Energize!

It's easy to find the energy to do the things you love. If my kids ask me to play a board game, I suddenly get a second wind, even after a day of shopping and cooking and it's probably past my bedtime =D. Or, if an idea sparks, I am energized to write down a whole scene or a new character's backstory. For December's IWSG, I'm brainstorming ways to...

For some things, I have to scrounge up energy to get them done - like housework. I love to write, but sometimes after a long day of work, I don't have the energy to be creative. Responsibilities come first and can wear us out! So here are some things to try to Energize:

• Promise yourself a Reward - You deserve a treat for getting chores done. And a treat doesn't have to be food; it can be just relaxing, watching a favorite show, playing a video game, or strolling through social media--though a little chocolate or a glass of wine are also quite rewarding.
• Alternate - Do a chore, do something fun, do a chore, watch a show, etc. 
• Take a Walk - Exercising can give you energy, seriously =D
• Take a Power Nap - If you're exhausted but still have to finish up some work, a 30 minute lie-down can be quite refreshing

If you have any suggestions for getting energized, please share!

Hope you enjoy the Holidays and all the Festivities that go along with the Season! 

Day 25: Health #30DaysofGratitude

These days, health is high on the concern list. I'm thankful for all the advances in medicine and the health industry. And I'm very thankful for my current health. I don't like seeing myself deteriorate as I age, but that's how it goes... 

Just wish I could make myself eat a little healthier and exercise more... I know I'd be better off, but I don't have the will power.

Visit Diane Burton who's joining me on this thankful blogfest!

I'm so lame...

I can't believe we are five months into 2013! It's amazing how well I started out. Exercising, eating better, sleeping more... And as the months came and went, I slowly slacked off. The past few weeks have been the worst!

But I am determined not to give in! Yes, I wanted to get my edits done, so I chose to sit at the computer rather than jump on the treadmill. And with my boys' baseball schedules combined with a jillion other activities, we have been eating so much CRAP! I am making a real meal tonight for the first time in ages!

This is a perfect hop to get support from my bloggie friends to get back into a routine or make time for exercise. I have joined a PIYO class at our community center, a combination of Pilates and Yoga, and it kicks my butt! I just hope they continue the class into the summer. If not, I vow to find some way to exercise on a regular basis. And to eat more fruits and veggies too!

Thank you so much, Stephen Tremp, Alex (again!), Michael Di Gesu, and L. Diane Wolfe for inspiring us to get back to healthy! Talking about it helps. I needed this!

Writing a book - constantly learning

For this Friday 4 U, I'm sharing a Writing a Book entry:

Reference books are great for advice and examples and motivation. I am so excited to have my library of writing craft books grow! Now when I have questions, I have more places to turn and learn! Here is what I've got (thanks mostly to contests!):

• HOOKED by Les Edgerton,
• THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by William Strunk Jr & EB White, and
• THE WRITER'S DIGEST GUIDE TO QUERY LETTERS by Wendy Burt-Thomas

and on my ipad I have picked up a few freebies:

• 70 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes by Bob Mayer
• Deep Secrets of Successful Blogging by Chitika (30 experts)
• Ghost Writers in the Sky by Roland Yeomans
• Book Marketing Guide by Mark Coker

I need to get the Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

I also love when I get to sub for an English class. I have to share what I learned this week...Inspirations from a High School Language Arts class:

• THE LIVELY ART OF WRITING by Lucile Vaughn Payne - I found a class set of this awesome book which gives great pointers for writing papers, but also how to grab a reader and make your writing stand out. Here are two of the sections I particularly connected with in my current phase of editing:
• "Picture Frame Paragraphs" - we should visualize how we would paint a scene and describe it with vivid words and details, show not tell (heard that before?) In the first sentence of a paragraph it's okay to tell as long as the rest of the paragraph describes the scene, making the reader feel it and keeping their interest.
• "Making the Subject Perform" - have the subject, whether human or not, do something, make sound or movement into action verbs. action brings the reader a more direct experience.

Always looking for ways to improve my writing. Especially when receiving a rejection or two...

keeping in shape w/Shallee

I think exercise helps to deal with the stress of rejection as well. I haven't submitted in a while so no rejections here lately, but I read some IWSG posts of others getting a few. Rejections are like burrs, they prick at first, but then you pick em off, throw em away, and move on!

As for my exercise update this week, I slacked off a little and only exercised a couple of times. But I'm going to go vacuum my basement so I am counting that as a calorie burner!

What craft books do you recommend? And did you get your butt out of the chair to exercise this week?

Whatever you're working on have an inspirational weekend!

butt in chair syndrome

Keeping in Shape with Shallee!

Shallee has a great new program I'm joining, The Healthy Writers Club.

We write, therefore, we sit. Shallee is encouraging us to get our butts out of our chairs and get some exercise. A healthy body enhances a healthy mind! So on Fridays we share what activities we are doing in addition to meeting our writing goals. I love the encouragement of the blogosphere and now we can help each other with the biggest problem we face - weight gain! (get it, biggest?)

And in keeping with my Friday 4 U theme, I am sharing a LHW tip.

Knowing I am holding myself accountable to write about my exercise each week has inspired me to actually get some exercise! So I return to my multi-tasking, reward-motivating activity:

Treadmill blogging!

If I had to guess the number one excuse for not exercising, I'd say it was "I don't have time," (said in whiny voice). To save time, some people text and walk (no text while driving!!!) cycle and read or exercise with the tv on. Exercising in a class is very motivating. Walking and talking with a friend is the best, time flies by. Unfortunately, with the hectic schedule I have (you too, right?), fitting in an exercise class on a regular basis would be the final flaming sword thrown in to take down my juggling act. And finding 30 minutes of overlapping free time with a person I'd like to walk with - near impossible! That's why blogging has become such a wonderful part my life. I connect with you guys and get and give encouragement and feedback. Perfect timing for me cause it's whenever I have a few minutes!

And instead of just sitting, I thought I would put my legs to use while I blog. Waiting for those things to load is such a waste of time, why not put value into it on a treadmill! There's handles if I lose my balance, I can adjust difficulty levels of speed and inclination (ha!) and I get to listen to my music. It's such a stress reliever!

This week I was able to squeeze in 30 minutes of treadmill blogging 3X! I'm very proud of myself. And hope to continue. I have to, or I'll be spending a fortune buying the next size up! NO WAY!!! (next week: SHOWERCIZE)

*** FYI, I am hosting part of GUTGAA next week ***

*** So Monday I will have a flood of 25 posts for the SMALL PRESS PITCH ***

Enter if you are so inclined! It's been a totally awesome event!!!