Back to Writing Event at StoryCrafters!

Starting Wednesday the 17th StoryCrafters will be holding a "Back to Writing" challenge.

Prizes will be awarded for total word count from the 17th until Oct. 31st along with several "challenge" days that will be announced as we go along.

So sign up at the StoryCrafters forum and read the details in our Announcements section.

If you need some motivation, you can check out my article at the StoryCrafters blog to help you get back into your writing schedule.

StoryCrafters...weaving imaginations.

And we're back!

Sorry for the extended hiatus. The Outer Banks were lovely, as always. The weather warm and sunny; the beach clean and cool; the time with family, priceless.

Reality hit as soon as I returned. While away I read three books and had reviews to write. I have 5 virtual book tours to plan for August--which are coming along nicely. Plans for Vacation Bible School continue to come together and we're back into our schedule of Sylvan 4 days a week for our oldest daughter.

Make sure you check out The Book Connection for reviews, author interviews, and guest posts from some of today's most talented authors. Speaking of books and authors, I reviewed a wonderful resource that should be on every aspiring author's bookshelf.

The Dog Walked Down the Street: An Outspoken Guide for Writers Who Want to Publish by Sal Glynn is small on size and big on advice for the aspiring author. You can read my review here.

Look for more resources and tips to help you work toward publication coming soon from The Aspiring Author.

So, how am I doing?

At the begining of January, I set some goals as part of the Achieve Your Dreams Virtual Book Tour. Since I'll be away at the end of June, I figured I would do my quarterly round up early. Besides, it will give me a chance to share some good news.

Goal #1: I will make more time for my own writing.

Believe it or not, I am starting to make progress. I've missed writing and I am slowly plugging away at a few children's stories while waiting for vacation so that I can concentrate on some other things.

Goal #2: I will post at this blog more often.

I've done better since the last time I posted, but I still have big plans for this blog that I haven't been able to implement yet. Stay tuned!

Goal #3: I will appreciate my family more.

My family suffered a lot these past couple of months as I suddenly became overcomitted and couldn't find my way out of it. Now that school is almost over for the girls, things should lighten up...at least we hope so.

Goal #4: I will not over commit.

NOT! I'm still working on learning to say, "no", but it will come. I'm not volunteering for every project at the girls' schools, which helps, but I really want to find myself using that magic word to make more time for my writing and my family.


I continue to stay focused on my goals and know I can be successful. These little round ups help me to stay on track.

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.