Today is Mother’s Day, a day when the general focus is on the loving, nurturing, self sacrificing image of the Good Mother. In literature, this figure provides our story with a sense of balance. She might be the embodiment of wisdom or the unconditional love. We all have our favorite good mother figures; the fairy godmothers, the pure-hearted queens, the women who lead their communities into action or dispense sage advice. But it’s her darker side that you can count on to really get things moving.Image by LordAlphie
(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit WOW! Women On Writing for lively interviews and how-tos. Check out WOW!'s Classroom and learn something new. Find jobs on the Freelance Job Board. Enter the Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest. Open Now!.jpeg?picon=893)
By: Robyn Chausse,
on 9/10/2011
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Writer's Tips, Robyn Chausse, finding time to write, structured creativity, Add a tag
I’m one of those people who, for better or worse, tends to place everyone else’s needs first. Therefore, if I have any other “work” to do I will put my time into that before I ever spend time on my own projects. The consequences, of course, are that “my” projects are ignored. I hold my creative children hostage against other duties. When all my other work is done I will spend time with them…if there is still time.
Apparently I am not the only writer feeding her children with spare chunks of time. Last Saturday Elizabeth alluded to the same habit of imprisoning her projects in the desk drawer until she had time for them. It is curious…we become writers because we have a creative drive, a story to tell, a soul longing for expression—and then we push all of that aside to attend to what “really” needs to be accomplished.
Knowing that I have this tendency, I recently joined a Friday morning creativity group. Every Friday morning we meet via phone or Internet for a brief chat and then dedicate the next forty minutes to our separate creative endeavors. This “appointment” makes me schedule time for my own pursuits. I’ve found that setting these dates with my creative children enriches my relationship with them and with my soul. The children grow, my soul feels acknowledged, and I have a sense of peace and fulfillment.
If you are like me and have difficulty scheduling time for your own projects try setting regular dates with a friend. You can meet via phone or Internet and agree to spend the next half hour on your separate projects. Knowing that someone else is expecting you to show up might just be the extra nudge you need.
(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit WOW! Women On Writing for lively interviews and how-tos. Check out WOW!'s Classroom and learn something new. Find jobs on the Freelance Job Board. Enter the Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest. Open Now!
By: Robyn,
on 6/12/2010
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: positive attitude, mental clarity, Writer's Tips, summer office tips, healthy tips, Make Your Writing Space Focus-Friendly, Add a tag
Have you been having trouble getting into your groove--your writing groove that is? Days when the heart is willing but the mind won't follow? When the season changes from grey to golden we tend to blame Spring Fever and maybe we're right. We are, after all, creatures of nature and as such our biological selves need a change of season and a shift of habit. If you've been finding yourself in a focus-funk, here are some tips to make your writing time focus-friendly.
A change of scenery inside will help connect you to the change of season outside. Shift the mood of your work area by adding a flowering plant, a fish bowl filled with shells, or a bubbling fountain. You could also convert a screened in porch or unused guestroom into a "summer office".
Pay attention to lighting. We are drawn to the sun. If your office is dim your focus will go right out the window, literally.
Keep the temperature comfortable, you will feel less sluggish in a cooler room. A small fan under your desk will help to circulate the air without the cost of lowering the thermostat.
Balance the humidity. If you are having headaches, your eyes are scratchy or you find your vision blurring the cause could be dry air. Keep a cool air humidifier in your work area; just be sure it isn't too close to your computer.
Drink more pure water. Our mental process works in an electrical-type fashion. Water, being a great conductor, is vitally important to clear thinking. In addition, if you are dehydrated your muscles will tend to be sore and your digestion sluggish decreasing your ability to focus. If you don't like the taste of water try adding a slice of citrus fruit or try another brand. Some water is more alkaline than others and tends to taste better.
Use essential oils to stimulate the mind. Essential oils work with the body to produce physical effects. Citrus scents and those from the mint family such as peppermint and rosemary will help clear the head and lift the spirit. Fill a reed diffuser with your favorite blend or just keep a bottle of your favorite scent nearby for sniffing.
Listen to classical music to enhance concentration and memory; the effects are beneficial even when the music is played at low volume.
Change your clothes. If you've been doing other things be it another job, washing the car or running errands a quick rinse off and change of clothes can help shift you out of the previous mindset and into work mode.
Have a great tip for staying focused? Share it with your friends at WOW! here in the comment section.
I too suffer from this affliction. Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.
Thanks for this post, Robyn. Having regular meetings with a friend and working together (even if each of you have different projects) is such a nice idea. It's an added push when you share the same goal with someone. You can both get busy doing your own projects but you have a common goal; it's like working together but in a different way :)
Hi Linda and Shyxter,
Thank you for your comments!
I'm actually wondering if this same idea could help me finally get the garage organized!