Want to be creative? Be happy! Want to make better decisions? Be grumpy! That seems to be the message of research done by psychologist Joseph Forgas, published in Australian Science. He found that happiness is better for creativity, flexibility, cooperation, and reliance on mental shortcuts. Negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking and paying greater attention to the external world, resulting in better judgment and crafting effective persuasive messages.
ACTION: The best way to take advantage of these findings may be to try to match the task to your mood - if you're feeling upbeat, do your creative work and if you're feeling downbeat do administrative tasks that require accuracy and decision-making. Alternatively, manipulate your mood to match the task at hand, using music, visualization and movement (e.g. to get more upbeat, listen to upbeat music with which you already have happy associations, do a few minutes of exercise to get your heart rate up, and visualize the positive outcome of whatever you're about to do.) November 2009 Brainstorm E-Bulletin See: www.timetowrite.blogs.com/
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
New Year Resolutions - An Added Incentive
Jurgen Wolff's January 2010 Brainstorm E-Bulletin (http://jurgenwolff.com/ / www.timetowrite.blogs.com/) noted that there are a few strategies that have been proven to be effective when trying to lose a few pounds i.e. Keep the tempting bad foods out of the house and Jot down everything you eat! However, what he noted which really got me motivated was: Being creative requires energy and being overweight can sap it. Now, where did I put my trainers.....
Friday, 8 January 2010
I want to share with you this....
As we enter 2010, I want to wish you the very best of everything:
Confidence to pursue your best ideas.
Creativity to take you to new and exciting places in your work.
Determination to follow through on your goals.
Resources to support you as you go for it.
Patience to let things evolve as they need to.
Wisdom to see opportunities for what they are and let go of unhelpful habits.
Humour to deal with those around you and to see the funny side of your challenges.
Peace in the knowledge that you are in the right place and doing the right things.
Mindy Gibbins-KleinFounder of The Book Midwife http://www.bookmidwife.com/
Confidence to pursue your best ideas.
Creativity to take you to new and exciting places in your work.
Determination to follow through on your goals.
Resources to support you as you go for it.
Patience to let things evolve as they need to.
Wisdom to see opportunities for what they are and let go of unhelpful habits.
Humour to deal with those around you and to see the funny side of your challenges.
Peace in the knowledge that you are in the right place and doing the right things.
Mindy Gibbins-KleinFounder of The Book Midwife http://www.bookmidwife.com/
Saturday, 2 January 2010
New Year Resolutions
Last year I used being pregnant as an excuse. This year it was/is having a baby. I don’t feel I have really moved forward that much with regards to my writing in the last year. I feel disappointed that my 2009 Christmas present - the Writers and Artists Yearbook 2009 – never moved from its place on the shelf this year!!
My goals for 2009 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.
This year I have added:
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!
Other Resolutions are:
To remember that time is precious and to say No to things unless I really want to say Yes.
I will try to remain Positive at all times about all people and all situations!
I will aim to reach my pre-pregnancy weight within 3 months via diet and exercise.
I will save some money every week.
Wish me luck - Happy New Year!!
My goals for 2009 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.
This year I have added:
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!
Other Resolutions are:
To remember that time is precious and to say No to things unless I really want to say Yes.
I will try to remain Positive at all times about all people and all situations!
I will aim to reach my pre-pregnancy weight within 3 months via diet and exercise.
I will save some money every week.
Wish me luck - Happy New Year!!
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Thinking about New Year Resolutions?
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Top Ten Tips for Writing a Novel
Came across these tips at: www.be-a-better-writer.com/tips-for-writing-a-novel.html and thought I would share them as they got me thinking......
1. Read a lot-both novels and nonfiction. The novels will inspire you. They will create a need to write, and they will teach you about craft.
2. Know your premise. Every good novel is "about" something.
3. Stay focused on your premise.
4. Focus on the action the character must take to remedy the situation he or she has been thrown into. First and foremost, your characters must take action as they attempt to satisfy their most urgent needs.
5. Your character's actions must force them into problematic situations.
6. Develop your plot through cause and effect. Every action the character takes will have some effect.
7. Be clear about your characters' values, as it is their values that cause them to act as they do. Give characters opposing values so that nothing comes too easily for anyone.
8. Write every day, or five days a week, even if it is only for thirty minutes a day. Writing requires discipline, and having the discipline to write regularly keeps the story percolating in your mind.
9. Write original scenes. Surprise readers and make your story unpredictable, while still believable.
10. Focus on one scene at a time, one page at a time. Before you begin writing, know what the character's goal is for that scene, and know how he or she will achieve the goal or be prevented from achieving it.
1. Read a lot-both novels and nonfiction. The novels will inspire you. They will create a need to write, and they will teach you about craft.
2. Know your premise. Every good novel is "about" something.
3. Stay focused on your premise.
4. Focus on the action the character must take to remedy the situation he or she has been thrown into. First and foremost, your characters must take action as they attempt to satisfy their most urgent needs.
5. Your character's actions must force them into problematic situations.
6. Develop your plot through cause and effect. Every action the character takes will have some effect.
7. Be clear about your characters' values, as it is their values that cause them to act as they do. Give characters opposing values so that nothing comes too easily for anyone.
8. Write every day, or five days a week, even if it is only for thirty minutes a day. Writing requires discipline, and having the discipline to write regularly keeps the story percolating in your mind.
9. Write original scenes. Surprise readers and make your story unpredictable, while still believable.
10. Focus on one scene at a time, one page at a time. Before you begin writing, know what the character's goal is for that scene, and know how he or she will achieve the goal or be prevented from achieving it.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
De-Cluttering Only Causes Piles....
I didn't disappoint myself last Tuesday as I had a right good clear out of old writing and other stuff I had saved. Previous to Jamie's arrival the nursery had been used as my writing room and so all my books, notes and resources are currently in there, but I have now managed to streamline at least some of them....
After Tuesday, the week then went slightly manic as I started wrapping the Christmas presents as well as de-cluttering. Currently there is stuff everywhere but I keep telling myself it is all part of the plan….. The house is not exactly baby proof so this also focuses my mind, and the need to ‘get rid’ as Uncle Dean would say. However, none of these jobs have been helped by the fact that Jamie is still teething and has also been suffering with a cough and a runny nose; leading to a few broken nights.
Hoped to get on top of the 'stuff' on Thursday, while Jamie was at Nanna's, but Kate came to check out what has been happening on FaceBook (its not allowed at their house) and once she had gone I found it very difficult to get anything started as I knew Nanna would not be long bringing Jamie back. Its nice to have friends..... The weekend came and went in a kinda blur - shopping with Daddy, visiting cousins and other housework - but yesterday I managed to get back and finish off the piles of stuff in the nursery! Looking good.....only now Jamie has started Commando crawling and we are having a carpet fitted in there on Saturday morning!! Panic!!
Looking at the calendar I/we are very busy up until Christmas, so I doubt I am going to have much time for myself, my piles and my writing. But I do feel less compulsive about the need for a tidy house and more relaxed about the future....
After Tuesday, the week then went slightly manic as I started wrapping the Christmas presents as well as de-cluttering. Currently there is stuff everywhere but I keep telling myself it is all part of the plan….. The house is not exactly baby proof so this also focuses my mind, and the need to ‘get rid’ as Uncle Dean would say. However, none of these jobs have been helped by the fact that Jamie is still teething and has also been suffering with a cough and a runny nose; leading to a few broken nights.
Hoped to get on top of the 'stuff' on Thursday, while Jamie was at Nanna's, but Kate came to check out what has been happening on FaceBook (its not allowed at their house) and once she had gone I found it very difficult to get anything started as I knew Nanna would not be long bringing Jamie back. Its nice to have friends..... The weekend came and went in a kinda blur - shopping with Daddy, visiting cousins and other housework - but yesterday I managed to get back and finish off the piles of stuff in the nursery! Looking good.....only now Jamie has started Commando crawling and we are having a carpet fitted in there on Saturday morning!! Panic!!
Looking at the calendar I/we are very busy up until Christmas, so I doubt I am going to have much time for myself, my piles and my writing. But I do feel less compulsive about the need for a tidy house and more relaxed about the future....
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