We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. — ARISTOTLE Think about that quote for a minute. How thought-provoking is that? Discipline. I will be the first to admit I struggle with discipline almost on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong. If I'm focused on an in particular goal, I am 100% committed to that current goal. It's when I start to get the least bit bored that I find myself no longer disciplined and I move away from what I'm doing. And to be honest, it's … [Read more...]
Day 24: Writing While Drooled Upon
Really, this just means to not let anything get in the way of your writing. I know I could have what seems like a million and one things to keep me from writing. To be honest, I think I let many excuses get in the way of doing so. If I was more disciplined I think I could find the time I need. But, for whatever reason, I can't seem to find the motivation within myself to become disciplined. It's almost like it's a vicious cycle. I know right now it has a lot to do with the time of year. You … [Read more...]
Day 23: What Writer’s Do
Man, it is really interesting, yet not surprising, how different we all are when it comes to how we wrote. I just read about a guy who literally sets his alarm for 4am, wakes up in the dark and doesn't turn on a light, puts his computer on his lap making sure his monitor is a black screen, writes for a few hours, goes back to bed, and then wakes back up at 8:30am to edit what he wrote. I couldn't imagine doing all that. As it is, I'm not a morning person. The night hours are when I shine. But it … [Read more...]
Day 22: A Writer’s Lifestyle
I don't think there's a cookie cutter lifestyle to apply to all writers. It would be like saying all stay-at-home moms are great cooks or fantastic at keeping their homes spotlessly clean. With that said, I do think when we're wrapped up in a story we're writing we could allow it to take over our life if we were to let it. Writing seems to come to me in waves. When I'm hot and in the zone, so to speak, all I want to do is write. I don't want to watch TV or movies. I don't want to do any of my … [Read more...]
Day 10: Working Out
When I first glanced at the topic I thought about how I've been trying to work out on a daily basis by walking anywhere from a half hour to as long as 2 1/2 to 3 hours each day. It seems like most people who haven't worked out in a while dread starting a new exercise routine. When you first start out the body tends to become sore from the new way it's being used. But once you've gone a few times the body becomes accustomed to this and you actually begin to love how you feel after a … [Read more...]
The First Blog Post I Ever Wrote
Blogs. There are so many of them out there today and the plethora of topics that each one is on can seem to never end. After my daughter pasted, my grief ran so deep. I bought a new diary (yes, I still call my journal a diary :) ) to write all those thoughts constantly swimming around in my head. I needed an outlet to be able to just vent. Then approximately three months later I had all those words I just had to get written down. So I sat down at my dining room table and began to write those … [Read more...]
Morning Person or Night Owl
I have been for as long as I can remember a night owl. When I hear about those people who can get up every morning at four or five on their own without an alarm clock I'm dumbfounded because if I allowed my body to sleep as long as it wanted it'd sleep until 10, 11, 12, even 1pm. Yeah, I know, that is really late. But then I can also stay up until 3, 4, 5am … [Read more...]
The Journey with Jamie Adams
Please welcome this weeks guest Jamie Adams for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? As far back as I can remember I’ve had a fondness for lined paper. Add a sharpened pencil into the mix and my fingers start to twitch. It’s always been easier for me to express myself in writing rather than speaking aloud. I was the quiet kid in school whose favorite part of the test was the essay section. My mother took us to church every Sunday and I … [Read more...]
My Favourite Character of All Time
MICKEY MOUSE!!!! He's the man, or at least that's what I've said for years. I started to collected Mickey Mouse when I was around 13 or 14 years old. I still collect him and many of the Disney characters like Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. I still own things from all those years ago and some have either broke or been lost over time. When someone asks me what I want for my birthday or Christmas I tell them it's easy. Anything with Mickey Mouse. I'm not even … [Read more...]
Pumpkin or Apple Pie at Thanksgiving?
Talk about two of my very favorite pies. It’s hard to choose which is possibly my favorite. So I won’t. However, I will give the recipes that I use when making them from scratch (And yes, I make everything from scratch to include the pie crust. Yummy!!) The basis for my pie crust comes from the Betty Crocker cookbook, yet I’ve done some slight alterations to give it my own little touch. I use this for both my pumpkin and apple pies. One-Crust Pie (Pumpkin): ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon butter … [Read more...]