Showing posts with label Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monday. Show all posts

Monday, October 16, 2017

Letters From the Heart Blog Hop: To My Future Self

Have you heard about #lettersfromtheheart yet? I am seriously in love with this concept and I hope you will all consider contributing to it or checking out all the authors on the #Mondayblogs hop! See the list after the letter below to see who will be participating in the coming months and how to contribute!

I'll be writing several letters in the coming months, so be sure to check out all the posts periodically and see if you can figure out which ones are mine.
I chose this anonymously written letter because it really spoke to me. As someone that is a deep thinker and Christian, I'm naturally inclined to think about the future and what it holds, as well as interested in seeing how history plays out. The style is also similar to my own, so I could hear myself saying this in a narration. Please leave a comment with your favorite line from this letter!

Letter to My Future Self

When are you reading this letter, I wonder?  I can’t see you from where I sit.  Is it a few years from now, on a milestone birthday, as you sit and reflect on your life?  Or well into your dotage, when the physical world is smaller and harder to navigate, even as your mind stretches to cover great distances through time and memory. 
What will you say to me, I wonder? Will you tell me I was right to be scared of life?  That the world, in its hubris, succeeded in destroying empathy and compassion? That the noble concept of community, where we all accepted each other with our flaws and foibles, dwindled as the lights were turned out on us all? Every one of us living only for ourselves? Will I still feel alone, often lonely, always awkward and suffocated, sitting uncomfortably drenched in unspent potential? Did potential even exist for me or was it a dream? 
Or will you tell me I was right to expect kindness, of myself and of others?  That the journey was leading somewhere, that fate was guiding me carefully towards my destination. That my efforts to create intelligent, meaningful connections paid off. That I found love and love found me, in a million different ways, shapes and forms. That peace descended over life so completely that the unforgiving boredom of routine, the frustrations of work, and the mercurial moods of life’s companions never wholly succeeded in weakening my spirit or resolve. That I was able to see beyond the nonsense of daily existence, not assimilated into a culture of discontent and cynicism, but rather that I was right in trusting in life, in believing the universe to be open, benevolent and giving. 
Will you laugh at my fear, I wonder? Not mirthless schadenfreude, but a gentle laugh, a knowing laugh, an acknowledgement of my irrepressible mind?  A caring laugh partnered with a quiet whisper reaching back over the years, comforting me, willing me to have faith in the fact that simply by being here, I am enough. That I created myriad opportunities to bless and be blessed.  That I made a difference, significant and not, simply by existing. That each breath I took meant something to someone beyond myself. That my being able to draw breath actually began to hold meaning for me. 
Will you tell me to be healthier? To protect my physicality from the toll of all those childhood falls? Will you caution me to keep my heart strong and my mind stronger? Will you ask me to pay more attention, be present for myself?Will you cry for me, knowing I have not seen what is to come?  Will you advise me to stand still, not venture forward, take another path?  What regrets will you hold for me, what wisdom will you impart? Will you tell me to be more outspoken, more brave, take more risks? Or will you tell me to simply let go, accept that everything is unfolding just as it needs to. That life is simply life. That I am simply me. That everything contained within simply is. 
Will you chastise me for worrying so much? Will you shake your head at my timidity? Perhaps feel a swell of anger at the time I wasted in useless contemplation? Will you pick up on my missteps and mistakes, cursing me for not believing in myself? Or will you be kind to me – your younger self – understanding, forgiving and patient. Will you know this was the only journey I could take? The only way to reach you? 
Will you tell me I found happiness? That happiness is truly possible? Or will you tell me it is enough to settle into a comfortable contentment? Will you share that living moment to moment is all that is required to complete a life or enrich a soul? Will we reach the end of our life ready to leave? Will it be easy for us to draw our last breath? 
When are you reading this letter, I wonder? What words do you have for me?  I just can’t see you from where I sit.
Upcoming Letters From the Heart Blog Hop Schedule:

November 6th - zarahoffman.com/blog
November 20th - daryawrites.com
December 4th - fraudrk.wordpress.com
December 18th - zjsunflowersbooksandcrafts.blogspot.co.uk

Check out more at heartshapedletters.wordpress.com, or to contribute an anonymous letter, contact G.K. Sihat at gksihat@gmail.com.


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Monday, February 15, 2016

14 Online Blogs & Websites I Love + Giveaway!

In honor of that amorous holiday we just celebrated (or avoided) yesterday, I thought it only fitting to share some of my favorite writerly blogs and vlogs with all of my readers. Each and every one of these have helped me on my writing journey.




I'm also having a post-Valentine's Day giveaway! Show any of these blogs love by checking them out, subscribing to their content, or connecting on social media, and you'll get an entry into my giveaway below. Prizes include a $14 Amazon Gift Card, a Contest Entry Edits critique ($30 value!), and a Query Helper Critique just in time for the start of online writing contest season!



#1: Writability/ Bookish Pixie


Ava Jae has been an encouraging and informative speaker (vlog) and writer (blog) on a variety of topics related to fictional writing. She's made me laugh numerous times and has been where I've been, making me feel less alone on this journey we call writing. Plus, her posts are usually fairly short, making them a quick read or listen amid my busy lifestyle.







#2: Kidlit411

If you write for children like I do, then Kidlit411 is a must for you! Between fun author interviews, book giveaways, and market information you need to become a frequent reader like I am. It's always entertaining and they have lots of tips and tricks that can greatly affect your writing for all children book age categories.




#3: YAtopia

I may be a bit bias of this one, seeing as I'm the blog assistant. But the group of writers that contribute are a wonderful group of peeps at all different levels of writing with insightful and funny posts. Seriously, just subscribe!




#4: Literary Rambles

Literary Rambles is one of the main places I've won ebooks! In addition to the freebies, I love reading their reader interviews. First hand accounts of what young readers love about the books they read help me figure out trends and encourage me in my writing. Plus, there is almost nothing cuter than middle graders (they're my favorite!) talking about books and ending their excitement with all those exclamation points.



http://www.literaryrambles.com



#5: Kidliterati

This super fun kid lit review blog often helps me add to my ever-lengthening to-read list. What's great about it is that many of these books aren't the heavily marketed ones so I get a wonderful variety and lessor known authors get exposure too.







#6: Sub It Club

Due to the fact that they don't post often, I don't get on this blog often. But when I have questions about anything related to submissions, when I was researching agents, or just need an encouraging interview of a successful author, I occasionally get on here. 






#7: Denise Vega Market News You Can Use

Okay, okay, technically this isn't a blog per say, but I love when I get this one in my inbox. I took one of Denise's picture book workshops at an SCBWI conference in Colorado a few years ago. She is an amazing writer, has some serious knowledge about the industry, and is just a genuinely sweet person. I've enjoyed interacting with her and her eNewsletters are not only respectful of my time, but also full of fun and informative topics.







#8: Jami Gold, Paranormal Author

I love the thought provoking posts on Jami's blog, and how well they often correlate to what I need help with in the moment. Plus, her books are fantastic. Fair warning, you start reading, you won't stop.






#9: Michelle 4 Laughs - It's in the Details

I may be a bit bias since Michelle is my favorite -and only- writing mentor ever! She fell in love with one of my manuscripts and took me under her wing. As well as she can encourage, Michelle can inspire and impress. Her blog plays witness to this with interviews, book releases, and as host to several online manuscript contests each year. Her novel KINDAR'S CURE was magical and the end twist was well delivered.







#10: The Writer's Nook, Tiffany Hofman

This is a recent favorite. I've come to know Tiffany on various social platforms and in some of my favorite Facebook groups. Early this year, she announced the creation of a new online contest and I volunteered to participate as a mentor. Since then, I've been scoping out all her content and I have to say I'm impressed.






#11: The Kindle Book Review

Can you say giveaways? Seriously, this blog has single-handedly doubled my book collection in 2015. It's a best kept secret I'm sharing with you right now.





#12: Better Novel Project


I'm a pantser, at least until I took on a YA Fantasy trilogy with too many moving parts. Then I needed help. The Better Novel Project breaks down these parts into chewable pieces and gives examples from three major novels: Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Twilight. We're talking characters, plot points, sub plots, you name it. Plus, the blogger's voice is fun and entertaining as she teaches you her observations.




#13: Brenda Drake

She's been dubbed the online writers contests queen, and with good reason. As a host of some major ones and all the participation she has each year, its no wonder her blog now has an assistant. I always appreciated her interviews with authors from the contests and book cover reveals and release announcements. This blog was one of hope for me, a place to remember that I can do this crazy thing I'm attempting.








#14: Word Count Contributors - Yeah Write and #WritingChallenge

Both of these awesome site groups kept my word count climbing when I just didn't want to. The encouragement I needed was just a few clicks away, and even the likes on my posts got me itching to write whenever I let myself lag.


Twitter - hashtags include month abbreviation+ writingchallenge
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1487625678147506


Now for that giveaway!

The Rafflecopter link below has over 20 ways to get your name in the hat for those awesome prizes I mentioned above...


>>>>>>>  a Rafflecopter giveaway  <<<<<<<


What are some of the blogs or sites that have helped you on your writing journey? Let's share them in the comments below!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Keeping Freelance Work Untangled

One of my regular freelance clients emailed me this week. Her first sentence was: "I am jealous of how organized you are. Not to mention the time management!" I scoffed, and my husband lifted an eyebrow when I read her note out loud.

Why'd we respond this way? Organization is not my strong suit. This is something I've always been aware of. My college room mates used to gawk at how I managed to pass my classes, as my studying routine usually consisted of cramming before tests and cranking out essays the night before they were due.

I'm happy to report that life has taught me the dangers of this type of procrastination since then. This is especially true in my freelancing career. However, I still don't keep a calendar, spread sheet, or pocket book full of notes. Just as my younger self didn't organize like a traditional student, my working self has a different approach to keeping my jobs and deadlines straight.

I've found the best way to keep my freelancing project's timelines untangled is simply in trusting my mind to keep things in order. I know a few of my readers just gasped or shook their heads. Believe it or not, this works for me! Hear me out; I broke it down below.



Firstly, I like to take life, and work, one week at a time. Doing so focuses my attention on my current workload and offers me an easier breakdown for time management.

Secondly, whenever I take on a new project, especially ones with strict deadlines, I calculate how many hours I expect it to take and add an extra hour. Giving myself this bumper hour covers my butt in case life throws a wrench into my time commitments. Also, if I know that this project will take longer then a week, I break it up so I know how many hours of commitment I need to make for it in each week and for how many weeks. Then I "time stamp" it in my mind.


Thirdly, and most important, is Monday. I actually look forward to Monday. Monday is the day I square away the week. I used communication to not only touch base with my regular clients, but also to update my progress on larger projects. Communication is key for any work people do, but it's especially important for freelancers, as our bosses are often off-site and putting a lot of faith in someone they've never met. This also gives my clients an opportunity to give feedback or make changes to the direction the project is going.

Once I've finished sending out my Monday messages (and getting any responses), I can mentally plan out my week. It's a loose plan consisting of a breakdown of time division per project and my personal deadlines to complete projects so I have editing time before submitting them. If I feel like the word load is especially heavy with research or requires some serious concentration, I contact my go-to babysitter and schedule a couple afternoons nix the kiddos.

Not that kind of mental breakdown!

I also use Monday's mental breakdown to check out my writing community and see if their are any contests or critique round robins I want to participate in. My critique partners and weekly blog posts get mental time slots as well. If my week seems lighter, I consider offering Query Helper critiques at this time. Often, I find myself spending a few minutes weighing in whether I need to sacrifice an hour of sleep here or some T.V. time there to get everything completed.

My way isn't ideal for everyone, but it works for me. I've tried the traditional methods such as a to-do list, calendar with scheduled times, and even phone reminders. They don't work for me because I find myself losing my mind when things deviate from plans. But with my own method, I allow myself the space to be flexible without stressing out over the unexpected.

Go ahead and call me crazy in the comments below, or tell me how you manage your freelancing or writing goal time instead.