What I'm doing now....

In case you're wondering.

The end of the school year kept me pretty busy up till last week. Then I decided that I love those kiddos, but not so much during the last week of school. So I've been home writing this week. Safe in my home.

What are you writing, then, Jacks? ...you might ask. Or not, but I'm going to tell you anyway, because I'm kind of excited on the direction I'm about to take.

Story Is King
I enjoy writing articles, but I want to move into storytelling, not journalism. So I've been focusing on my Mid-grade fantasy book and the picture book stories which I can turn into submissions to children's magazines.

I'm still participating in the 12x12in12 children's picture book challenge. I ended up with a rough draft for last month, but haven't had time to refine it. This month I've got nothing. I have my idea, but nothing is coming. Like how to write out that idea in the most fabulous way. Maybe the story isn't ready yet, I don't know.

Then the other day, another idea hit me and I think... perhaps I'll chase that story idea and see where it takes me. I can work on the scheduled idea at a later time. When it's ready.

Writer's need to be flexible. And have that net ready to catch those story ideas when they flutter by.
Not that I think you should abandon the in-progress stories for the new ones. But catch them and make a few notes so they don't escape and find another head to hop into.

It's possible.


Still working on being disciplined
Will I ever get it though?? Well, today started with good intentions, but four hours since I got out of bed, I've managed to spend most of it exploring the pros and cons between the kindle and nook, caught up on about 20 emails and of course scanned the past 24 hours of facebook (along with chatting with my bff.)

So, needless to say, I'm still working on it.

However, I have at least set my priorities on what I will work on each day. First my blog, which I would really like to get ahead on, but hey, this is Jackie we are talking about. eeish.

Then edits to my novel for at least two hours. I need to set an amount of time to spend on it, not a time to work on it. Epic failure waiting to happen when I say I'll work on something at a specific time. Jacks don't schedule. Not anymore. It's a waste of a good planner and I could buy myself a weeks worth of ice cream cones for the price of that unused planner.

It's all about priorities, anyway.

Which I'm determined to get all this mid-grade fantasy done by the end of this year. I had intended to make it a trilogy, but not sure if that's going to work. My characters aren't cooperating. We are in heavy negotiations about this. They completely outnumber me. I'll keep you posted.

However, I do intend to have three books in my Watchers books done by the end of this year. Not completed, but at least in first draft form. Book one must be done along with book two second draft before September. The children's writer's group I attend plans to have agent and editors visiting that month or the next and I plan to have finished work to pitch.


Master Plan to get things done:
Don't laugh, I do have a plan.

This week, that plan is to spend my mornings writing on the novels and my afternoons working on picture books and other things.

Wish me luck, k?

Now if life would just leave me be. And if I'd finally decide between the nook or kindle... well then...

Happy Writing,
J.

Something Learned- The (NOT) Easy Way

Is it me? Or has anyone else had this experience? 

Just when you've set your mind on doing something, another option, (brighter, bigger, generally waving those dollar signs) presents itself. And like the picture below, you're standing before two possibilities not sure which way to go?

 One thing I've learned in my life is that not every opportunity that comes your way needs to be taken. Especially when your gut is telling you that you need to be doing something else. 

Here's an example, in case you're scratching your head at me right now.

Today, I felt like I needed to go to a particular place and do some work. Usually I work from home, but enjoy getting out now and then to a book store or coffee shop. This thought had been nagging me for the past week. I needed to go to this place. Today came, and I was determined I was going to go. 

Then, came the call for a half-day job. Yes, the money. I needed it. This past two weeks has been slow in work because of state testing. I work as a substitute to support my writing. 

I haven't worked all week. But I also really felt a tug in my spirit to do this other thing. 

Humm... follow the money. Or follow my spirit? 

My common sense said that there was no reason I needed to go to this place. Not today. I could go later. Yet my heart kept pounding out.... today, today, today.

What if another job didn't come up this week? I'd be sorry when payday came. Real sorry.

My finger was poised over the keypad on my phone. Should I press #2 to accept the job, or #9 to let it go?

How many times are we faced with such decisions? How many times do we pray and ask for guidance in our lives, weigh the pros and cons of a possible decision, only to finally make that decision and then have that proverbial carrot dangled in front of us the moment we do. 

That: Easy Way Carrot. That Show Me The Quick Money Carrot. That Instant Gratification Carrot.

You know what I'm talking about?

And how many times has that quick, sure way been grabbed? Which leads me to wonder, how many times have I missed the Possibility of that unknown?

In case you're wondering. I closed my eyes, hoped for the best and hit the #9.

And the best happened. I no more than set my phone down, before it began ringing with someone requesting me for another job for the following day. Yes! Much better that just a half day.

Following my spirit. I went to the place I felt tugging at me. There was no holy choir music when I entered the building. No confetti falling from the ceiling amongst loud cheering because I'd won something. Matter of fact, nothing happened at all. 

Except for that lesson learned: Obedience pays off. Letting go of the small seeds really does open the possibility of a great harvest. 

You see, when I logged back on to check for jobs, I had 8 more jobs that were request for me to work over the next month. Abundance and then some. 

I suppose I still could have taken that quick job. There's a good chance I still might have been requested for the other jobs. But I wouldn't have been able to write this. Or the other things I'm planning to work on while I'm at this quiet place. And who knows what else is yet to happen because I came? The day isn't over yet!

And I don't know. The Bible tells us that unless we are willing to let go, we will never have more. You know, unless a man is willing to lose his life, he will never gain it. Unless a kernel fall to the ground and dies, there will be no harvest. . . . there's more.

I believe that. Live life with your hands open. 

That's what I've learned recently. 

Happy Writing,

J.

I read the other day that the moment a person decides they are going to be a writer, that is when they need to start marketing themselves. There are blogs and websites and social networks out the wazoo, and a myriad of other means to get your name out in the public spotlight.

But then, a person can spend hours on facebook, twitter, linked-in, blogging (should you go with blogger or worpress or something else???). Then what happens to accomplishing actual writing?

If your attempts to market yourself eat up the majority of your writing time, its time to think of another plan.

I finally established some boundaries. And these boundaries came out of the fact that I was using my social networking as a means of getting out of doing the hard stuff. Like writing, editing, research. If I’m networking then I’m still doing something important, right?

Uh, no.

Learning to balance and focus is one very important step in being a writer. 

There's no boss breathing down your neck. Well, unless you are under deadline. And if you are far enough along to be under deadlines, you may not need what I have to say here. Lol.

I get distracted easily by anything… well, just about anything.

What I’ve learned to do is to schedule my time, assign projects and focus on… one… thing… at… a … time.

When I get up in the morning, and am drinking that first cup of coffee after turning on my computer, I’ve determined to use this wake up time for browsing blogs, facebook and other places I’m involved in.

My blogs for the week are generally taken care of one day a week where I write and post all I’ll need for the week ahead. I love how you can schedule blogs to publish themselves at a certain time and date.

I’ve also learned that I have to be firm about when it’s time to stop and get to work.

Most important, I have learned it takes time to train myself to be disciplined. It doesn’t come naturally and it takes time and the right mind set to get it done. Don’t give up. And don’t be afraid to use your timer.

 Happy Writing,
J
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National Poetry Month

So, this is National Poetry Month, and it's right on time.

What is this all about, you might ask? Or not. I don't know.

If you are wondering, this is what I found at Poets.org:

National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern. We hope to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself in the many places where it is practiced and appreciated.

I'm not a poet. I'm not very good at writing it, so I don't. And I seldom read it. (Makes me jealous of those who can.)

But, here's something I've found while writing children's picture books. They are a form of poetry.

I know writers are told to write what they know, but I think that's bull. 

Writers should always be learning new things. Expanding their knowledge base. If you don't know it, learn about it. 

So, I'm on a quest to learn more about poetry and hopefully gain an appreciation for it. 

Here's some sites I've come across that I'm going to share with you. I haven't completely checked them all out, but I'll work on them throughout the month. I really believe if I can learn more about poetry, it will enhance my writing. I do. 

First stop is Poets.org where I think you will find just about everything about poetry. There's poetry that teachers can use, poetry aimed at teens, general poetry and even poetry basics. That's where I'll start. 

Read, Write, Think has information about National Poetry Month, including activities and websites that lead to more information about poetry. Read, Write, Think is just a great all around site literary lessons. 

Scholastic also has a page dedicated to poetry, including free video workshops from today's leading poets. 

Finally, Katie Davis posted 5 tips on writing poetry by Jane Yolen. 

This is a start, anyway, for anyone interested in learning more about poetry. Like me. 

Happy Writing,

J.

Weekend Gratitude Journal - April 7, 2012

Sometimes it's the big things I write in my gratitude journal.

Like how 13 tornadoes touched down in my area this past week, and all of them missed me. I'm even more grateful to hear they missed my friends as well. And mostly, that there were no deaths because of these horrific storms.

Sometimes the small.

Like how my husband just received an award for 5 years of service at his job. How blessed he is to have work he enjoys, a great company to work for, and to still feel secure in his job.

Plus they gave him a nice raise.

 And I have jobs that I love too.

It's not all about the good things, though. Finding gratitude, even if my house had been smashed, is the real key. And it's hard to make yourself look on the positive when your world is collapsing around you.

But showing thankfulness, even in the daily messes, reminds yourself that life will somehow have a way of working out. That you are not without hope. That you've not given up the fight to keep trying for the better.

I know a lot of people lost their homes. I'm praying that everything they lost will be restored and then some. In the meantime, I'm in wonder at the fact that the storms hit when nobody was home. And those that were home had enough warning to find safety. Nobody died. And even now, the communities around these disaster areas are gathering together to clean up, restore, help where help is needed.

Wow. Disaster just seems to bring out the best in people, if you ask me.

And that's a lot to be grateful for.

On another note, tomorrow is Easter. The day represents new beginnings. Life. Ultimate love. Hope.

If you're not counting your blessings, what better time to start than on the day that offers so much for us to be thankful for?

God Bless,
J.