FREEBIES BELOW!!! (Including an amazing one from Meradeth Houston. Read on...)
The first week of school is over. Those of us still breathing are wondering how we'll survive week 2. Then there's the day job. The laundry. The dishes. The never-ending list of doom that threatens to swallow you whole before you ever type a single word.
So WHEN do you get to your writing (or current project), and how to you manage to have enough energy/brain power to actually get something done?
I suggest one little word: routine.
We are creatures of habit and pattern. If something is important, it will fit into our schedule because it will be part of our schedule. Not saying it works out perfectly every day, but effort over time=accomplishment.
IWSG is a monthly hop for writers seeking support and an awesome community. Join our hosts this month: Heather Gardner, Christine Rains, Dolorah, Julie Flanders, & Murees Dupe.
Two weeks ago Melissa Maygrove shared with us Precious Atonement, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win her signed paperback or eBook!
THE LIE: #3. Melissa has been present at the birth of triplets only once. Multiples greater than twins are rarely born in hospitals that don't have high level NICUs. It was a special occasion for her. :)
Meradeth's never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if
you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
Meradeth gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of ANY of her books.
You have until Tuesday, September 8 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on September 9.
So WHEN do you get to your writing (or current project), and how to you manage to have enough energy/brain power to actually get something done?
I suggest one little word: routine.
We are creatures of habit and pattern. If something is important, it will fit into our schedule because it will be part of our schedule. Not saying it works out perfectly every day, but effort over time=accomplishment.
IWSG is a monthly hop for writers seeking support and an awesome community. Join our hosts this month: Heather Gardner, Christine Rains, Dolorah, Julie Flanders, & Murees Dupe.
AND NOW HOW ABOUT SOME FREEBIES?
My latest free short story:
Read the rest HERE. (And leave some comment love, eh?)
And how about if we give away some awesomeness?
Two weeks ago Melissa Maygrove shared with us Precious Atonement, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win her signed paperback or eBook!
Melissa's Game:
1. Melissa once met astronaut Alan Shepard.
2. She loves pan-fried cabbage.
3. She's been present at the birth of triplets, twice!
THE LIE: #3. Melissa has been present at the birth of triplets only once. Multiples greater than twins are rarely born in hospitals that don't have high level NICUs. It was a special occasion for her. :)
Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
And now for this week's feature...
Sienna Crenshaw knows the rules: 1) no
time traveling beyond your natural lifetime, 2) no screwing with death, and 3)
no changing the past. Ever. Sienna doesn’t love being stuck in the present, but
she’s not the type to to break the rules. That is, she wasn’t the type until
her best friend broke every one of those rules to keep Henry, her twin brother
and Sienna’s ex-boyfriend, alive.
Suddenly, Sienna is
caught in an unfamiliar reality. The upside? Henry is still alive. The
downside? Sienna’s old life, including the people in it, has been erased. Now,
Sienna and Henry must untangle the giant knot in time, or her parents and all
the rest of the Travelers, will be lost forever. One problem: the only way to
be successful is for Henry to die.
Get your copy HERE.
Ready to meet the author?
Meradeth's never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if
you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
>She's a Northern California girl who now braves the cold
winters in Montana.
>When she's not writing, she's sequencing dead people's DNA.
>When she's not writing, she's sequencing dead people's DNA.
>She’s also an anthropology professor and loves getting people
interested in studying humans.
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she's terrified of heights.
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she's terrified of heights.
Lately she has been obsessed with gorgonzola and gnocchi, with a little pesto. Perfection!
Meradeth gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of ANY of her books.
You have until Tuesday, September 8 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on September 9.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. The
only continent Meradeth has yet to make it to is Antarctica (and considering she hates the
cold, that’s not high on her list! :).
2. She
was fluent in Spanish long before English and actually didn’t learn to read in
English until second grade.
3. Her
family ran an animal rescue ranch while she was growing up and it was an odd week
when there wasn’t something being raised or nursed back to health in their
kitchen (everything from emu, to ferrets, to desert tortoises).
So sleuths, which is the lie? How do you structure your project time? Did you check out the Dog Star story? Which one of Meradeth's books looks the most enticing to you? (I've read two of them and enjoyed both.)
Hi Crystal - I'll have some gorgonzola please! #1 is the lie ... but you're right 'routine' does help the wheels of day to day living and thus writing. How you do it with a new baby around .. I'll never know - cheers and good luck to all - Hilary
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. What would I do without my schedules? I used to be too strike with scheduling, almost paralyzingly so. But I've learned over the years to balance it a bit more. Love your freebie!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I loved the excerpt of your short story! I don't know how you come up with all these ideas—impressive!!
ReplyDeleteAs for a schedule, I'm still trying to figure it out. I was finally used to the kids being home all day and now, I'm learning to balance my time with them gone. My youngest starts preschool next week so I'm excited about that!
I love the premise of Meradeth's new book! I'm off to buy it now. I'll guess the lie is #1.
Congrats on the story! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd routine is definitely working well for me regarding my standing-desk. I use it whenever I social network, and it's become a good habit.
Great stuff indeed, thanks for sharing and greetings!
ReplyDeleteYes, this. I've broken my routine and am struggling to get it back. :-/
ReplyDeleteAnna from Elements of Writing
Thanks so much for hosting me here today, Crystal!!
ReplyDeleteRoutine really does help. It's amazing how much it does.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover! Congrats to Meradeth! I'm going to guess #2 as the lie.
I have such a hard time creating a routine for myself! But I suppose that's why I never get much done...
ReplyDeleteRoutine is so amazingly helpful! I'm trying so hard to get back to one. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the choices for Meradeth are so interesting! I'm just going to pick #2 - maybe she's going to her sixth continent soon, but hasn't been there yet? ^_^
Yes, routine is really essential when you're busy. Hope you get into a good one where you get lots of time to write. And congrats to Meradeth!
ReplyDeleteIf someone with all your responsibilities can get into a routine, the rest of us have no excuses. I think #1 is false.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Routine! Yes, now that the kids are back in school, it's a breeze. I think the lie is #1
ReplyDeleteMost definitely routine is so important. I'm getting back into it now that my little guy is in school. As for the lie, I'm going with #1. Congrats to Meradeth!
ReplyDeleteeffort over time=accomplishment ... simple yet profound in its truth and wisdom. Best of luck with week 2!
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder that effort over time leads to results. When people say how do you find the time to write? That's the answer. Seems obvious .... hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteWithout my schedule, I would be lost. Or lazy. I don't know which one would be worse. :P
ReplyDeleteRoutine is so helpful for getting stuff done. It's why I always get more writing done when I have a lot of non-writing-things happening -- I'm forced to make a stricter schedule, and it seems to make me more productive!
ReplyDeleteRoutine. Routine. Routine! Yes! I can't get enough of it. I tweeted the your freebie. Congrats to Meradith!
ReplyDeleteI am totally unscheduled. I get so much grief from my husband for it. And you're right- it's a pitfall. I have a schedule in my mind, but I allow it to be interrupted. Just today- my plan- visit blogs from noon-2:00, in that time, I discussed banquet prep and football signs with vendors. My husband would say, block a half hour for calls, then don't answer the phone. Not me. It buzzes- I'm answering.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to guess the lie as the animal rescue. Only because when I was little, that was my dream, so I'm going to guess it's just a dream for many.
I have THE hardest time with schedules. I try to do thing differently every day to feel it out and so far nothing has fit well. Today has been going ok, but it's likely because I'm filled with caffeine. I'll have to look back on today tomorrow to see if it worked haha
ReplyDelete- Madilyn Quinn @ NovelBrews
Routine definitely helps, though you do get people who can function without one.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG Day!
Yeah, the routine does work for me, only it's hard to remember to relax when it goes wonky. (and it will).
ReplyDeleteTravelers sounds awesome. Exactly the kind of mess I need to read about to make my life feel less chaotic. lol. Great cover too. All of them look like good reads.
I'm guessing #1 is the lie.
I don't know how you do it. I home-schooled for a few years, but I couldn't manage it now that I'm published.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Tyrean! I'll be in touch. :)
Effort over time = accomplishment - I like that! I think routine is good, I hope I can stick to my new routine and accomplish!
ReplyDeleteI've found that the more hectic life is, the more writing I get done. Now that school has left me with tons of time, the words won't flow. Maybe a routine would help.
ReplyDeleteBuilding good habits and sticking to a routine is key for busy writers. I'm working on taking it a step further and increasing efficiency. I need to get more done with the time I currently have. I will guess #1 is the lie. Congrats to Meradeth!
ReplyDeleteI tried to comment on your story about Sirius on the other page, but the way the comments were set up it looked like I might have to include my real name; that's why I'm leaving my comment here. It's a great story! It made me curious about what happened to Rhea, and I could definitely see that there was a contrast between her and the vengeful Ishtar; it made me feel sorry for Sirius. But it seems like he's stronger than Ishtar gives him credit for.
ReplyDeleteRoutine is a big help. I like efficient systems, too. It's putting them together through trial and error that takes the time. I'll save your story (thanks for the gift) for later when I'm not rushing out the door. Want time to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWe're into our third week, and we still have issues in the morning. It's going to be a long year.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Tyrean!
And I love time travel stories. Sounds great, Meradeth
I sneak in my writing when I have the chance. I don't have enough time to start a routine. I used to write later at night, when everyone one else was in bed, but these days, seeing everyone else in bed makes me sleepy too. Arg! My kids won't be starting school until after Labor day. Maybe I'll get more writing done then.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to establish routines. It's rough. I don't have any children yet and I know that I better get my act together. I do use a planner which helps me remember stuff. I also read your story and hope you don't mind me leaving a comment here. I got lost in it. My favorite part was the end when Sirius kills Ishtar and vows to be there next time. I also love the imagery and the way you described the dog whistle. Is there more? Hope so xoxo!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to guess the first one.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Tyrean!
And routine is the only way I power through a manuscript.
Thanks for the freebies! I agree with you about routine. I have sacrosanct writing time the MOMENT the kids go to sleep.
ReplyDeleteFollowing some sort of routine and turning the things we want to do into ingrained habits is the best way to get them accomplished. However, having a wee one in diapers has a way of changing routines at will. :)
ReplyDeleteI already have Meradeth's book, so even if I guess right, don't consider me to win a copy. (Which of course means I'll probably guess correctly for a change...) Anyhow, I'll go with number 2.
I'm thinking #1 is the lie!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion. I attended a class where the instructor said to begin your day doing something creative. Even a few minutes writing gets the brain going for the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteI believe strongly in routine. Right now I’m not happy with mine as I usually write between 10 pm and 3 or 4 am. I have the routine part down, I just need to shift it to more reasonable hours. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Tyrean on the win, and Meradeth on Travelers!
VR Barkowski
I definitely think you should be some kind of Cheese Knight for the Faire LOL.
ReplyDeleteHeading over to read your story now.
I'm guessing number three is the lie? Also, Amen to routine!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Tyrean! I always wonder how writers with children manage to get so much done. I thought you guys have a super mom/ dad gene that makes you do so much. Routine definitely helps. Also, I tend to sneak in a few words when the whole house is asleep. Wishing you the best.
ReplyDeleteRoutine is key!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Meradeth. I'll guess #1 is the lie.
A routine is good (sticking to it might be a problem) :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Tyrean! And to Meradeth on her release. I'm going to say the lie is #3. :)
I think #1 is the lie. Congrats to Tyrean. It's good to have a routine so that people meet their writing goals.
ReplyDeleteRoutine really helps. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Diane IWSG #95
I definitely have to schedule my writing time. You are so right if you want it bad enough you will make time for it.
ReplyDeleteIt is weird for me not to be teaching this semester. I kind of like the break.
Routine is a big one for me. Whenever I slack off and let the routine slide, (and think, "She'll be right. I'll fit my writing in somehow") my writing suffers. Guaranteed every time.
ReplyDeleteGood words of advice, Crystal!! And congrats to Melissa and Meradeth!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like most successful writers say routine is crucial. Tom Robbins says he goes into his office to write at the same time every day because that way his muse knows were to find him. Good luck juggling the school schedule and the rest of life. Fall is a great time to launch new projects.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Meradeth's book sounds amazing. Such a great premise with huge stakes, wow. For some reason #1 seems the most easily true, which makes me think it must be a lie :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going with #1, but I've got to admit my Sherlock barometer of late has been rather week:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. The truth is I haven't had the brain power or motivation to write when I sit down. Maybe if I can get back in the routine I can get back the words.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Meredith! I'm going with number two as the lie.
I'll guess the lie is #1.
ReplyDeleteI need to get better about structuring and scheduling things. I'm so laid-back and freewheeling, instead of getting into a realistic schedule for each day.
I'm all for routine. It's the only way I managed to write a draft of my novel.
ReplyDeleteLie...#2...
This is a much needed reminder for me Crystal :)
ReplyDeleteShe's terrified of heights, so I'll go with the lie being that she's been to all but one continent.
ReplyDeletePreviously, a routine has worked really well for me. I always lose it over summer when the kids are home, but they're back in school, so it's time to establish one again.
Congratulations Tyrean. Glad you're getting into your new routine Crystal!
ReplyDelete(just wanted to say hi)
ReplyDelete:O]
Routine and effort over time will get you to accomplishment, so true!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Meradeth!! I'm going with #1 as the lie ;)
Yes, have a routine is the key. A little bit every day goes a long way!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me how much I get done during the day while the kids are at school and how little I do during the summer holidays while they are home. LOL Also pretty amazing how quickly I adapt back to the routine of getting up at 5:30 am and keep on till after midnight. That is a normal day,
ReplyDeleteI say #1 is the lie. I get a lot of my reading/writing done when I go to the library (school work) or on the weekend (blogging, which I've slacked off on to get my school work done).
ReplyDeleteRoutine is important for a writer. The only problem is that lately my routine involves binge-watching a new series on Netflix. New to me, that is. I'm sure everyone else in the world has already watched Bones. I just forced myself to turn the TV off, and I'm visiting a few blogs before turning back to my WIP.
ReplyDeleteFor realsies. No more Bones. At least until after dinner.
Great for routine. I'm guessing No 3 is a lie?
ReplyDeleteI sooo Need a routine! When I left Iowa I left my excerise partner and my reason to get up each day. We would meet at 9 or 10 and workout until lunch, eat and then I'd go home nap and then write until aboiut 5or 6 every day. I'm thinking about maybe joining a gym. Then I'd have a reason to make myself get up....
ReplyDeleteI hear you about the routine. I need to get myself back into one now that I'm working again. Funny how I had the routine down perfect when I was at the same job for ten years, but somehow forgot how to do it right after being unemployed for six months. But I'll get it back, I swear... O_o
ReplyDeleteI've been all over the place this year, but I hope to establish a routine before it finishes! Having a steadier job actually helps, as I can schedule around it. I think #2 is the lie. #3 is co cute, I hope it's true!
ReplyDeleteI plan to get into a routine when school starts. This summer has pretty much been a bust.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm going to day #3, although I hope it's true because it's super cool. :)
I completely agree with you about routines. It's why I make sure to work on art every single day. Whenever my art depresses me, people tell me to just take a day or two off, but I know the moment I do that, I probably won't be able to get back into the habit and would just quit art for good, heh. So yeah, hurray for routines!
ReplyDeleteAnd oh, I remember that short story of yours. Already left it some comment love a while back! ;)
Congratulations to Meradeth! Sounds awesome story...No 3 is a lie?
ReplyDeleteCrystal... I agree routine is the way to get things done... for me that helps with my exercising ... I remember years ago I wondered where I would or could find the time, now I just make time. Occasionally we all get off track from time to time but we just have to keep starting over and never give up. I need to apply this to other parts of my life.xox
ReplyDeleteRoutine should be followed. Congrats to Meradeth!
ReplyDelete