy than any other woman out there. My biggest question is:

IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE?

I really want to know...How do you find time to rest? And I'm not talking physically. I sit on my butt most of the day, but my brain is working quadruple-time. How do you shut that off? Confession: often when I sit down for my devotion and prayer time, I have to consciously refocus my brain at least eighteen times during the course of a half hour, as it veers off into a hundred different directions of everything I have to do. Not only is this frustrating, but the guilt starts piling up on top of it. Please...I can't even take a half hour to focus my attention solely on my Savior? 

What's wrong with me?

Okay...enough beating myself up. At least I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this. Right? (Please nod here.) 

As Joyce Meyer encourages, I want to enjoy the journey of life instead of letting it rush past me in a hectic blur. So today I would love some advice on what you do to slow the pace.  

Any tips to shutting off your brain for some genuine resting time? Any favorite Bible verses that especially encourage you in this area?

Oh...and if you can relate, you'll want to hop on over to my friend Holly Magnuson's blog, FAVORITE CHRISTIAN BOOKS, where she is giving away a copy of Madily in Love. If there's one "person" who knows chaos and disorder, it's Madi McCall! 

By George, I think I've got it!

After posting a series of articles on time management on Examiner.com that includes tips and schedules from fellow Christian authors (there are some great ideas there!), I think I have come up with a general schedule that will work for me in the new year. Because I have an outside job that requires 2-3 days per week, and the days each week vary, I can't be super specific, but I can be consistent. So this is what I came up with. This schedule is flexible, as I will also have to fit in appointments, etc., but will serve as a general guideline for me.

TWO or THREE DAYS PER WEEK:

• 6:30am - 4:00pm  Work my outside job
• 4:00pm - 6:30pm  Answer emails, make dinner, clean up, family time
• 6:30pm - 9:00pm  Marketing, emails, read for reviews

TWO or THREE DAYS PER WEEK

• 6:00am - 11:00am   Work on my novel
• 11:00am - 12:00pm  Lunch and read 
• 12:00pm - 3:00pm   Marketing, freelancing - articles, book reviews, newsletters, critiquing
• 3:00pm - 6:30pm    Family time, dinner, clean up
• 6:30pm - 9:00pm    Marketing, emails, read for reviews

WEEKENDS

• Prepare 3 weekly blog posts
• Prepare all weekly Examiner articles (5-8)
• Read books for reviews
• Work on novel, as time allows

Novel Word Count  Schedule

In keeping with my spring deadline for Madily in Love (eek!), I have a word count goal of at least 700 words per day - or 4,900 words per week. I am participating in the ACFW Novel Tracker this month to keep me accountable. So far, I am just slightly behind my daily target (by 500 words). I hope to make that up this weekend.

It feels good to have some sort of schedule laid out. What about you? Do you have a specific schedule you've been following for a while or have you reworked your plan for 2012?

List Maker, List Maker, Make me a List

Every year, during the week between Christmas and New Year's, I do a lot of reflecting and planning. Reflecting on the past year and planning for the one ahead. On Friday, I will be posting about my new blogging schedule for next year. But today, I want to talk about writing schedules in general.

It's no secret that one area I struggle with is time management. And with the deadline for my next novel only a few months away, I really need to get a handle on this thing. Having a deadline is both scary and exciting. Scary because...hello...what if I don't get it done on time? Breaking a contract is not acceptable to me. But exciting because I have something to work towards. Something I know will bring me immense satisfaction and joy (and eventually...hopefully... a nice royalty check!).

I'm a huge time-effective wannabe. And one of the ways I try to be organized and efficient is by making lists. In fact, I make lists for just about everything you can think of: groceries, what to pack for an over-nighter, upcoming events, things I want to purchase for the house, repairs needed for the house, articles I want to write, books I've read or want to read, the list goes on...(pun intended). Of course, my main list is my "to-do" list. I go nowhere without my Franklin Planner. Every day is ink-filled with my to-do's, both writing and non-writing related.

Here's the thing. I'm may be good at list making, but could use a crash course in "list following." Sometimes I spend more time making lists than actually doing the things on the list. Oh, I have good intentions, I just get distracted. A lot. Like with that pile of laundry, the movie I really want to see, and that darned Bejeweled Blitz, winking at me every time I sign onto Facebook. Discipline is something God has been trying to teach me for a long time. And I am finally ready - and willing - to submit.

But, I'm convinced there IS a specific schedule that will work for me. If only I can figure out what it is. So, I put out a call to my trusty author friends for help. All this week on Examiner.com, I am posting the tried-and-tested schedules of several other writers and authors. I am even holding out hope that one of their schedules will be the perfect one for me. If not, at least I hope to glean from them, possibly using an idea or two to create a custom schedule for myself. I encourage you to check out the suggestions posted so far on my National Christian Writing Examiner page.

So tell me. What does your writing schedule look like? How do you get it all done every day? Do you have a schedule that works or will you be revising your schedule in 2012?

I'm Dreaming of a White Calendar

So how many of you out there have an empty calendar? Go ahead and check. I'll wait.

OK, so it's not completely empty. But look again. Are there any blank days? Even one?

I didn't think so.

I love love love the holiday season, but man, it's busy! Between school Christmas concerts, decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, parties, and church activities....then throw in a few dentist appointments and my calendar looks like one big blob of ink.

I don't mind being busy, and of course the festive atmosphere of the season provides plenty of energy to "do it all," but once in a while I dream of a more relaxed holiday season, where my days consist of turning on Christmas music and sitting in front of the lit-up Christmas tree with my mug of hot chocolate and a good book.

Then there's my writing. Finding extra time to write and do my freelance work is extremely challenging in December. I currently am collaborating with three other authors on a novella collection that we hope to submit by Tuesday, and I have three book reviews due by Wednesday (and I still need to finish reading two of them!). Unfortunately, there's not much space on my calendar to pencil in the work. I have wrapping and baking to do for an all-day Christmas party tomorrow, have church and family stuff on Sunday, I work at the consignment store on Monday, and have my Bible Study Christmas party on Tuesday.

Hmmm.....

Oh, I'll get it all done. I just may have a few less hairs on my head by this time next week, which is really scary considering that just a few days ago, I had a moment of courage (after weeks of "bad hair days") and got my length chopped off.

Anyway...needless to say, sometimes I neglect to find time for the most important stuff. Like considering the why December is so busy in the first place. Reflecting on the Jesus' birth - the reason we spend a whole month decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, and celebrating. The nice thing is reflecting is something that can be done while baking, wrapping, decorating, driving, and shopping, so I have no excuse.

I'm thinking, though, that perhaps Time for Reflection or Celebrate my Savior is the first thing that should be penciled in (make that big, bold markered in) on my calendar. Maybe everything else should be penciled in around that one essential and on-going activity. I suspect that not only would my stress level decrease, but I might even find myself with unexpected chunks of time - to write, to work, or even to sit in front of the Christmas tree with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book.

What about you? How do you find balance through the holidays? Do you "write off" writing during December or do the holidays inspire your creativity?

Chunks or Morsels?

Well, while you are stuck at home, I am tearing up the mall with my mom. We are currently on our 3-day Christmas power-shopping trip.

Jealous? I don't blame you.

This is one of the highlights of my year, but three days away means lots of time spent getting ahead with my blog posts. Since I had 7 entries to PRE-post, to save time I decided to RE-post today's entry. As I browsed through my archives, I came across this one. I decided it was perfect because even though I originally posted it about eighteen months ago, I definitely still struggle with this issue today.

Maybe you can relate.


Here's a typical day in my life:

8:00 AM: "I am so excited to have four entire hours today to work on my novel. I plan on working on it from 11 to 3. Yippee!"

11:00 AM: "I just have to finish this article and then I'll work on my novel. I'll still get three hours in."

12:00 noon: "Ugh. This article is taking me longer than I thought and I am starving. I'll finish this, eat lunch, throw in a load of laundry and work on my novel from 1 to 3. I can still get a thousand words or so written in two hours."

1:00: "Oh, I really want to take care of these emails a minute. There are only five I need to respond to. It shouldn't take me long."

2:00: (Whining) "Now I only have one hour. Why even bother working on my novel at all? By the time I get started, it will be time to go pick up my kids from school. Might as well clean the bathroom instead. And go eat chocolate."

Sound familiar? Please say yes.

I have this need for big chunks of time to accomplish anything. Maybe it's that I don't want to invest the energy I know it will take for only a piddly amount of progress. Maybe it's that I feel like I have to focus on projects that might make me some immediate money (like articles and freelance work). Maybe it's simply that I don't have a clear direction of where my novel is going so I'm not all that excited to get to work on it. Or maybe it's that I know I need to do a ton of editing and I'm not in "editing mode", I'm in "creative mode."

Whatever the reason, I've come to a shocking realization:  
My novel WILL NOT get done if I don't work on it.

Told you it was shocking.

There's that big D word again - DISCIPLINE. Of which I seem to have none. Yes, I did finish one novel but it took me for-ever to do it. If I hope to land a contract, I can't continue at this turtle-pace. It just aint gonna cut it.

So...I need to take on the mindset that morsels are sometimes just as effective as chunks. And that every measly 500 words I add to my story puts me that much closer to the end.

Here's a couple of questions for you. What do you do to make progress on your novel? Do you have a schedule? How do you balance your life or your "other" work with finishing your novel? Are you disciplined?

Here's your chance to kick me in the pants and offer your wise and enlightening advice on how you manage your blocks of time, whether large or small.

Leave me your advice on scheduling and managing time to write. I desperately need it!

So Many Ideas...So Little Time

Some writers say that starting a story is their biggest challenge. That coming up with things to write about is difficult.

Personally, something I am never short on is IDEAS. In fact, I have so many ideas that I am often overwhelmed.

You'd think having lots of ideas would be a good thing. And, essentially, it is.

However.

Here's something I AM short on: TIME.

So although ideas are great, when I don't have the time to explore them all, it's just plain frustrating. I have literally dozens of story ideas and I love every single one of them. My brain is screaming to be unleashed and allowed to pursue these ideas - because I know they would all be best sellers. IF I had the time to write them.

So what to do?

One of the things I know I need to do is become more disciplined with my time. Between my freelance work, my personal blog postings, social networking, working one or two days at an outside job, trying to keep my house semi-clean, and running my kids around everywhere, my brain gets cluttered with non-creative stuff so that honestly, even though I want to work on my ideas, when I do have a couple extra minutes, it's hard to muster up the creativity I need to "go there." Making my creative stuff (my novel, in particular) a priority, and scheduling time every day to work on it, might help.

But then comes the problem of which one to work on. People have told me to work on the idea that's closest to my heart. The one I feel "called" to write. See, there's the problem. I feel called to write them all. I love them all. I know I could write them all if I could just find the time to do it.

I know I can't be the only one struggling with confusion and frustration (please tell me I'm not!). So my question for you is how do you do it? How do you wade through all of your ideas and (1) decide which one to pursue and (2) find the time to actually finish them?

Seriously. I'd love to know.

Thanks in advance for your input. I'll check back later for your response. For now, I'm out of time.

4 Things that Can't be Recovered

A friend of mind posted this quote on Facebook the other day:

Four things you can't recover: The stone, after the throw. The word, after it's said. The occasion, after it's missed. Time, after it's gone.

I love that, even if it does step on my toes a bit! The two that hit me the hardest were the words and the time.

WORDS: How often do we blurt something out to our kids or spouse in the heat of the moment. We wish we could take it back - may even say we take it back. But it's too late. The damage has been done. The hurt has been handed out. If what we said was bad enough, we may need to do some major work to repair that damage and restore the trust.

With that in mind, what a responsibility we have as writers! The words we write will impact the lives of those who read them - whether for good or bad. And the critiques and feedback we offer other writers will also leave a mark. Of course, that doesn't mean that everything we say or write has to be positive and cheery. But how we execute criticism and bathe a difficult or negative message we're conveying is what's important. Always speak the truth- particularly hard-to-hear truth - in love. Remember that once the words are out, we can't take them back.

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 3:5
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.


TIME...man, how many opportunities to spend time with my kids have I missed? TOO many - that's for sure. And how many opportunities to spend time with God have I passed up? WAY too many. Which makes me wonder how many priceless memories or imprints on my kids' hearts or breakthroughs in my spiritual walk have been lost because I didn't spend my time wisely. Oy...

In the same way, how many books could I have written by now if I had spent my time writing instead of playing computer games or watching television? I don't even want to think about it.

I don't know about you, but when I get to heaven, I want to make God proud of the ways I used the time He gave me on earth. I'm not saying that playing computer games or watching TV is a bad thing, just that I, personally, need to re-evaluate how I spend my time. And when I do, I'm sure I'll realize I've wasted way too much of it.

Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

James 4:14-17
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Basically, this quote has helped me to consider what's truly important in life. How I act, what I say, and how I spend my time...these are things that affect not only my life (and others' lives) here on earth, but that hold eternal value.

Something deep to think about today.

Spinning Plates = Spinning Head

I love watching plate spinners, don't you? It's so cool how they can keep so many plates spinning at one time. Usually, the audience is captivated, holding their breath when the plates start wobbling, wondering if and when one will come crashing to the ground.

Well, I feel like a plate spinner. I have several plates spinning already, but I keep trying to add one more. The problem is, the more plates I try to add, the more chance that a plate or two will begin to wobble, and ultimately, break.

And I really don't mean to whine. Compared to many people - freelance writers, in particular - it may not seem like I have that much going on. In fact, I'm sure there are many of you who could balance every plate I currently have on my spinning rack and could probably add several more. What it comes down to is that we all have our own plate balancing ability. Some are just more talented - and honestly, are called - to balance more plates than others. Maybe it's just a case of poor time management (which I'm the first to admit I struggle with) But right now, I feel in my heart that I'm simply trying to keep too many going. Plate spinning is only making my head spin. And when I'm stressing, it's not pretty. Just ask my family.

So...then the question. Which plate should I allow to go crashing to the ground?

Well, at the moment, I'm letting my Examiner.com positions wobble a bit. The amount of time I've been putting into posting articles and the extreme lack of payment I'm getting for it makes it the most obvious choice. I've really enjoyed promoting authors and writing about something I'm passionate about - Christian fiction and Christian writing - but I need to be a good steward of my time. Not to mention do what makes the most sense for my family. What I really want is to work on my own fiction and with so much other stuff taking up my time and my brain cells, my novels are the plates that have been teetering.

So, it's all about choices and following the direction in which I feel God is leading me. Not sure when I'll give up my Examiner positions but I suspect it will be soon.

What about you? Do you ever feel like a plate spinner? Have you ever willingly let one of those plates fall? And did it end up being the right decision?

I'm Dreaming of a Write Christmas

So the Christmas season is here and it's awesome. Love the decorating, the shopping, the lights, the music, the giving, the whole wonder of it all, centering around, of course, the birth of our Savior.

But there is one aspect of the season I don't particularly care for. And that is the lack of time I have to write. Basically, everything I love about Christmas takes away from my other love: writing. This lack of time is frustrating, and can get downright annoying. All I want for Christmas is the chance to plop my butt in the chair and type. And type. And type.

But, my type, type, type is replaced by the hype, hype, hype of the holidays.

Sigh...

But it's all good. I try to remind myself that the baking, shopping, wrapping, planning, decorating, and party-going will only last a few short weeks and then it will be back to a routine and productivity. And when I start to get whiny, I try to remember the reason for it all and readjust my focus.

Of course, when it snows, it blizzards (hey, we've got a blizzard warning starting this afternoon, so I know what I'm talking about). Not only is this week my busiest of the month, this past Sunday, I received an email from an agent who's had my proposal for a couple months. He wants to see my full manuscript! GREAT, right? RIGHT!

But now I need to find time to scramble and give it another quick read-through before submitting. Fortunately, this agent is very understanding and gracious and is allowing me some extra time to get it to him (because he is also up to his neck in snowdrifts of paperwork and holiday stuff - ok, maybe not snowdrifts, since he lives in a non-snowy climate). I am very grateful for this grace-period but still want to get it submitted as soon as possible.

So that brings me to a question for you. How do you find time to write during the busy Christmas season? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for adding words to your manuscript while still accomplishing everything you need to do.

In the meantime, I'll be shopping. And wrapping. And decorating. And baking...

A Time for Everything...Except...

I've come across several articles in the past week that give the same message: Life never slows down. You know, just when you think things are settling down and you'll be able to breathe for a while, PSYCH! Chaos is shoved back in your face with a great big,"HA!"

I am the type of person who needs down time. Don't get me wrong - I love to be busy and sometimes even thrive on it. But when too many things are going on in my life, I stress out and instead of calling me "Mom", my kids call me the Wicked Witch of the West. Fortunately, just spending a whole day at home, catching up on work or writing, usually is enough to calm my nerves and enable me to go forth and tackle life's stuff with zest.

This summer has been challenging for me. Between my son's driver's training, sports stuff, a week-long vacation, my daughter's luau, a writer's conference this weekend, preparing for another writer's conference in September, an upcoming weekend getaway, birthday parties, showers, staying on top of work, and trying to sell our house (which means dropping everything else to clean like a Molly Maid on steroids every time someone wants to see the house ), I honestly don't think I've ever had a busier summer.

When it comes to writing, I had good intentions when school let out for the summer. I thought I'd have all this extra time to write and would be several thousand words farther in my novel. Yeah, well...

But I'm still plugging away, doing what I can, when I can. A half hour here, an hour there...eventually it will add up.

So now I'm thinking maybe things will balance out in the fall when the kids are back in school. I'm trying to block out all the fall-slash-school stuff: sports practices and games, homework, the possibility that we'll actually be moving (oy), and the upcoming holidays.

My point is it's always something, isn't it? Sometimes I think the writer of Ecclesiastes should have written it this way: There is a time for everything under heaven. Except breathing.

The goal is to find peace in the middle of all that chaos. And also to force yourself to relax - which is kind of an oxymoron, but really, it works. Of course, spending time with God and making devotional time a priority is the number one way to find peace. It's kind of like the eye of a tornado - the very center of a tornado is completely calm, despite the destruction and havok going on just outside it. When we make God the center of our lives, we experience the true peace we long for.

Because let's face it: things will never slow down. If anything, they'll keep getting faster. So if you find yourself overwhelmed and your brain cluttered with to-do lists, force yourself to relax and remember that "this too shall pass."

Until tomorrow.

Brain Clutter & Popcorn

So I'm back from vacation and now it's time to play catch-up. Unfortunately, I only have two days this week to do it, as I will be out of commission for the other three. I fill in a day at the consignment store, and my daughter's post-birthday luau is on Friday (shopping and set-up are tomorrow). So I got a little work done on Monday and I'm trying to cram more in today. No fiction for me this week. Boo-hiss.

So here's my problem (other than the work-overload thing I've got going on): I want to go to the movies.

It's no secret that going to the movies is one of my favorite things to do. But I find that when I am feeling overwhelmed and the brain clutter is too much to bear, going to the movies helps! It relaxes me and takes my mind off all my "stuff", even if it's only for two hours. And the popcorn helps, too!

Plus, when I think about it, going to the movies is actually working because watching movies provides me with a boost of creativity. I've gotten some fabulous ideas and mega-inspiration by watching a good story unfold before my eyes. In fact, I wonder if I can write them off at tax time? Hmmm...something to ask my tax guy.

Well, I may have talked myself into going. Of course, we'll see how much work I get done in the next couple hours before making my final decision.

Of course, prayer and digging into God's Word is the best way to handle stress and brain clutter. But is there one thing you find yourself wanting to do when you're feeling overwhelmed? Besides prayer, is there something that helps to take your mind off your problems and refreshes and reengergizes you so you're better able to take care of the work you have to do?

I've confessed my vice - I'd love to hear yours.

Blocks of Time

Here's a typical day in my life:

8:00 AM: "I am so excited to have four entire hours today to work on my novel. I plan on working on it from 11 to 3. Yippee!"

11:00 AM: "I just have to finish this article and then I'll work on my novel. I'll still get three hours in."

12:00 noon: "Ugh. This article is taking me longer than I thought and I am starving. I'll finish this, eat lunch, throw in a load of laundry and work on my novel from 1 to 3. I can still get a thousand words or so written in two hours."

1:00: "Oh, I really want to take care of these emails a minute. There are only five I need to respond to. It shouldn't take me long."

2:00: (Whining) "Now I only have one hour. Why even bother working on my novel at all? By the time I get started, it will be time to go pick up my kids from school. Might as well clean the bathroom instead. And go eat chocolate."

Sound familiar? Please say yes.

On my First Things First blog post, Dave Wagner left a comment that perfectly described me. That feeling of needing to dive in for big chunks of time to accomplish anything. Maybe it's that I don't want to invest the energy I know it will take for only a piddly amount of progress. Maybe it's that I feel like I have to focus on projects that might make me some immediate money (like articles and freelance work). Maybe it's simply that I don't have a clear direction of where my novel is going so I'm not all that excited to get to work on it. Or maybe it's that I know I need to do a ton of editing and I'm not in "editing mode", I'm in "creative mode."

Whatever the reason, I've come to a shocking realization: My novel WILL NOT get done if I don't work on it.

Told you it was shocking.

There's that big D word again - DISCIPLINE. Of which I seem to have none. Yes, I did finish one novel but it took me for-ever to do it. If I hope to land a contract, I can't continue at this turle-pace. It just aint gonna cut it.

So...I need to take on the mindset that I do not need big blocks of time to write. And that every 500 words I add to my story puts me that much closer to the end.

Here's a question for you. What do you do to make progress on your novel? Do you have a schedule? How do you balance your life or your "other" work with finishing your novel? Are you disciplined?

Here's your chance to kick me in the pants and offer your wise and enlightening advice on how you manage your blocks of time, whether large or small.

Speaking of blocks, I did manage to enter my poem, "Oh, the Blockage", an ode to writer's block, in Chip MacGregor's annual Bad Poetry Contest. Last year, I took the Worst Image Award for my entry, Snot Bubbles and Tears. This year, I doubt I'll take home anything but it was fun to enter anyway. And yet another thing to take me away from my novel (insert eye roll here).

Anyway, leave me your advice on scheduling and managing time to write. I desperately need it!

First things, First

I've never been very good at prioritizing. My problem is that to me, everything is important. Although I am a list-maker, there are so many things I want to do that I have a really tough time crossing off my list or placing one thing on top of the other.

OK, there are some things that are meant to be a priority - like spending time with God. This should always be the first thing on my list. I try to be consistent with this one but, I'll admit, sometimes I fall short. In fact, sometimes, spending time with God falls way down the list and once in a while, I don't get to it at all. OK, "don't get to it" isn't the right term. More like, "choose not to." Sometimes I can't even believe they let me in church.

Another thing that should be at the top of the list (right below God) is my family. Unfortunately, I'm not always successful at this one either. I think of how many times I've put off my daughter when she's asked to play or how often I put my work before spending time with my son. It makes me sad to think about the moments I've missed out on because I didn't make my family the priority it should be.

When it comes to writing, I have a dilema. My passion is fiction and there is nothing I want more than to be a published novelist. But then there is that little thing called money. I don't get paid for working on my novel (at least, not yet). I DO get paid for working on other things - like non-fiction. Like message board moderating. Like greeting card writing.

So...although I want desperately to prioritize my fiction above my other writing, I can't. At least, not if I want my daughter to still play the drums, both of my kids to play sports, get hot lunch and wear cool clothes. And not if I want to continue being able to go to the movies or out to lunch with a friend any time I want.

And there we have it: I guess my priority is "stuff" over "desire to be published."

I know there will come a day when I'll be able to devote more time to my fiction. And maybe I just need to better manage my time (Hey, I don't call myself the Distraction Diva for nothing). But, for now, I'm lining up my priorities this way:

• God
• Family
• Making money
• Novel

It about kills me to see Novel at the bottom of that list. I just have to face the fact that becoming a published novelist may take me a little longer than I'd like. My patience is not very happy about that.

But...

I do believe that if I keep God at the top of my priority list, everything else will fall into place.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. " - Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Pushing Through

Last week, I posted a message to the American Christian Fiction Writers e-Loop asking for advice on pushing through my novel.

Here's the deal: I love my story. I believe in my story. I am excited about the possibility of it being published, along with two more books in the projected series. I have about 10,000 words to go before I type The End (which will be a HUGE accomplishment in itself - a first for me). The first several pages of this particular manuscript has finaled or placed in three separate contests. I know there's potential there.

But..

As I read over my previous chapters, I am getting discouraged and overwhelmed. I'm thinking about all the work I have to do. Fleshing out characters, adding depth, inserting scenes with more dialogue, subplots that need to be more thoroughly developed...ugh.

So after posting my "poor me" message to the Loop, I received oodles and oodles of responses from published authors, offering encouragement, advice, and a kick in the pants (which is what I really need most, by the way).

I was so blessed by these and wanted to share a few of the quotes I received. If you're struggling with pushing through and finishing your novel, I hope the following tips will help you as much as they helped me.

(The following quotes were used with permission. There are a couple who haven't gotten back to me yet, but if and when they do, I'll add them to the mix):


"Welcome to the world of writing, Lynda! LOL This happens EVERY TIME. With every story. I make myself sit down and write. There's no easy answer, it's just pure discipline. You do it because it has to be done. Once that first draft is done, then the fun REALLY starts! When you have that rough draft, you have something you can work with. The real work is still ahead of you. I just got my edits back this morning and I'm rubbing my hands together and about to plunge into my favorite part of the writing process. But to get here, I had to get that stinky first draft done. LOL So just do it. That's all I can tell you. It's discipline." - Colleen Coble, Suspense/Romance/Mystery Author of zillions books (Colleen's Website)

"Here's the deal (and I'm sure I'm oversimplifying) but I think most manuscripts are sold based on premise and writing style/skill. It's in that editing process, when you've had time to sit back and take a few month's worth of breaths that you can go deeper in your development. If the idea and writing are solid, well the rest verges on gravy. And you'll probably find that, as you work with a good editor, it's just as much about cutting as adding." - Allison Pittman, Historical Romance Author of "The Crossroads of Grace" series (Allison's Website)

"One suggestion. Stop pushing. Breathe. You are forcing it, and that will never work. Here's my honest advice (from someone who has FINISHED 23 full-length novels). Find a comfortable chair. Sit down and breathe several times very deeply. Instead of you running your mind, let it go. Let it slide through the story you now have, not critiquing it but living and enjoying it. As you do this, thank God for what He's already given you in this story and then ask for more. Ask for God's view on the ending, how does He want it to go, ask Him to show you the scenes in vivid detail about what comes next and how it ends. When you finish this, you should have more ideas about how to go forward." - Staci Stallings, Inspirational Romance Author (Staci's Website)

"Truly, for me it has been a matter of butt glue! That, and ignoring rewrites till it's rewrite time. Draft time is draft time, non-negotiable. Besides, as a good friend of mine (Donna Sundblad) once said, "You can fix bad. You can't fix blank." So I just throw the story on the page and worry about fixing it later on. My first novel needed 8 thorough edits before it was ready on my end, so anything shoddy is sure to get picked up at some point. so... just write it!!" - Grace Bridges, Science Fiction Author (Grace's Website)


"My advice? 1000 words a day. NO EXCUSES! Your book will be done in 10 days. Then set it aside.
Start a new book, maybe even finish it. So you can distance yourself from all the revisions.
Then, a month from now, when you're 30,000 words into your NEXT book (at a 1000 words a day) dive in at the beginning." - Mary Connealy, Historical Romance Author (Mary's Website)

"One trick I've done is to go ahead and write the ending/last chapter. Then I go back to where I stopped and write up to that final scene/chapter. But that's not terribly "in order," is it? :) And yes, it's very tempting to start thinking about a future project. You're right!! It's so much fun when an idea is fresh and new to us. But keep working on that last 10K. And don't work on "fixing" it until you're done. :)" - Lynette Sowell, Fiction and Non-Fiction Author (Lynette's Website)

I just want to say THANK YOU to these ladies who offered such awesome encouragement! And a special thanks to Grace Bridges for reminding me to invest in some Butt Glue (for some reason, that term just whacks my funny bone every time!)

Great tips, right? Hopefully, these words of wisdom will help other aspiring authors like me. I am now sufficiently motivated to finish that darn novel! As soon as I find that butt glue (tee hee).

The fire is now officially lit

Well, the guy I ghostwrite for has asked me to hold off on sending any more articles for the next few weeks, until he can catch up on the ones I've already submitted and get everything in order. He's extremely busy and I totally understand where he's coming from. I have no problem with the request. The only thing is, my income will be cut by about $80 per week. YOUCH!

So...I'm thinking maybe this is exactly what I need. Yeah, I know. Losing $80 a week doesn't seem like like an "I need this" kind of thing. But God's really been urging me to finish my manuscript and because I've been so busy, I just haven't been able to make any progress.

Well...Now I will have extra time. Now is THE time. Now I have no excuses. I need to get that blasted thing finished! I will be turning 40 (oh, wow, that number looks even worse than it sounds) in a couple of weeks and the best birthday present I can give myself is to accomplish my dream. Don't you think?

Not to mention, this manuscript finalled in the Genesis contest and has already been requested by an agent. Making an agent wait months and months is so not cool and totally unprofessional. Excuse me a sec...slap...

K, I'm back.

So, in this interim, while I wait for word to start submitting articles again, I aim to: enter a couple of contests, maybe write a magazine article or two, and also submit another batch of greeting card copy to DaySpring. Oh. And, of course, finish that manuscript. The first draft, anyway. Revisions will come later, but I can't wait any longer to see how it ends. The suspense is killing me!

So if you have an extra 30 seconds, say a prayer for me. Cheer me on as I race toward the finish. Think I'll be able to beat the calendar and type "The End" by the end of the month?

Stay tuned....

Busy, busy, busy...

I have to say it again: God is so good. Three months ago, I never dreamed I'd be where I am now - home full-time, writing my little heart out, lots and lots of assignments and projects and opportunities...

Now that I think about it, good doesn't even begin to describe God.

One thing I have to mention is that I created my own website. I've wanted to do it for a while now, and while it's certainly nothing to brag about, it's something, anyway. To make it easy for all of my fans -cough, cough - to find me, I went with the obvious: http://www.lyndaschab.com/. If you get a moment, check it out and let me know your thoughts. And I am totally open to suggestions! Bring them on! Trust me, I'm the first to admit I need all the help I can get!

My new goal is to keep up my blog more regularly. Now that I've said it, feel free to annoy me with emails to keep me accountable. Once a week is my initial goal, although I'd like to move towards twice per week. We'll see how that goes...we all know how well discipline and I get along. I don't call myself the Distraction Diva just because it sounds cool.

So anyway, dear and faithful readers, I just wanted to touch base and remind you (and myself) of just how GREAT God is.

Now go and pass it on.

Holy Time Shortage, Batman!

Yikes! I just realized I have exactly one month to finish the first draft of my novel!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! (sorry..had to get that out. Typing, "Finish novel" and "in one month," together in the same sentence strikes my funny bone.)

Back in August I was notified that I am a finalist in the "Get Your Stiletto in the Door" contest. This contest is through chicklitwriters.com, a Chapter of Romance Writers of America. To final in the top four in my category is a huge accomplishment for me and I can't even begin to describe what it felt like to get "the call" (I place it on the same level as getting a million dollar call from Ed McMahon, himself. Seriously.)

Anyway, so the first 25 pages of my novel made it through to the final round of judging and are now in the hands of a professional editor for Steeple Hill, and a professional literary agent with The Seymour Agency.

No sweat.

Um...right.

Okay. I am not delusional - I don't expect either one of those judges to come pounding down my door demanding to see the complete manuscript. I'm not even holding out hope for a nice email requesting the rest of the story. Finishing the book by the time the winners are announced on November 5 is a personal goal I set for myself.

Just in case.

The problem is, I have a long way to go. Like 30,000 words long. That's about 130 more pages. That's a lot. Not impossible. But definitely challenging. Especially to the Procrastination Princess and Distraction Diva.

I'm trying to tell myself that if I don't finish my novel by November 5, it's okay. Really. It's not a matter of life and death. On the other hand, if I DO finish it, I'm sure the sense of accomplishment will be priceless.

So what am I doing here blogging instead of hammering away on my novel?

Good question.

Okay. I'm off to re-enter the world of Madi McCall and finish her story.

One month and counting...I AM WOMAN - HEAR ME ROAR! I CAN DO IT! I CAN WRITE 30,000 WORDS IN THE NEXT MONTH! I CAN! I CAN!

Hey. I even typed that with a straight face.

There is hope after all.