The Age of the Sticky Notes: How to Organize Life + IWSG

How do you measure productivity? How do you keep yourself productive?

My world has been...well, insanity, especially since we started chasing this musical full time. (Check out the website. Follow on social media. Sign up for the newsletter to experience our crazy journey with us -- all the way to Broadway.) In fact, we're elbow deep in video edits and making promotional reels and all that jazz...

But I digress. 

When I was a teen, I had WAY too many interests to be healthy. I was in theater, I sang in choirs and performed as a soloist weekly or more, I wrote stories, I read a lot, I was a sketch artist, I biked and hiked and arranged not only my social calendar, but pulled together group dates and events for a wide variety of friends regularly. And then there was school.

In navigating a crazy schedule, I had a system.

I'd make a list (long term goals broken into smaller parts) and keep it in my pocket. Every time I tucked my hands away, I'd come across the "to do"s, and then would focus on the next easiest one...or most important one, depending on how motivated I was.

This system worked until I quit putting my hands in my pockets. Or had no pockets. 

Then I moved to a planner. 

Everything went in the planner. Everything...

Until that was too bulky to carry around. We transitioned to a calendar -- full family mode -- with notes in ALL the margins AND scribbled over the full-page images.

In this is a new age, every little edit, every suggested change has become a sticky note. A physical presence. A bright colored reminder. Though I still have a calendar, I now keep lists on my phone, but  life looks like a lot like this:

Except in more colors -- yellow, pink, green, blue, orange, purple... All the colors. I try to keep tasks organized by color, but I'm too much of an artists and just grab the nearest thing when inspiration strikes.

This is a constantly evolving system. I think we often get frustrated when our efforts aren't working or fall short, not realizing that there is room for change. That change is good. Change is healthy. Change keeps us growing. So I hope if you're feeling that tension, you'll take a minute, breathe, and reexamine your process or world. Take control. Try again.

Because you're awesome and powerful and you've got this! 

What system have you discovered that works to keep you organized, motivated, and moving forward?

IWSG June 4 question: What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

I'm going strictly little kid here because this is a BIG question.

• The Giving Tree. Loved it as a kid. Someone so selfless was amazing and should be emulated. (I hated it as a mom -- when my proverbial well was empty.) 

• Where the Wild Things Are. Keep that imagination alive, kiddoes! This was life for me as a kid and the book gave me permission to keep that creativity bubbling. 

• The Velveteen Rabbit taught me about compassion, about loving someone to the end.  

• It's Not Easy Being a Bunny really registered with me as one of eight kids and the black sheep of my family, interests wise and academically. It taught me it's okay to be an individual and STILL appreciate your unique family culture. 

• Alexander and the Terrible Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day. Mom quoted this so often it would be hard NOT to have an impact. Bad days happen to everyone, even in Australia. 

And lastly, but most importantly, The Bible (especially the New Testament) and Book of Mormon. Most influential books of all time.

What books had a BIG impact in your life? What are you doing to be organized or motivated? How much cheese have you eaten this week?

Happy New Year! (ISWG and Other EPIC Things)

I hope you're having the most epic year of your life so far...all 6 days of it. If not, what are you doing about it? One of my favorite quotes comes from Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"

And yet so often we talk ourselves out of taking the plunge and trying something new, even if we might fail miserably. We might also succeed, but one thing is certain: without trying, we CAN'T succeed.

Take a chance this year. Try something that terrifies you. Get out and live to your fullest potential.

And speaking of IWSG, guess what?!? I made it into the contest anthology. I'm so stoked! A huge thank you to my EPIC beta readers Stewart West, Misha Gericke, Tammy Theriault, Annalisa Crawford, and Eric Price (featured below), the wonderful IWSG team who pulled the publishing opportunity together, and all the judges for the hours they dedicated. Hop around and meet today's superstar hosts for IWSG: L.G. Keltner, Denise Covey, Sheri Larsen, J.Q. Rose, Chemist Ken, and Michelle Wallace! 

Oh, and I have my LAST free story from LQR for you today.

Read the rest HERE.

 

Now how about a giveaway?

Last month Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson shared with us a THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW, along with two truths and a lie each. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a signed hardcover.

The Game:

Jess:

1. I do not have a cell phone, nor do I want one. 
2. I love the feel of flannel, and I like to have flannel sheets even in the summer. 
3. I am a fan of graphic novels, and someday I plan to write one of my own.

The lie: #2. Jess actually HATES the feel of flannel and would NEVER use flannel sheets in the summer­--it would be torture.

Stephanie:

1. I’ve never eaten a Big Mac or Whopper.
2. I love hot dogs with baked beans and coleslaw. The perfect easy meal and delicious too!

3. Sardines with or without crackers are a delectable treat that I can’t resist.

The lie: #2. From Stephanie: Every Saturday when my father was home from traveling we’d have hot dogs, baked beans, and coleslaw. All of which I detest. I’d have to sit at the table for a long time, because I wouldn’t touch the food. Eventually I learned to eat as fast as possible while it was still hot, and to this day I still don’t like any part of this meal. 

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

J.H. Moncrieff!

Congrats, J.H.! 

And now for this week's feature... 

CLC’s Best First Novel 2014!

As the only son to King Kendrick, Owen despises the idea of being king one day. Magician may be the only career he’d like less. He has dreaded the days leading up to his fifteenth birthday, when his father will certainly declare Owen heir to the throne. But at the birthday celebration, his father falls ill. The only person in the kingdom that may be able to save him is a magician–the very same magician Owen holds responsible for the death of his mother. 

Owen and his companions will have to travel the continent of Wittatun in search of the cure for King Kendrick. On the journey, they will battle strange beasts and harsh climates, befriend extraordinary magicians, and meet a dragon before returning to Innes Castle–where much has happened in the days since they departed.

Get your copy HERE.

And also up for grabs today, the sequel!

After the adventure to save King Kendrick, Yara's everyday life has grown monotonous. The dull work of learning her father’s blacksmithing trade and the pressure from her parents to decide what she plans on doing with her life has her nerves too stressed. 

Lucky for her, a surprise messenger from the castle brings the king’s request. She's to join a collaborative mission between the Central and Western Domains of Wittatun to stop a recently discovered slave operation in a land to the west. 

It's imperative she keep secret not only her magical abilities from any possible traitors, but also her gender. The people of the Western Domain have a superstition prohibiting girls from sailing. But a chill wind carries the distinct odor of sabotage. Can one girl survive to destroy an evil rooted much deeper than mere slavery?

Ready to meet the author?

Eric Price lives with his wife and two sons in northwest Iowa. He began publishing in 2008 when he started writing a quarterly column for a local newspaper. Later that same year he published his first work of fiction, a spooky children’s story called Ghost Bed and Ghoul Breakfast. Since then, he has written stories for children, young adults, and adults. Three of his science fiction stories have won honorable mention from the CrossTime Annual Science Fiction Contest. His first YA fantasy novel, Unveiling the Wizards’ Shroud, received the Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Literary Classics Award for Best First Novel. Unveiling the Wizards' Shroud is now available in paperback and eBook. His second novel, The Squire and the Slave Master, came out in November. It continues the Saga of the Wizards. He is a member of SCBWI. Find him online at authorericprice.com.

Eric 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 a print book of UNVEILING THE WIZARDS' SHROUD, and an eBook of THE SQUIRE AND THE SLAVE MASTER. (Open Internationally: print book available only in the US and Canada, eBooks of both for international winners.)

You have until Tuesday, January 12 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on January 13.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I know some guys in a local St. Louis band called Earl. Back stage at one of their shows at the Pageant, they asked me to go out after the break and play bass, which I did.
2. I've met Rob Zombie. In a strange sort of creepy, quazi-ironic way, I met him on Easter Sunday.
3. I have a tendency to win front row seats to concerts. I've seen Billy Joel, Elton John, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers all from the front row.

So sleuths, which is the lie? How are you ringing in the new year? What are your goals for 2016? Do you like epic fantasy novels?

We all need encouragement, right? 

It's so easy to make mistakes. My hubby gave a talk about this recently, about how we can get so trapped in the quagmire of our past. If we don't make a concerted effort to forgive ourselves and move on, we will never reach our goals, never become better. We'll always be bogged down by the guilt we've strapped to our backs and unable to soar to our true potential. It's like the monkey trap. 

Image courtesy of The Business Muse

Yup, that one. ---->

We have to give ourselves permission to fail sometimes, even (for writers) to write crap. My favorite choir teacher always said if you were going to make a mistake, make a bold one.

So here's my challenge today: let go of something in your past--something you can't change that brings you bad memories or feelings. Forgive yourself. Move on. Free those wings to reach new heights!

In honor of that message, here's a song to help us remember.

Now that you're charged to conquer the world, who's ready to win a game and a book?

Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books. 

Last week, Nicole Zoltack shared with us her Superhero suspense, Black Hellebore, along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win an eBook!

Nicole's game:

1. Nicole hasn't gone horseback riding in over six years.

2. She hates talking on the phone and begs her hubby to make phone calls for her.

3. She's training for a marathon this fall.

And the lie is: 

#3. Nicole says she includes horseback riding in her bio because it's a promise to herself that she'll go back to it eventually. On the marathon thing, while she loves working out and exercising, she's not a runner. Growing up, running was the only thing that set off her exercise-induced asthma. (ME TOO, NICOLE.) She might train for a race someday, that's not in the cards right now.

Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Christine Rains!

Congrats, Christine!

Today I have the privilege of sharing a wonderful self-proclaimed procrastinator, Elizabeth Seckman. She's a romance author, and with one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen, she cracks me up. You HAVE to check out all her works...

Past Due: The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due. 


Healing Summer: Maybe it's love, not time, that heals all wounds.

Fate Intended is the third book in the Coulter Men Series. 

Trip is the last of the Coulter sons to find love. He’s a handsome man with all the skills a young spy needs to succeed. But when it comes to love, he misses the target. Jane is a sweet beauty who may or may not be wanted for murder. She’s hiding out as a cleaning lady when chance brings her and Trip together. It looks like a happily ever after is in the cross hairs until reality tries to destroy what fate has intended.

Pick up your copy HERE.

And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author: 

Elizabeth Seckman is a simple chick with a simple dream…to write stories people want to read.

After complaining loudly about me making her pick, she confessed her favorite cheese is mozarella because you can put anything with it. (The black dress of cheeses.)

Elizabeth gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win ALL THREE eBooks. Eek! THREE! Seriously, can we get a better Valentines gift in here? (I don't think so!) You have until Tuesday, February 11, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on February 12.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Elizabeth failed kindergarten and didn't know how to read until second grade.

2. She was named the Tyler County Fair Cow Queen.

3. She asked, or rather told her husband he was going to marry her. 

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Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest on Monday. Details HERE. Oh, and enter to win a free PHYSICAL copy of my book today on Goodreads (open to US, CA, GB, and AU) or here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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And lastly, I need to mention, my buddy Samantha has an AWESOME something going up today. You should check it out--just as soon as you've commented. =D
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Okay, what is the lie? Do you have any awesome books to read this Valentines Day? Are you struggling with letting go? Are you SO excited about my print book coming out? (*serious face* The answer is yes, by the way.) ;)