Registration Deadline for Muse Online Writers Conference

The deadline to register for the 2008 Muse Online Writers Conference is September 1st. Now in its third year, the Muse Online Writers Conference offers writers the opportunity to hone their craft and learn about everything from book proposals to book promotion and beyond.

Don't miss this opportunity to attend a totally online and free* writers conference. Register now at http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/.


* Our conference is FREE but ask if you can donate to help support this site and our cause (to continue offering you FREE workshops each year). Your generosity is appreciated.

Practicing What I Preach

I specialize in time management and organizational tips for writers. I've always been good at both, so it was a no brainer for me to start writing articles about these topics. Overcommitment is my issue. My schedule is packed to the max, where I only get about four hours of sleep a night, and yet, I am still committing to help out with any church or school event that comes up.

Well, my time at the Muse Online Writers Conference helped with that. I want my writing time back. I don't want my two partial manuscripts to languish away for years on the corner of my filing cabinet, serving as a coaster. I don't want all the ideas flowing through my mind to never be written.

So, I am practicing what I preach to everyone. An important aspect of time management is assessing your daily routines and finding areas where time is wasted. While I don't consider volunteering a waste of time, it does interfere with my writing, and therefore, I must cut back on it. I've also begun making other changes in my schedule to steal back some of my lost writing time.

With a firm commitment to my career and lots of support from you, I know I'll succeed.

Register for the 2008 Muse Online Writers Conference

Registrations are now open for the 2008 Muse Online Writers Conference. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/2008MuseConference to sign up for what will prove to be another amazing and informative week of honing your writing craft.

Next year's conference will take place from October 13 - 19, 2008, so mark your calendars and be ready to take your writing to the next level.

I will be a presenting a workshop for the first time at the 2008 Muse Online Writers Conference. This workshop will show writers how time management and organization can increase productivity. I'll release more details when they become available.

Don't miss this free*, totally online writers conference! Register now!


* Donations are accepted and appreciated.

Time to unwind

I think I have finally unwound from all the excitement of participating in the Muse Online Writers Conference. This was my second year, and because last year I felt I should have taken more workshops, this year I took 34 of them, plus 3 live chats. I missed 2 of the chats because of the kids--my youngest fractured her arm falling backwards out of a swing. But such is the life of a working mom. You make plans and sometimes they change quickly. The whole week was a blur of writing exercises, discussions on different aspects of the craft of writing, volunteering at church, and trying to find time to make real food for the family to eat so that I didn't feel guilty over my excessive amount of computer time.

I won't bore you with the details of all the great stuff I learned, but I am more committed than ever to my writing career. I've been making some changes in my life to carve out a bit more writing time. While I enjoy interviewing authors and writing book reviews, I will scale back a bit on this next year so that I can concentrate on my two works in progress and the edits to the manuscript I finished last August with my sister. My articles for Writer2Writer will continue on a monthly basis, and I aim to find more markets willing to accept my articles.

In the last quarter of this year, I want to put into practice the ideas and work ethics that will carry me into a productive 2008. I know if I keep all the information I learned at the Muse Online Writers Conference close by my side, I will meet my goals.

The Muse Online Writers Conference Begins

Pardon me while I rub the sleep out of my eyes. It's 2a.m. and the girls will probably be up around 6. What fun! But I needed to read all my handouts and get my questions ready for the Muse Online Writers Conference that starts tomorrow. It is a free, totally online writers conference put together by two amazing ladies--Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

I participated last year and spent a lot of the time kicking myself for not signing up for more workshops. Well, not this year. I signed up for almost everything that interested me. I feel like I am back in high school--reading, exercises, writing assignments. What's next, gym? LOL! I love it, I really do.

Don't be surprised if I proceed to fall off the face of the planet this week. All my energies are focused on getting the most out of this conference.

Busy, busy, busy

My, oh, my I am one busy girl lately. I finally got around to updating my website and if you click on the title of this blog entry you will be directed to my site to see all that I am up to. And if you click on the Upcoming Events page you'll find a list of scheduled author interviews at my other blog, The Book Connection.

So, what is going on in my world? I recently took on the role of Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion. I am helping Dorothy Thompson set up virtual book tours for Pump Up's clients. It is a great gig and I am meeting so many talented and wonderful people. I have hosted many of Pump Up's clients for months, but now I get a chance to actually help these authors increase their online presence on a much larger scale.

I think I have bitten off every one of my fingernails preparing for my upcoming eradio interview with Janet Elaine Smith and Marketing for Fun & Profit, which will air Monday, October 15th from 8-8:30p.m. on Passionate Internet Radio - http://www.internetvoicesradio.com/home.htm. And I'm a gearing up for another great writers conference when I particpate in the Muse Online Writers Conference next week. Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson have done a bang up job putting it all together. I really don't know how they do it and still have time to write.

Musing Our Children's Reading and Writing Appreciation Week is taking place from October 15th - 19th. I have some visits in the works at our local schools. For more information you can check out the Musing Our Children website at http://musingourchildren.tripod.com/ .

On the home front, life is busy too. Our son moved out in May and I'm still trying to adjust to him being gone. Our oldest daughter entered First Grade this year and the baby started her first year of preschool. Okay, I guess she's not really a baby anymore, but I have to hold onto that image or admit I'm getting older. No sports this term, but both girls are dancing their hearts out. And with volunteering at church and on local town committees, it seems like we're never home. We are, but it sure seems like we're gone more than here.

So, that's my update. Sorry it was so long in coming. Enjoy fall if it ever gets here. Tomorrow's temperature is supposed to be in the high 80's. Not very October-like around New England. I'm waiting for the real autumn weather to come so I can make cinnamon applesauce--just like Mom showed me.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

I'm exhausted. I could easily crawl into bed and sleep for at least four more hours.

But, I can't. Both my daughters are in school today and that means getting my rear end in gear so that I can accomplish as much from my to-do list as possible.

October and November are going to be big months around here. I have a radio interview to prepare for, workshops and chats I am participating in for the Muse Online Writers Conference, two Virtual Book Tours to coordinate, and my school visits during Musing Our Children's Reading and Writing Appreciation Week to prepare for and attend. This doesn't take into account my other writing related projects or all my volunteer work with church and my daughters' schools.

Is it any wonder that I stay up until 1am most nights?

Getting only four to five hours of sleep a night for over 3 months is beginning to take its toll. I am ill-tempered and have a short fuse. I procrastinate more often. Today, I awoke to a scratchy throat and sniffling nose.

So, have I really done me or my writing career any good? No!

I often remind people to take care of themselves. Today's society seems to be made up of a bunch of busy people moving in ten different directions all at once. Why is it I don't take the advice I dish out? Do I think somehow I am immune to getting run down? Will life suddenly fall into place only because I am depriving myself of much needed rest?

Today, I am determined to start taking my own advice. Whether that means cutting back on Internet surfing time or the one hour of television I allow myself each day, I am going to make a point to be in bed by 11PM most nights of the week. I owe it to myself and to my writing career to be the best I can be. I can't do that if I am stuck in bed nursing some virus that I got because I wasn't smart enough to get the rest I need.

Burning the candle at both ends doesn't work--never has and never will. If you want to make the most out of your writing time, make sure you do it with a clear, well-rested head.

Registrations now open

This year I attended the Muse Online Writers Conference. It was a huge success with over 1000 presenters and attendees taking part in this innovative way to network with people across the industry.

Registrations are now open for the Muse Online Writers Conference 2007, which will take place from October 8 through October 14. If you are serious about your writing career, don't let this opportunity pass you by. Click on the link and register today.

http://museonlineconference.tripod.com/