Pen to Publish is moving

After much thought and dread of trying out something new, I've finally moved my blog to Wordpress. I hope that you will follow me to my new blog home:

http://nataliecmarkey.wordpress.com/

Please be patient and do not be quick to judge its appearance. This is a work in progress....BUT it will still bring you great posts that you have grown to enjoy here. During the transition I will be posting posts to both sites but only for 2 weeks or so.

Thank you for your support and patience.

How “The Hunger Games” should motivate the writer you

Today “The Hunger Games” hits theaters. Heck, many of us saw it last night at midnight and won’t be reading this blog post until much later after they wake up! I’m being a good wife and waiting to see it tonight with my husband so this post is spoiler free.

I love seeing book to film adoptions because I leave the theater feeling so energized. Yes, I like the “Twilight” movies, I love “Harry Potter” and I’m really looking forward to seeing “The Hunger Games” but my excitement isn’t because of the movies it’s because those movies, those books once were only a thought. They all started off with their authors sitting in front a blank computer screen.

Every story comes from a simple thought no matter how complex the plot and sub plots turn out to be. As I write, it’s the endless possibilities that excite me and keep me pushing through the hard times. Yesterday my daughter woke up on the wrong side of the crib. It rained all day so Oscar (the dog) was naturally upset and even Diamond and Jedi (the bunnies) were restless and just plain annoying. It was a very bad writing day. After everyone went to sleep I stayed up and worked. I revised this blog post, revised another chapter in my YA and wrote my goal of 2,000 words in my middle grade project. Yes, I was up pretty late but it’s the possibility that someday readers may be waiting to read my work that keeps me going.

Most authors don’t get movie deals. I’m not setting my goals to be unrealistic (I still can dream though) but someday I hope to have readers just as excited about my characters as I am. I want to share the worlds I have created with the world and because of such a possibility and goal I keep writing.

“The Hunger Games” began with a blank page. It once was an idea in Suzanne Collins’ head. It wasn’t always a polished manuscript or New York Bestseller. Anyone’s work can get there. The possibilities are endless, exciting and motivating.

How do you keep your dreams and possibilities in sight when you have a bad day?

If you love to follow popular young adult movie coverage Examiner.com has some great columns for you.

The Mortal Instruments Examiner: Where I cover all things related to Cassandra Clare’s series’ The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and The Dark Artifices

You can also follow:

The Hunger Games Examiner

The Twilight Examiner

Divergent Examiner

Vampire Diaries Examiner

All of these columns are perfect for up to date and accurate coverage on the popular young adult series that you love.

Novel Novice is another great site that covers all things young adult with an educational spin to it.

Is clutter the cause for your writing frustration?

Welcome spring! After a relatively boring winter it’s so nice to finally say hello to spring. Where as winter makes me think of holidays, cozy blankets and working with hot chocolate on my coaster—spring makes me think of color, cleaning and productivity.

For most writers the holidays get in the way and clutter builds up throughout winter as we fight to catch up to our once productive routines. This is especially true for writing moms because we have even more to manage. But is the clutter in and around your life disrupting your writing?

Everyone knows the age-old phrase of “spring cleaning” and if you are like me you HATE IT! I hate cleaning, doing laundry, and many other household tasks. Honestly, I’m about as domesticated as a wild mountain lion. The ideal day for me would be sitting on my back patio writing to the sounds of wildlife and enjoying the fresh air and thinking about the fresh dinner I would enjoy making that evening. But the truth is that sometimes it takes a little hard work to give our productivity a boost.

Just try it out. No matter what deadline you are on, take a half an hour (if you need that) and clean up your desk, office, etc. No you do not have to “spring clean” the entire house. You can be like me and do that in pieces but do clean your workspace.

You can make this enjoyable. I put on some music. You can opt for an audiobook or catch up with someone on the phone. Do what you can to make this time not painful but do your “spring clean.”

Once you are finished sit back. I had a glass of wine and observed the work. Take a few deep breaths and doesn’t everything seem manageable now? Of course it does, you can see the color of your desk! Now neatly organize what piles you have on your desk and get back to work.

You will quickly see how simply cleaning up can improve your writing and productivity. Now you can take that feeling of accomplishment and apply it to other rooms in your house. Clearing the clutter from your life will make you feel better and help you in all aspects of your life.

Have you done your spring cleaning yet? Share your spring cleaning stories and tips in a comment below.

Saving yourself time one bunny or (INSERT HOBBY HERE) at a time

Earlier this week I shared with you all my adventures in being a bunny momma. Since then my bunnies have gone to the vet and have received a clean bill of health. They are out of the “danger zone” and continue to thrive. Needless to say I’m excited and this is being a great learning process.

Having a pet, any pet, takes time and dedication. Does that sound familiar? Being a writer also takes time and dedication. This is hard work and not for the faint of heart. Taking on a hobby that you love can make you a stronger and happier writer. But you can also incorporate your hobby into your branding and writing. Write what you know and save yourself some time.

Most people who read my blog know that I love animals. I’m published in non-fiction writing about dogs. I’m working on a second dog book and I’m now raising bunnies as mentioned in my previous post. So it should come of no surprise to you that I include animals in most of my fiction writing.

As writers we are jacks-of-all-trades. We get to research time periods, clothing, and many gadgets. One thing we can capitalize on is including what we know and love.

It saves time.

Writing is hard enough. Do what you can to make it easy on you. What have you incorporated into your writing that you know about? How have you saved yourself the research?

Announcements:

My book “Caring for Your Special Needs Dog” is available and gives a portion to Texas A&M Veterinarian School for research. It’s easy and rewarding to care for a special needs dog. Read how today for only $2.99.

Finding a helpful distraction- one bunny at a time

Being a writer is hard. There is so much more than just writing. You are your own boss. You are your own business. And then add the other things in your life like caring for a toddler. Everyone is busy. Everyone has their thing holding them back. I’ve always heard people talking about taking up a hobby to relax and unwind. I secretly laughed at this because come on, when would I have time to do anything! I barely have time for church and that is very sad!

But things have a way of working out for the best. I now believe that it is vital to find something completely unrelated to writing and family needs to do. My “thing” found me. My dog found a nest of baby bunnies in our yard. I left them alone knowing that they were better off with their mom. However, over the days we started to notice the bunnies getting sickly. I laid out some food for the mother and the next morning it was untouched. Their nest was also untouched from the previous days. We began to suspect that they were abandoned and seeing the construction and burning that had picked up in our neighborhood it was believable. I called the zoo, the game commissioner and humane societies. I didn’t know what to do with baby bunnies but I didn’t want them to die either. I kept getting the same answer, “this is natures way of population control.” I actually had someone tell me to go dump them and end their suffering. I was appalled.

I was still on the fence about what to do when our first spring storm hit. It was bad and since our yard is on an incline there was a small stream that formed in our yard that mixed with mud creating a yucky natural paste. I thought I could go cover the bunnies with a bowl or something to shelter them. When I went outside in the storm to check on them I found that their nest was flooding. They were screaming. One was stuck in the sticky mud and was stretching to lift it’s head above water. It was horrible. I knew then that it was up to me to do something. Without their mother’s milk they may still die but I was not letting them die a horrible death in my yard.

I rushed to save them. They didn’t fight me. Instead they rushed to me when I started offering them aid. I had to dig the bunny out of the mud that was stuck and it wasn’t moving it’s back legs. I rushed the three of them inside and called the vet for instructions.

For the last week I’ve been bottle-feeding them every 3 hours. They are all thriving even the one who couldn’t move its legs. The vet determined that it was in hypothermic shock when I rescued it. Thanks to the use of some warm blankets and my messaging its legs it made it.

I’m on a strict deadline and just signed another contract. I’m also working hard on my fiction work all while continuing my freelance contracts. I take care of my 19-month-old daughter and teach workshops on how to be a writing mom and time management for the busy writer. I really don’t have time to be a bunny momma. However, these little bunnies have helped me in so many ways.

Despite the hard work to take care of them I’m seeing that they actually help my writing. I’m horrible at never turning my mind off but when I’m bottle-feeding the bunnies I have to focus completely on them. They can’t be fooled and do best with a calm environment. I turn on classical music for them and rock them to calm them until they will eat. It is soothing for both them and me. This new project of caring for them puts everything in perspective. So I’ve gotten a few rejections. That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I love what I’m doing. Just the simple act of calming down the bunnies calms me down and makes me a better writer.

Now I’m not suggesting that everyone goes out and saves the nearest orphaned animal. I am suggesting that you think about a non-work related hobby, Tackle a new project where you can completely separate your mind from writing. Take a break and fill fulfilled in another way.

I’m loving my little bunnies and the quiet time that we have together. This helps my writing and stress level in so many ways. What hobby have you taken on that has helped your writing and life?

The Airplane Theory to being a great writer

How many of you actually listen to what the flight attendants say before take off? Or are you busy rummaging around in your purse and carryon looking for that gum your just purchased?

I used to hate to fly but throughout my professional career as I’ve had to do it more often by myself, I’ve grown to love it. It gives me time to myself when I can catch up with a good book or get ahead on a deadline or daily word count. I also am guilty to say that I really never listened to those safety instructions until I was by myself. You may recall when they talk about the oxygen masks and how they will fall from the ceiling if the cabin pressure drops that you are instructed that if traveling with a child, secure your mask before assisting the child.

Hopefully none of us ever have to experience such a scenario, but there is a lot that we can learn from these important instructions that so many ignore. It’s easy, especially as a parent to want to put others first. We want to take care of our baby. It’s our nature. However, if you aren’t taking care of you, what kind of care are you giving your baby? What kind of quality of work are you putting into that article or manuscript? Did you actually put laundry detergent in the dishwasher?

You get the idea. In order to create/maintain a productive writing career as a writing mom, you need to put yourself first. This includes fitness and mental health. Through routine exercise you will see that not only does it help you feel good but it also will improve the kind of mother you are and the kind of writing you are.

Most of the time, writing moms are trying to think about both aspects of their lives as separate pieces to their lives. You don’t have to. You can have it all but don’t forget to look out for you! And this method isn’t just for writing moms but all busy writers. Do you have a day job? Care for a parent? Juggling multiple contracts? Whatever your situation may be, take a lesson from The Airplane Theory.

Blog shout outs:

T.E.A.M. – Everyone Achieves More by author Kristen Lamb

You Can Have it All, but Can You Do it All? By author Jen Talty

Embrace Your Flaws by author Kate Wood

Critiquing your manuscript the toddler way

One of the first phrases my daughter picked up was “bye bye” right along with “uh oh.” Both of these common toddler phrases can be applied to your manuscript. As I say often, it is amazing what you can learn from your toddler.

Sometimes it’s easy to get attached. I love all my fictional characters so much it is hard to know when to cut. They are my fictional children! But some simple and basic toddler sayings can hold great meaning for your manuscript.

You must know when you’ve made an “uh oh” and must say “bye bye” to a scene or a character. Don’t worry you can save it for yourself. My prologue has taken on many versions all of which I love for different reasons. They may not have worked for the story but they can live in my personal collection.

Think basic and simple. It is so easy to over think things. I know because I do it all the time!

Another thing I do is read my work to my toddler. I know she doesn’t fully comprehend the non-fictions I write, articles or my fiction work but reading outloud is a great way to critique your own work. And though my daughter doesn’t care or understand it, I do pay attention to how she reacts to the flow of my sentences. Understanding the tone and flow of your sentences may help a troublesome scene that was missing its correct tone. Reading to a child can help with that.

Has your child helped you with your manuscript?

Announcements:

I had some great opportunities to guest blog for some great author’s and friends last month.

The ever-changing writing process at author Colin Falconer’s blog

Finding Inspiration from Unlikely Sources at author Kristen Lamb’s blog

Being a flexibly, trained writer at author Rachel Harris’ blog

Woof Wednesday: Doggy assistant, excuse or both? At author Amy Shojai’s blog.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

Do you know the write you?

And yes I misused "write" on purpose to get my message across. This past month I've been talking about dog training on my Special Needs Dog Care Examiner column as a part of National Dog Training month. And now today I've been prepping my lesson plans for my upcoming Writing Moms Workshop and it occurred to me that writing, dogs and parenting has one major thing in common- do you know yourself?

This is an area that every professional no matter what you do can grow in. I'm currently rereading "Emotional Intelligence" while reading "The Brain and Emotional Intelligence: New Insights" both by author Daniel Goleman. i normally wait to talk about books, if I'm going to, after reading them but both of these books really take the concept of knowing yourself to a common sense level. I really believe in understanding your emotions, environment and desires and incorporating all of them into discovering the best routine for you.

Such understanding can be applied to all area of your life. Yes, even dog training because if you don't know yourself how can you control a dog?

For writers though, knowing yourself can really help you develop a pattern of when to do various tasks. For example, I know that I write better in the morning so that is when I work on my WIP's. The rest of my day is divided among various tasks along with chasing my very active toddler. I use the evening hours to work of revisions, social media and prep for the next day.

What have you done or read lately that has helped you better know yourself? How did you apply this to make you a better writer, parent, or person?

Announcements:

My Writing Moms Workshop starts this Monday, March 5. Registration is still open.

I had some great opportunities to guest blog for some great author’s and friends last month.

The ever-changing writing process at author Colin Falconer’s blog

Finding Inspiration from Unlikely Sources at author Kristen Lamb’s blog

Being a flexibly, trained writer at author Rachel Harris’ blog

Woof Wednesday: Doggy assistant, excuse or both? At author Amy Shojai’s blog.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

Writer Training: Setting the right pattern

The end of this week I will start teaching my second workshop of Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind with Write It Forward Workshops. It's true that there are many different time management techniques for busy writing moms but in truth it comes down to one thing, training.

One of many many hats that I wear is my non-fiction dog writer. This month I've been thinking a lot about training since it is National Dog Training Month (and here I insert my shameless promotion for my Special Needs Dog Care column.) Really training goes hand and hand with structure and time management. Are you setting the correct pattern?

The first step is to get your butt into the chair, on the couch, in bed--wherever you chose to write. Are you doing that? After I had my daughter, it was difficult to get back into the routine but you will see that if you JUST DO IT the words will start to flow and then you will find that rythym again.

It is difficult to find motivation sometimes as a writer, especially if you are a writing mom. Everyone has something better or else that they would rather be doing than writing words that may never see the light of day. Push through those insecurities and keep at it! Keeping to the pattern, finding your pattern is what leads to greatness.

So, how are you setting and finding the right pattern for you? I'm giving away a spot this week to my March workshop of Writing Moms. Just comment on my blog for a chance to enter. To sign-up for the workshop and for more information click here.

Announcements:

I had some great opportunities to guest blog for some great author’s and friends this month.

The ever-changing writing process at author Colin Falconer’s blog

Finding Inspiration from Unlikely Sources at author Kristen Lamb’s blog

Being a flexibly, trained writer at author Rachel Harris’ blog

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

Making the most of your writing space

Earlier this week I wrote about locations and how they can impact your writing (or work.) They can help you stay focused, organized, inspired or create chaos and career destruction. But you can prevent such catastrophe by knowing what works best for you and making it work. The same thing can be applied to what goes around your workspace.

I write from home while caring for my toddler and dog. As her nap times become shorter I must get creative with my office space. I’ve created an office/playroom environment that even accommodates Oscar, my dog’s needs.

In this picture you can see the corner of my desk with toys across from it. Sometimes the books on the lower shelf of my bookcase become great toys too. And yes, that is a ball pool. My house is like a slice of Chuck E. Cheese fun! And then you may be able to see a piece of Oscar’s velvet, memory foam stuffed bed under my desk. It is good to be a baby in our house (and yes I’m calling my dog a baby too!)

But you don’t need to have children or demanding pets to custom your workspace to your needs. What helps you focus? What makes you happy when you are stressed? What distracts you? These are just some questions to get you started in creating a productive work environment. In addition to my playground of toys I have white erase boards and story boards up on walls. I have inspirational quotes and pictures that make me happy.

It’s your work zone and you can create it to make it perfect for you. How have you made your work space a better working environment for you?

I’m giving away a free “seat” to my upcoming Writing Moms Workshop. Leave a comment and you will be entered in a drawing to win!

Announcements:

I had the great opportunity of guest blogging on author Colin Falconer’s blog. Learn about the ever-changing writing process.

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

Location, location, location

When I write I like to find my “groove.” That zen that helps my prose flow neatly from my mind to my laptop. Right…..if only it were that easy! But location can play a major role in maximizing the most of your writing time and maximizing my time is something I’ve come become an expert in since the birth of my daughter.

The first step to getting your location “write” for you is to know yourself. A fantastic, free and fast way to do this is to take Brigg Myers test. This is a popular test that can help you identify if you are an introvert or extrovert among other personality types. Here is a great online version of this test that offers immediate results (without spam!)

I always thought that I was an extrovert because I am outgoing. Growing up I danced, participated in drama and debates. But now I know that I’m actually an introvert. I get my energy by being alone. I love being with people to but I find it draining. I write best and “hear” my characters best when I’m alone. How you harness your energy is a crucial part to finding the best writing location for you.

Sometimes our writing location is chosen for us. It works out well in my case since I enjoy writing from home but even if this wasn’t the idea space for me, I wouldn’t have too much of a choice. I doubt many coffee shops would take kindly to my toddler running around while I cranked out my daily word count.

If you feel stuck in your writing location and know or discover that it isn’t the best for you, then adapt. If I was an extrovert and would write better in a public place there would be things I could do to change my at home location.

Write by a T.V. or radio. Something that can provide conversation. Find writing buddies online that you can communicate with through social media outlets. You may not be physically interacting with people while you write but you can get creative to make the situation most advantageous for you.

As I said, knowing you can make all the difference in maximizing your time and location. I love music. I can’t write without it and even categorize songs for various types of scenes. I know this works for me and I make the most of it.

How do you maximize the most of your writing location?

I’m giving away a free “seat” to my upcoming Writing Moms Workshop. Leave a comment and you will be entered in a drawing to win!

Announcements:

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

If it ain't working, fix it!

We all know the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well the same is true for the opposite. If what you are doing is not helping you meet your goals, then change it! I realize that this is easier said than done.

We all work hard but are you really maximizing your efforts to your full potential? I encourage you to stop all the mutli-tasking that you are doing right now. OK, I’m sure your skimming this while scrolling through Twitter or cleaning your desk. Ask youself this question, “What is your greatest weakness?”

Do you know what it is? Now brainstorm and strategize a way to fix it. Obviously there is something that you are doing that is holding you back. I’ve heard a quote before and I’m not sure who said it but it goes, “Only you stand in your way of success.” Of course there are many factors that weigh into success. For writers we must finish a book, make sure it is a great book, get an agent/publisher, market, etc. And then we can always do everything better than we did. Still though, the one major factor we can control is ourself.

This also ties into the great need for writers and all professionals to have flexibility in their work structure. For example, when my father became ill last month it resulted in a change in my daily work routine. As I temporarily moved to where he was to help my family I had to prioritize my goals. Social media is important but had I strived to maintain my social media and Examiner column schedule then my greater goal with my writing would have suffered.

In the end, I still was not as productive as I usual but writing out of town, without my office for over a month will do that. We’re human. Things come up. Especially writing moms. Being a proud mother of a very active toddler has taught me that you never know what the next moment may bring. My daughter could be fine one moment and running fever the next. The same thing goes for mornings. Most of us never really know what we are waking too. You may wake up with a migraine. Lord knows I have. Just last week I went to greet my daughter when she woke up and found her diaper thrown out of her crib and a mess that needed cleaning.

Something that every writer should do is work ahead on ALL blog posts or any typical social media posts. I always work two weeks out. Then all I have to do is review and edit a post the night before it runs. This way if I do get behind, I’m not really “behind.” Of course new topics come up and you can always fit a timely article in amongst planned articles.

My point is that we can make to do lists (or as I call them, goal lists) or we can accept the fact to be somewhat flexible to the needs of our careers and lives. I put my family and being a mother first. By doing this I have accepted the fact that I will do my best writing at odd hours. By accepting this and making it happen, I am getting closer to reaching my long-term goals.

Announcements:

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

Are writers like dogs?

Yes, I’m going there. I’m comparing writers, including myself, to dogs. But in my household you are LUCKY to be compared to our dog Oscar. He has a tough life of lounging on our Tempurpedic bed, taking up over half the couch to watch television and following our daughter around picking up her dropped gold fish snacks. It is good to be Oscar. And if I had a dime for every kiss he got on his head top, then I’d never have to stress about my college loans again!

Oscar is a spoiled and loved dog but he is also a well-trained dog that thrives on routine. February is National Dog Training Month and if you break it down, writers can learn so much from well-trained dogs.

1. Discipline- All good dogs understand discipline just all writers understand what they must do to reach their goals.

2. Purpose- Your dog has a purpose. It may vary for some. Oscar is a Mommy’s boy. If I move to another room, he will follow.

Writers should know their purpose and mission as to why they write. I write because I love it. Even when it’s not relaxing, just the idea that the world I’m building or the information I’m assembling will give someone joy someday is enough to make me happy.

3. Consequences- A well-trained dog understands consequences. If Oscar chews on one of my daughter’s toys, then he knows that he will get kenneled for his behavior. If I don’t reach my daily goal then I know that I will get locked up in a dungeon—Just kidding! But if I don’t meet my writing goals then I know that I’m holding myself back from my bigger goals and own potential.

4. But the main thing, Routine- Dog’s all driven by routine. On my Special Needs Dog Care Examiner column as well as my book, “Caring for Your Special Needs Dogs” I spoke about the importance of maintaining your dog’s routine especially during a major change. By doing so you can ease some of their stress and even help prevent an increase of symptoms if they are a special needs dog. I’m a HUGE believer in routine.

Now, I can only control routine to certain degree since I do care for my toddler and every writer is different. We all have our “something” that makes writing a challenge. But because of this I get up every morning at 4:30am. I start my day with a thirty-minute yoga session and then write until I need to shower just before she wakes up. Having this set time helps me feel accomplished no matter what craziness my day brings. I also end my day by reading what I wrote that day before going to sleep. Again, another routine that I can control.

Writing doesn’t have to be rocket science. It is simple and the more consistent we make things for ourselves (like the consistency of your dog’s commands) the more routine our words and inspirations will become.

I feel the need to dedicate this post to my Oscar who always is by my side while I write. He does serve as a helpful companion whenever I hit a wall on a scene.

How importance is routine in your writing routine?

Some blog love to:

Writing lessons from The Hunger Games: Stakes and Characterization by Adventures in YA and Children’s Publishing

Roses are Red by Author Colin Falconer

Bracing for impact- The future of big publishing in the new paradigm by Author Kristen Lamb

Announcements:

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

http://www.whodareswinspublishing.com/

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

There's an app for that!

I'm writing this blog post on my iPad on the road. Thanks to technology, it is easier now then ever to be a writer on the go. This also means that we writers have fewer excuses. You can meet that daily writing go even when traveling.

It is true that there is an app for just about everything these days. There are useful apps such as the flashlight app, compass apps, a variety of alarm clock apps, etc. There are useless apps like angry birds (which I do not own,) words with friends, and other games. And don't forget all those Sesame Street apps! You don't have know that I'm a mother to a toddler, just look at my apps! There are very helpful tools to make life easier like Grocery IQ, and yes there are apps specifically for writers.

Docs To Go is why I wanted an iPad. I no longer have to carry my laptop around with me. I can sync files and work from my iPad. Yesterday I revised a whole chapter for my young adult novel and wrote out articles for my Special Needs Dog column for the rest of the month. while visiting family, those tasks may still be in my to do list.

There are other devices for writing on the go. I just use the iPad so that is what I'm familiar with. My new favorite app is Priorities where I can easily keep up with my to do list and it doesn't seem that overwhelming. I recently downloaded My Writing. I haven't used it yet but it seems great for those moments when you're out and just have a little time to write. It even has a word counter. When browsing through writing apps I also found one that helps you write a novel in 30 days. Now that just sounds perfect for NANOWRIMO.

I've seen writers and professionals out and about making the most of technology to get their work done. I'm able to get through my to do list at a faster pace making more time for new projects and family time, all thanks to new technologies.

How do you write on the go? What apps do you find helpful? Share your personal story of writing on the go success in a comment below.

Announcements:

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

Writing while chasing a toddler

It takes a special kind of person to be a writer. A writers life is a difficult life filled with challenges, disappointments and lots of waiting. Now, add an active toddler in that mix. Being a writing mom (or Dad) takes even more discipline, planning, patience and the "want" than a typical writer.

All writers are busy but writers with children have to be a little more creative. I'm not talking being more creative on plots and characters, writing parents must be more creative with their time.

As a writing mom of a toddler and multiple deadlines I know that I get the most work done by waking up early. That may not be the advice that you wanted to hear but it is the most beneficial, at least for me. I've also learned ways to create more time. I'm a huge fan of my new slow cooker! And working out may seem to take time away from your writing but in reality it helps me stay well and clear my head so that I'm more productive.

Modern day technology also is a friend to writing parents. I have revised and plotted chapters while chasing my toddler. My iPad helps me with this task but you could use anything. A simple old-fashioned pad of paper and pen will do the trick.

The main thing to remember is to plan and make the most of the writing time that you do get. Being a writing parent is a challenge but you are not alone.

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

Announcements:

February is National Dog Training Month. For helpful tips on training the furry friends in your life follow my Examiner column, Special Needs Dog Care.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

What does your fiction say about you?

Writing is very personal. I write both non-fiction and fiction. Of course my non-fiction is very straightforward. I’m knowledgeable about dogs and want to help other dog owners. My book Caring for Your Special Needs Dog was inspired because of my dog, Oscar who suffers from epilepsy. I wanted to help other owners of special needs dogs.

Fiction writing is more unique but it too is personable and can share a lot of insight about its author. My young adult novel takes place around and in the ocean. Why did I choose this setting? It’s simple—I love the ocean. My husband and I are SCUBA divers so I can easily write about that setting from my personal experiences.

You might also find it easy to believe that there is a dog in my young adult novel. My YA is a fantasy tale but you can find pieces of the real me throughout it. Writing takes a lot of time, patience and heart so it only makes sense to incorporate yourself in your fictional stories. Plus, it can save you on some research time.

What does your writing say about you?

Announcements:

I will be teaching another class of my Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind Write It Forward Workshop this March. It is a month long workshop focused on busy writing moms, something I know a lot about. Click here for more information.

Who Dares Wins Publishing offers fantastic writing craft and industry Write it Forward Workshops. Be sure and check them all out here.

My book, Caring for Your Special Needs Dog is out and a percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.