365 Days of Writing, Marketing & E-Publishing

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Day 49...Feel Free to Mooch...

Welcome to Day 49...

If you've ever looked up into the sky and noticed a flock of geese flying in V formation, there happens to be a good reason why they maintain this particular alignment while in flight.

First, they do so because it ensures that a good visual can be kept on all the individual geese in the flock. Which basically means they're all looking out for each other.

The second reason is that a V formation provides a better use of their energy and better aerodynamics especially along long migratory flights. Here's how National Geographic explains the phenomena...

"As a bird flaps, a rotating vortex of air rolls off each of its wingtips. These vortices mean that the air immediately behind the bird gets constantly pushed downwards (downwash), and the air behind it and off to the sides gets pushed upwards (upwash). (See this image if that’s not clear.) If another bird flies in either of these upwash zones, it gets free lift. It can save energy by mooching off the air flow created by its flock-mate."

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/01/15/birds-that-fly-in-a-v-formation-use-an-amazing-trick/

Looking out for each other and mooching off of each other were the two ideas I had in mind when I got a flash of insight about some posts I was planning for my other blog Synchronicity.

The posts will focus on specific writing and marketing How To tips. Basically I wanted to share some simple yet helpful points about everything from dealing with bad reviews to how to design a book cover.

Included would be some helpful links. Ideally, I'd love the How To sections to become almost an aggregate, interactive place where readers could also include feedback...what their experience had been and other ideas they could share.

That said, my plan now is for two How To posts a month to add to the 365 Days Journey.

Look for my first installment this week...How to Edit Your Novel.

So let's do what the geese do...look out for one another and mooch off one another's learnings...

Hope you had a great day...I got another 700 words of writing in today as well as some editing on my Chalkboard. Didn't fare so well on the marketing end...but you'll see that as I set up some new goals for next week. I'm hoping you'll be setting up your own as well.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed." NH

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~~ 44 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, September 13, 2014

Day 48...What to Do When You're Scared or Stuck in Procrastination Mode

Welcome to Day 48...

When I was twelve I had to get my tonsils out and it included an overnight hospital stay. I'd never been in a hospital before and while all the attention and fussing from my family was nice...I was scared. Crazy scared.

I ended up doing something that really helped me combat the fear.

I kept telling myself... by this time tomorrow I'll be home.

It might sound silly but it worked.

Here's why...

1. It took me out of worry mode and helped me focus on the better part of the story...the part where the surgery was over and I was home.

2. It helped remind me that nothing stays the same - the way that I was feeling at the moment would change, so why let myself get stuck in feeling afraid?

Now that I'm older, I use this technique all the time. Especially when it comes to my writing & marketing. It helps me quickly break out of any doubtful mode.

It also helps when I'm procrastinating.

First why do we procrastinate?

Two reasons really - we're feeling lazy or just plain scared. In our minds, whatever we have to undertake is going to be hard...or that we just don't have what it in us to do what needs to get done.

So we avoid doing it at all.

Which is where this technique kicks in...

First, just jump in...sit at the computer, make the effort and even though it might "feel" hard just start and see where you go with it.

As you're doing that, tell yourself... in two hours that scene will be edited, or in one hour I'll be half way done with writing that new plot line.

Focus on the end result and remind yourself how great it will feel when you get there.

I use these thought boosters all the time. You can just fill in your own blanks...

One hour from now...I'll have an opening paragraph drafted

Two hours from now...That scene with the awkward dialogue will all be fixed

By this time tomorrow...I'll have email twenty blog review requests.

You get the picture.

After a busy morning, I had about an hour before my son's football game and I decided to spend half of it doing some editing on a scene I've been working on. I told myself, I'll have one more paragraph edited...I'll be that much closer to finishing the scene. Won't that feel great.

The result?

I did finish the paragraph and...it did feel great.

Hope your enjoying your weekend and getting some time to get some marketing and writing goals crossed off your list.

That's all for now.

Except of course for Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Picture Your End Result and the All Positivity It Will Bring..."

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...

Friday, September 12, 2014

Day 47...So Tough, Yet Oh So Worth It...

Welcome to Day 47...

My sister in law always says if you have kids in school, there are three months out of the year that are tough as nails to get through...

December...which is a whirlwind of holiday shows, holiday tournaments, shopping, holiday parties, & midterms for kids

June is the same...end of year activities, half days that you have to manage early pick ups and coverage, finals.

And then there's September...the back to school month that has you jumping into sports, meet the teacher, emergency contact forms. medical forms, dental forms, release forms - that all have to be filled out and signed, back to school shopping.

You get the picture. This time of year, most especially makes up my #busywriterslife.

In fact this week, I'm right in the midst of the storm.

Paperwork...shopping and I was out three nights this week for school and sport's activities.

It is what it is. A bit tough, but oh so worth it. In fact, when it comes to my family, I wouldn't change any of the chaos...

Meeting my boys' teachers and hearing how excited they are to work with all the students this upcoming year...sitting on the sidelines watching my son play varsity football, running to his school with a delivery of 5 loaves of Italian bread for his game eve night dinner...oh and let's not forget work, laundry, pick ups, drop offs.

Forget a Goodfella's kind-of-day (see Day 27), I had a Goodfella's kind-of-week.

So I have to ask...how's a girl supposed to get any writing and marketing done?

Well I did, though not as much as I hoped and the marketing effort has been less than stellar

Here's my game card so far for this week...

	Wk of
	9/8/2014
	Writing	Status	Marketing	Status	365 Days Post

Mon	Write 400-500 words	Done	Mon - Inspirational FB post	Done	Post Weekly To Dos	Done
	Research gang info/create notes	Done
Tues	Write 400-500 words	Done	Update Blog Review status file	Incomplete	Using Your Subconscious Mind Part 1	Done
	Research billionaire character/create notes	Done				Done
Wed	Write 400-500 words	Done	Finish H/2 blog	Incomplete	Using Your Subconscious Mind Part 2	Done
Thurs	Write 400-500 words	Incomplete	Organize Marketing Ideas & Post in 365 Days Blog	Moved to Sun	9/11/2014	Done
Fri	Write 400-500 words	Done	Update Blog Review status file	Incomplete	Review of Week	Done
Sat	Write 400-500 words		Update Blog Review status file		TBD
Sun	Write 400-500 words		Organize Marketing Ideas & Post in 365 Days Blog		Marketing Goals

I'm hoping to pick up some more momentum this weekend.

We shall see...we shall see.

Until then, here's Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Energy & Persistence Conquer All Things." Ben Franklin

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...

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Day 46...To Pause...To Reflect...To Remember

Welcome to Day 46...

Today is just one of the those days when I feel the need to slow down.

"Even grief recedes with time and grace. But our resolve must not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day, and to whom it happened. We'll remember the moment the news came -- where we were and what we were doing. Some will remember an image of a fire, or a story of rescue. Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever. And I will carry this: It is the police shield of a man named George Howard, who died at the World Trade Center trying to save others."

President George W. Bush, September 20, 2001

And remember...

Enough said.

Maggie

365 Days & Counting...

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Day 45...The Big Reveal...

Welcome to Day 45...

I know...I know....I keep talking about this whole Super Brain idea.

Honestly I can't help it. And why shouldn't I? When something is this good you should share it.

So get ready for today's Big Reveal...

Details on the subconscious mind (or as I like to call it, my Super Brain) and how you can make it work for you...

First of all, this is no great secret. There's been plenty written about manifesting what you want in your life.

The book The Secret was a runaway best seller about positive thinking and realizing your dreams.

But for me it's a bit more than just positive thinking. I like the more pragmatic approach to activating your Super Brain.

That means focusing on a specific goal, and then engaging that goal on a daily level by taking active steps each day to move your forward.

For me my big goal is becoming a successful romantic suspense author.

How do I define that success? Right now it's getting to annual book sales of 100,000. It's a big goal and I've got a way to go, which means I can't just sit around each day visualizing myself at book signings.

I need to engage and work hard writing and marketing. Everyday.

And here's where my Super Brain kicks in...

Remarkably, every step along the way, I'm receiving flashes of insight, specific solutions, and great ideas.

Like how to shape a character...

Or I get actual trails of dialogue that run through my head as though I was watching a movie.

So how does this work?

It's like you have this destination in mind and you don't have the directions to get there. So you simply take the first step. Then your Super Brain gives you your next move and you act on it.

Then out of the blue, your mind is filled with another idea, you take another step and you keep moving forward. And so on...

Your Super Brain becomes your silent partner.

And how do you activate it?

Well search "activating your subconscious mind" and you'll get lots of results with all sorts of ideas including meditating and using music.

I like to keep things simple, so here's what I do...

1. Set your goal.

Make the goal specific and determine a reasonable time frame.

2. Immerse yourself in ideas surrounding the goal.

Feed the goal by reading blogs and books related to your idea. You get the idea.

3. Get to work.

Even if you don't have all the answers, just begin. Anywhere. For me that means I write notes about a character or draft scene ideas. It doesn't need to look pretty at this stage so make sure you leave all judgement behind.

4. Stay in the positive...

Don't stress...expect. What I mean by that is don't worry or get negative about the situation. Position yourself and your mind with great expectation, so you create almost a level excitement about achieving a positive outcome.

5. Wait for the Flash...

Of insight that is. The ideas come unexpectedly. In moments of quiet, when you wake from sleep, in the car driving, in the shower. I know now to always keeps pads and pencils nearby.

6. Stay Engaged.

Keep working...keep writing. When you feel stuck again. Don't worry or stress, simply walk away and engage in something, anything else. Cooking, exercise, whatever and then wait...
New flashes, new insight, new ideas will abound. The Super Brain picks it's own time and places when answers will come so be prepared.

That's how I approach it anyway. But I encourage you to do your own research and learn the best way that works for you.

Does it work?

For me, everytime.

In fact, just this morning I was in blog writing mode - I just wanted to add a couple of notes to today's post to get my Super Brain cooking. Then before I knew it, an hour had passed and I had written drafts/notes for seven other blog ideas.

Seven.

Now as I move into the next week I can do my writing and marketing updates and then simply edit these great ideas to add to the 365 journey.

I'm telling you this Super Brain thing works. Really works

That's all for now, except for Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Isn't It Time You Awakened Your Untapped Mind?"

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...

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Day 44...Secrets to Better Writing...Super Moons and Super Brains

Welcome to Day 44...

Woke up early this morning...3:30 am early. The good news is that I got a lot of writing done - adding over 800 words to my chalkboard - which consisted of the drafts for those scenes I had wanted to work on with my new characters.

It made me one happy writer for today.

I think a couple of factors might have played into the winning writing equation...

First off, the early hour...

If I wake up in the middle of the night and head to my computer, my output is usually off the charts. The house is quiet, and I'm not thinking of any of my home tasks like laundry or paperwork. I've said it before, those early morning hours are definitely my power hours.

Next...The last Super Moon of the Summer...

Some say during appearance of Super Moons you tend to be more creative. I definitely felt that way this morning. Here's the lunar wonder that was outside my window early this morning...

Finally, I felt pretty locked in to my Super Brain...

I've written a bit about my affinity for activating my subconscious brain when I'm writing. It almost makes the process effortless.

Here's how some explain it...

The book Psych-Cybernetics talks about a success mechanism that is inside all of us - consisting of the brain and the nervous system. This success mechanism works automatically to achieve the goals you set for it.

Give your subconscious a clear cut goal or problem to work on and it will provide you with a like solution/experience.

It has to do with the ideas that your conscious mind holds and dwells on. That's why it's so important to carefully manage the thoughts you think. Dwell on all that is negative and your subconscious will work to present negative solutions, outcomes and experiences representing those thoughts.

Dwell on ideas, success, life changing goals and your subconscious works to make those a reality.

So is it really that simple? In a way it kinda is. But I'll explain a bit more about it all tomorrow so stay tuned...

But for now, let's make Today's Takeaway Lesson pretty Super...

"Sometimes I feel like Superwoman and sometimes I am."

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

Here's more on the Sept 8th Super Moon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/harvest-moon-supermoon-2014_n_5780806.html

And...Super Moon and Super Creativity...http://guardianlv.com/2013/06/super-full-moon-affects-humans/

365 Days & Counting...

Monday, September 8, 2014

Day 43...Back on Track & Getting Real...

Welcome to Day 43...

Here we are, 43 days in and I have to confess, I'm not entirely sure it's working...

I'm referring to the way I've been setting up my goals for the week.

For the writing I've been focused on finishing a scene. The only problem is the creative mind goes, where the creative mind goes. Which means I've been getting sidetracked with adding new ideas to an existing chapter or I'll get motivated to work on another part of the story.

And yes, I've been getting a fair amount of writing done, but the scenes that I had "scheduled" to get done are still incomplete so...

I'm shifting to a new game plan.. a daily writing goal of a few hundred words a day.

That means the scenes will wrap up, when they're supposed to wrap up, and then really be complete. At least that's what I'm hoping. (I do have a tendency to tinker and add and update every time I revisit a chapter.)

So now on the to marketing...

Here's the thing... for the past few weeks I've been setting goals to finish much more than I can get done. (Keep in mind, my whole writing gig is part time - squeezed in between a full time job and a busy family.)

I have big goal ideas, but I really need to break them out more which will equates to smaller to do's over more time. And I'm going to go back over and revisit what was rushed through.

Maybe you're on track and everything you do has been working. If so, GREAT. Stick with it and keep moving forward. If not, why not try a different game plan?

Here's my mine...

	Wk of
	9/8/2014
	Writing	Status	Marketing	Status	365 Days Post

Mon	Write 400-500 words		Mon - Inspirational FB post		Post Weekly To Dos
	Research gang info/create notes
Tues	Write 400-500 words		Update Blog Review status file		Using Your Subconscious Mind Part 1
	Research billionaire character/create notes
Wed	Write 400-500 words		Finish H/2 blog		Using Your Subconscious Mind Part 2
Thurs	Write 400-500 words		Organize Marketing Ideas & Post in 365 Days Blog		Marketing Goals
Fri	Write 400-500 words		Update Blog Review status file		TBD
Sat	Write 400-500 words		Update Blog Review status file		TBD
Sun	Write 400-500 words		Update Blog Review status file		TBD

So there it is. My small change, but...you never know what can grow out of one small change.

That said...Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." Keri Russell

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...

My Books

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Friday, September 12, 2014

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Monday, September 8, 2014