In December, we asked you to write a diary entry from the view point of an elf.

Judy Crowder sent this winning entry:

Dear Diary,

Here's a copy of my letter to Santa, dated 12/12:

Yo, Big Guy,

Remember my warning before you dashed off to the scratch-and-dent Barbie sale? December is never a good time to leave the workshop!

Don't count on Blitzen Christmas Eve. Some stable elf left his stall door unlatched and Blitz was true to his name. He found Dexter's alcohol stash, then partied with Vixen and Cupid. After that, he did the Merry Christmas Mambo with Dancer. He's grounded, in his stall with a hot water bottle and two aspirins.

Things haven't been peachy in the toyshop, either. Drippy and Flashy took a long lunch hour, leaving that rookie elf, Bumbly, in charge of the assembly line. The Muppet toys all came out anatomically correct, the talking Britney dolls need to have their mouths washed out with Clorox and the Little Policeman Taser Guns really work.

As of this morning all the Etch-a-Sketch subcontractors are on strike until they get keys to the "Execuclaus" rest room. Mrs. C. wasn't here to charm them back to work. She's at Victoria's Secret Midnight Madness Sale.

In Closing, don't leave the Naughty Or Nice List to me ever again! After recording the Republicans, I had barely enough room to list the incorrigibles, like the alter boy who picks his nose and the little girl who makes crank calls from the principal's desk phone.

I'm taking three Tylenol PM and hitting the hay. Don't wake me until January!

Regards,

McTool Management,

Elf in Charge

Judy Crowder grew up in California, has a B A in journalism and was a preschool teacher. She writes book reviews for Children's Lit.com--no pay, but she keeps the books and donates them to schools. She loves reading, doll and teddy bear making, antique cars and writing. Judy belongs to a serious writing group in Morehead City, NC. Married to Larry, a Marine ecologist, Judy has three grown children and two Scotties.

After a full day of work, family and life, you fall into bed exhausted. Mentally ticking off your to-do list, you cycle through shopping lists, phone calls, appointments, feeling good about what you have gotten done, until you get to the thing you really want to do. You lay there, bathed in regret - why didn't you get your writing done today? You vow to do it tomorrow. You will make time for your novel or that article you know would sell. You consider angles, write a few lines in your head, and fired up with enthusiasm for your writing, you fall asleep. The next day continues on much like the one before and you live the life of an unfulfilled writer, all because you do not do the simple work of making time to write.

The task of finding and dedicating time for your writing can be daunting. Many people who want to write identify this as the number one challenge - finding time. How can you give yourself more time when there are a limited number of hours in the day plus housework, family, a job, and other personal or professional obligations to fulfill? You can't create more hours in your day but you can restructure the ones you have to make more time for your writing. As a writer and a coach for writers, I have identified some of the reasons behind the challenge and offer some ways to get around the lack of time excuse.

Often the "lack of time" is really a mask for writing fears. The work of writing, while satisfying, can be difficult to make time for. We put it off to do the easier things, the things we know how to do. Think about the things you do when you are procrastinating getting to the writing. Do you clean, cook, or exercise? Do you spend your valuable writing time reading or watching TV? The act of writing challenges us to dive into ourselves and come out with something tangible. This is not easy. Notice when you are resisting and when you really do not have time to write.

There are a limited number of hours in the day, but often we give away our passion and power by forgetting that we can always choose what to do with our time. I can hear you saying, "Well, I have my job, and then I have my family, and kids, and all these other obligations." Your roles become more powerful than you are because you believe you have no choice in the matter. Certainly dinner needs to be served. Certainly you have other commitments that you need to honor. But who decided that your writing wasn't as important as everything else? What would life be like if your passions had a place in the schedule as well? What difference would it make to the people in your life if you staked a claim for your writing? Hmmm...

With the help of a perspective shift, you may realize that your writing is important, too. Perhaps in your mind it has been important, but you haven't taken that extra step to actually make space for it. Without space, your writing becomes a burden on your back, something you want to do but can't. You then become a victim of your life. No fun.

Look at the following ways to restructure your time both internally and externally. Then try out a few of them and see what works for you.

Get in the habit of writing in short bursts of time. Give yourself ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes to write and then learn how to make the most of those bursts of writing. This means sidestepping the wandering or procrastination that distract you from writing.

Wake up early. Set your alarm twenty minutes early and give yourself that time to write. If the thought of getting up earlier makes you cringe, try giving yourself time at the end of the day.

Do you watch TV? Give it up and give yourself more time to write. Many people use TV as a way to zone out and relax at the end of the day, but isn't there a better way to relax and be entertained? Yes! Use your writing to relax. Which leads me to...

Reframe the way you think about writing. Of course the art of writing is work, but if you think of it as drudgery and something that requires a lot of you, you are missing out on the rejuvenating aspects of the practice.

Whenever you do get a chance to write, take a minute when you are finished and write down three words that describe how you feel after writing. Use these words as a lure to get you to the page when you feel tired or uninspired.

Take part of your lunchtime to write. Or, use your allotted coffee or smoke breaks to slip away from work and scribble a few lines.

The real issue is often time management. We may have enough time but do not use it in a way that honors our priorities. What are your priorities? If you are not showing up for your writing, maybe it isn't a priority. What else is going on in your life that is more compelling than writing? Take a moment now to jot down where you spend your time. What do you notice about your priorities?

Once you have a clear picture of where your time goes, how do you feel about it? Does the way you spend your time reflect what is important to you? Work and other obligations seem more fixed and indeed they may be for now, but where else can you make decisions to get writing into your life?

Perhaps your topic or project isn't seductive enough. I have been working on the same project for years now, and there were times when I just wasn't interested. I gave myself a break, knowing that I would come back to it. Now I have an angle on it that is compelling and fun and I am more eager to make time for it. How can you approach your project in a way that would entice you to make time for it? How do you find a writing project that earns your time and attention?

Play with an entirely new perspective. Let go of the idea of you as a writer. Perhaps now that you are clear about how you spend your time you are happy with it. Maybe you have realized that you really don't want to make the effort to write at this point after all. How free would you feel if you let yourself off the hook for having the writing urge and not having the time to indulge it?

Try a tool I use with my clients. Imagine giving up writing, and the idea of writing. I call it 'taking away the bone.' Think of a dog with a bone. Imagine trying to grab the bone from the dog's mouth. The dog will hang onto that bone for dear life. If the thought of losing your writing urge makes you want to grab onto it even tighter, it could be a signal that you need to do what it takes to make writing a priority in your life. Commit to yourself as a writer, get clear about your writing projects, and let it happen.

About the Author:

Cynthia Morris of Original Impulse helps writers and visionaries make their brilliant ideas a reality. Author of Create Your Writer's Life: A Guide to Writing with Joy and Ease, and Go For It! Leading Tours for Fun and Profit, Cynthia coaches from Boulder.

Read more articles by: Cynthia Morris

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=204213&ca=Writing

Article published on November 27, 2007 at iSnare.com

Top Genres of 2007

Bookhitch Index: Surprising Results for the Most Searched Genres of the Year

Most Searched Genres of 2007:

1. Romance

2. Fiction (General)

3. Science Fiction

4. Cooking

5. History

6. Education

8. Religion

9. Poetry

10. Medical

According to bookhitch search data Fiction has topped the most searched genres for 2007, holding the top 3 spots. This shows that we all enjoy the occasional escape from reality. Still, Non-Fiction came in close taking up the last 7 positions.

The U.S. made up most of the viewing public, closely followed by Canada, the U.K., France, the Netherlands and Sweden. Nevertheless, these results reflect the viewing habits of over 100 countries that have visited bookhitch in 2007.

About Us

bookhitch is a book portal designed to connect authors, publishers, and readers. The company was developed to fit the growing needs of authors and publishers within the industry, offering readers one site where they can find all books.

This year alone we received over 1 million hits to bookhitch and have worked with over 2,000 publishers (including Industry leaders) and authors to list their books on our search engine. Bookhitch is opt-in so that publishers and readers can direct consumers to where they would like their books to be purchased.

For More Information Contact

Emma Ward

eward@bookhitch.com

845-463-0024

Spring Book Show 2008 Focused Seminar 2

"Preparing Your Book for the Market: Writing the Proposal and Editing the Manuscript"

March 29, 2008-Georgia World Trade Center, Atlanta Georgia

Patricia Fry, president, Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network (SPAWN), speaks on "Preparing a Killer Proposal To Market Your Manuscript to Publishers," and Bobbie Christmas, author of Write In Style, a triple-award-winning textbook on creative writing and owner of Zebra Communications, a book-editing firm based in metro Atlanta, explains how to find ways to make your writing more creative and more marketable.

Details and signup information: www.anvilpub.net/spring_seminar_2.htm

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Winter Writing for Publication Classes with Christina Katz

Two classes with Christina Katz begin on February 13th, Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff and, the brand new, Targeting Your Best Writing Markets. Christina has taught writing for publication to hundreds of students over the past seven years. By learning how to work hard and get published, her students position themselves for publication in national magazines and nonfiction book deals. These are the first two six-week classes in a series of four. Space is limited.

More at www.writersontherise.com/classes.html

Class Descriptions:

Writing and Publishing The Short Stuff - Especially For Moms (Dads Welcome too)!

Finally, a writing workshop that fits into the busy lives of moms! You will learn how to create short, easy-to-write articles-a skill that will make it easier to move up to longer, more time-consuming articles when you're ready. Try your pen at tips, fillers, short interviews, list articles, how-tos, and short personal essays-all within six weeks. Classes begin February 13, April 16, August 20 and October 8, 2008. Cost: $175.00.

Targeting Your Best Writing Markets

Learning to sift through and analyze markets is one of the biggest challenges of launching a writing career. This class will help you tackle the markets head on while covering: idea management, how to discover your best audiences, how to allow those audiences to lead you to fresh ideas, how to break a magazine down into the key areas that matter most to freelancers, and how to start specializing right away so your career will achieve lift-off faster. Classes begin February 13 and August 20, 2008. Cost: $175.00.

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Creative Nonfiction Submissions Wanted

Two Hawks Quarterly, the literary journal published by the Antioch University undergrad writing program, is seeking creative nonfiction/memoir submissions for their next issue.

Guidelines can be found at: www.aulapress.com

Check out our site and send us your best pieces!

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Debra Mullins is excited to announce the release of her latest book, The Night Before the Wedding. Published by Avon, the book goes on sale January 30th and can be pre-ordered at www.amazon.com

You can read an excerpt of The Night Before the Wedding and learn more about Debra by visiting her web site: www.debramullins.com

Congratulations, Deb! I have to admit I'm partial to Debra because not only is she an amazing writer, she's also a dear friend. She moved to California and I miss her terribly! I'm also honored to say that the heroine of her second book, Donovan's Bed, was named after my daughter Sarah. We call her Sassy and the hero in the book calls the heroine Sassy. The book was published in 2000 and my Sassy was only 8. She'll be 16 this year, but she still has a few more years to go before I'll let her read the book - LOL

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I read an interesting piece in the February issue of Writer's Digest by Sheryl Kane (pg.20).

Sheryl talks about how you can apply to live in a national park as a guest. The program is called Artist-In-Residence and 29 National Parks participate.

To learn more, pick up the February issue of Writer's Digest or you can check out: www.nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm

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PNWA Literary Contest

Deadline: February 22, 2008

For features, categories and rules, please visit: www.pnwa.org

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Thriller Fest - July 9-12 - Grand Hyatt - NYC

2008 ThrillerMaster - Sandra Brown

For more information: www.thrillerwriters.org

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Bobbie Christmas is the "Book Doctor" and Author of Write In Style, a triple-award-winning textbook for writers of fiction and nonfiction, available wherever books are sold.

Bobbie loves to receive questions from writers and offer her expert advice. If you have any questions you need answered, please e-mail her at: Bobbie@zebraeditor.com

For the latest Q&A with Bobbie, go to AskTheBookDoctor on the CS4W site.

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If you have an announcement you would like to share with us, please send it to me at: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com with "announcement" in the subject line.

I love to hear from you!

Peace,

Sandy

email: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com

phone: 732-364-3993

web: http://www.coolstuff4writers.com