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HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WRITE?

1/28/2019

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Some people say that you should write seven days a week until you get to a certain word count. You also have writers that use a flexible schedule. Then again, some say that you should only write when the muse inspires you. Do I do any of these? Yes. Should you or I? Yes.
 
I’ve found that I use the flexible schedule. I may or may not get some writing done on Saturdays depending on what my health allows. By doing a process of elimination and listening to my body, I’ve found it always pays off for me to take Sunday off. After all, it is the day of rest. I do have to admit that there Sundays when I’m on the computer. That’s when I’m under a deadline.
 
It has been proven that like other muscles in your body, your brain needs a rest too. Science has found that you’ll be more creative and productive. The trick here is---again---to listen to your body. It’ll tell you exactly when to give your brain a rest. Giving you brain a rest is taking time away from your writing and do anything that doesn’t concern writing. Don’t forget exercising and meditation. This helps immensely! How do you know when to give you brain a rest?
 
Do you know that feeling you get when you’re so sleepy that you can hardly hold your eyes open?  So, how do you give your brain a rest? You’re getting a message here from the brain to take a break. When you keep right on writing and get that exhausted, tired, I-can’t-move-another-finger-on-the-keyboard feeling? Your body is screaming at you to stop! So, how do you rest your brain?
 
I know that the first thing that’s comes to mind is taking a nap. Believe it or not, that definitely is a way! So are needlework, woodworking, going to the gym, watching movies, reading, or listening to an audio book, cooking, or any other hobby. When the weather is nice, I like to take a walk and visit friends. The key here is to do what you like where it doesn’t involve your writing words. Don’t forget daily exercise and meditation.
 
Try the meditation video below called, Meditation for Writers: Meet Your Muse. Just sit in your desk chair, close your eyes, and focus on the music. I guarantee that you’ll feel 100% better!

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SEE-MORE'S BIG ADVENTURE

1/20/2019

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TITLE: See-more's Big Adventure
AUTHOR: June Phyllis Baker
PUBLISHER: Fulton Books 

See-more Squirrel has a problem. He always trips and bumps into things while playing with his friends. He can't even smell pretty flowers anymore! This problem gets in the way of his doing good in school. Everything the teacher writes on the blackboard is blurry and he can't make it out. What will be do? 

I recommend 'See-more's Big Adventure ' for your home library. This little picture book shows how a visit to the eye doctor is a painless visit. It also shows how the visit can improve your life! 

You can purchase 'See-more's Big Adventure here and here.



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How to Conquer Writer's Block

1/14/2019

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What is writer’s block?
 
Wikipedia defines writer’s block as a condition primarily associated with writing, where an author loses the ability to produce more work or experiences creative slowdown. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_block. You never know how long your block is going to last. It’s been known to clear up in a few hours and last a few months.
 
Could this also be called the writer’s struggle since it happens to everyone who has chosen the writing path?
 
A writer’s struggle sounds much more realistic since when it strikes, it really is a real struggle to get something written or get a work-in-progress just right. We put our butt-in-chair, turn on the computer, and try to write. As hard as we try, nothing happens … nothing at all. It’s like hitting your head against a brick wall! Who among us, who has experienced this, and has instead gone to Facebook to play a game, go outside to garden, or whatever else interests you? I admit it, I’m guilty of this, myself. Believe it or not Facebook games and gardening are just two ways to banish this demon. Here are some other ways:

   
#1 Join an online or physical conference in the genre that you write in. Brainstorm with these other writers. You’ll be surprised at just how freeing this is just to be with likeminded people. I’ve found this out myself and have more finished picture book manuscripts to prove it!

  #2 Work on another WIP. This frees your mind to think about something else besides that WIP you’re stuck on.

  #3 Read a book in the genre you’re writing for. Reading books in your genre gives you so many ideas on how to continue on with your story. It can also provide the ‘aha’ moment whether or not to toss that manuscript and start all over again. If this happens, you’ll be able to visualize your story exactly as it should be written.

  #4 Read a book to review. Again, make sure it’s in the genre you write for. You’re giving your brain permission to focus on something else.

  #5 Take a day off to go to the library, Barnes & Noble, or another book store. In this case, like most of the others below, you’re granting your brain permission to just relax.

  #6 Are you a freelance editor or proofreader? If you are put your WIP away and do that.

  #7 Go for a walk outside (if the weather’s nice enough) and don’t forget to take a notebook and pen! You never know when your writer’s block/struggle will clear up and you get an idea.

  #8 If the weather isn’t nice enough to go outside, exercise indoors. Nothing clears your head and reboots your energy like a work out. This does work!

  #9 Visit with a neighbor. There’s nothing as good as a visit with a friend.

  #10 Can’t visit that friend because of the nasty weather mentioned above? Call him/her. A good talk with a friend gets your mind off of everything else.

  #11 Go to the dog park and play Frisbee with Fido. Again, you’re freeing your mind.

  #12 Cook that new recipe that you just clipped out of the magazine. 
​
Take a good look at the list above. I realize some of these things on the list might seem are silly, but they have something in common: focus on something else for a while. It does wonders.
 
It might be that it might take a week or more to get your muse back again. That’s fine if it does. Take that time off to do other activities you enjoy. Concentrate on you during this time.

 
 
 
  
 
copyright 2019, KidzTales
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YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2019

1/4/2019

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photo courtesy of Facebook

Happy 2019! Do you have any goals for your writing this year? I do.

I'd like to publish another book. I'm going to work hard to do this, too. I also want to start a newsletter for us! I'll keep you posted on that. I also want to get a better handle on marketing for 'Where Can We Have the Party?' and all my future books.

I know what you're thinking. You're wondering what the above picture has to do with writing. Right? Well, it does and here's how.

Instead of writing down everything good that's happened to you, write on that little piece of paper each accomplishment you've achieved this year. At the end of 2019 do the same thing mentioned in the picture. Open the jar and read each piece of paper. You'll see just how much you really did do and succeeded with during 2019!

HAVE A HAPPY 2019!

Copyright 2019, KidzTales
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