Don't just plan to write...

'Don't just plan to write - write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.' PD James quoted in www.writersnews.co.uk April 2011

Latest email from Jurgen Wolff

Did you know that one simple question can help you stop procrastinating? This method comes from time management expert David Allen. First, decide on the outcome you want; for example, "To have a finished report," or "To have an organized office". Then ask, "What is the one next action I can take to get there?" Not all the stuff you need to do, just the next one. It may be finding a file. Or making one phone call. Or making a list. Then do that one thing. Then figure out the next step, and do that one. I've found it can be very helpful to write all this down. At the top of the page, write the desired outcome. Then write down just the first step and do it. Then write down the next step and do that, and so forth, until you get it done, or run out of time. Use the same page - seeing how many steps you have already taken will help motivate you. See http://www.timetowrite.com/

Letter Written, Competitions Entered...

Busy weekend this weekend - not to mention a busy week - but have managed to find a few minutes to send off a letter to Writing Magazine about my induction day (see post 9th March 2011). Have entered a Writing Magazine competition which asked for a poem inspired by an Alarm Clock and have also entered a poem into the Lincolnshire Association of Healers Poetry Competition: www.lincolnshirehealers.org/events.html Phew!!

Friday night I attended a Psychic Supper and although they did not forsee me earning millions from my wriring, one of my freinds brought along a late birthday presemnt in the form of a hard back notebook. I have decided to use it to plan and write the chick lit novel I have been thinking about lately. Hang on.....the psychic did say ' You have been thinking should I or shouldn't I? Well, You should!!' Whether that referred to this novel we shall have to wait and see.....

Clear the Clutter

My Cygnus Books www.cygnus-books.co.uk/magazine/ email sent 16th March 2011 had a lovely piece on clearing the clutter:

Spring is here, and with the fresh spring breezes, snatches of sunshine and green shoots in the soil comes the perfect opportunity to spring-clean your own life, brushing away the cobwebs and throwing out the clutter.

If you were de-cluttering your house, you might go through each room and if there’s anything in which you haven’t used or thought of for the last few months, then you can put it in a box, ideally to be thrown away. Do the same with your mind: take a pen and make headings of all the ‘rooms’ in your mind, for example, “Money”, “Family”, “House”, “Things to Do” etc. etc. Write down everything you can think of, then go outside for a few minutes to clear your head. Return to the list: how many things had you remembered? Cross off those points which you have listed unnecessarily until you have reduced the list to the things that really matter. So many of our thoughts are needless worries, it is vital to recognise these thoughts as clutter and either deal with them or throw them out immediately, before they get caught up with the more important considerations.

There’s nothing like the present, so take the opportunity of Spring time, turn over a blank page and only fill it with the things that really matter.

Ideas are everywhere....

Monday and Tuesday this week I found myself attending a two day Induction for my new job. I was less than looking forward to it, but took along my notebook and a copy of Writing Magazine in case there was chance for a quick read. As it turned out there were only 9 of us on the course so reading my magazine might have been noticed, but during lunch on the first day I made the effort to speak to some of my fellow attendees and was so glad I did!

Turned out that one of them was training to be an embalmer which, in itself, was fascinating but this lead to a conversation - at times quite humorous - about life and death, funerals and even hamsters testicles! I was so glad I had taken my notebook and in the afternoon session made copious notes - not about issues of Diversity as the instructor probably thought - but rather all the ideas I had collected in my lunch hour!

Just goes to show what a smile and 'Hello' can do!!