HOW I can



picture from: thesaleslion.com

 I went to a writing class a few weekends ago and the facilitator asked a deep question (well, it was deep to me anyway). She asked, "What would you have accomplished if writing was your full time job?"

Well at first I said (to myself), "Duh! I'd have several books completed and I'd be touring right now."

Then she elaborated. She asked what personal accomplishments would be under your belt? What things would you be doing as a part of your normal day? Would you be taking yoga each morning before you wrote? Would you spend every third Wednesday manning the phones at the support center? Would you be taking those cooking classes that you keep talking about?

It seems we always plan the activities for "when we get there" (wherever "there" is).  When we get the better job. When we've saved a few more dollars. When little Johnnie and Susie graduate high school. There are so many thing that we can do NOW that we put off until "the time is right". Why aren't you doing those things now? Is it money? Time? Energy? Really think about it and figure out why you aren't doing those things.

Pick something -- that one thing that you really want to do. It can be big or small, that doesn't matter. Now that you are thinking about that thing, can you do it? Really, take away the excuses and figure out HOW you can. Don't think about the "why you can't". Only think about the "HOW I can".

I'll let you in on a little secret. Going to that class was a HOW I can. Moneywise, timewise, energywise and just plain "worthywize" I couldn't see how in the world I could fit some writing classes into my life. Once I decided to do it, it was easy.

I found a writing group a little bit outside of where I live. It's not a formal group. Some meetings it's twenty people. Some meetings its four. Sometimes there's a formal presentation with a guest and finger sandwiches. Sometimes there a copied, copy of a copy that you read on your own and you ask for a breath mint from the person next to you. The ladies aren't "formal" writers (there has been a guy there twice). Each of them writes in their own time, at their own pace. They will critique your work if you'd like or they'd just smile at you as you come in and leave. You can talk during the meeting if you want or just keep to yourself. There are older members and there are really young members. There's one young lady that's 16 in the group. She's written and published 2 books. The oldest member is publishing her first book this summer. It's a "just as you are" group and it's wonderful.

So far I've been to a few meetings. Each time we pay $5 in dues. They told me that they've never had a big time speaker of their own but they have traveled together to see big time speakers. I've only been there for one formal speaker but I traveled with them to a workshop just outside of Atlanta.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because I received an email last night from one of the members. She told us that she was moving from her home and going to stay with a friend in NYC. She had found an agent there and was going to work part time during the day and offer workshops in the evenings and Saturday's. She already has workshops booked for June, July and August.

I was jealous. I really was. Why wasn't it me sending that email? Well, except the part about NYC. I don't want to live there. It gets too cold in the winter. The "It shoulda been me" song (my fave version) went through my head and I got a little sad. But, I kept a stiff upper lip and sent an email back telling her how happy I was for her and I wished her the best. She emailed me back and told me that she expected me to send the same note as soon as I started using my "HOW I can"s.

Lissa, I'm going to start using my HOW I can right now. Save me a spot on the workshop roster for next summer!

But The GPS Said To Turn Left!!

My original reason for blogging was just to talk. I wanted to have a voice and say something. Sometimes it would be funny (if only in my head) and sometimes it would be serious. Blogging was my only platform. It was my only platform because I didn't take the time to sit down, weave the words together into chapters and the chapters into books. Blogging for me, was easier and quicker and didn't require book cover art. Blogging allowed me to hide instead of yell out who I am. I practiced safe blogging so that no one could critique what I wrote. I changed names to protect the innocent (well, mainly to protect me). And that worked very well for quite some time.

Then I started to write books. I sat down, put yarn on the loom and began to write all kinds of gooey, goopy, hot and steamy words. And when I had written a lot of words I wrote THE END and put it on the shelf. Then, I started another group of words, even steamier than the first. This one will be one that I will force the world to read. Yep, I'm going to club people over the head and force them to read love stories.

Which brings me to my prior hiatus.

Writing and blogging at the same time can be difficult. You want to do your best with both things. You feel guilty about not blogging because you were writing and then you feel guilty because you took time away from writing to blog. And Lord help you if you take time away from either to have a life outside. You feel guilty all the way around and you poor people miss out, you know, all three of you.

Since blogging can be an ugly mistress, I am going to try to do better with my blogging. I'm going to attempt to spend more time with her, tell her how pretty she is and buy her nice things (like better clip art and stuff). But I am going to ask her to change just a little bit. You know, the way you tell your boyfriend that you love him just the way he is and then grumble once you're married and tell him to pick up his own damned underwear -- the same underwear you've picked up for 4 years.

I'm going to include more about writing and how it affects my life. Yes, I'll still mention the light hearted randomness that goes on in my life. I hope you find it just as enjoyable 'cause I'll be just as snarky but in a more focused direction.

Well, maybe. Once can never really tell, can you?

It's Not You, It's Me.

I'll give you a sneak peek into my life.

You should be honored. I don't show people my soul very often.

It's explains my neglect of blogging (kinda).

I've been writing.

A book.

A cheesy, fluffy romance novel that you can read in 3 hours.

It's not life changing (well, it is for me).

It's not a wow, epiphany moment.

It's just girl meets boy, they decide they like each other, they 'do it' (cue fireworks), they meet families, they 'do it' some more (cue more fireworks), there's some fake complication, it gets worked out and then they get engaged.

55,000 words of fluffy goodness. Almost like a fluffernutter sandwich.

And when I'm done, well I'm not sure what I'll do, except probably write another one, and then another one, and then one day it's what I'll do all the time.

Sitting on my sunny patio, with my laptop and a mocho-choco-latte-ya-ya, typing out a romance to be sappier than all other romances -- that's what I want to do when I grow up.

It's what my passion is -- to write fluff. I want to give the world 3 - 6 hours of gooey, warm goodness and then let it go on it's way. You see, anyone that knows me knows that I'm all happy happy. I don't even like to watch sad movies (so no Tall Girl, I did not watch The N0teb00k. I gave it back).

So that's what I've been doing and why I've been so neglectful. Hopefully you can understand. And if you can't understand, then I understand.

Well, no, not really. If you don't understand, then I totally don't understand. But it's okay.

It's not right, but it's okay. I'm gonna do it anyway.

Planning For The Future (with Paperdolls)

One of my "bookies" gave me a Mark Hansen (of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame) "Wealth Writers" seminar DVD. It had some very good takeaways.

One takeaway is that I am supposed to make a dream/vision board. One for my goals in life and one for any book that I am writing. Needless to say, it means not doing any work and googling clip art all day. The board for each book as I write it seems like a great idea. You use sticky notes for each chapter and points within each chapter (dialog/actions, etc.). I don't know why I didn't think of it myself.

However, I've been resistant to doing a d/v board for goals in my life because to me is seems like a gateway drug for paperdolls. I'm a list gal myself and adding pictures to the list, well, seems like something the Princess did when she was 8. Still, I'm game for almost anything that may assist in making myself the famous romance novelist that I fancy myself to be. So, google images, here I come.

I also have to make 101 life goals in 20 minutes. No, not the same as my 101 things in 1001 days. These 101 in 20 minutes goals are things like become debt free, buy a house, stop stalking famous song producers - stuff like that - a complete bucket list, not just things to do within the next 2 1/2 years. Once you've completed each thing you take a purple pen and write "victory" next to the item. Mark claims to have thousands of things on his list. I guess so if you put every thing that you think of down. But, I've got 20 minutes to kill. Here goes.

(clock goes from 2:50pm - 3:10pm).

Ok, I'm back. I managed to write down 56 things. They are pretty good. Now, it's your turn. YOU make 101 life goals in 20 minutes. Keep the list. Post it somewhere. Add to it.

AND, while we're at it, make a d/v board . If I gotta do it, so do you! I'll post the pics tomorrow.

I'm working on several "101 things in 1001 days". It's not as easy as it sounds (well, I guess that was kinda the point).

I like the fact that I made a list and published it. It holds me accountable. It makes me want to do better -- be better. It makes me want to hurry up and finish 10 things just to prove I'm really doing something. I keep a copy of the list posted near my desk at home and a copy in my purse. Every time I do something little towards something on my list, I pull it out and make notes. It gives me a really warm feeling.

So...what have I been working on? I'm so glad you asked!


Blog 75% of the 1001 days - (8/16) 50%, not good. I'm working on it.

Develop a skin care regime - I've been studying my skin. I went to my Clinique lady, found out what she recommended and then went to my Avon lady and bought it.

Cook 35 new dinners - (1) It's a start.

Comment on 72 random blogs - (8) I didn't want them to be frivolous. I wanted them to be meaningful. It's easy to comment on just any 72!

Host a movie night - It's planned. I'll let you know next week how it goes!!

List 101 things that make me happy - (68)

Read 72 books - I'm working on 2. I'm almost done with one. AND I joined a book club.

Watch 10 complete BBC series - (1) Mapp & Lucia - nothing exciting. Typical British humor, but I liked it (it was British, duh!).

Save $1.00 per day - ($16) actually I put in a $20 when I got paid. It's easier and I'll save more.

Complete 101 random acts of kindness (1)

Of course there are other things that I am working on (in my mind). I have several recipes that I have written down and I'm keeping my eye out for the juicer to go on sale. I think I'm going to reward myself with something for each 10 items I finish. Not something big, something little. Maybe a pedicure or something. Yeah, I'll let you know.

Have you been working on YOUR 101? Did you even start? Get busy. After you write it and begin working toward the finish line, you'll feel really good.