Saturday 24 April 2010

Is it nearly May already?

And that means the Lincoln Book Festival http://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/events/lincoln-book-festival If this isn't an excuse to get on top of my writing 'stuff' I don't know what is!! The sun is shining and I really do feel invigorated today. It is not long now til our holiday and I have decided to really go for the diet and this includes NO ALCOHOL which I am sure has helped with the feeling this morning. Not sure how long I can last as I do like the taste of a nice glass of something.....but we shall see. Starting when the boys get out of bed I am finally clearing all my writing books from Jamies room into ours. Following on from that I hope to sort out our bedroom.

Daddy has got a new job and the shifts seem to have a beneficial effect on us. We both seem happier and more awake and less stressed this week and we actually seem to be getting stuff done - watch this space! Not only have I just about moved all my writing stuff into my bedroom but we have also had a major de-clutter and I can already feel the energy.....

I still don’t feel I have really moved forward that much with regards to my writing in the last few months. The closing date for the Debut Dagger 2010 came and went this year. That’s the second year where the deadline has come and gone before I even got a chance to think about it! My Writing Resolutions were: 1. To complete (at least) one novel. 2. To enter one competition a month of any format. 3. To continue to write both blogs at least once a week. 4. To continue to devour Writing Magazine, Writing News and MsLexia. 5. To try and write something or do something to move towards my writing goals every day. 6. To re-asses in 3 / 6 / 12 months time! So far I am afraid that I have just about kept No.3 and almost kept No.4 but the thought is there everyday I promise.

Making use of my time working for the Library Service, I have read a number of books in the last few months and that can only be a good thing right? Or Is That Just Me? By Richard Hammond, Orion (2009), Look Back in Hunger by Jo Brand, Headline Review (2009) and Its not what you think by Chris Evans, HarperCollins (2009). Reading these three books has given me my fill of autobiographies but I have also been reading books on saving money; The Spend Less Handbook by Rebecca Ash is to be recommended as although it is about saving money it is also about the way you live your live generally. Other books include Family Life Made Easy by Grace Saunders, Arrow (2009) and How To Afford Time Off with Your Baby by Becky Goddard-Hill, Vermilion (2009).

Perhaps I have been too hard on myself what with a 0ne year old to look after and working 2 and a half days a week, so lets see if I can at least sort all my writing paperwork before the book festival starts in Two Weeks!!! Small Steps.....

Wednesday 14 April 2010

What research shows about overcoming procrastination

When trying to overcome procrastination should you focus on the outcome of the task or the details of the task? According to several research studies, it depends on the kind of task and where you are in the process.

If it's something you know you are going to do but you're just putting off getting to it, focus on the details. Chunk it down and decide on a deadline for each bit.

If it's something you'd like to do but haven't yet committed to, focus on the outcomes. As soon as you start, shift focus to the steps. When you near the end and want to be sure to finish, shift focus back to the big picture.

One additional finding: when things get difficult in the middle of the task, the temporary difficulty or failure can "infect" the bigger picture and push you toward giving up. Keep your focus tight on overcoming the obstacle.

From; April 2010 BRAINSTORM & FOCUS E-BULLETIN Written by Jurgen Wolff www.timetowrite.blogs.com

A Quote to Consider

"Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Steve Jobs

From; April 2010 BRAINSTORM & FOCUS E-BULLETIN Written by Jurgen Wolff www.timetowrite.blogs.com

Sunday 11 April 2010

Sunshine....

Sunshine is delicious,
rain is refreshing,
wind braces us up,
snow is exhilarating;
there is really no such thing as badweather,
only different kinds of good weather.

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)