Time to Get Organized

Every January first I make a New Year's Resolution. This time I'm just trying to concentrate on getting organized. One way I've learned that is a good approach is to make a list of everything that needs to be done that week. Then break this list down in what needs to be done each day.
So for today, I have accomplished about 3/4 of my list. I'm still having trouble working in my daily BIC (butt in chair) activity and have to recognize it as procrastination.
Why am I procrastinating? Because I don't like to redo things. I want to do it once and be done with it. silly I know. When I think about it I wash clothes everyday. Sweep, mop and dust, too. So why can't I just forgive myself and write the worst 1st draft I can. at least that part won't have to be redone.

Any suggestions on how you overcome this or other tips you would like to share?

Schmooze Round Up

We had a good number in attendance Saturday for the January Schmooze held at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. I would like to thank Heather Montgomery for presenting: Your Path to Publication" If you missed it you can view her power point presentation for one week at her website: heatherLmontgomery.com

I would also like to thank Pat Weaver for providing the delicious homemade chicken salad.

Freebies were available that included the benefits of belong to SCBWI and pamphlets to sign up. Magazine were also available for market research that we are always encouraged to do.
Door prizes were given.

Heather described the different markets that were out there and how to create a package to send to an editor or publisher and also discussed other jobs that could come them.


Upcoming Events:
Schmooze In Huntsville
January 29, 2011 1-3pm
Speaker: Hester Bass
topic: Perfecting your Pitch
for more information contact Melanie Smith at Tigerlily208@yahoo.com


Picture Book Intensive: The Art Behind the Words a Day devoted to the Serious Writer
Friday, October 14,2011 This will be held in conjunction with WIK-Writing and Illustrating for Kids Fall ?Conference held in Hoover, Al at Spain Park School. For more information: http://www.southern-breeze.org/

January Event-Schmooze in Florence

January is the month for new beginnings. One of my goals for this year is to get something published.
I hear non-fiction is a great way to break into print. If you are interested in this as well, please join me when Heather Montgomery comes to speak to us at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, Jan 8th from 12 noon to 3pm.
She will tell us how to research and target the nonfiction market.

To learn more about Heather visit her websites: www.heatherLmontgomery.com and www.dragonflyeeprograms.com.

Snow Came and Went-What a Christmas

Couldn't wait to capture our first White Christmas. It was beautiful and reminded me of Christmases past where my sisters and I would don our heavy winter coats and boots and go outside to show off our Christmas loot.
We didn't have flashbulbs so we would have to go outside for the picture to take.
Now how crazy is that?

Exploring the Backyard

I love to explore and when I find a gem in my own backyard I get ecstatic.
This is Sweetwater Mansion. built in 1828 by 1812 war hero. You can visit the sites blog spot to learn more about this amazing place at: http://sweetwatermansion.blogspot.com/
Notice the water fountain and pond. It was said to represent a drop of blood symbolizing royal blood, but when the Civil War broke out it took on the meaning of a teardrop. The fountain cascades into the a pool in the the shape of a tear drop.

While there don't forget to visit the cemetery. It has some very unusual headstones.

Nonfiction blast!

Just got back from the Southern Breeze Conference and was a little nervous because they had so many good workshops to choose from-Thank you Lisa Stauffer. I was afraid I would miss something good and I probably did, but my good friends, Pat, Jana, Mary Ann and Irene promised to share (and they did).

Friday I chose to do Darcy Pattison workshop on voice and boy did I get my money's worth! Ever wonder how to make an old grouchy woman sound? Or make two boys the same age have a different voice. Or how about a dragon? This workshop taught us how to think consciously to make our characters have the voice we wanted them to have.

I did not get to attend her other workshops on Saturday because I wanted to concentrate on writing for magazines and nonfiction, but as a bonus, all attendees got a CD with her workshops on them. thank you Darcy!

Robyn Hood Black and Sharon Mitchell gave the class some good insights on writing for magazines and some Do's and Don't that you can check out on Robyn's website.
Sharon took us through how to write something you don't know, but may interest you and do the research. Great stuff!

Then I took Brad Strickland's History, Mystery and Research. He gave us a copy of his power point and if you weren't able to make the class he had extras on the freebie table. He also has a new book out: The Secret of the Sealed Room-A mystery of Young Benjamin Franklin- can't wait to read it (already have my signed copy).
Everyone knows how to write a mystery right? You start with the ending and work backwards. Duh! No wonder I was having such a hard time. I knew the ending of my story but I was trying to write towards the ending instead of backward. I'm going to give this a try. If any of you have tried it let me know how it works for you.

Heather Montgomery did an excellent job with : Real World: Work for Hire/Pay your Bills. We've all heard to study the markets, and I thought I was. Wrong! You have one week to check out Heather's power point on her website www.heatherlmontgomery.com.
Scroll down to "What's New" and find her SCBWI topic.

I now have a better understanding of how to slant my article towards a particular publication and can't wait to try it out.


Spring Mingle is right around the corner so get to writing and polishing.

Freebies at local libraries

Just got back from the Midsouth SCBWI conference and am jazzed.

I didn't get my first page read, :( but it was such a good exercise. I feel not only did I get a really good first page but a whole first chapter. Later that week the Florence-Lauderdale library had a free class on the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). I thought I would learn about how to get books from other libraries ( I did) but it was so much more! For those that are writing non-fiction it is like paradise. All these research bases available to you not only from home, but if you are traveling you can still access the information (FREE!) In this economy when it is costly to travel it's good to know you can do a lot of the research without ever having to crank your vehicle.
Our library also has classes on digital photography,Microsoft power point, genealogy online, excel spreadsheet. The list goes on and on. Have you checked out your local library? What are some of the free things offered you have found useful?