Write Here in Ephiram!

I'll be there March 9th! I'll be teaching three classes TWICE! I'm so excited! I'll be teaching Story Structure, Master Chapter Outlines and Martial Arts in Writing. I'll have my Book Emergence there for people to buy and I'll sign it if you ask. There'll be some awesome classes and some awesome door prizes. You know you want to.

The most wonderful time of the year . . .

Yes I know the snow is melting and the temperatures where I live are now in the livable range. And Yes I know its not December.

Even better? It's conference season.

Yep, most of the writers conferences are happening between now and summer. There are a few in September and October but that just spreads the joy a little longer.

So if you are gearing up to start the conference season starting this weekend with LTUE in Orem Ut. Or some other conference. I have a few suggestions of what to do and bring to make your time at the whirlwind of people and information better.

One, you need a bag. There's books, bookmarks, business cards, and other stuff that your going to be grabbing. You are also going to want to take notes and need a place to store said notepad.

In the bag you probably want paper and pens if like me you still take notes faster with them. Your notebook, laptop, iPad etc can also go in this bag.

A bottle of water and gum/mints for when your thirsty or meet somone youd like to talk to and you had onions on your sandwich at lunch time.

Snacks if you tend to be a little low in the blood sugar department.

Business cards with your contact information on them. Your email website and blog are the ones I think are most important.

One last thing. Remember to bring your manners and courtesies with you. That way everyone has fun.

The method of motivation.

I have a lot of things going this year. I'll have two books released as well as a short story in a Christmas anthology. I am also in various stages of writing and editing other works in progress.
Yet some days I can't seem to stay off facebook.
It's not that I don't have plenty of ideas to write or projects to do. I have tons of story ideas begging to be written and projects in various stages of done-ness.
It's just that things like facebook and Pinterest and other social media is so shiny!
I have a whiteboard right next to my desk with all my projects listed and their level of completion. I try to have certain hours where I work and do writerly things. Some days I think I'm more distractible than others.
How does everyone else do it? How do you stay motivated?

MUSEical motivation

Last time I posted about music that inspired me it was well recieved.

This week I want to highlight Crossfire by Brandon Flowers

This song talks about being caught in the crossfire between heaven and hell. Searching for chelter together as a couple. Telling the devil to go back to where he came, his fiery arrows drawing their bead in vain. That our dreams will break the boundaries of our fear.

Anyway. Go take a look, and enjoy.

Where is your writing groove?

This morning I had the kids up and ready to go to school except breakfast. One is a picky eater and usually let him choose what he wants. I was in my office which is right off the kitchen writing happily away on a rough draft.

Well the picky eater knocks a bottle of hot sauce off the shelf in the fridge and it breaks all over my kitchen floor. So there's broken glass, red sauce and the smell of vinegar and peppers all over my kitchen and the bus is supposed to be there in less than five minutes. Stuck in the kitchen I ask a kid to get paper towels and scoot the garbage closer to me while the picky eater goes and changes his pants which are covered in Tabasco. I get it cleaned up, get the kids some change to buy breakfast at the school and send them out the door in just enough time to catch the bus.

The house back in a non frenzied silence I return to the office and sit and stare at the cursor. The momentum is lost in the chaos and I have completely forgotten the scenes I was about to write when the bottle exploded.

Which brings me to my topic. Where is the best spot for you to write? Do you have to get in the groove or can you sit anywhere and just pour it on?

I stumbled upon this awesome website where the author of the site posts insanely gorgeous pictures of this house they'd love to build or buy and refurbish for writing in. I love the pictures. Its sparks my creativity, but it also started a train of thought that has been prevalent since. What if you could only write on one spot or in the perfect conditions? How limiting would that be? I am glad I can pretty much write anywhere and at any time. I'd never get anything done writing wise if I waited for the perfect conditions. As evidenced by the chaotic home I live in.

Music for writing

Some writers require music to write. I go either way. sometimes I need something to listen to sometimes I need silence.

There are some songs that are very important to me and my story. These songs are the EMERGENCE Playlist.

I thought I'd share these with you and why they are so important.

This is "What I've Done" by Linkin Park.

This song talkes about making mistakes in the past and asking for mercy. This is the perfect song to start out my EMERGENCE Playlist.

Hope you enjoy it.

A new page--clean and white

I love the thrill of opening a new document to start a new book.

There's potential there. The ability to create is new, open, and the possibilities are limitless.

The new year looks the same to me. Full of potential for great and amazing things. With EMERGENCE released I am feeling a certain weight off my shoulders and am ready to plunge back into many things that were emotionally impossible before my book baby became reality.

I am so ready to leave some things in my past and open new books that I have just dreamed of before now.

So before I bore you with all my musings, I will write out my goals for this coming year.

I will be more present in my family. My kids deserve my time.

I will treat my writing and publishing as a business.

I will try to be more friendly to those around me and inclued my friends in my life more.

I will bake more and play more.

I will use the jewlry making supplies I bought last year. The leather too.

I will go back to Karate and work on my red belt.

I will work to make my book EMERGENCE a success.

I will nurture aspiring authors.

I will work on making myself happier.

So there you go in black and white. The things I want and desire to do.

Hope your new year is smashing, and much better than last year.