Sunday, August 31, 2014

Day 35...5 Rules to Live By...













Welcome to Day 35...

After spending some great together time with my brother and his family, I'm still in three day weekend mode so aside from doing a little time writing today, I gave myself a break and did a lot of nothing. 

Though I did find these words of wisdom from entertainer, musician and radio host John Tesh that I wanted to share. 

It reminds us that sometimes the best way to move forward in life is to just give yourself a break...from the past...from what others think...from the pain of a past hurt...from judgment...




And for Today's Take Away Lesson...I really like #4...

"No one is in charge of your happiness.  Except you."
Here's a link to John Tesh's website...http://www.tesh.com/

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



And remember...The contest for the best cover picture for my next book cover is still going on.  Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote!  

365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Day 34...Green M&Ms and Multiplying Good Deeds...





Welcome to Day 34...

Sometimes with the #busywriterslife, it's easy to get caught up in everything on our to do list. 

But it's good to slow down...get outside...enjoy the day...spend time with people we love and...it's good to remember some other things too...

Like the importance of being compassionate...sharing a kind word...going out of our way to help others.

It's been a few weeks since Robin William's death.  We all remember him as a talent much larger than any stage or movie screen could seem to hold.  We identified with him through the depth of the characters he so brilliantly portrayed and, through the exhilaration of his creative genius in his comedy routines.

But since his passing, many of us have learned much more about this talented, complex man, thanks to stories detailing his kindness and compassion.  

Here's one of my favorites.  It's from Brian Lord's Blog...

Years ago I learned a very cool thing about Robin Williams, and I couldn’t watch a movie of his afterward without thinking of it. I never actually booked Robin Williams for an event, but I came close enough that his office sent over his rider.  For those outside of the entertainment industry, a rider lists out an artist’s specific personal and technical needs for hosting them for an event- anything from bottled water and their green room to sound and lighting requirements.  You can learn a lot about a person from their rider.  This is where rocks bands list their requirement for green M&Ms (which is actually a surprisingly smart thing to do). This is also where a famous environmentalist requires a large gas-guzzling private jet to fly to the event city, but then requires an electric or hybrid car to take said environmentalist to the event venue when in view of the public.
When I got Robin Williams’ rider, I was very surprised by what I found.   He actually had a requirement that for every single event or film he did, the company hiring him also had to hire a certain number of homeless people and put them to work. I never watched a Robin Williams movie the same way after that.  I’m sure that on his own time and with his own money, he was working with these people in need, but he’d also decided to use his clout as an entertainer to make sure that production companies and event planners also learned the value of giving people a chance to work their way back.  I wonder how many production companies continued the practice into their next non-Robin Williams project, as well as how many people got a chance at a job and the pride of earning an income, even temporarily, from his actions.   He was a great multiplier of his impact.  Let’s hope that impact lives on without him.   Thanks, Robin Williams- not just for laughs, but also for a cool example.
Bottomline?  Whatever you do - acting, writing, parenting - strive to be great at it...one of a kind, the absolute best.  And as you go along your way, be the person who makes a difference in the lives of others as well.
I'm taking some much needed family time today...hope you are too.  
And before I go here's Today's Take Away Lesson...It fits in with Brian's multiplier idea....
"Be a multiplier of great work and even greater deeds."
Here's a link to Brian's Blog http://brianlord.org/

Enjoy the weekend.
Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



And remember...The contest for the best cover picture for my next book cover is still going on.  Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote!  

365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365



Friday, August 29, 2014

Day 33...It's All I Got...












Welcome to Day 33...

So...

Today, my summer work hours are officially over.

Today is the last day of summer break...

Today kicks off a much needed three day weekend

That said, even those of of us who are All In on our writing and marketing need some R&R and sometimes a little inspiration.  

Don't forget...

"You could be the greatest, you could be the best..."

Enjoy...

The Script - Hall of Fame

So of course Today's Takeaway Lesson is...

"Be Champion..."

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



And remember...The contest for the best cover picture for my next book cover is still going on.  Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote!  

365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Day 32...My Secret Love...












Welcome to Day 32...

Okay, it's Thursday.  Our check in day of the week.

Check ins are good because it's always smart to gauge what's working, what's not.  A mid week review means that if things aren't going the way you hoped. you still have a chance to switch around your game plan.

For me, yesterday was a bit of a bust in the writing department.

Today, much better.  That's because I've been gaining some traction on the scenes I'm writing.  They're all still in draft mode, but traction is good, because even though the gains are small, they're still gains and...it means I'm still in the game.  Still engaged.  Still moving forward.  

And here's something else...I've been getting really excited about the scenes.  The fact is I really, really love writing and in a small way I've fallen in love with the characters and the stories with all my books.  

Sounds a little odd?  Maybe, but let me explain...

Writing a novel is a huge undertaking.  You end up spending a lot time with your story and your characters.

Which means there has to be something there -the backstory or the romance, or the bad guy or a crazy chase scene - elements or the whole of your story that you get so excited - you'd rather spend time lost in it all, instead of watching a movie or on social media.

Granted, some scenes are harder to get right than others and some days it does feels like work.  But then you push through and you fall in love with it all, all over again.  

Wk of
8/25/2014
WritingStatusMarketingStatus
1Complete Scene - Marc losing the fed's tailIn-progressMon - Inspirational FB postDONE
2Complete Scene - Elise weighing next stepsIn-progressUpdate Blog Review status fileIn-progress
3Complete Scene - Marc & Elise discuss meeting up to find Donnie & AngieIn-progressFinish H/2 blogIn-progress
4Organize blog post ideasIn-progress
5Organize Marketing IdeasIn-progress


That's all for now.

I'm getting excited for the long weekend.  Hope you are too.

Lest we forget...here's Today's Takeaway Lesson...a gem from Steve Jobs...

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



And remember...Please cast your vote for the best cover picture for my next book cover.  Right now we're down to a tie so go to... Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote!  

365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Day 31...It Is, What It Is...













Welcome to Day 31...

It is, what it is.  

And what it is, is not so great on the Maggie Collins Inc. front.

I was up early this morning and was trying to get some writing in, but I spent almost an hour organizing my boys' paperwork for the start of school next week...doctor's forms that need to be completed, dental forms that need to be signed off on, emergency contact info to be filled out.  

You get the picture.

And yes my game plan was to get it done last night, but my work days this week have been marathon sessions and I literally could not keep my eyes open after 8:30 last night.

So...it is what it is.  Hope your week is going better and your writing and marketing is on track.  Your speeding ahead with new ideas, great effort and your completing scene after scene on your book.

For me?  Not so much, but the good news is that tomorrow brings a chance to set the course right again.

That said...I thought it might be a good idea to add some positivity into Today's Takeaway Lesson...






"Who Knows?  Tomorrow May Very Well Be One of the Best Days of Your Life"

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



And remember...Please cast your vote for the best cover picture for my next book cover.  Right now we're down to a tie so go to... Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote!  

365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Day 30...Validation!



Welcome to Day 30...

(Yes 30!  We're really moving along...)

They say that good things come to those who wait...

Well good things also come to those who work hard...and take chances.

Here's the thing.  Being a self-published writer can be isolating.  You keep pushing forward and working hard and in your head is that little voice of doubt...is this all worth it?  Is this the right way to go?

You're never quite sure and so you keep plugging along and then some pretty neat things stop you in your tracks.  By handing you exactly what you need...Positive feedback, a great review...a shout out on Twitter...all of it pure validation.

I got that in deuces over the past few days...

Over the weekend a very nice woman posted the following on my FB page...

"You are an amazing author ! Right from page 1 , I am hooked & can't put the book down... Now I am starting " Now You See Me ". Your other 3 books were great. Wish I didn't have to work tomorrow , so I could read , read , read. Thankyou. !!!"

And then today, I got a shout-out-thank-you-reply via Twitter from a well-known DJ here in New York - it was for the comp book I sent her.

All I can say is that so far it's stacking up to be a good week...A very good week.

So keep at it...keep writing and self-publishing...keep the momentum going with your marketing...who knows what positive response is waiting for you...

Please cast your vote for the best cover picture for my next book cover.  Right now we're down to a tie so go to... Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote!  

And...here's Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Stay In...All In...Because Something Incredible is Just Around the Corner"

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365














Monday, August 25, 2014

Day 29...Let's Get Real...












Welcome to  Day 29...

I'm getting slammed at work this week.  It is what it is and what it is, is one of our busiest times of the year.

But that doesn't have to mean I won't make a good effort on my writing and marketing.  I just need to play it smart.

So I'm lightening up my to do schedule for the week.  And  as I mentioned the other day, my morning power hours will be dedicated to writing.  Lots of writing.  

Here's my game plan...

Why not take some time right now and set yours?


Wk of
8/25/2014
Writing StatusMarketingStatus
1Complete Scene - Marc losing the fed's tailMon - Inspirational FB postDONE
2Complete Scene - Elise weighing next stepsUpdate Blog Review status file
3Complete Scene - Marc & Elise discuss meeting up to find Donnie & AngieFinish H/2 blog
4Organize blog post ideas
5Organize Marketing Ideas


And please don't forget...My contest for designing my next book cover is still open...Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote for the best cover picture!  

For now...here's Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it."


Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Day 28...Note to Self...













Welcome to Day 28...

Another week ended...here's how it all went down...


Wk of
8/18/2014
WritingStatusMarketingStatus
1Complete Scene - Marc losing the fed's tailIn-ProgressMon - Inspirational FB postDONE
2Draft Scene - Elise weighing next stepsDONESend out 4 comp booksDONE
3Complete Scene - Elise weighing next stepsIn-ProgressBuild Comp Book List - Search & Identify 5 names/addresses to receive comp booksIncomplete
4Draft Scene - Marc & Elise discuss meeting up to find Donnie & AngieDONESend out 5 blogger review requestsDONE
5Search & Identify 5 more bloggersDONE
6FB - Do Paid Post for Help My Book CoverDONE
7Finish H/2 blogIncomplete
8Post sales link to Amazon - Be Still My BreathDONE
9Organize blog post ideasDONE For the Week...  But still on-going...suffice to say there's lots of notes here...
10Organize Marketing IdeasDONE...and stay tuned...the big reveal on what's on the list is next week



As I mentioned in an earlier blog my tactic this week was to focus more on writing.  The results? 

Not stellar. 

Part of the problem is I get very caught up in "this will only take a few minutes...let me just get this out" mode. 

Like...a blog review request that will only take ten minutes to do...or printing a comp note...or researching how to approach libraries to do a book reading...  

You get the picture...

And actually, it's true.  Most of the task don't take up enormous amounts of time.  The problem is, my brain clicks into total marketing mode and the next thing I know...I look up at the clock, and all the time (which is usually my early morning hours) I intended for writing is gone and I have to rush to get the boys out the door and myself ready for work.

Which means the scenes I wanted to complete for the week are still in draft mode.

Not great.  But also not terrible...And I try and keep a little perspective here - I mean if that's the worst thing that happens this week - it's still a good week. 

So here's the plan...more on writing this week.  Again.  The one difference?  Dedicate my "power" morning time to writing and my marketing to my early evening "wrap up the day" hours.

I want to really focus on getting NEVER LET ME GO released this fall.  And to make that happen, I need to consistently set my writing goals and see a red DONE in the status column at the end of each week.

Doable?

Yes.  But I have to stay committed to putting extra time, effort and focus into making it happen.

Which of your goals need some extra time, effort and focus?

Let's check in tomorrow and update our weekly to do list.

BTW...My contest for designing my next book cover is still open...Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote for the best cover picture!  

'Til then...let's close with Today's Takeaway Lesson...

“Note to Self...Stay Focused.” 

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



365 Days & Counting...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 100 101 102 102 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Day 27...Cooking Meatballs & Making Drug Deals...












Welcome to Day 26...

Let me preface all this by saying, I don't take drugs...never have.  It's just not my thing.

I also have no connection to organized crime...never have.  It's just not my thing.

That said, the other day I had what I can only call one of my Goodfellas-kinda-days...

Let me explain...

If you've never seen the movie, Goodfellas, is based on the book Wise Guy and details the life of Henry Hill and his involvement with the Lucchese Crime family.

Towards the end of the film, there is a brilliantly directed scene that has Henry all amped up on drugs as he's trying to get through about a dozen tasks in just a few short hours...

He's picking up his brother at the airport...rushing home to cook meatballs or cutlets for dinner...at the same time he's trying to do a big drug deal and all the while, the feds are on his tail.

As Henry narrates the scene, the action is almost non-stop, and as he moves from one task to the next, there's a sense of total chaos and hyped energy as he tries to get everything done and keep it all together.

The scene is so well directed you actually feel his hyper focus, his anxiety and his stress at every movement.

Like most busy, working moms, (who also happens to have writing gig on the side) my days are crazy...it is what it is...but every once in a while I get hit with one of those Goodfellas kind of days...

I got an early 7am phone call from my mom who wasn't feeling well...I hightailed it over there to check on her...had to rush my son to his camp program...headed in to work for a few hours to complete some things that needed to get out that day....got a text from my other son who forgot a notebook at the house he needed...went to the house and picked up the notebook...dropped said notebook off at school where he had his football practice...back to my moms to take her to the doctor...got my mom back to her house and made her some lunch...went out to do some food shopping for her...picked up my other son from his camp program...then went back to another doctor's appointment for my mom...picked up #2 son from his football practice...hit the drive through at McDonald's for the boys for dinner...drove my mom back to her house and then headed home to collapse into bed.

The action was non-stop and I felt a sense of total chaos and hyped energy as I tried to get everything done and keep it all together.

What I can only call my Goodfellas kind-of-day.

Needless to say...it wasn't a stellar day for my writing and marketing efforts.

But that's life.  The key is to go with the chaos and when the ride stops, give yourself a chance to catch a breath and recoup.  Then begin anew with determination and a positive mindset the next morning.
 
And that my friend is the  #busywriterslife

BTW...My contest for designing my next book cover is still open...And right now there is a tie between 2 of the pictures so I need you to help me choose.  Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote for the best cover picture!  

And let's not forget Today's Takeaway Lesson, it's from Frank Sinatra...

“So Take A Deep Breath, Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off, Start All Over Again.” 

Here's to Being All In,
Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



365 Days & Counting...
 
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BTW...My contest for designing my next book cover is still open...Go to Synchronicity or http://www.maggiecollins.net/ now to vote for the best cover picture!  

And as far as Today's Takeaway Lesson...it's a quote from Albert Einstein. 

“Problems can not be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” 

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 


Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins



365 Days & Counting...


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