Writing & Your Health

I will not spend time on a litany of my medical conditions that require medication and visits to different doctors about every three months. This is beyond things like X-Rays, an MRI, like today.

Why do I even mention this?

I will tell you.

If you are or want to be a writer, no matter your age, your physical and emotional health are of great concern to your writing.

You can't spend time writing if you hurt, or have a migraine, or any condition that requires monitoring. If you have any chronic conditions as I do and many others, writers need to closely monitor these conditions so that writer down time from illness is minimized.

Having to spend more than five hours visiting doctors and hospitals for tests can certainly cut into a WIP time and make one tired just from the time in waiting rooms and waiting for people to do their thing.

When trying to write your book, blog post, or promoting your book, it’s hard to when you are not physically able to because of health issues.

You’ve all heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Insert any name you wish.

To do your best work writers needs some time to get out and smell the roses, please do whatever they need to remain healthy.

Work hard, but not to the point that your health takes a back seat. You might just live a happier and healthier life. Spend time with family, friends, and pets if you have any.

Robert Medak
Freelance writer, blogger, editor, marketer, reviewer
Owner of Robert J Medak Writing & More

Organization and My Thoughts on The Writing Life


Organization is a big part of having a productive writing career and one part of my writing life that needs a major overhaul. I think I may need professional help.

 I sit going through tons of emails and look up at the clock to see that time has wasted. I sort the organized piles accumulating on my desk and again time slowly eased away. I consciously make a list of the things I need to do today and the phone rings. Delayed again.

Finally, ready to at least get my blogs up to date, I scan the Internet for a quote and find a link to a site that just might offer a program to organize my writing on my PC. Surely this is not a time waster?  Or is it?

Does any of this sound familiar or am I the only one trying to organize a writing life along with keeping up with a paying writing gig, a full time job, and family time? So how does a professional freelance writer stay organized while maintaining a full time job and a relationship with the family? Here are some ideas that I am trying for 2012. Maybe there is a tip or two that might help you focus too.

·        Limiting my social media time to 30 minutes to 60 minutes a day. Limiting time on social media networks will keep my name out there but in a more focused way. I am going to limit the time to promoting other authors whom I am friends, on promoting my books and theirs, and on making comments on the sites of those writer’s groups that I am an active member. If I have time to comment on family and personal friends within that time frame, I can, but the focus is to work towards increasing my presence as an author.

·        I have a supportive husband who purchased a leather desk calendar for me. I am going to use it. It has lines for everyday and here I can write the tasks I need to accomplish each day with an estimated time frame. It is handy, very visible, and I can tackle the tasks in an orderly fashion. I’ll let you know how this works for me,  but feel free to tell me your ideas on what keeps you organized.

·        I am going to group like tasks together. I tend to be scattered but if I list like tasks together I am hoping to be more productive with each period of time I have. Blog entries on Monday, articles on Tuesday, E-book manuscript on Wednesday, and so on. Mondays will be blog days and I can preschedule all the posts for the rest of the week. Done. Tuesday is open to do the article. Done.( Wednesday mornings reserved for visiting my mom since she says she doesn't remember what I look like because I am always on my comuter.)  I am going to track my productivity this month with my new process and see if this can help me focus. How do you schedule your writing time?

·        A writer friend suggested to me once that an egg timer may be helpful. I was using it for a few days and it helped but then life got in the way and the habit wasn’t well enough established to stick with me. I am going to try it again. Anyone have luck using this method?

·        The piles, oh it always seems that there are piles. Piles of research books, books to review, folders with notes, and a scrap pad with emails, websites I want to explore, and other important tidbits that are scribbled onto the page. I am going to review them at the end of my writing time, no more than 15 minutes, and then file, toss, or record in my contact list. I am hoping that this will reduce the piles... only time will tell with this one.

·        Finally, the one thing that I need to do is to learn to say NO or a polite NO Thank you to the things that are not my passion or do not advance my writing focus. There are always going to be some things that cannot be avoided like making dinner, showering, and going to my job. But I have taken on many a volunteer job with the intention of improving my craft and advancing my writing contacts. Many times this has been very beneficial and I am grateful for the opportunity, but I need to look at a few of these tasks and ask myself if they are still working for my list of goals or am I advancing others at the expense of not getting to first base myself? Do any of you relate? While promoting each other is of utmost importance, there is that old saying that comes to mind..."always the bridesmaid, never the bride". If I want to be an expert and a respected published author, don't I need to write and submit?  

I think all writers can benefit from evaluating their process at the beginning of a New Year. Ask yourself if after three weeks into January are you doing anything differently than last year or are you falling into the same old routine? It may be time to shake it up a bit and that may actually help your organize and focus your writing.

Look out world; I am ready to shake it up… anyone coming?

Terri Forehand
Author of The Cancer Prayer Book (www.dreamwordspublishing.com)

WEBINAR REMINDER: Create an Effective Press Release in 7 Easy Steps

Just a friendly reminder for those who registered for this webinar. I hope everyone noticed that the time has been changed to 7PM!

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Title: Create an Effective Press Release in 7 Easy Steps
Date: January 18, 2012 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00 – 7:45 PM EST (U.S.) HAD TO CHANGE TO 7PM
Presented by: Karen Cioffi
Format: Live Webinar
Handout: Yes
Cost: Free

Description:

Create an Effective Press Release in 7 Easy Steps

Part of any good marketing strategy is to include press releases and if you can write an article, you can write a press release.

A press release is simply an announcement. It can be announcing your new book, a promotion launch, a special sale, news, a new article, an accomplishment, events, workshops, and so on.

The purpose of a press release, also called a media release, is to alert as many people as possible to your special news/information. But, it’s important for your press release to be at least somewhat news worthy. In addition, it’s a good idea to provide the ‘what’s in it for me’ (WIIFM) aspect of the topic.

Press releases increase your visibility - they broaden your marketing reach.

There are seven simple steps to creating an effective press release:

1. Create an effective title (headline)
2. The point-on synopsis
3. Bullet points (optional)
4. Overview
5. Bio
6. Edit and Proof
7. Research and Submit

Join Karen Cioffi as she goes through each step.

To register for “Create an Effective Press Release in 7 Easy Steps” email Karen at:
http://karencioffi [@] ymail [dot] com

Instructions to attend the LIVE WEBINAR will be provided upon registration.

There will also be a bonus PDF workshop handout with details to help you create your own press release. Since this webinar will be a PowerPoint Webinar we will not be able to record the live presentation. But, hopefully a transcript of the chat, including questions and answers will be available.

This will be our first PowerPoint webinar and we're excited to bring this new format to you - we hope you enjoy it!

The workshop is free, but all registrants will be added to the Writers on the Move and the presenter’s mailing list.

We'll be offering (at the discretion of the presenter) an After Workshop Package of this workshop for those who didn't register and would like to purchase it. It'll include the live webinar recording, the workshop handout, and possibly a podcast. Be sure to Get Yours when it's available!

Please be sure to stop here often to find out about upcoming workshops:
http://www.writersonthemove.com/p/writers-on-move-workshop.html


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Learn about writing and marketing with Karen Cioffi at http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com. Sign up for her free newsletter, A Writer’s World, and get TWO free site-related e-books for subscribing, and ONE more just for stopping by.

The Great Balancing Act





In December I went walking in the park with my grandchildren. A woman with two therapy dogs drew our attention. A very sweet lady, she asked if we'd met before and then we spent a few moments trying to determine whether our paths had ever crossed. When she asked me what I did, I claimed novelist, my grandchildren filled in my role as business coach and the camera around my neck claimed photographer. "My your life is so well balanced," she said.

For those of you who have visited my personal blog, you may know that, in November I decided that 2012 would be the year for me to learn balance. I'm hosting other authors who are telling their tricks. How ironic to meet someone who would view me as balanced. 
As writers most of us have real jobs, those that keep us in computers, pens and paper. We cannot stop writing even though our lives are full, because the writing process is what gives us fulfillment. So instead we carve out bits and pieces of time between family and work, sometimes feeling stretched or pulled in so many directions. We can't wait for retirement to write, the stories refuse to allow it. Instead they nag us while making the bed, taking a shower, or doing the dishes. "Write me! Write me!" they call to us.
In my younger years, living in Wyoming, I played a bit with rock climbing. It was almost at the same time that a new trend was started called slacklining. Two guys in Yosemite Valley strung webbing and walked, not on tight rope, but rather on "rope" that had less tension, sometimes between two places high above the ground. Slacklining is interesting because of the ease with which the practice can change by using narrower or thicker webbing or by just changing the tension. While the slackline is less rigid and has a bit of sway, it does not allow for an alternative path. 
Perhaps this is how to achieve balance as a writer with also being a child, parent, grandparent, employee and friend. A path that has sway, that allows for changes in the dynamics, but still keeps you focused to the end. May each of you navigate the high peaks of life with balance and see your writing soar.
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D. Jean Quarles is a writer of Women's Fiction. She loves to tell stories of personal growth where success has nothing to do with money or fame, but of living life to the fullest. She is the author of Rocky's Mountains, Fire in the Hole and, Perception, her latest book dealing with the subject of death and the afterlife. The Mermaid, an award winning short story was published in the anthology, Tales from a Sweltering City. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and business coach. In her free time . . . ha! ha! ha! Anyway, you can find more about D. Jean Quarles, her writing and her books at her website at www.djeanquarles.com

Her novels are available in electronic format here, or print format here
You can also follower her at www.djeanquarles.blogspot.com or on Facebook
Or you can just contact her at d.jeanquarles@yahoo.com

10 Common Challenges Many New Novelists Face

by Suzanne Lieurance New novelists often encounter a range of challenges as they begin writing their book.  Here are 10 of the most common p...