Do you find your taste in music changes with the seasons?
I listen to top forty hits all year round. But I focus on different sounds each season. It's always classical jazz in the winter. Spring brings a fresh batch of country my way. And fall leads me to my old favorites, like Van Morrison, Al Green, and Dave Matthews Band.
But summer? It has to be upbeat and fun. Right now I'm loving Black Eyed Peas and anything with a great dance beat.
What do you listen to in the summer? Do you tend to listen to the same music year round?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Do You Relax in the Summer?
I find summer relaxing. Everything feels more laid-back. We don't count the hours at the beach; we just let our grumbling stomachs lead us home. A night by the campfire, gazing at the stars seems the right thing to do, regardless of the hour.
I love to grab a glass of iced tea and head outside on Sundays after church. Sometimes I throw an old quilt on our backyard and leaf through magazines or cookbooks. Other times I might cut up a watermelon and herd the family to the pool. I'll read a book while the kids swim. Even a good old walk with my miniature dachshund, Sophie, relaxes me.
In essence, it doesn't take much for me to chill out in the middle months.
What about you? How do you unwind in the summer?
I love to grab a glass of iced tea and head outside on Sundays after church. Sometimes I throw an old quilt on our backyard and leaf through magazines or cookbooks. Other times I might cut up a watermelon and herd the family to the pool. I'll read a book while the kids swim. Even a good old walk with my miniature dachshund, Sophie, relaxes me.
In essence, it doesn't take much for me to chill out in the middle months.
What about you? How do you unwind in the summer?
Friday, June 11, 2010
One Goal Friday: June 11, 2010
Love these Fridays! I hope you all had a terrific week and were able to meet your goals.
Last week, my goal was to polish my synopsis and query. I worked on both, but neither is quite ready. I feel good that I made strides toward my goal.
Here are your goals:
Heather: 5k words and critique three chapters for c.p.
Terri: Finish critiquing one of c.p.'s books
Kelly: Fill out rough outline and make research list
Wendy: Redo the author pics (I'm sure they turned out wonderful!)
CJ: Make sure the Young One picks her college classes for the fall (the invites are incredible!)
Katie: Another 10K words
Jen: Lose another pound, finish the rough draft of article, and compliment 100 people
Jennifer S: Write that speech
Hannah: Finish essay on Feminist Criticism and write graduation speech (Congrats, Hannah!)
Georgiana: Start next project--woo-hoo!
Maria: Finish three devotions (and good luck with the crit. group!)
Diane: Treadmill time
Cindy: Finish critiquing one book for c.p.
Nancy: Get the house in order
Common H.M: Plant 8 petunias and get caught up on work :)
Quiet Spirit: Memorize script (sounds interesting)
Karen L: Walk several miles
Kara: Read craft books and write down all ideas to sift through for new WIP
Susan JR: Put the new knowledge in practice
I wish I could call each one of you and be like, "Did you make it? How's that writing/walking/orgainizing going?" I'm so glad you're willing to share your goals with me each week. Isn't it funny how similar we all are?
My new goal is to spend a few wonderful (and children-free) days with my darling husband! It's our anniversary on June 18, and I want him to know how much I love him. Sixteen years! Can you believe it? I was a child bride...okay, maybe not...have a fabulous weekend!
Please leave your goal in the comment section. Newcomers are welcome to participate, and don't worry if you can't stop by every Friday--my blog's goal isn't to add stress but to be a place of support.
I will not have access to the Internet until Monday, but please leave your goals. I can't wait to read how you did and what your plan for next week is!
Last week, my goal was to polish my synopsis and query. I worked on both, but neither is quite ready. I feel good that I made strides toward my goal.
Here are your goals:
Heather: 5k words and critique three chapters for c.p.
Terri: Finish critiquing one of c.p.'s books
Kelly: Fill out rough outline and make research list
Wendy: Redo the author pics (I'm sure they turned out wonderful!)
CJ: Make sure the Young One picks her college classes for the fall (the invites are incredible!)
Katie: Another 10K words
Jen: Lose another pound, finish the rough draft of article, and compliment 100 people
Jennifer S: Write that speech
Hannah: Finish essay on Feminist Criticism and write graduation speech (Congrats, Hannah!)
Georgiana: Start next project--woo-hoo!
Maria: Finish three devotions (and good luck with the crit. group!)
Diane: Treadmill time
Cindy: Finish critiquing one book for c.p.
Nancy: Get the house in order
Common H.M: Plant 8 petunias and get caught up on work :)
Quiet Spirit: Memorize script (sounds interesting)
Karen L: Walk several miles
Kara: Read craft books and write down all ideas to sift through for new WIP
Susan JR: Put the new knowledge in practice
I wish I could call each one of you and be like, "Did you make it? How's that writing/walking/orgainizing going?" I'm so glad you're willing to share your goals with me each week. Isn't it funny how similar we all are?
My new goal is to spend a few wonderful (and children-free) days with my darling husband! It's our anniversary on June 18, and I want him to know how much I love him. Sixteen years! Can you believe it? I was a child bride...okay, maybe not...have a fabulous weekend!
Please leave your goal in the comment section. Newcomers are welcome to participate, and don't worry if you can't stop by every Friday--my blog's goal isn't to add stress but to be a place of support.
I will not have access to the Internet until Monday, but please leave your goals. I can't wait to read how you did and what your plan for next week is!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Writing Schedule in the Summer
If you're like me, you're curious as to how writers do it all. They may have busy careers, small children at home, elderly parents to care for, or all of the above. Yet, they continue writing, and many keep churning out amazing books year after year. Their non-writing responsibilities haven't gone away. How do they do it?
Photo by willsisti
I don't know. I'm not big on comparing--it just makes me feel bad. I do know that we all have different personalities, different rhythms, different ways of approaching things. My way would not work for everyone but it works for me.
My children are old enough to make their own breakfast and entertain themselves for a few hours upon waking. I set my alarm, get up early, and write or revise until noon. The kids know I'm all theirs after lunch. I do not cheat them of this time, and they in turn, respect that I'm working in the morning. A few days a week, after dinner, I spend a few hours on social networking, blogging, and updating websites.
I always feel a push-pull between my writing and family responsibilities. It's hard to mix it up right each day. Some days, I'll feel I should have spent more time with my family. Others, I'll panic that I haven't checked blogs in forever. I'm making peace with it, because it's not something that's going to go away.
Ten years ago, I wrote up a personal mission statement for my life. I no longer have the copy, but I clearly remember my priorities. 1. God 2. Husband and children 3. Work/personal pursuits.
I don't believe I need to spend every hour of every day catering to my children to prove they are a priority in my life. However, I can easily let my personal mission of being published overtake every waking minute. So I set aside each afternoon in the summer to spend with my kids--no writing allowed. In a few short years, I won't have the opportunity to spend precious summer hours with them. They'll grow up. They won't live here forever.
Writing has been my career (although I'm not yet published) for almost three years. My writing goals are attainable but challenging, and I push myself hard to meet them, even during the summer. Discipline isn't always fun. It doesn't always feel good. But without it, my writing would sputter to a stand-still in the summer.
With any career commitment, we have to juggle responsibilities, and those tasks don't always fall into an easy nine-to-five schedule.
Does your writing schedule change in the summer? How do you feel about it?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Photo by willsisti
I don't know. I'm not big on comparing--it just makes me feel bad. I do know that we all have different personalities, different rhythms, different ways of approaching things. My way would not work for everyone but it works for me.
My children are old enough to make their own breakfast and entertain themselves for a few hours upon waking. I set my alarm, get up early, and write or revise until noon. The kids know I'm all theirs after lunch. I do not cheat them of this time, and they in turn, respect that I'm working in the morning. A few days a week, after dinner, I spend a few hours on social networking, blogging, and updating websites.
I always feel a push-pull between my writing and family responsibilities. It's hard to mix it up right each day. Some days, I'll feel I should have spent more time with my family. Others, I'll panic that I haven't checked blogs in forever. I'm making peace with it, because it's not something that's going to go away.
Ten years ago, I wrote up a personal mission statement for my life. I no longer have the copy, but I clearly remember my priorities. 1. God 2. Husband and children 3. Work/personal pursuits.
I don't believe I need to spend every hour of every day catering to my children to prove they are a priority in my life. However, I can easily let my personal mission of being published overtake every waking minute. So I set aside each afternoon in the summer to spend with my kids--no writing allowed. In a few short years, I won't have the opportunity to spend precious summer hours with them. They'll grow up. They won't live here forever.
Writing has been my career (although I'm not yet published) for almost three years. My writing goals are attainable but challenging, and I push myself hard to meet them, even during the summer. Discipline isn't always fun. It doesn't always feel good. But without it, my writing would sputter to a stand-still in the summer.
With any career commitment, we have to juggle responsibilities, and those tasks don't always fall into an easy nine-to-five schedule.
Does your writing schedule change in the summer? How do you feel about it?
Join me on Friday to set one goal!
Monday, June 7, 2010
My Summer Survival Plan
Summer vacation! Woo-hoo! My kids and I get to spend every waking minute together for three whole months. Sounds great, doesn't it? Actually, it is great! But... The long break quickly turns ugly if I slip into passive mode.
I have a plan. I came up with it about four years ago after a particularly annoying start to a much-anticipated summer break.
Here is my personal, proven plan for a successful summer vacay.
The first two weeks: TIRE THEM OUT.
Let them sleep in. Then get them out of the house! We take a lot of mini-trips the first days of summer vacation. It's difficult for my kids to adjust from a jam-packed schedule to a non-existent one. (Difficult translates into they get bored and pick at each other.) So we'll spend a day at the zoo and another at the art museum. We'll ride bikes, visit the library, lounge at the pool and swim at the beach. We'll break out the markers and drawing pads. In essence, we will not stay home much.
The middle weeks of summer: LAZY MORNINGS; ACTIVE AFTERNOONS
Their bodies have adjusted to the slower pace. They actually want to stay home more. Activities long forgotten are unearthed from the basement and enjoyed. We still take day trips, though not as often. Every afternoon we get active. We may take a long walk, ride our bikes through a metropark, swim, make sandcastles at the beach, play catch, or garden, but we will be outside and moving our bodies.
There are so many things to do in our area. The county fair is a highlight--hello, junk food!--as is spending a few hours ambling about in downtown Ann Arbor. I'll drag the kids to a few historical sights, which they'll complain about but secretly love, and I'll probably buy them an ice cream cone on the way home. Hey, I never claimed to be Super Mom!
The final two weeks of summer: BACK ON TRACK
Bedtimes slowly get pushed back to normal. We try to cram in our favorite activities--especially the zoo and swimming. Excitement over new school clothes, supplies, and seeing good friends permeates the air. I wish I could say I relish these final weeks, but I usually am more than ready for school to open. Again, never claimed to be Super Mom!
If you have children at home, how do you handle summer? Business as usual, or do you adjust to your kids' temperaments?
Join me on Wednesday for a peek at my summer writing schedule.
I have a plan. I came up with it about four years ago after a particularly annoying start to a much-anticipated summer break.
Here is my personal, proven plan for a successful summer vacay.
The first two weeks: TIRE THEM OUT.
Let them sleep in. Then get them out of the house! We take a lot of mini-trips the first days of summer vacation. It's difficult for my kids to adjust from a jam-packed schedule to a non-existent one. (Difficult translates into they get bored and pick at each other.) So we'll spend a day at the zoo and another at the art museum. We'll ride bikes, visit the library, lounge at the pool and swim at the beach. We'll break out the markers and drawing pads. In essence, we will not stay home much.
The middle weeks of summer: LAZY MORNINGS; ACTIVE AFTERNOONS
Their bodies have adjusted to the slower pace. They actually want to stay home more. Activities long forgotten are unearthed from the basement and enjoyed. We still take day trips, though not as often. Every afternoon we get active. We may take a long walk, ride our bikes through a metropark, swim, make sandcastles at the beach, play catch, or garden, but we will be outside and moving our bodies.
There are so many things to do in our area. The county fair is a highlight--hello, junk food!--as is spending a few hours ambling about in downtown Ann Arbor. I'll drag the kids to a few historical sights, which they'll complain about but secretly love, and I'll probably buy them an ice cream cone on the way home. Hey, I never claimed to be Super Mom!
The final two weeks of summer: BACK ON TRACK
Bedtimes slowly get pushed back to normal. We try to cram in our favorite activities--especially the zoo and swimming. Excitement over new school clothes, supplies, and seeing good friends permeates the air. I wish I could say I relish these final weeks, but I usually am more than ready for school to open. Again, never claimed to be Super Mom!
If you have children at home, how do you handle summer? Business as usual, or do you adjust to your kids' temperaments?
Join me on Wednesday for a peek at my summer writing schedule.
Friday, June 4, 2010
One Goal Friday: June 4, 2010
Today is the last day of school, which means my kids will whip their backpacks onto our living room floor before whooping around the house like rabid wild dogs. I will yell at them to put the backpacks and everything in them away, because if I don't, the scuffed up packs will sit like excess furniture until July.
Do you know what no school means? It means drinking coffee on our porch--in my pajamas. It means a few quiet hours each morning for me to write as my kids snooze. It means a general relaxation blankets our normally busy household. At least until mid-August. At that point, I yearn for full days to write in peace, for the freedom to meet my writer friends for coffee, for separation of my dear children. But for now, I'll enjoy.
It's Friday! Time to set one goal for the upcoming week. It can be related to work, fun, family--anything--just as long as it enhances your life.
Last week, my goal was to be grateful for what I have each day. I had no problem with that goal. All I have to do is look around me and see my terrific husband, my sweet kids, my supportive extended family, and all of the material blessings showered on me. I am grateful, extremely so.
Here are your goals.
Katie: Finish outlining to be ready to write by Friday
Diane: Get on that treadmill
Wendy: Nail the ending
Jessica: Go running twice and figure out how to lengthen category novel to single title
CJ: Settle on date for party and design the inside of invitation
Kelly: Write a detailed outline
Jody: Finish up the substantive edits
Lynn: Complete chapter one of The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron and write about it.
Regina: Finish the website in progress and finish small writing project
Keli: Another 5K words
Jennifer S: Do some research and write a speech for church talk
Cindy: Enjoy the weekend (Happy Birthday!!) and aim for 16K words
Julie: 3 hours of editing
Karen L: Spend more time in the Word
Hannah: Get graduation announcements in the mail
Erica: Enjoy family and company who are visiting
T.Anne: Complete edits and move on
Jen: Lose 1 pound, continue working on index, and start reading No Greater Love by Kathi Macias
Susan JR: Study deep POV, setting, and motivation before making changes
Maria Sondule: Have a good first day of work (Congrats on the new job!)
Tyrean: Start a 365 Days of Blessings at blog, aimed to keep gratitude in the atitude (Great idea!)
As always, these goals amaze me. I hope you all were able to make progress!
My new goal. Hmm... Polish my query and synopsis so I can start querying my latest book, For Barter or for Worse. Yeah, I gagged a little at the thought. But, it has to be done. :)
What one goal will you set this week?
Please leave your goal in the comment section. Newcomers are welcome to participate, and don't worry if you can't stop by every Friday--my blog's goal isn't to add stress but to be a place of support.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Do you know what no school means? It means drinking coffee on our porch--in my pajamas. It means a few quiet hours each morning for me to write as my kids snooze. It means a general relaxation blankets our normally busy household. At least until mid-August. At that point, I yearn for full days to write in peace, for the freedom to meet my writer friends for coffee, for separation of my dear children. But for now, I'll enjoy.
It's Friday! Time to set one goal for the upcoming week. It can be related to work, fun, family--anything--just as long as it enhances your life.
Last week, my goal was to be grateful for what I have each day. I had no problem with that goal. All I have to do is look around me and see my terrific husband, my sweet kids, my supportive extended family, and all of the material blessings showered on me. I am grateful, extremely so.
Here are your goals.
Katie: Finish outlining to be ready to write by Friday
Diane: Get on that treadmill
Wendy: Nail the ending
Jessica: Go running twice and figure out how to lengthen category novel to single title
CJ: Settle on date for party and design the inside of invitation
Kelly: Write a detailed outline
Jody: Finish up the substantive edits
Lynn: Complete chapter one of The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron and write about it.
Regina: Finish the website in progress and finish small writing project
Keli: Another 5K words
Jennifer S: Do some research and write a speech for church talk
Cindy: Enjoy the weekend (Happy Birthday!!) and aim for 16K words
Julie: 3 hours of editing
Karen L: Spend more time in the Word
Hannah: Get graduation announcements in the mail
Erica: Enjoy family and company who are visiting
T.Anne: Complete edits and move on
Jen: Lose 1 pound, continue working on index, and start reading No Greater Love by Kathi Macias
Susan JR: Study deep POV, setting, and motivation before making changes
Maria Sondule: Have a good first day of work (Congrats on the new job!)
Tyrean: Start a 365 Days of Blessings at blog, aimed to keep gratitude in the atitude (Great idea!)
As always, these goals amaze me. I hope you all were able to make progress!
My new goal. Hmm... Polish my query and synopsis so I can start querying my latest book, For Barter or for Worse. Yeah, I gagged a little at the thought. But, it has to be done. :)
What one goal will you set this week?
Please leave your goal in the comment section. Newcomers are welcome to participate, and don't worry if you can't stop by every Friday--my blog's goal isn't to add stress but to be a place of support.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Filthy Fingernails
This June we're talking about the bliss of summer. Now, I know some of you do not enjoy summer. Maybe you live in an area where the middle months are brutal? Well, here in the midwest, summers rock!
I live in an area with four distinct seasons. Winters bluster cold and snowy. Spring is a toss-up--either non-existent or cool and rainy. Fall makes my heart skip a beat. Michigan displays the most gorgeous harvest colors. But summer...
Summer can hardly be described. Three short months of warmth, swimming, campfires, bike rides, and gardening. The temperatures can get high and the humidity soars, but most days can happily be spent outdoors.
We planted our garden this weekend. After a few hours of shopping for plants, fertilizer, and what-not, we turned the dirt over and colonized (interesting word, eh?) everything. Do I love the shoulder straining work of shoveling? Not really, but I love tip-toeing out mid-July for a basket of cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini. My filthy fingernails are worth it.
My current manuscript is almost ripe. It's getting a few final rays of water and sunshine from my critique partners, and then it will be plucked and shopped to editors and agents. My shoulders ached as I honed the plot and weeded the repetitive words, and my fingernails got dirty during the process.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're a writer, do you find the hard work of writing and revising your pages worthwhile? Is it worth getting your fingernails dirty?
I will be in and out all week. Although I won't be able to respond to each comment, I look forward to reading them all!
I live in an area with four distinct seasons. Winters bluster cold and snowy. Spring is a toss-up--either non-existent or cool and rainy. Fall makes my heart skip a beat. Michigan displays the most gorgeous harvest colors. But summer...
Summer can hardly be described. Three short months of warmth, swimming, campfires, bike rides, and gardening. The temperatures can get high and the humidity soars, but most days can happily be spent outdoors.
We planted our garden this weekend. After a few hours of shopping for plants, fertilizer, and what-not, we turned the dirt over and colonized (interesting word, eh?) everything. Do I love the shoulder straining work of shoveling? Not really, but I love tip-toeing out mid-July for a basket of cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini. My filthy fingernails are worth it.
My current manuscript is almost ripe. It's getting a few final rays of water and sunshine from my critique partners, and then it will be plucked and shopped to editors and agents. My shoulders ached as I honed the plot and weeded the repetitive words, and my fingernails got dirty during the process.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're a writer, do you find the hard work of writing and revising your pages worthwhile? Is it worth getting your fingernails dirty?
I will be in and out all week. Although I won't be able to respond to each comment, I look forward to reading them all!
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