We have a new puppy and her name is Bailey. We got her in a weak moment (mostly my husband Rick’s weak moment because he’s held a strong position to never get a dog even though Lexa and I have bugged him about it for years.) when Lexa’s second guinea pig died unexpectedly, breaking her little heart. I must have been out of my mind thinking that this would be a good thing. Turns out that Lexa isn’t so excited about doing all the puppy work and just wanted a playmate. I just didn’t realize that it would be THIS much work, and that I’d be responsible for her. Like I said, I must have been out of my mind not to have known this. Sometimes we can get caught up in the emotion of what we think our children need–Lexa is an only child, OF COURSE I thought she needed a puppy.
Well, Bailey is absolutely loving and adorable. Who knew that I needed a pet?
I have been a member of Gather.com for a few years and belong to several reading and writing groups (there are groups to join wherever your interests lie). Right now my focus is on promoting my book, Peripheral View (peripheralviewnovel.com), so I spend more time reading the blurbs and e-mails from writers, from whom I have gathered (no pun intended) a wealth of marketing tips. I am amazed at the generous spirit and the open willingness to share information. From helpful websites (some created by Gather members) to where the best place is to buy bookmarks or other promotional items, you can find it on Gather. Sharing experiences is what Gather is all about, and I appreciate everyone who has shared their knowledge, offered compassion, and provided support to people, like me, who are engaged in/struggling with the writing/publishing/promoting business.
If you are looking for a great book to read, are a writer looking for inspiration, or just love to read about the lives of authors, check out this great website. Cherie Burbach of workingwritersandbloggers.com interviews authors, and her questions get responses on everything from book research to writing rituals.
I’m honored to be in the company of the many renowned authors that Cherie has interviewed. She recently interviewed me about my novel Peripheral View and invited me to write a guest blog. I wrote a piece on Developing Your Lead Character, and you may request a free copy of my Character Development Worksheet at the blog site.
Cherie is an author as well. Her new dating book, Internet Dating is Not Like Ordering a Pizza is available now. Her book, Father’s Eyes, has received the 2008 Editor’s Choice Award by Allbooks Review.
I just finished reading her interview with Jeane Westin, author of The Virgin’s Daughters–a historical novel about Elizabeth I–and found it to be a motivating start to my writing day. There’s also a book giveaway for The Virgin’s Daughters, if you comment by October 12. That’s Monday. So if you are looking for good books or need a healthy dose of inspiration visit the website soon. workingwritersandbloggers.com
I don’t think of myself as someone who procrastinates. So I ask you, why, when I went to write my blog today, I accidentally and way too automatically, clicked on Spider Solitaire? The cursor seemed to go there by itself, but I have to confess to clicking on the spider icon myself.
The game window opened. Any non-procrastinator would think, “Oops, wrong application,” then immediately close it down and continue to the blog. But the cursor did not automatically go to the little X box that closes the page. It went to File, Open New Game. Once again, I did the clicking. I played two games.
The only credit I will give myself for this blatant act of procrastinating (which, ahem, I don’t do) is that it inspired me with a blog topic. The whole time I played Spider Solitaire, I was wondering where my time-management ethics went astray. In my past life, I was a great project manager. I knew how to get things done on time. So was this deterioration (for I think of this procrastination as a true deterioration of my core values—that can-do kind of girl that I am) a slow process that crept up on me—something I acquired after I’d quit working in business for someone else? After all, there they paid me for doing things on time. Or is it a case of, “What may be done at any time will be done at no time,” (Thomas Fuller quote)?
I don’t like either of those scenarios. They just don’t fit with the image I have of myself. And just to prove that it is not yet time to re-evaluate that image, I closed down the game.
Feeling so much better about myself, I began to write this blog. Now I’ve convinced myself that today’s procrastination was only a temporary thing. Surely, I should just give myself a break. It is Monday. The puppy is sleeping. I haven’t had a moment to myself in days. Spider Solitaire is relaxing. Well it is supposed to be . . . but I had work to do. Okay, but now I’m done blogging . . . oh . . . don’t touch that spider . . . I’ve a novel to write.
Sometimes we get in our own way. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”. When it comes to believing in ourselves, for many of us, it takes a lot of self-talk just to get out brains around a positive attitude. In fact, negative, doubting thoughts might come more naturally to some of us! But if we start out with the perspective that “we can’t do it” or “it can’t be done”, well, take it from Henry Ford, we’ll be right.
Often our confidence breaks down because a task seems too big, and we become mentally exhausted at the thought of taking on a challenge. Because of this, we may never begin. But don’t overwhelm yourself with the big picture. I have to remind myself of this every time I start a new novel. In fact, this might be a pep talk just for me. Without it, I wouldn’t even begin chapter 1.
Instead of trying to suck the whole story in at once, choking over the many details to define and organize, I write down the biggest aspects of the story (not caring at all about the details). I then break those elements down. I may break the next level down, again, and again, until I get to a step that I can manage. Taking it step-by-step, with each task completed I feel a sense of accomplishment. It boosts my confidence to continue on to the next step. Maybe it’s not an organized next step, but I don’t worry about it. I slice off a piece of the challenge that I feel I can do, and I get it done. Accomplishments, satisfaction, confidence—you’ll blossom like an English garden.
Whether it’s cleaning the kitchen, prioritizing your day or taking back your life, what is it that you want to accomplish? Write down some positive steps that will take you where you want to go. Pick one you can handle and complete it. See how good it feels.
Is there a dream you’ve had for years and never acted on? Is there a project you’ve never started? Is there a resume’ you need to complete? Or are you simply trying to get more organized? Break it down, do it, and then let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear your comments.
PS You can do it—just get out of the way!
And if Henry Ford hasn’t inspired you, take it from God: “For I have not given you the spirit of fear (intimidation), but of power and of love and of a strong mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
This is the coolest coincidence…yesterday, I contacted my hometown newspaper, The Star News, in Medford, WI, to ask if they would like to print a blurb about my book signing this Saturday at Cover to Cover Books and Gifts in Tomahawk, WI–a nearby town–for my novel PERIPHERAL VIEW. I knew it would be very short notice for the paper, but I thought it would be fun to see if any old friends recognized me (although my name has changed a couple of time since I graduated from high school so many years ago), and if they’d come to my book event, so I gave it a shot.
Kindly enough, the editor asked me for a press release, and said that he would get something in the paper this week. Okay, so I suppose you are wondering what the coincidence is. Well, my brother, Roger Engel, is a singer with a couple of CDs out. He has a gig at a restaurant (Camp 28 Bunkhouse and Saloon in Rib Lake, WI), also near my home town, on Saturday night. I sent him the press release, sort of as an afterthought. Roger emailed me back to tell me that he was running an ad in the Star News this week to announce the gig! I had no idea.
Now, you might not think this is too exciting of a coincidence at first blush. Maybe not even at second blush. But do you want to know who does think this is exciting? OUR PARENTS!
Yes, to our 80-year-old-parents, this is great stuff. They’ve lived in Medford for years, and it will be the top of the talk for them for a few weeks. Actually, with two of their children (no matter how old they are) show up in the local paper in the same week, this will be worth conversing about for quite a while.
Medford is a small town, but I’m looking forward to seeing friends and family this weekend. Old friends, if you have ever wondered what I’ve been up to, please swing by Cover to Cover Books–and then check out Roger’s act at Camp 28 Bunkhouse and Saloon in Rib Lake on Saturday night. And if you happen to see the Star News blurbs, comment here and let me know how it looks–I don’t get the paper here! (However, I have a feeling that my parents will have a copy of it, don’t you?)
He who loses wealth loses much;
he who loses a friend loses more;
but he that loses his courage loses all.
~Miguel de Cervantes
It is sometimes so very difficult to be courageous, especially when you are going it alone. Writing is like that, book marketing is like that. Looking for employment is like that. There are a multitude of circumstances in every walk of life like that.
I often have to ignore the tingles in my stomach (or my head) and go forth with or without them every time I contact a book store on behalf of my book Peripheral View (treating it as a product with value, ignoring the piece of my heart and soul that went into writing it). If I don’t ignore the 1000 little tingles and voices that say it’s not good enough and recall all the positive reviews and feedback, I’d probably crawl into a hole and not come back out!
I have a publicist, a quite wonderful woman, but there are still many things I must do on my own. Opening doors is a laborous, sometimes lonely task, but we must be brave enough to do it anyway. And don’t just knock–place your foot firmly on the threshold and leave it there. You have every right to be there, as much right as anybody else. Don’t feel inferior, because you are not; don’t let those tingles steal your stride.
Author Beth Solheim has created a wonderful new blog that highlights adult and children’s books written by Minnesota authors: readingminnesota.blogspot.com. Beth is the author of the Sadie Witt Mystery series, and the next book, Witt’s End, is soon to be released by Echelon Press. I can’t wait to read it! Please check out this great website and support your Minnesota writers.
I was overjoyed to see my name listed in “Book Events” in the Star Tribune in last Sunday’s paper for this Saturday’s (the 15th) book signing at the HarMar Barnes and Noble. Never mind that they got the title of my book wrong! I’ll still cut the piece out of the paper and save it for my scrapbook! I also understand that there are posters up at the store announcing my book event. So very cool!
