Nov 10, 2003 - Don't Work...Play
Volume 2, Issue 32
The weekly ezine with a road map for
sidetracked writers.
"Be better writers today
than we were yesterday."
Hello, gang!
Thought for the Week - Don't Work...Play
When is the last time you played Solitaire on your computer?
A quick game may be just what you need to improve your productivity!
The latest research from the University of Utrecht showed how playing computer games can increase productivity and job satisfaction. Similar to a coffee break, playing a quick card game gives your brain a chance to relax and recharge. Want to know more? Check out the
full
article.
I have to second this suggestion. Yesterday I spent a big chunk of the day playing Lingo Plus with my oldest. We had a blast, but that little voice in my head was hollering at me, "You didn't get any work done. You should have been doing laundry instead of
playing," and on and on.
But then, last night, I got one of the best ideas for a new book I've gotten in a LONG time. Was it the power of playing all day? Maybe. Maybe not, but I'm definitely going to say yes the next time my son says, "Mom, can we play Lingo? Please?!?"
(Lingo is a combination of bingo and scrabble. The show is hosted by Chuck Woolery on the Game Show Network, and they have an online version. Wanna play, too? Check it out at: http://www.gsn.com
and click on Lingo Plus on the right hand side.)
I have a new favorite writer's book,
The Writer's Idea Book, by Jack Heffron. Check out the review below.
Thanks for understanding about the delay in newsletters lately. We've
been dealing with health issues again, and unfortunately this newsletter was one of the things I let go. But I used the time to plan some new products and services. I'll be debuting them over the next couple months.
The Organized Writer theme for next year is ...
Write More in 2004(TM)!
Stay tuned. Next week I'll have the complimentary 2004 Writer's Calendar available online.
P.S. "This week, I had the pleasure of reading The Organized Writer and interviewing author Julie Hood.
This is a book no writer should be without...."
-- Michael Knowles, http://www.WriteThinking.net
One of the most common writer's questions (and challenges) is generating new ideas and then communicating them effectively on paper. The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron provides over 400 prompts and exercises to tease your
brain and pull the prose from your mind.
Mrs. West, my junior high English teacher, put quotes on the chalkboard each day, and we spent five minutes writing essays in our journals about the quote. The regularity of this daily exercise flexed our mental muscles.
Jack Heffron's book reminds me of those daily writing exercises.
I've never liked prompts, but I like the ones in this book. Heffron is practical and inspiring while acknowledging just how hard it is to write. His first prompt, in fact, tells you not to write! He suggests setting aside time to write but only if you want to write. If you don't want to write, that's OK. There's just one rule: you just can't do anything else
either.
And then on page 123, he tells you to be keenly aware of every step in a regular household chore. Anyone who can make a writing exercise out of folding laundry has to have found the secret to writing!
2. Get the mail under control. With the flood of catalogs and holiday sales flyers, the mail piles can quickly take over. Get rid of any current piles, and make plans for the rest of the mail.
3. Finish holiday shopping. My plan is to do most of it online with a focus on free shipping offers. See a
list of offers.
Don't forget to always shop safely online (when entering your credit card numbers, make sure the page is secure with a lock in the bottom right hand side of your browser).
Like Organized
Writer.com? You'll love the book.....
Check out the latest review of The Organized Writer, by Betty Winslow at
AbsoluteWrite.com:
"With intriguing chapters...and an appendix of 25 ready-to-use forms, this book is exactly what disorganized writers need to pull themselves out of the pit of disorganization they have fallen into."
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
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Copyright 2002-2003 Finally Organized LLC. All rights reserved worldwide. This
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