Jan 12, 2004 --
Your Self-Fulfilling Prophecy... part 3 of 5
Volume 3, Issue 2
The weekly ezine with a road map for
sidetracked writers.
"Be better writers today
than we were yesterday."
Welcome to our subscribers (new and old)!
Thought for the Week - What's your self-fulfilling prophecy?
Have you thought about it?
What do you say about your
writing that's coming true?
Do you say, "I'll never make any money at writing" or maybe,
"This query will probably just get rejected, too" and then it does?
This week, let's really take a hard look at what you're
telling yourself about your writing. I want you to write
it down, and then rewrite in a much more positive way. Then
make a visual reminder for yourself. For example, if you
keep telling yourself, "I'll never get this book finished,"
then make your own book cover and paste it all over the house.
If you have a magazine you are targeting with your articles,
get an old copy, tear off the cover and put your title on
it. Then put the new cover up in your office or the
bathroom mirror.
Rewrite your prophecy so what's coming true is what you
want.
What's my biggest self-fulfilling prophecy? I don't have
time. I hear myself saying this over and over. I don't have
time to exercise. I don't have time to work on my new book.
I don't have time to clean <grin>.
So I set up my time map to see just how much time I had and
the best ways to spend it (if you missed it, read more about it).
This helped some, but I still feel like I'm spending my
time fighting fires instead of investing in the plan. Does
this sound familiar to you?
The best part is I know why this is happening. There are
three main reasons: the first is that I under-estimate how
long something is going to take (hence, my fire hose is
constantly saving me). The second reason is not everything
has a slot that needs it yet. The third reason is I am
not going to bed on time -- and then I don't get up early
enough, and the day gets off to a rocky start.
For this week, I am going to be diligent about filling out
my time map for the week -- with everything, not just the
appointments, and I'm going to bed on time starting tomorrow.
I'll let you know how it goes....
The last payment of 2003 estimated taxes / self-employment tax
is due January 15th.
This 30-day plan includes links to my ebook, The Organized
Writer: 30 Days to More Time, More Money, and Less
Frustration. They are listed below as BOOK:. You can buy
it for only $14.95 (instant download, no shipping) at: http://www.booklocker.com/books/937.html
Don't Forget - Tuesday
TeleSeminars!
Jan 13 - Your Worldwide Publishing Empire from Mark Victor Hansen. Free at
http://www.megabookmarketing.com/
and click on teleseminars.
Jan 27 - Publishing without Paper from Julie Hood.
This presentation will explain why every author needs an
ebook, how to create one and what you need to do to
sell more ebooks. Sign up today
atPublishing
without Paper.
Thank you for the nomination!
The Organized Writer has been
nominated in the Preditors and Editors™
poll for Writers's Resource/Information/News
Source... THANK YOU! Don't forget to vote for
your favorites at: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/writerinfo.shtml
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
==> Books and Magazines Everywhere!
==> Five Questions to Target Your Market
==> Finding Experts
Mon, Jan 12, 2004
Day Twelve - Writer on the Web
Every writer needs a web site. And it needs to look
professional.
But not every writer has the mucho dinero to pay for one.
So what can you do?
Web programming is a little challenging but not impossible
to learn. If you really can't stand trying to make your
computer work, save up and have someone create it for you.
High school computer whizzes are a good option. Be sure to
include some training time so you can do future updates.
With a little investment time, you can learn how to create
your own site (maybe that should be a resolution for this
year?).
If already have a web site, be on the lookout for ways to
improve it. I think every writer needs to learn HTML, so
we have a Mini-HTML Course each month on the 29th in the
Writer-Reminders newsletter.
Your task for today is to decide: What's up for your web
site this year?
BOOK: Day 12. Acrobat, Ctrl+N, p.85. Paper, p. 79.
1. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of the
three options for creating your web site.
2. Work through the six steps of the Web Page Primer.
----
Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day! Here's your
chance if you didn't get to it last week.
Day Twelve Checklist:
___ 1. Plan your web site or the updates which will happen this year
___ 2. Work through the Web Page Primer
Tue, Jan 13, 2004
Day Thirteen - Books and Magazines Everywhere
Lucky number 13! What's up today? It's time to reduce
all that book and magazine clutter.
I admit it. My books and magazines are all over the house.
I tell myself this is good because my kids can see how we
value reading in our home, and because I can be in just
about any room and grab something to pass the time.
But if they turn into clutter, I've created one more drain
on my energy. So here are a few of my favorite solutions:
-- Purge your magazine collection. I don't know about
you, but I really need to eliminate some of the old and
outdated magazines I've collected. When can you schedule
this?
-- Get rid of the paper! Turn on the electronic books.
I love my ebooks. Why? Because they don't take up
space on my bookshelves. You can use the search button
and put in multiple bookmarks.
I have been using my Palm as a reading
device, and I absolutely love it. I thought I'd hate it
because there were no pages to flip, but it's so portable,
and the up and down buttons are just like flipping pages.
If you're thinking about buying one, be sure to check the
screen in the sunlight and the darkness. Mine tends to
wash out a bit.
-- Read it... and return it. Check more deeply into what
your library can provide. Did you know most libraries have
inter-library loans with other libraries across the US?
The other day, I checked out a book from halfway across the
country.
If your library isn't fantastic, check into reciprocal
programs with either colleges or nearby towns. Often you
can get library cards outside your area with these
reciprocal programs.
Don't forget the library's treasure trove of magazines
and even electronic books. I found out I can check out
the magazines at my library, and from their membership
in an elibrary, I can check out electronic books.
-- Listen up. Use audio books to fill the void in your
reading time. I listen while I do the dishes, while I'm
ironing, and a new friend of mine said she even listens
while she's buying groceries! I've listed some audio books
for writers at: http://www.organizedwriter.com/audio.htm
or you can check them out from the library, or get a
subscription at http://www.audible.com.
-- Consider elibrary.com. You can search electronic
versions of your favorite newspapers and magazines, and
then even retrieve the articles. I rarely recommend
fee-services since there are so many free resources on the
web, but this one just might be worth in the time it could
save you.
Test drive the free 7-day trial to see how much you use it.
Check out the listing of magazines and newspapers to
determine if they fit your area. If so, then it just might
be worth the $19.95 per month or $99.95 per year
subscription.
BOOK: Day 13. Acrobat, Ctrl+N, p. 94. Paper p. 88.
Learn:
-- the best way to store your books so you can find them
back;
-- how to keep track of all those books you want to read
someday; and
-- tips for storing magazines.
Day Thirteen Checklist:
___ 1. Purge magazines
___ 2. Find more ways to rid your home of paper.
Wed, Jan 14, 2004
Day Fourteen - Find Your Favorites
Today's task is to spend five minutes cleaning up the
Favorites menu on your computer. Delete the links to this
year's Christmas shopping excursions, and reorganize your
links to fit your Master List. Move them into folders, and
put the most used links at the top (I have my email and the
library at the top).
BOOK: Day 14. Acrobat, Ctrl+N, page 97. Paper, p. 91.
-- Learn how to set your home page in your browser.
-- Get detailed instructions on how to organize your
favorites.
-- Find out where to create a personalized newspaper.
-- Find out what to do if you work on more than one
computer and need your favorites.
-- Check out my favorite sites for writer's links.
Day 14 Checklist:
___ 1. Clean out your favorites.
Thur, Jan 15, 2004
Day Fifteen - Capture Those Ideas
The Workshop includes a huge list of creative exercises,
topics and ideas to get your juices flowing. Be sure to
check out the goal setting workshop if you are still
finalizing your plans for the year.
Which leads right into my next point -- it's January 15th,
the middle of the month. I hope most of you are still
humming along on your goals for the year. Don't give up
yet even though a lot of people already have! Be
patient and forgiving with yourself when you slide a bit,
OK?
BOOK:Day 15. Acrobat, Ctrl+N, p.102. Paper, p. 96.
-- Print a bunch of the Idea Grabber Forms. I love this
form! It saves me so much time when I'm trying to convert
my ideas into articles. It's only available in the ebook
(it's not in the planner you received when you subscribed).
-- It includes a length estimator, a fill-in-the-blank
section for developing your ideas into a full-fledged
article, and it's tied into your Master List.
Day Fifteen Checklist:
__ 1. Clean off your desk, and start sorting.
__ 2. Improve your space with a new picture, photo or calendar.
Fri, Jan 16, 2004
Day Sixteen - Research It!
Are you trying to find experts? Here are some suggestions
for you...
1. Go out to Amazon, and find a book written by an expert
in your area. Then go search the Internet for their site,
or find their publisher's site and go through them.
2. Definitely check out Kelly James-Enger's book, Ready,
Aim, Specialize! If you are writing about one of the
topics she covers, she includes how to find experts in each
chapter: http://www.organizedwriter.com/specialize.htm
We have so many different sources of information when doing
our research - how do you keep it all together so you can
find it back when you want it? Read about the different
solutions, and pick the one that fits the way you work.
Check out my twelve favorite research sites.
Day 16 Checklist
____ 1. Collect resources for finding experts.
____ 2. Review the resources page.
Sat, Jan 17, 2004
Day Seventeen - Target Your Market
What are the five most important questions to ask when
researching a potential market?
1. Does this magazine use freelancers? You can often tell
by reading the bio paragraphs of the writers.
2. What is the writing style of the magazine? Analyze
the paragraph length, vocabulary level, etc.
3. Do I have clips to match the material in this magazine?
4. What terms (pay, timing, rights purchased, etc.) are
involved when writing for this site? Request the writer's
guidelines to find out more.
5. Which editor should I contact? Don't send your
query to the editor-in-chief. Pick someone lower on the
masthead.
BOOK: Day 17. Acrobat, Ctrl+N, p. 110. Paper, p. 104.
If the Idea Grabber is my favorite form, the Publication
Analyzer comes in a close second. Complete this form, and
your freelance queries should be right on target. Find out
what to look for when analyzing a publication, and how to
track it.
Day 17 Checklist
____ 1. Create your own list of questions to investigate a market.
Sun, Jan 18, 2004
Day Eighteen - Guidelines Database
Are you a freelancer looking for new markets or an author
looking for magazines to review your book? Check out this
list of online guidelines including links to agents,
publishers and markets: http://snipurl.com/3r36
BOOK: Day 18. Acrobat, Ctrl+N, p.115. Paper, p. 109.
Create your own guidelines database. Walk through the five
different solutions, and pick the one that fits your
personality and budget.
Day 18 Checklist
___ 1. Check out the list of markets.
___ 2. Create your guidelines database.
Hang in there. We are more than half-way
there! Julie
Like Organized
Writer.com? You'll love the ebook.....
"Julie, I love your book. I have read (or at least opened) more than a trunk load of books about writing over the years. Yours is the first I have seen that gives readers so much in one place. For me, the Master List and putting that together was more than worth the cost."
-- David Stoddard
Motivational writer, trainer and publisher of the
Terrific Life Concepts ezine.
http://djstoddard.net
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
2004!
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.
__ Update windows software at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
__ Update Microsoft(R) office software at http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/default.aspx
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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