Writerly Musings
Friday, April 18, 2008
Do You Love to Read?I ask this because I became a writer out of my love of reading. Reading has been a passion for me for quite some time. My problem is that I spend to much time reading for work that I make little time to read for enjoyment these days. Bear with me, I'm coming to a point here.
My other problem is the expanding hips that are resulting from time in front of the keyboard. I am considering joining an audiobook club of some sort and purchasing an MP3 Player that will be compatible. I really think that renting audiobooks I want to read and listening to them as I work out (even if it's just walking the local walkway) will net big results in my motivation to work, my overall health, and a renewal of interest in my work.
I just get the occasional blah's I guess where I really don't want to sit down and work or I just want to get lost in a really good book. I believe that if I were able to kill two birds with one stone I would be more productive and feel a little less controlled by the demands of work and family. It's all about that "mommy" time I guess. I just seem to have so little of it lately and I think this will give me a great chance to do that. Maybe I can listen to the latest Evanovich novel while letting my dog walk me (she has a lot more motivation and pulling power than I could ever muster).
My question is, what do you suggest as a great way to unwind? Do you know of any great audiobook rental programs? Enquiring minds are listening.
Labels: Evanovich, motivation, productivity, reading, unwinding, writing
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Writing Under the WeatherI'm not sure what has managed to take hold of my family this past week but we've all been sick, ill (tempered that is), or a combination of the two. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most pleasant person to be around when I'm not feeling well. You know the old saying "If mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Well, there haven't been many happy people in my house since about last Wednesday.
I think this is perhaps the one thing I truly miss about working outside the home...the idea of dropping the kids off at daycare and calling in sick to work tomorrow. Unfortunately, I have deadlines, no daycare, and it really wouldn't matter if I called in sick or not because I'm the boss and there is no one to 'cover my shift'. So I ramble on writing sentences and paragraphs all the while hoping that the words I write make more sense to those on the reading end than they are making to me as I write them.
I'm planning for tomorrow to be a better day. It's the beginning of a new week and I'm determined (perhaps it's the cough syrup working) that positive thinking will do the trick. At any rate, I'm ever so curious as to what tips and tricks other writes use when facing the dilemma of 'fuzzy head and swimming words syndrome?' Do you press on in hopes that your martyrdom will earn you a nice pair of fuzzy slippers in heaven or do you give in to your deeper urges and load up on the Nyquil and hide beneath the covers hoping the world won't realize you're gone?
Labels: calling in sick, cough syrup, deadlines, ill, positive thinking daycare, sick, tempered, under the weather, writing
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Procrastination Thy Name is AndreaYup. You guessed it. I'm procrastinating. It's sad really that it takes an act of outright procrastination to get me to make a blog post like any other good writer does on a regular basis. What is such a horrible task that it drives me to bouts of mindless procrastination? It's a really good, excellent paying job on a topic that I'm interested in and have experience writing about.
Crazy right?
Honestly though, if procrastination was an Olympic sport I'd have a wall full of gold medals (perhaps an entire room) but these great gigs really take the cake. It's not like there is anything wrong with the job. It's a dream job that I worked really hard to get and yet I find myself frozen and unable to continue when staring at the blank document on my screen. It's worse than any deer caught between piercing headlight beams.
So, rather than staring at a blinking cursor and allowing the blank page to taunt me (as it should) I have washed dishes, cleaned off my desk, dusted the living room, made a grocery list for the week (yes my husband is loving this round of procrastination but it is most decidedly unproductive when it comes to my bank account). As if that isn't enough, now I'm here posting a blog entry heralding my procrastinating ways.
As a matter of curiosity, I'm wondering if you other writers out there have issues with procrastination and what it is you do to shake yourself out of it. I wish I could say that I'm going to get to work now but I'm almost sure that the bathroom needs a top to bottom scrubbing and maybe the sheets need to be washed--the kids always need to be washed, and maybe the dog needs a bath and a good brushing out. Really, HELP before said husband decides that this type of procrastinating behavior needs to become part of my Sunday routine. Suggestions? Anyone?
Labels: procrastinating, procrastination
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Setting Goals, Making Plans, and Writing for my LifeI've been trying to gradually move into Internet Marketing through some personal projects. It seems though, that every time I make the slightest bit of headway something comes up that requires immediate money and the scramble for paying clients rather than building up my own business.
The bottom line has become that I am slowly but surely taking steps to spread my wings and branch out into new markets. What I want to do is make the money I've been enabling others to make all along.
In order to do that I've decided to devote at least one hour each day to studying ways to make money on my own and one hour each day in an effort to put what I've learned into action. This means fewer clients and less money initially. I am counting on a better payoff promise in the long run though. Eventually I would love to be in business for myself alone but I have a feeling that this goal is a long way off.
In the coming days I also intend to write out my goals and a blueprint for achieving those goals. I may share them here or I may keep them to myself. One thing I am certain about is that I can't keep doing what I'm doing and expect big changes to occur. I have to make a plan and put that plan into action. So here's me putting my mouth where the money is. Perhaps by putting my intentions in writing I will be galvanized to really follow through on them and share my progress.
I hope others may be encouraged to do the same. We may be competitors as freelance writers but there is a certain amount of kinship in this line of work that shouldn't be overlooked. I hope to see everyone succeed because every time I hear a great success story I am encouraged.
Labels: action, competition, freelance writers, goals, marketing, planning, setting goals, writers, writing
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Name::Andrea
From::American Midwest, United States
I am a work at home mom who is passionate about my family and helping others achieve the same freedom and success I have been so blessed to find in my business. Let me show you how you can be an affiliate marketing mommy too and never need to make the painful choice between work and family again.
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About Me
Name::Andrea
From::American Midwest, United States
I am a work at home mom who is passionate about my family and helping others achieve the same freedom and success I have been so blessed to find in my business. Let me show you how you can be an affiliate marketing mommy too and never need to make the painful choice between work and family again.
View my complete profile
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