30 09, 2013

3 C’s to Increase your Writing Productivity

By judythemorgan|2022-09-11T15:22:48-05:00September 30th, 2013|Make Me Think Monday|4 Comments

We moved to Colorado to escape the rush, rush of living in a large urban metropolis. We wanted quiet so I could write more. My husband wanted to be able work on his master’s degree.

We found that quiet in our little town of 377.

So why hasn’t my productivity increased?

Because urban living wasn’t what was eating my writing time.

In this fascinating article “A Call to Disarm Technology & Hype (And Boost Your Writing Productivity)”, the blog writer, L.L. Barkat, suggests the internet and other technology keep us on an “insanely high alert” that ultimately kills our productivity.

Barkat believes “when you let yourself get carried away by the high-alert cycle and give in to its constant interruptions, you lose 10 IQ points in each interruption moment (“the equivalent of not sleeping for thirty-six hours—or double the impact of smoking marijuana”), and it takes you about twenty-five minutes to fully return to your original project.”

All I can say is he’s describing me.

Every notice of new posts from FB, Goodreads, or Twitter and computer alert to new email draws my attention. I end up attending to everything and accomplish nothing. I can’t seem to stop the innate sense that I must know what’s going on!

I’ve come up with three ways to “commit to stopping the hype” as Barkat suggests:

Create Quiet

When I start to write, I turn off my cell phone, no email, no social media, no internet cruising. Cold turkey! Just my desktop that has no internet hook up and me alone in my office.

Peace and quiet and the words flow.

Curtail Social Media

I’m not saying I abandon social media. I’m saying I control social media. Social media is not controlling me.

Following Frances Caballo’s advice on how to eliminate the unintentional hours of wasted time on social media. I’ve set a timer, limiting my social media time. I now use Tweetdeck and HootSuite to schedule tweets and updates. I plan for specific times to socialize via social media like waiting at doctor’s offices, and I routinely analyze how effective social media is for my platform building.

What’s not working, I eliminate. Take that social media!

Clock writing time

I’ve developed a spreadsheet to keep track of my writing hours. Now, just like a server at McDonald’s, I clock in and out.

The first week was a real shocker. Too many days with no clock-ins. If I worked at Mickey D’s, I’d be fired.

Now it’s BICW…Butt In Chair Writing. Every day. No matter what. I clock a minimum of three hours per day.

Amazing how my productivity has improved.

You may or may not agree with Barkat’s premise, but I believe using my three C’s can increase your writing productivity.

YOUR TURN: Has technology adversely affected your writing productivity?

25 09, 2013

HARVEST MOON – One Word Wednesday

By judythemorgan|2013-09-25T06:21:37-05:00September 25th, 2013|one word Wednesday|0 Comments

SOURCE: http://www.space.com/22882-harvest-moon-photos-september-full-moon-2013.html

Anthony Lynch snapped this photo of the 2013 Harvest Moon at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. Lovely isn’t it?

This year’s Harvest Moon arrived on my birthday September 18. The lunar orb lit the night and continued to be awesome for days, which led to some research on the moon.

Here’s what I learned:

The moon rises on average 50 minutes later everyday as the year moves on. The Harvest Moon rises only 30 minutes later. The earlier rise offers more light.
The full moon that rises closest to the autumnal equinox — this year’s official start of autumn was September 22 — is called the Harvest Moon.
The name Harvest probably sprang from the lips of farmers because, in the days before tractor lights, the lamp of the Harvest Moon helped farmers to gather their crops, despite the diminishing daylight hours. As the sun’s light faded in the west, the moon would soon rise in the east to illuminate the fields throughout the night.
Nora Bayes’ and Jack Norworth’s 1903 song titled Shine On Harvest Moon popularized the name. Here’s a great clip of Laurel and Hardy singing and dancing to the tune from their 1939 movie “Flying Deuces.”

A Harvest Moon is not truly bigger, brighter, or more pumpkin-colored than other full moons. It just appears to be.

NASA’s Dr. Tony Phillips explains why: “For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, a low-hanging Moon appears much wider than it really is. A Harvest Moon inflated by the moon illusion is simply gorgeous. The view improves as the night wears on.”

I captured the Harvest Moon with my camera.

Not so great, but you can see some fabulous pictures here.

All these pictures make me think a Harvest Moon would be great setting for a romance scene.

What do you think?

23 09, 2013

Are you a Pogo Writer?

By judythemorgan|2022-09-11T16:14:26-05:00September 23rd, 2013|Make Me Think Monday, Monday Motivations|0 Comments

A writing career is different from other occupations. A writer has to make up their route to success. There’s no policy and procedure manual, no checklist for success. What to do and how to do it is solely up to the individual author.

Each day brings unchartered waters especially in the current, ever-changing face of publishing. There are good days and bad. Success and rejections. The emotional wave is like a roller coaster ride. Up one day. Downhill fast the next.

More than any other job, at least as far as jobs I’ve ever had go, writers control their destiny. At the same time writers can become their own worst enemy.

By that, I mean we tend to sabotage our success.

Or, in the immortal words of POGO, “We meet the enemy and it is us!”

Not familiar with Pogo Possum?

He’s the anthropomorphic comic strip animal created by Walt Kelly in 1948

The poster pictured on the left was created by Mr. Kelly for the first Earth Day in 1971. To read more about POGO and Walt Kelly, click here.

Why do I believe POGO writers can be their own worst enemies? I see signs, and I’ve seen writers who exhibit these characteristics and fail.

You’re a POGO writer if…

1. You spend too much time and energy focused on mimicking the writing and style of some other author.

We’re spinning our wheels and wasting our words when we do this. The publishing world already has Janet Evanovich, J.K. Rowling, Steven King, and Nora Roberts. Their success is their success. You can’t copy and get there! Every writer has his own path to carve.

2. You obsess with following THE RULES.

Don’t get me wrong. THE RULES are important.

Once you understand the basics—things like POV, dialogue, setting, character, plot, theme, etc., you have to trust your instincts and what works for your story.

Rules are very important guidelines. Writing, on the other hand, is an art form that entails experimentation, innovation, and expansion. Don’t be so hung up on THE RULES you lose your own sense of story.

3. You buy into every new way to write or plot that a writing expert suggests.

Learning the craft, and studying with writing experts is important. I’m not arguing it’s not necessary to study writing craft.

Heaven knows I’ve spent a fortune learning from some of the top teachers in writing craft, and I improved my writing skills by leaps and bounds.

I’ve also learned that all the classes and workshops in the world are wasted if I’m not producing.

More importantly, I realize that writing experts don’t always know what’s right for me or my writing process.

Once you find the process that works best with your personality and lifestyle, you need to stick with it.

Btw, if you’re interested, I’d be delighted to share the names of those experts I highly recommend, just email me.

4. You’re unable to take criticism or the flip side-believe everything anyone says about your story.

Either of these positions can be fatal. Critiques and reviews are an essential part of every writer’s life.

No denying bad critiques or reviews hurt. Surviving a brutal criticism or review of your work definitely isn’t for the fainthearted.

You have to develop an elephant hide and learn to weigh the opinions expressed for exactly what they’re worth then make up your own mind.

It is YOUR story, after all.

Strong writers survive…and often produce better stories from hard critiques or bad reviews.

5. You’re not writing.

This sign is the most telling of all.

Who doesn’t struggle with the procrastination parasite from time to time?

But a successful writing career requires disciple and focus. Whether moved by the muse or not, a professional goes to the keyboard or grabs a pencil every day.

I know what you’re thinking. Authors have to promote and develop reader relationships, which cuts into writing time.

Very true, but I would argue that the key to gaining recognition and readership (aka success) is writing the next story.

Do you recognize POGO writer signs in yourself? If so, now that you know, you can defeat the enemy.

Close this browse and get back to writing!

20 09, 2013

Miller Farm Friday: Bella – 1, Chicken Wrangler Sara – 0

By judythemorgan|2013-09-20T06:15:51-05:00September 20th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A guest blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Monday was a little hectic on Miller Farm. I didn’t have time to get the chickens food and water before I had to be at school to play for Chapel so I just let them out.

When I got home an hour later, I went out to fill water jugs and check on the food status. Of course, all the dachshunds went out with me.

Tucker brings his ball out for me to throw as I carry water. Sadie looks for lizards and Coco just follows me around. Bella, on the other hand, finds other ways to occupy herself.

I caught her “playing” with one of our Dr. Seuss birds, but alas, I was too late to rescue it.

As I disposed of the body, I couldn’t really fuss at Bella. The chickens have been warned not to come over the fence.

I went in to start laundry. I guess Bella felt a little guilty. She decided to “help” me.

How could I be mad at that face!

I sent the picture to Rachel and told her about the reduction in the chicken flock. Her response was “Well it shouldn’t have flown over the fence. Plus this means I can hatch more!”

I told her we still had a billion. She reminded me of chicken math – where for every chicken you lose you have to have at least four more to replace it in case one or more dies or turns out to be a rooster.

I texted her “I’m not listening nananana.” Fortunately, she is off at college and can’t really hatch chickens right now anyway.

Our flock will remain as is unless, of course, some other chicken who didn’t witness the demise of the gray Dr. Seuss bird and decides to fly over the fence.

13 09, 2013

Hardest Question of the Day – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2013-09-13T06:09:17-05:00September 13th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The Miller Farm reached a milestone this summer – we now have 5 drivers and 5 cars which would be fine if we actually lived on a farm with lots of room. We actually live on a busy street in the middle of town. There were many mornings this summer when everyone was home that we played “musical cars.”

Fortunately for the neighbors, unfortunately for the parents, the whole family is seldom at home simultaneously.

Our oldest daughter’s car, named Pepe, started having problems. We sent her back to school with a more reliable car and planned to get hers fixed.

I didn’t mind driving Pepe, even if it meant coaxing Pepe into starting at times. It did make trips to the grocery store a little challenging. I usually park in the same spot each Monday when I shop.

One week, however, someone was in my spot. Apparently they didn’t get the memo.

Anyway, I was in Pepe and in a different spot, which meant I had to remember where I parked the car. That’s pretty much the hardest question of every day for me.

I texted my husband and told him if I wasn’t home in two hours to send out a search party.

Pepe finally reached a point where he needed mechanical attention. We took him to our friend to do the work and our friend loaned us a car to use. This family has small children and seeing the doll shoe in the back seat and the waffle fry on the floor reminds me of days long gone.

I took this borrowed car to the feed store today to get quail food. The procedure at the feed store is to go inside to the counter and place your order. The order is sent to the warehouse and then brought to your car.

The clerk at the counter always asks “What are you driving today?” Another hard question for me to answer some days. I was very proud of myself for being able to answer that question correctly the first time.

I’ve seen advertisements for computer programs that are basically brain puzzles. They are supposed to exercise your brain and improve your memory. I ‘ve decided my brain gets enough exercise just living day to day on Miller Farm.

11 09, 2013

9-11

By judythemorgan|2023-09-07T08:28:55-05:00September 11th, 2013|one word Wednesday|0 Comments

If you read Monday’s blog, you recognize today’s word:

TRIGGER DATE

I’m sure today’s date will trigger memories for you like it does for me.

My husband worked in New York City for many years.

Our photo albums are filled with pictures of our many trips to the city.

None of our pictures can erase the scenes from what happened on September 11, 2001.

To those who lost so much on that day, I send Abraham Lincoln’s words:

9 09, 2013

Dates Trigger Emotions So Should Your Writing: 5 Ways to Write for Emotional Impact

By judythemorgan|2013-09-09T06:07:50-05:00September 9th, 2013|Make Me Think Monday|2 Comments

Years after something happens, whether we were part of the event or not, we recall and react.

I sent out a questionnaire to friends and family asking them to recall dates that spark memories. The responses were surprising and predictable at the same time. Dates and events in the list below appeared multiple times.

December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor
November 25, 1963 Kennedy Assassination
August 22, 1966 Charles Whitman shooting from University of Texas Tower
April 04, 1968 MLK Assassination
January 28, 1986 Challenger Explosion
November 9, 1989 Fall of Berlin Wall
August 31, 1997 Princess Di dies in car accident
April 20, 1999 Columbine High School CO shootings

These two only appeared on one responder’s list and reading the dates jogged my memory.

October 14, 1987 Baby Jessica falling down the well in TX
February 1, 1991 Start of Iraq War and the protests

Another responder labeled their list: “Things not ingrained by exact date, but by what they were.”

The list included: Branch Davidian Complex Raid; Last Episode of MASH; Sandy Hook; Gabby Gifford’s’ shooting; the non-concession speech of Al Gore in 2000; the election of Obama (#1); the eventual concession of Gore in 2000; The Lewinski stuff with Clinton; The OJ Trial; The Ellen Show where her character ‘came out

A thought provoking list that brought back memories and some strong feelings for me.

Another responder offered strong memories triggered by thinking about certain dates.

“Nov 22 1963. Kennedy assassination. I was working in the music dept on UT campus. Someone had a radio on and we heard the news. I ran to student union to watch it on TV. Later I went home and worked on a theme (book report) that was due on the “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad. Mournful weekend.”

“9-11-01. Home drinking coffee in our sun room with news on TV. Watched second plane hit towers. Didn’t turn off TV for days.”

“August 22 1966. Charles Whitman shooting from tower. I was in Dallas on job interview, but hadn’t moved from Austin yet. Heard on radio. Not sure if it was Aug. 22 or 26. I didn’t know my husband then but he was on campus and took shelter in the student union. I recalled that at that time of day I would have been walking right across the mall for lunch, but I had taken that day off to go to Dallas.”

I’ve coined a phrase to define times that linger in our memories and by simple recall produce an emotional reaction.

TRIGGER DATES

As fiction writers, we must use trigger dates in our writing a way that our readers experience our characters’ fear and feel joy and become angry or excited and know grief. Readers should laugh and cry, shiver and rage. All from reading our story.

Why do we need to write for emotional impact?

Two BIG reasons: So readers will remember our characters and come back again and again. So readers recommend our stories or write positive reviews for our novels.

How does a writer write for emotional impact? I offer five ways:

Through Character action and response

No reporting a character is afraid or giddy or grieving. Show through the character’s actions.

Create a sympathetic character

As a story evolves, the reader must know and relate to the characters. If you put the reader in the character’s place, the reader will experience a physical response—laughter or tears or shivers—as if whatever happened to your character has actually happened to them.

Write conflict into every scene

Don’t be afraid of killing off someone close to your main characters or taking away something else dear to them. This is fiction; you’re not really hurting someone if you do mean things to your characters. When characters are agitated, readers will be too.

Choose words to evoke emotion.

Words are our trigger dates. Use harsh or sharp words for the harsher emotions, soft-sounding and soft-meaning words for gentle emotions.

Use sensory details to immerse readers in the reality of the scene.

What can your character hear and smell? What does a change in sight or sound mean? Using all the senses puts your reader there in the story.

YOUR TURN: Did reading the Trigger Date list stir emotions for you? If you’re a writer, how do you trigger your reader’s emotions?

6 09, 2013

Hen in a Hive – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2013-09-06T07:06:11-05:00September 6th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The first thing I saw when walking out to get eggs last week was a chicken’s head coming up out of an empty bee hive box like a Jack-in-the-box.

I guess you could call it a “Hen-in-a-hive.”

Of course, I didn’t have my phone/camera with me, and I was unable to coax her back into the hive when I came back out with a camera.

The next day when I went out to get the eggs, I carried my phone. I asked for volunteers, but no one raised their wing.

I didn’t worry. I knew eventually the hen would be going back in the hive because every day there is at least one egg in there.

It is always a white egg, which means it came from a white chicken.

Lest you think you understand chickens and eggs, green eggs do not come from green chickens nor do blue eggs come from blue chickens. Color coordination only works with the white eggs and white leghorn hens.

Speaking of the white leghorn hen, you may remember this is the hen who took us on the great “Chicken Hunt.” That’s why I was unable to catch her to put her in the hive for a picture. She’s the escape artist!

Then yesterday I saw her head coming out of the hive again. This time I ran inside to get my phone.

Poor thing! She’s one confused hen.

But as Beekeeper Brian pointed out, at least she is laying her eggs in our yard.

4 09, 2013

Blueberries – One word Wednesday

By judythemorgan|2013-09-04T06:20:26-05:00September 4th, 2013|Uncategorized|0 Comments

I found blueberries leftover from our Labor Day picnic shoved back into the recesses of my refrigerator.

I couldn’t let them go to waste.

So I dug out my recipe box.

Yep, that’s the bear firecrackers you see in the basket on the table. We’re ready if Mr. Bear 2013 comes again.

The overstuffed recipe notebook and file box hold some very old recipes. I leafed through cobblers, pies, and coffee cakes among the vintage recipes. Some handwritten from family and friends that are now in Heaven. Nothing appealed to me until I found a recipe that called Lemony Raisin Bars and wondered what it would taste like with blueberries. I thought why not!

I mixed the base/crust. Yummy oats and walnuts.

Then mashed the mixture into a 9×12 pan.

Next, I prepared the sauce—heated condensed milk and lemon juice. Also yummy but less healthy, I realize.

I stirred the sauce over the blueberries.

Then poured the blueberry sauce over the crust, topped with remaining oats and walnut mixture, and baked for thirty minutes at 375 degrees. Je l’ai!

A lovely blueberry dessert that is somewhat healthy and tastes delicious topped with homemade ice cream.

Here’s the full original recipe if you want to try it:

Lemony Raisin Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups raisins (I use Craisins or the blueberries did turn out good)

1 can (14-oz.) sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

1 cup butter or margarine

1-1/3 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups oats

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

HEAT oven to 375 F

1. In saucepan, COMBINE raisins/Craisins [do not combine blueberries they’ll cook up soft], sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and lemon rind.

COOK and stir over medium heat just until bubbly. Cool slightly.

2. In bowl, COMBINE butter, brown sugar, and vanilla; beat well. ADD flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Stir in oats and walnuts.

3. RESERVE 3/4 cups of the combined oat mixture for topping.

4. PRESS remaining mixture into 13×9-inch greased pan.

5. SPREAD raisin/Craisins/blueberry mixture to within 1/2 inch of edges.

6. SPRINKLE with reserved oat mixture; press lightly.

Now, if you find fresh blueberries hiding in your refrigerator, you have options!

2 09, 2013

It’s Labor Day – Celebrate

By judythemorgan|2013-09-02T06:39:28-05:00September 2nd, 2013|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

If you’ve read my blog for long, you know I like to celebrate holidays with facts and vintage cards.

First the facts…

The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885, Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country with parades and speeches.

In 1894, it became an official federal holiday.