Writing Through the Distractions...of Life

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Most of us are familiar with the regular, run-of-the-mill distractions that rob us of our productivity and wreak havoc with our peace.
The constantly ringing phone, the barking dog begging for attention, the kids at war with one another, the numerous requests to find lost items by our loved ones.
Not to mention the countless hours enslaved to social media, and "the next shiny object" syndrome.

But, what about the difficult stuff that touches our lives that drains us and causes us to lose our focus and direction?

• A good friend suffers bad health
• Someone you know dies unexpectedly
• You lose all your online projects due to a devastating computer virus
• A financial set-back sabotages your creative game plan 
• A divorce hits home

Let's face it: more than most jobs, creative writing requires concentration, dedication, and motivation.
Wouldn't you agree?
And one thing's for certain...if you're experiencing more "internal conflict" than the characters in your stories, you've got a problem.
Still, sometimes the worst happens to the best of us.
Life's periodic blows can "sucker punch" us, leaving us with little defense.
Unfortunately, I've had one or two of these "bouts" this year.

As such, here's what I've learned in its arena:

• Prayer helps. Remember "this too shall pass." 
• Sometimes the best you can do is the best you can do. Stay in peace.
• Having a supportive network is almost as therapeutic as medicine. Spend quality time with those you care for. They're great morale boosters.
• Even when you can't handle major writing assignments and projects, keep a journal. Often difficult times impart important lessons and fodder for creative pieces for the future. Another way to temporarily capture your thoughts and emotions is to record them on a tape player or other electronic device. Voice recognition software is yet another option.
• In the words of Sarah Palin, "Don't retreat, reload!" Can I be honest here? If you're attempting to write professionally, for pay, most editors don't really care about your personal life...unless you're personal friends. Which means that sometimes we have to bounce back and move on. It may sound harsh, but it's true. Remember the popular slogan in Hollywood..."The show must go on." 
• When possible, have a Plan B. For example, it could include having an "emergency fund" in place, or backing up your computer files, or diversifying your writing and your roster of clients.

Your turn.
How about you?
What do you do when you're "in-the-thick" of it? How do you successfully manage writer's distractions?
What would you add here?

How Cooking Shows Can Feed Your Writing Career

Raise your hand if cooking shows are on your weekly "menu" of must-see T.V. programs.
If they are, move to the head of the class. Because you're on your way to becoming a "hotter" writer in the near future.
The reason? Many dynamics of today's cooking shows can impart important lessons on the creative process; creating the perfect recipe for success.

Not convinced? Read on and see if you'll agree.

As a self-professed "foodie" I dig learning new recipes, coming up with variations on the old standard ones, and discovering useful tips and tricks to "wow" my family and friends.

Which is why I was so elated, in recent years, to find yet another benefit to being a culinary cutie: Cooking relaxes me and feeds my creative spirit too. Who woulda' knew? :-)

In fact, there are many similarities and parallels for these two creative arts.

HERE ARE A FEW:

• Good cooking and good writing both involve incorporating many of the basic senses: touch, sight, sound, for the ultimate experience.
• Both require following directions properly for optimal results. For cooking it could be a Betty Crocker recipe; while for writing it can come in the form of submission guidelines provided by a targeted publication. 
• Good writing and good cooking call for the right balance. Have you ever over seasoned something in preparing a meal? If so, you know why too much of a good thing can be bad. The same holds true for writing. Not having a "balanced" perspective and objectivity can cause others to doubt your credibility and your writing ability. For proper balance, (particularly when doing feature pieces, informative posts and interviews) keep an open mind. Consider all the facts. Read different sources. Research. 
• A clean, organized work area (with both crafts) enhances the creative process and de-clutters thoughts.

With these observations in mind, here are a few things to consider:

• Don't rush results. Quality takes time. When writing, before submitting your final piece to an editor, or releasing it as blog content, let it simmer. Often, if you let things settle for awhile, you come up with new ingredients or modifications that can make your "masterpiece" even better.  
• Never let set-backs hold you back. They're part of the overall learning process. I think I read or heard somewhere that Julia Child failed at her first few tries to gain admittance into culinary school.
• Recognize that shortcuts can sometimes have hazardous results. Whether it's skipping a necessary step or skipping an important detail. Be forewarned.
• Study the masters. They have reached the top of their game for a reason. I often tune into to reruns of Julia Child and Martha Stewart for their expertise in the kitchen. If you're a blogger trying to earn pay for your say, may I suggest Darrren Rowse, Brian Clark, or the bloggers you see as "repeats" on the "Top Bloggers" awards listings?
• Have someone else "sample" it. A second opinion can often bring greater clarity.

Now, let's chew the fat on Cooking Competition shows, (of which I am also a huge fan), and how they can help us turn up the heat on our writing careers.

Take note of the following key practices and principles...

• Time Management--Shows like "Hell's Kitchen" and "Master Chef" often include segments where participants have to successfully prepare a unique dish within a specific time frame to advance in the competition. Usually it's about 30-45 minutes. As such, time management becomes as crucial as cooking savvy. A similar undertaking applies to writing and meeting assignment deadlines and demanding blogging schedules. Knowing how to juggle, prioritize, and work efficiently through distractions can make or break your career.
• Risk Taking--Risk often brings reward. But, it has to be calculated and clever if you're seeking a good R.O.I. (return on investment). For example, on several episodes of these cooking competitions, aspiring chefs try their hand at "experimental' dishes at the wrong time. They don't have enough experience to pull it off, and are ultimately eliminated from the running. Here's the lesson to this...there's a time for experimentation. But it's usually not when the results have great gravity. When it counts, and there's no room for error, write what you know.

 Follow these cooking tips and strategies for the perfect recipe for writing success.

Pen & Prosper Celebrates Five Years in the Blogosphere!

 

I hope this message finds you enjoying a super Saturday! There's so much to celebrate this month...summer break, my birthday, and...drum roll please...my Blogerversary! Yay!

Amid the madness of this busy season and the transition of shifting gears, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for your readership, loyal support, ideas, questions, and thought provoking conversations and comments.

Not many Blogs survive five years; it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and time.

But, I'm so glad we made it.
Was it good for you too? :-)

Let's take a look at some of our journey and what has transpired since its inception:

• This Blog has gone from about one dozen readers to hundreds of readers in about a dozen countries.
• Pen and Prosper has received over 200,000 pageviews since 2009.
• Pen and Prosper took "Top Blogging Awards" in both 2013 and 2014 with recognition by some pretty influential sites.
• Collectively, there have been over 500 posts--between myself and guest bloggers.
•  This blog averages between 40-60 comments per month.

I still have a way to go, in terms of goals that I've set for my virtual home, so I thank you for your patience "during construction." :-)

Look for posts on an array of fun and informative topics, and a slower "pace" during summer; probably one post per week, (on Sunday or Monday).

You can also look forward to more guest bloggers, book reviews and cool contests!
So stay tuned...the best is yet!

Thanks again to my readers, friends, advertisers, and blogging buddies for your role in my success.

"I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places..." :-)

Smooches,

Jen

P.S. Please consider signing my "guest book" by leaving a comment.

What Every Writer Should Know About Time

"Hold on to your door handle. I'm gonna' try to make this light up ahead," she said to me.

I honestly don't know which speed was greater--that of the accelerating car, or the palpitations of my heart.

My friend was running late. Again. This time for a Sunday morning service at church, where she was scheduled to be on the program. And I got more than I bargained for.

Producing as much adrenaline as an amusement park ride, she did it. We beat the traffic light, in spite of my protests.

She giggled at her death-defying moves, and thought I was being way too concerned about our safety. After all, she's done it before.

Although she is a dear person, whose friendship I value, I'm often on the receiving end of her tardiness, lack of planning, and "adjustments" to compensate for trying to fit everything in.

Unfortunately, she's one of those folks who views time with a distorted lens.
Perhaps you're the same way.

Here's something to consider...

How we value time says a lot about what we "value."
Though it's hard to place a value on intangibles, time is important.
It can add or detract from our quality of life.
And as writers, it's crucial that we manage it well, in order to reach our creative goals, realize our full potential, and not cheat those who deserve our best--be it our families, clients, or our readers.
Wouldn't you agree?

For me, this keen awareness results from the number of people I've known to die in their "prime" or completely unexpectedly. Sometimes due to a random act of violence; other times for health reasons. And sometimes for no "logical" reason that the mind can truly grasp.
Time is not promised.

A dear friend of mine, (Robin Williams) was a perfect example.
We met some years ago when she took a creative class I taught at a community center.
She was extremely bright, articulate, and held a day job as an English teacher.
We evolved into friends, and I had the pleasure of working with her to see some of her pieces published.

To make a long story short, like many folks, she and I lost contact, as our lives got busy and priorities changed. One day out of the blue, I got an email from her, to which I responded.
I promised to call her the next day to catch up, as we exchanged numbers again via email.

The next day, I got an email from one of her relatives stating she died during the night.
I was heart broken.
She left this world with so much promise. So much potential. So many dreams.
We lost a great talent in her. A voice worth hearing.

This serves as a reminder of just how precious and unpredictable life truly is.
In fact, even the Bible addresses the importance of time in various verses and chapters.

With this in mind, I'd like to share a few principles and practices to help you to govern yours more wisely.

1. Recognize that time is a commodity.
For best results, it should be "budgeted" just like money.

2. Do it right the first time.
Devote adequate time and attention to projects on the front-end, to avoid do overs and wasted effort.

3. Stop procrastinating.
"Some day" may never come. Make the most of each day. Check out the Procrastiwriter site for useful tips and tools.

4. Learn to work in conjunction with your body and peak performance times.
Are you an owl or a lark? Assess and address.

5. Recognize that being "busy" is not the same as being productive.
If your creative efforts on any given day don't result in a new client, more followers for your blog, breaking into a new market, finishing a chapter of your book, or increasing your bottom line, you may need a reality check. Should you really be spending 2 hours on Facebook or Twitter every 24 hours? Hello?

6. Seek balance.
Work hard, but play hard too. It will enable you to go the distance.

7. Use your "down time" wisely.
Whether it's waiting for your doctor's appointment, standing in line at the grocers, or your lunch break on your gig. Pen a poem. Read a "how-to" blog post. Write out your goals for next month.
Every little step can move you ahead in your writing journey.

8. Take care of your health.
Although it doesn't "guarantee" longevity, it can definitely increase the odds for a greater lifespan.

9. Learn to prioritize properly.
In these hectic times, it can seem impossible to get everything done within 24 hours. Which is why we need to look at things from a strategic perspective, identifying those tasks on our "to-do list" that are of the greatest importance.

10. Become an early riser.
You'd be amazed at how it can add to your level of productivity and enhance your functioning.
I rise with the birds.


Socrates said it best, "The unexamined life is not worth living."
When you look at yours, as it relates to how you spend your time as a writer, what does it say?


Thoughts?
Which tip resonates with you?

Remembering Maya Angelou...

1928-2014

Her eloquence of expression was known to fans worldwide.
From penning poetry to captivating performances in TV and movie roles.
She had the ability to connect on many levels, resonating with everyone from folks who were "regular" to those who were "regal."

Here's a true testament to her artistic excellence: Even those who would not consider themselves
as legitimate poetry "fans" can often quote a line or two from her popular works, (particularly "Phenomenal Woman").

Her career soared to new heights, in 1970 with her moving memoir, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Chronicling the racism and abuse she experienced in her youth, growing up in the south.
Since its debut, "Caged Bird" has been translated into 17 languages, selling over a million copies.

Maya had true "staying power" in the arts and entertainment industry. For more than five decades, she enjoyed success in an array of different arenas: cabaret singing, dancing with Alvin Ailey, authoring books, and performing on Broadway.

She won numerous Grammy awards, commendations and medals, and was recognized by President Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom--the highest honor granted to civilians.

Maya Angelou epitomized the "Phenomenal Woman."
She will be truly missed...