May 12-18, 2003 - Your Focusing Thought, 15 Minutes of Ideas
Volume 2, Issue 18
The weekly ezine with a road map for
sidetracked writers.
"Be better writers today
than we were yesterday."
Welcome to Writer-Reminders!
Thought for the Week - Your Focusing Thought
What do you focus on? Have you ever listened to the thoughts that run through your mind during the day?
Do you spend your day thinking about how much writing you are going to do, or do you spend it thinking about how much you have to do, and how you will never have enough time to write?
I've noticed when I can have a positive focusing thought, my day runs much more smoothly. I have to play with the wording a bit... regular affirmations don't work for me since I end up just responding with "Yeah, right." I often use a version of "I intend to...have a good day, or write lots today."
==>
AuthorsontheWeb.com
==> Updates to Guidelines Database
==> 15 minutes of ideas
Mon, May 12, 2003
Writer on the Web
One of the best ways to improve your web site is to visit other sites for writers to find what you like.
For authors - check out AuthorsontheWeb.com (they even did Beverly Cleary's site).
Some things to consider -
1. How does the color scheme describe the book?
2. What pages make up the site?
3. How do the fonts give you "a feel" for the book?
4. Where are reviews used?
5. Does the author have a newsletter and/or press releases on the site?
Tue, May 13, 2003
Books and Magazines Everywhere
If you've got too many books and magazines cluttering your writespace, consider donating them to a book fair. My local library made nearly $50,000 last year from a book fair. You get to clean out your office, and the library gets more money to order the latest books for you.
Wed, May 14, 2003
Find Your Favorites
Looking for facts? Check out the Facts Encyclopedia at RefDesk.com -- and the sites are even grouped by category!
How many new ideas can you generate in fifteen minutes or
even an hour? Notice I didn't say "best-selling ideas." I
just want you to get in the right-brain creative mode (and
try to turn off your left-brain critic).
If you have a few minutes today, try this brainstorming
exercise.
1. Pick a topic about which you love to write.
2. Make a short list of related words in your word
processor.
3. Type each word into your search engine and glance
through the results (look out-don't get sidetracked with
all the neat stuff you find). Copy the really interesting
web addresses into your document.
4. Use the results to trigger new combinations or ideas.
5. Don't critique your ideas until the very end. Print
the best, and put it in the Idea Grabber section of your
planner.
Personally, I hate blind brainstorming. I need triggers.
I need something to jumpstart my brain into finding new
connections and relationships.
Did you get at least one "best-selling" idea from this
exercise?
-----
Monthly task:
___ Send queries for September, October, and November
including back-to-school, Halloween and Thanksgiving
Fri, May 16, 2003
Research
FindArticles.com is a huge database of articles dating back to 1998 from more than 300 magazines and journals. Click view by name to see which publications are listed.
Have you thought about the demographics of who buys your books or articles? Even more importantly, have you considered the psychographics. Here is a fascinating article on Targeting Your Market -- just replace "product" with "writing."
Welcome to all the new subscribers this week! Thanks for joining us.
-- Julie
To
get this newsletter in your email each week:
Get
the book that goes with the plan for only $14.95!
"I'm on day 5 of your book and already have done more writing and compiled more ideas in this short time as I usually do over several months." -- reader M. Howard
M T W T F S S
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. Declutter (only 5 minutes)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. Read (only 5 minutes)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3. Assess (30 seconds to 5 minutes)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. Write (at least 5 minutes)
Weekly Checklist
For freelance writers: Use this weekly checklist to find, write and send a query every week of 2003!
Monday
__ Make notes on a new idea.
Tuesday: Accounting Day
__ Post your accounting records.
__ Pay bills.
__ Follow up on outstanding invoices and queries.
Wednesday
__ Find a new market using links below.
Thursday: Errand Day
__ Make copies.
__ Return books to library.
__ Make deposit at bank.
Friday
__ Finish query and submit.
__ Match your query to the market.
Saturday Weekly Review
__ How was this week?
__ What's up next week?
__ Review your Projects list in your planner and check the
status.
__ Jot the next action steps for your projects on next week's
calendar.
__ Backup your computer files.
__ Virus scan your computer.
Sunday
__ Relax and enjoy!
__ Do something fun today!
Thanks for visiting Writer-Reminders! If you have comments,
success stories, or suggestions, reply to this message or e-mail
me at :julie@writer-reminders.com
Your privacy is very important to me. Your email address will never be
sold by Writer-Reminders. For more on Yahoo's privacy policy, visit http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/
Copyright 2002-2003 Finally Organized LLC. All rights reserved worldwide. This
newsletter is provided with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other
professional services. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be
sought.
Writer-Reminders and OrganizedWriter.com provide links to other Internet
sites solely as a convenience to its users.
Writer-Reminders and OrganizedWriter.com do not guarantee, approve or
endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a
link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to
Writer-Reminders and
OrganizedWriter.com.
