In honor of my father: I believed you

Today is my dad's birthday.

PeePaw with Puck and Tink
July 2012

We haven't always had the best relationship, but we're much closer than we were. I know he loves me, and is an amazing, loving grandpa to Puck and Tink.

When I was a kid, my dad was always very supportive of me finding my best path. He believed, and told me often, that I could do and be whatever I wanted. He made sure I knew that as long as I put in the effort required, I could be successful in whatever I chose to do. There were times I thought it was one of those things parents say to their kids because they have to. But he said it enough that eventually

I believed him.

And now I'm a writer by passion and by trade.

Whether my dad meant what he said at the time or not, I decided that he was right. I could do whatever I wanted. And I wanted to be a writer. So I am.

It hasn't always been easy. In high school, I was told that if I wanted to be a writer, I should become an English teacher and write as a hobby since that was the only way I could make a living. In college (not the college from which I graduated) I was told that if I wanted to be a writer, I should become a journalist since that is the only way to have a career that involves writing.

Then I became a marketing specialist at my alma mater and was introduced to the world of marketing writing. Then I was a freelance writer for about four years. And now I am a full-time salaried employee as a writer in the marketing department for an amazing business.

It isn't all business writing, though. I make time to work on the collection, and yesterday at poetry group I read two original poems (which were well-received). And someone I know from poetry encouraged me to try and get a play produced locally, which is something I'd never considered.

I am happy with my career path. I'm excited about what the future may bring. And it's all because I believed my dad years and years ago.

Happy Birthday, PawPaw.

Big projects vs. small projects

I have a wide variety of projects that come across my desk at my day job. Some are bigger and take a lot of time and research and rewrites (like white papers), and others are smaller and can get turned around on the same day (like press releases). The variety is good. It keeps work interesting, and the intensity of the big projects can be broken up with the smaller projects so I don't let myself feel too overwhelmed with the bigger projects.

I was talking to a co-worker last week about a particular project I've been working on that started as a small one but has become a large, much more complicated one. She likes small projects, too; especially the ones that can get done in the same day. It gives you a sense of accomplishment to be able to add something to your task list, and then cross it off before you leave the office for the day.

The good news is that working on the collection has helped prepare me for big, complicated projects at work. I'm able to prioritize the tasks to complete the projects, and bring the pieces together to do what needs to be done. (Besides, nothing I've had at work so far has come close to being as involved as the collection!)

The biggest thing for me is to have a list of the individual tasks that need to be done for the project and take them one at a time. Each little task that gets crossed off is an accomplishment, and takes me one step closer to being done with the big project.

How do you handle big projects at work or in writing?

Keep on keeping on

Sample task lists

Every week I have a list of what needs to be done that week for work, as well as my personal life. I then use that list throughout the week to keep on target for my project deadlines. I add to it as needed, cross things off when they're done, and make notes to myself if something changes or needs to be updated.

I used to break my weekly lists into daily lists, as well, so I didn't end up at the end of the week with the whole list waiting for me. I don't do that anymore because it got frustrating if I didn't complete everything on the list for a given day.

By having a general weekly list instead of the daily lists, I'm able to look at my list at the end of the day and know that I still have time to keep working on the list. It helps me take on a "keep on keeping on" mentality rather than a "hurry up and get it done!" mentality. Either way, the tasks get crossed of my list, but one way is frantic and stressful while the other way is more relaxed and encouraging.

I'm the type of person who has to take things one step at a time. If I get too ahead of myself and get frustrated I end up falling behind where I need to be and get even less done. So I have to take it slow, one task at a time.

Whether you're looking at a long list of stuff to do at work, or you've got company coming so you need to clean your house, remember to take it one step at a time, cross one task off at a time, and focus only on what you have to do in the next moment. Just keep on keeping on, and it'll get done.

Writers get cabin fever, too

It's been cold here lately. Not nearly as cold as I've experienced in the past, but still cold enough to keep me indoors and wrapped up in my favorite hoodie quite often.

But it's also been driving me a little crazy. For one thing, I hate being cold. More than being hot, I hate being cold. So having to, you know, go outside in the cold hasn't gone well for me lately. But it's also been frustrating because I feel disconnected with the world around me. Staying home is all well and good for writers, but I'm looking forward to sitting outside in the warm sun, walking barefoot in the grass.... and not wearing socks.

I know many writers relish winters. The cold keeps them inside, so they spend more time writing. More than a few writers I know consider winter "writing season" since there's little else to do when the snow and ice keeps them close to home. And yet, I want very much for it to be warm so I can go and be outside.

Yes, even writers need to fight cabin fever.

This month, I'm going to go to poetry group. I haven't been in quite some time, and I miss it. Even though the meetings are inside, maybe getting out and being around other people will make me feel less hermit-y. And, soon enough, it'll be warmer outside, so I'll put on my sandals and go for a walk.

How are you handling winter?

And then it was February

January was a busy month. The kids and I had fun--including a long weekend at PawPaw's house--and work was intense all month.

But now it's February. Puck and Tink are spending some time with Monty, things are becoming more routine at work (in a good way), and I have a lengthy list of projects and things I'd like to do over the next three weeks.

I'm trying to stay optimistic about my productivity for the month, particularly because the last week of the month is going to be a little chaotic. Well, more chaotic than normal, if there is such a thing. In addition to the normal work and household stuff, I've got some deadlines for the coffee house book. And reading. Lots and lots of reading.

What's happening in your life this month?

Taking a few days with family

I have Thursday and Friday off from my day job, so the kids and I are loading into the car to spend the end of the week with PawPaw and the family "up north." The kids haven't seen my dad's family in quite some time, so it'll be good to reconnect with everyone.

It is a pretty short trip, so we won't be taking too much with us, but I do intend to take my writing folder with me. I don't know what's planned for the weekend, but I'm sure I'll have a few spare moments here and there to work on some background writing for the collection (and the coffee house book in particular). Since I won't have marketing writing to do, I'm hoping to get some fictioneering done instead.

What are your plans for the rest of this week? For the weekend?






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Image courtesy of Michal Marcol / Free Digital Photos.net

Feeling like an imposter

At work this week I offered my third session of a basic business writing workshop. I love talking about grammar, punctuation and writing, and I was ecstatic that people showed up and seemed to enjoy the workshop. (I've even had a couple of people talk to me about writing questions since then, which is awesome!) And while I'm thankful I had the opportunity to talk about writing and help my coworkers strengthen their business writing, it felt strange to stand in front of these people--many of whom are above me in the company's organizational chart--speaking about writing with authority.

I feel a little like an impostor when I do things like this. Even after all I've learned about writing and all my experience in the field/industry, there is part of me that still says "Who am I to talk about this with any kind of authority?"

I know quite a bit about writing. In addition to my degree in English, I've tutored English (college-level), I've taught high school English, and I've been working full time as a writer since June 2008. Theoretically, I should be able to talk about writing and grammar and punctuation and help others strengthen their own writing.

So why do I still feel like I should be in Rutledge basement listening to lectures about Keats?

100+ Books Reading Challenge 2013

Last year I challenged myself to read 100 books or more in 2012.

I failed miserably.

It's okay, though, because I did read a lot more than I would have, which has led me to try the same reading challenge again this year.

I'm not going to set a reading list, though there are particular titles I would like to be sure to read (or reread) this year that I'll keep in the back of my mind. And I'm open to suggestions!

Here are the "rules" I'm following for the challenge:

1. The goal is to read at least 100 books during the 2013 calendar year, beginning January 1st and running through December 31st. Books begun before January 1st or finished after December 31st do not count.
2. Any book counts: fiction, nonfiction, anthologies, plays, graphic novels, rereads, ebooks, etc. If it has an ISBN, it counts. Rereading the same book within the calendar year does not count. Individual short stories do not count, individual books of the Bible do not count, and individual poems do not count.
3. I will not be counting children's books because I read to my kids so frequently.
4. Books do not need to be selected in advance.
5. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

Obviously, something like this is on the honor system, but I will be trying to write some kind of reflection/review for the books I read throughout the year. I tried to do that last year, but I got terribly behind. I'll try to be more faithful about it this time around. I will be listing the books I read on this page, and as I write reflections/reviews, I'll link to them.

The first book on my list for this year is Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler. It's technically a reread for me, but it's been a while since I've read it, and my previous reading was more of a skimming in some areas.

How are you challenging yourself this year?

Happy New Year!

May your worst day this year be better than your best day last year,

and may every day in 2013 be the fresh start you need.

A sense of accomplishment

A sample task list from my home office

December has been a busy month, particularly for the kids being with Monty. There was a definite shift at the office, and being the holidays, there was a lot going on at home, too.

And now, the month is almost over. I still have a lot to do this week before I bring Puck and Tink home, but I've been able to look back over my task lists and calendars with a sense of accomplishment at all I've gotten done.

As you probably know, I'm big on lists, so at the beginning of December, I made a list of bigger projects I needed to get done before the kids came home. And every time I crossed off one of the tasks on my list, I felt productive, and got a sense of satisfaction from it. There's a lot to be said for drawing a black line through words on a piece of paper.

Sometimes it's the little things you have to hold on to.

I think that's why I let my task lists be messy. I make a list at the beginning of the month (or week), then add to it, cross things off, and change things around as time goes on. The messiness of my list speaks to my productivity for the month (or week). It reminds me that, even if it doesn't feel like it, I am making progress, task by task. And that keeps me motivated to keep moving forward.

What do you do to stay motivated to accomplish your tasks?