Friday, February 1, 2019

The One Thing Writers Must Do Well (Besides Write)

By Guest Cynthia Herron



Hi Seekerville friends!
I’m delighted to join you today! And guess what? I recently sailed off Unpubbed Island! Today I join you as a published author. *tosses confetti* Hooray!
There are so many things I’d love to chat about—lessons learned, wisdom gleaned—that sort of thing, but in planning this blog post, something I continued circling back to was time management.
It’s a discipline we grow into. Baby writers write and chase squirrels. Savvy writers write while others chase squirrels. Veteran authors fry those squirrels and serve them to their readers—in the form of “story.” Stay with me, friends! It’s just an analogy to illustrate my point—although, fried squirrel isn’t terrible. Oops! See what I did there. ðŸ˜‰

via Kylli Kittus on Unsplash

Reality check.
Writing is a full-time job. For those who work outside the home and write, they have double the fun…er, responsibility. If that’s you, you have my deepest respect.
Although it wasn’t always the case, writing is now my full-time job. After my husband heads out the door for work each morning, I tuck myself away in my home office, slug back coffee, and start my own workday. 
And yet…when writers work from home, distractions abound.
We care for families and homes, chauffeur kids, tackle laundry, prepare meals, and handle the day-to-day affairs that go with the territory.
We also field infringements on our time from outside sources. Those come by way of well-intentioned friends and family who may not realize that while we’re home, we are indeed still working. We’re writing. Yes—that.
And though we are home, our time still matters.

But how do we manage our time…and still be nice?
The truth is if we don’t value our time and treat writing as our career, no one else will either.
Prioritizing our work load isn’t something that always comes naturally. We must be intentional, focused, and goal-oriented. That’s not to say there shouldn’t be some leeway involved.
Life ebbs and flows. Of course, there’s bound to be those unforeseen things that crop up and upend our schedule. We know we have a problem, though, when we begin to see a pattern—when we allow those things that could wait to hijack our day.
For people-pleasers, time management is difficult. We want to be approachable (and available), yet we also understand the rigors of working from home. We have X number of hours during the day to get our work done before our families arrive home and our evening routine begins.
Sometimes, we think we can juggle it all and we have to learn the hard way that we can’t.
Writing is our job. Maybe we don’t yet earn the income from it we’d like. Maybe we’re still pursuing career goals. Maybe we’re still wrangling a few squirrels.

via Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash

Does that mean our work is less meaningful?
Many years ago, Sally Sue (not her real name) used to call me—usually more than once a day. I dreaded answering the phone because I knew what was coming.
“Hey, gal. Whatcha doin’? There’s a great meat sale down at the market. Of course, they tried to cheat me out of some deals, but I got everything worked out. Let me tell you about it.”
As usual, I tried the polite approach. “I’m working just now, Sally Sue. Can I call you back when I take a break later?”
“Oh, this will only take a minute. Five, tops.”
What do you think happened? Well, of course those just take a minute/five, tops phone calls morphed into thirty-minute commentaries.
And Sally Sue was always in a tizzy. Nothing ever went right. The world was against her. 
Her calls left me resentful and deflated. For this see-the-glass-half-full gal, I was thoroughly parched by the time the calls ended.
As much as I wanted to be there for Sally Sue, it became apparent I needed to distance myself from what had become a disturbing pattern.
Here’s how I handled it.
“Sally Sue, I won’t be available to talk as often,” I announced one day. Subtle hints hadn’t worked and neither had direct cues. It was time to cut to the chase. Tactfully. Truthfully. Lovingly. (Did I mention truthfully?)
“Oh, what do you mean?” The sound of an electric mixer whirred in the background.
I sighed and plunged ahead. “My time matters, Sally Sue. I work from home and when you call, that’s time away from work.”
“So, you want me to call in the evenings? I can do that.”
No.
That’s not what I wanted at all. Evenings were family time.
Long story short, I nipped this situation in the bud. I regretted not doing it sooner.
I told Sally Sue I could only take calls on Friday afternoons and I would no longer chat beyond the ten-minute mark.
And when she pushed the envelope, as I feared she would, I didn’t budge. I refused to answer her calls other than on Fridays, and when ten minutes passed, I ended the conversation. Politely, but firmly.
Her parting sentence was always: “Wow. I guess you’re serious. Your time really matters, huh?”
Yes. And yes.
I eventually lost touch with Sally Sue.
Fast-forward twenty years…
Since I’m a firm believer that God brings folks together for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, I recognize that period as a defining point in my writing career.
When I got serious about managing my time, I began to think in a new way. My craft (my work) no longer took a backseat to other “nobler” professions. I approached my job with a new mindset, having learned a valuable lesson in the process.
There will be times of sacrifice, but self-respect is non-negotiable.
For instance…
  • I may not always answer the phone.
  • I may not answer my door.
  • Dusting may have to wait, as well as clothes-folding, toilet-scrubbing, and errand-running.
And call me a “meanie,” BUT
  • I will no longer serve on every committee, join every club, or attend social functions for the sake of “putting in an appearance.”
  • I can’t walk your dog.
  • I don’t do laundry (other than my own).
  • I won’t organize your closets, clean your kitchen, or mow your lawn.
  • I know nothing about stamp-collecting, bee-keeping, or turnip-growing.
Now, I love folks. I really do. But because writing is my full-time profession, I find if I don’t value my time and my career, no one else will. 

via Simon Hattinga Verschure on Unsplash

Sometimes, I have to say this.
“No, thank you” and “I’m sorry—I’d like to, but I’ll have to pass.”
Trust me, wordsmiths—you’ll get better at this. Some folks will understand. Others won’t. That’s when we love them anyway.
And then we silence our phones. Pound keys. Craft stories. And eat chocolate. ðŸ˜Š 
While we work.
Rah-rah-rah!!!
***
Have you navigated a time-management issue? How did you address it?
What are your best time-saving tips? Please share!
I’m giving away a print copy of Her Hope Discovered, my debut novel! Let me know in the comments if you’d like your name tossed in the hat! (Due to mailing costs, drawing open to U.S. residents only.) 
  

Author Bio
Cynthia writes Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction from the beautiful Ozark Mountains. A hopeless romantic at heart, she enjoys penning stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Her Hope Discovered, her début novel and the first in a three-book series, released December 2018 with Mountain Brook Ink. 

“Cindy” has a degree in psychology and a background in social work. She is a member of ACFW, ACFW MozArks, and RWA. 

She is a 2017 ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2016 ACFW Genesis (Double) Finalist, and a 2015 ACFW First Impressions Winner. Her work is represented by WordServe Literary.

Besides writing, Cindy enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has a fondness for gingerbread men, miniature teapots, and all things apple. She also adores a great cup of coffee and she never met a sticky note she didn’t like.
Cindy loves to connect with friends at her online homeShe also hangs out onTwitterFacebook,Pinterest, and Instagram.
For love, fun, and encouragement ~

***



Her Hope Discovered
Welcome to Ruby, Book one
Is the sure thing worth risking for the possibility of maybe?

Charla Winthrop, a savvy business woman seeking a permanent lifestyle change in small-town Ruby, learns that things aren’t always what they appear when she takes up residence in a house steeped in charm and a hint of mystery. 
Rumor has it that Sam Packard the town carpenter is her go-to guy for home remodeling, but can Charla convince him to help her—with no strings attached, of course? Alone far too long, Sam’s prayed that God would send him a wife and a mother for his daughters. However, the new Ruby resident is hardly what he imagined. A new place to call “home,” the possibility of what might be, and the answer to someone’s prayers unite this unlikely pair with the help of the town’s residents.
Nestled in the Ozarks’ hills and hollows is Ruby, Missouri, a quaint, cozy town where “neighbor” is merely another word for “friend.” Ruby will charm and delight as will her quirky, lovable characters who will steal your heart, but hand it right back—with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Savor your new friends’ sorrows and successes in the community where offbeat is perfect and mishaps and mayhem never tasted so good!




120 comments:

  1. Oh I needed this! I've had to start saying no to things because of my health issues, I can't be everything to everyone without running myself into the ground anymore! It's been hard to stand up for myself, but it feels so good to not be stressed out as much! I'd love to be entered in the giveaway!

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    1. Abby, good for you for taking good care of yourself!

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    2. Hi Abby! Those words - "I can't be everything to everyone without running myself into the ground anymore..." Absolutely true! *high five*

      For tenderhearted people, saying "no" is a little difficult at first, but the reality is...we can't effectively serve others AND our ministry (writing) if we're running on empty. Gentle {{{HUGS}}} to you!

      You're entered! :-)

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  2. I fell yesterday and broke my knee into 2 complete pieces.my wrist and shoulder surgery today.

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    1. OH NO, Wilani! How awful. I hurt for you. Praying for a successful surgery today and healing for everything damaged.

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    2. I'm so sorry to hear this! Praying surgery and recovery goes well!

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    3. Wilani, you poor thing!!! I'm so very sorry!! I'll be praying for your surgery and recovery!!

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    4. Oh no! Wilani, I'm so sorry! Lifting you in prayer now... Praying for swift pain relief and complete healing!

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    5. Oh no! Prayers, sweet Wilani! For swift healing and that you will be salt and light to those who help you along the way!

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    6. Oh, Wilani, I am so sorry to hear this. Praying for you.

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  3. Cynthia!!! A wonderful post -- AND CONGRATULATIONS on sailing off Unpubbed Island!! I can hardly wait to read your book! As a former Missourian, I LOVE the setting!! :)

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    1. I, too, lived in Missouri! My dad was in graduate school there when I was very young. I think I was aged 3-5 when we lived there. :)

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    2. Glynna, thank you so much for the congrats! Growing up and living in the rural Missouri Ozarks provides a lot of great story fodder. ;)

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  4. Cynthia, this has been the best article yet I've been following this blog! Of course, it's not to say the others didn't have any value.
    When I first started writing, between the years of 2010-2012, I had writing at a lower priority. I was underemployed at the time. On days I didn't work, I cleaned the house first, just to get it out of the way, then write. I need to point out that at this time, I didn't have a computer. I had to use the computers at the public library and make the most of those two hours. Around that time, I saw a career counselor. She told me my arrangement wasn't working, that it should be the other way around. She told me that she once cleaned houses for a living. The wisdom she gained was, while it is important, it doesn't ultimately amount to much.
    From that day forward, I wrote first thing in the morning, especially on the mornings I was home. My husband gave me a laptop for Christmas in 2013. I've been able to do this most days and love it.
    My employment situation is still a little unstable, but it's only getting better. I love how in this post, you mentioned that the moment your husband leaves, you start writing. On the days I'm home in the morning (like today), I can't wait for 7:30 to come. That's the time my husband leaves for work. He can't get out fast enough. It's to where at 7:00, I'd say, "It's time for you to get ready to leave" or "Leave to go to work so I can work, too." Then...at 7:30..."OUT!" Sometimes, I have to say that a few times before he actually leaves. He loves it. He is supportive. This morning ritual must mean something to me. I have recently installed in at the beginning of the acknowledgments in my books. As for phone calls, my husband makes a point to not call at certain times unless it is an emergency. That goes double for when I'm at a coffee shop.
    Now that my husband just left for work, it's time to continue my work on Writing Soulmates, while sipping on whatever drink I am of a mind to drink, eating almond M & M's, and listening to some classic rock. Thank you, again, for this post.

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    1. Faye, it sounds like you have a wonderful system worked out! I love how supportive your husband is. I especially like the idea of almond M&M's!! :)

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    2. Faye, OH. MY. WORD. I've so been where you're at. As a newlywed (a few years ago... *a-hem*) I wrote my first manuscript on a borrowed typewriter. Then for our first Christmas, my husband bought me my first Brother... No, wait. Was that the year of the vacuum? Anyway - then came a fancy word processer, and later a laptop.

      I didn't have a home office then. I wrote at the kitchen table. I typed on a TV tray. I even pounded a few keys in a rocker as I nursed our youngest child that first year. (Yes, that one took a little more juggling.)

      The point? We do what we must with what we have at the time.

      I love your tenacity and your "can do" spirit - you've developed the work ethic necessary to succeed in publishing. And I LOVE the fact your hubby is so supportive! I grinned as I read your comment. :-)

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  5. Congrats on being published!!!! How wonderful!

    As a work-at-home-mom, I find time management tough right now. I absolutely love spending time with my husband & kiddos, but I also need to get my work done (editing & design). Finding the balance is tricky, especially since 2 of the kids aren't school-age yet so they're home all day. I have pockets of time that I can work uninterrupted, and then I just get done what I can in the midst of interruptions.

    Life with a young family, right? :)

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    1. Beth, I remember those days well! I used to beg, "Please, just let Mommy write for a little while!" :) But I wouldn't trade one moment of that time. They grow up and are gone so quickly. Enjoy every minute!

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    2. Ooh Beth! I so understand working from home with young kiddos. When my husband and I were first married, I worked in 60+ hour a week career that sucked me dry. Later, as we made the decision for me to stay home with our kids, it was still WORK, but I wouldn't change a minute of it.

      You're so right - balance is key and getting as much done as we can when we have blocks of time.

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  6. Cynthia, congratulations on your release!

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  7. Cynthia! Thanks for the wonderful example of how to manage our time. Congratulations on your release! I work full time outside the home and then do freelance editing in the evenings. I finally had to tell the family I'm working right now. I had to set parameters to get the work done. It was tough at first, but now they ask first if I'm working.

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    1. Sally, that's great that you were able to work with your family and set parameters. It sounds like you're one busy woman!

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    2. Setting those boundaries (especially with family) can be so hard at first, Sally. But you know, it does get easier, doesn't it? I couldn't do what I do without the support of my family! Thanks for popping in!

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  8. Good morning, Cynthia. Thank you for blogging with us on your PUB DATE! What fun, and I really needed this today. My first book is coming out Sept. 20, and I got my first look at the cover today! I'm thrilled of course, but it also brought home the enormity of what I'm about to do. I'm a real writer. Sheesh.
    I'm also a freelance journalist and I've almost always worked from home, except for a 12-year stint as a staff reporter and editor. So I've developed some strategies for Keeping The World At Bay, but I'm going to have to up my game. Fortunately the sequel to "Westward Hope" is already done and turned in, that's how long it took me to sell the FIRST book, but I still have to write the third book, plus market my other two series and maybe even come up with something fresh. Sometimes the world gets in the way, sometimes it's my own fault. I think I'll split the difference. Thank you for the pep talk, Cynthia.

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    1. You're so welcome, Kaybee! Yes, when we land the publishing contract it's thrilling...then reality arrives with hat in hand. So much to do! And if you read today's blog post on my own blog, we also have to prepare for unexpected crises and those crazy what ifs.

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    2. Congratulations, Kaybee! So happy for you. Can't wait to see your cover.

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    3. Kathy, that's so exciting!! We'll have to have you guest blog in September!

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    4. Kaybee, adding my congratulations to you, too!

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  9. OH GUESS WHAT ELSE...I was rereading Luanne Rice's "Summer Light," to my mind her best and definitely her most spiritual, almost CBA-level spiritual, and I tweeted about it and Luanne Rice LIKED MY TWEET! Today I love being a writer and love social media.

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  10. Welcome, Cynthia! We're so excited to have you here today!! I'm thrilled about your new release and just love the cover. :)

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    1. By the way, I'm still laughing about veteran writers frying those squirrels and serving them to their readers. :)

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    2. Thank you! *smoosh* THAT is a big, fat you know what! {{{HUG}}}

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    3. Oh, and yeah - my analogies sometimes get the best of me. Lol Glad you enjoyed that!

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  11. Cynthia, what a powerful reminder of how we sometimes have to set boundaries with people to guard our time! Other people can steal our time and sometimes it's like being that frog on the boil - until we're boiling to death we don't realize how we've let the situation happen.

    I'm laughing about fried squirrels too! When my husband took his military survival course they learned how to snare rabbits/squirrels and clean them and cook them over an open fire. That's the image that came to mind when I read that part of your post! Handing readers a black-encrusted speared squirrel on a stick, lol.

    I've already got your book so don't put me in the draw. :)

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    1. I didn't hit the correct "reply." Oops! Thanks for stopping by, my friend!

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    2. Laurie, that makes me think of the TV show Naked and Afraid. :)

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  12. Lol!!!! Yes, as a child I've eaten my share of fried squirrel, rabbit, quail, and frog legs. Growing up poor, I didn't know any different. A lot of folks were in the same boat at the time, and my mama was always a creative cook with what we had. Happy you enjoyed the analogy! haha

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  13. Great post, Cynthia! Thank you for sharing your experience and time management tips with us. So exciting to see your name on that beautiful cover! And so cool to witness dreams coming true. Wishing you much success and many, many sales, friend.

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    1. Laura, thank you! You'll always hold a special place in my heart! (Even if you did beat me in Genesis! haha Because of THAT we are forever linked. Whether you want to be...or not. Lol)

      And HUGE congrats to you, as well! Praying God's favor over your wonderful stories!

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    2. Laura, we'd love to have you blog as well to tell us about your writing journey!

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    3. Thank you, Cynthia! So grateful for praying friends.

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  14. Throwing more confetti to celebrate your voyage off the island! Thanks for all these great tips on valuing our writing time. As you know, I loved Her Hope Discovered....small town, second chance stories are always heartwarming. Congratulations!

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    1. Sherida, there are cheerleaders...then, there are cheerleaders. YOU are one of the BEST! Thank you for your well wishes, my friend!

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    2. Sherida is a wonderful cheerleader and encourager!

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  15. Congratulations on your release, Cynthia, and for sailing away from unpubbed island. Yes, it sounds like you had to learn the same lessons most authors do. People mean well, but they think we're home just playing around. They have a hard time imaging that writing can take up a good chunk of our time. We have to treat it like a job so they will. And you handled yourself very well with Sally Sue. ;)

    Congrats again and thanks for sharing this advice that all writers need.

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    1. Ohhh, Mindy! I just scratched the tip of the iceberg with "Sally Sue." Yes, we grow into our writing groove the hard way, sometimes. Thank you so much for the congrats!

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    2. I vaguely remember telling the kids to come get Mommy if anyone was bleeding or otherwise injured. LOL Yeah, it's tough when kids are still at home. :)

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  16. Such a lovely post, Cynthia! I agree with everything you said! And your book does look delicious...truly yummy! Loved the blurb too! Oh my gosh, I must read this story.

    So thrilled about your success! Glad you set your priorities long ago. I had to learn to say "NO!" some years ago. So freeing! Of course, something always pops up that seems appealing so we writers need to be strong and committed, which you definitely are!

    Congrats, hugs and lots of love! Throwing confetti along with you!

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    1. Debby, I will never, never, NEVER forget hugging you at ACFW in 2016. You are so lovely and gracious and such an encourager! Thank you for your kindness...AND your great stories! :-)

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    2. Debby, I agree about the gorgeous cover and the wonderful blurb. It's on my Kindle already and I so look forward to it!

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  17. Cynthia! Congrats on getting published! I needed this today. I also read in my devotional about Martha and prioritizing. I've been slogging through my book for a long time now.. because of other demands on my time. Thank you for the reminder that what God placed on my heart is worthy of my priority and attention!

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    1. Naomi, delighted to share and I'm so glad you found my words liberating! Really, if we don't practice self-care, we can't serve others adequately through our ministry, whether it be writing or something else.

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    2. Naomi, we're glad you stopped by today!

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  18. Hi Cindy - a great post and so full of truth. I have a full-time job that isn't writing and so that always has to come first - during my work hours. My problem arises when I'm off work, come home tired from a long day at my desk/on the computer. The last thing I want to do is go sit at my home desk and get on my home computer. But when I do - that's when the magic happens. It's only those first moments of convincing myself to do it. I loved Her Hope Discovered and I know everyone who reads it will feel the same. Looking forward to your next release!

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    1. Cindy, working all day and coming home to work some more...so tough, my friend! I remember those days, but you are absolutely right - once we get in our writing groove, that IS where the magic happens. Thank you so much for weighing in on HHD!

      I'm praying God's favor over your stories and for strength and stamina to hang in there!

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    2. Cindy, have you ever tried dictation? I went to a workshop last year about using it, and some writers have really increased their productivity using it. That would get you away from the computer a bit.

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    3. Great suggestion Missy! I'm going to look into that!

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  19. Hi Cynthia:

    Sometimes it's not simply a matter of dealing with Sally Sues: there is also second-hand Sally Sue exposure!

    My wife seems to attract all kinds of Sally Sues! Her solution is to put Sally on the speaker phone and go about her business as Sally talks. (Ever wonder why Sally Sues don't call each other? It's because they want to do as much of the talking as possible and if the other party wants to cut the call short, the other party won't say much because it will just encourage more talk and a longer call.)

    The secondary problem is my wife has the volume up so much I can hear both sides of the conversation from anywhere in the house! My wife says the volume must be loud because often she is doing her work and is not near where the phone actually is.

    "You don't like it? Go in your office, close the door, and turn the radio up. You're the writer working at home. You could always rent an office."

    Like the nuns used to say back in the day, "We all have our cross to bear. Offer it up to the greater glory of God."

    This is when I lock my door, turn up the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Heartsong album), and do my best writing.

    It all comes out in the wash!

    Those who silly-shally with saying 'no' must with Sally Sues abide.

    Vince

    Please enter me in the drawing. I love the Ozarks. Have you seen the Ozark Imax movie in Branson? Just wonderful!

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    1. Oops! Forgot to use the "reply" feature, Vince. See my reply below. :-)

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    2. LOL!! Second hand exposure!!! You crack me up, Vince!

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  20. Vince, you literally made me laugh out loud! "Sometimes it's not simply a matter of dealing with Sally Sues: there is also second-hand Sally Sue exposure!" Oh, my gosh. So true! And yes - I, too, attract Sally Sues. But the thing is...I genuinely LOVE people. Love chatting and visiting and knowing their stories.

    I came to realize, though, there had to be a happy medium somewhere, and I had to pop a few hot air balloons if my writing career were to blossom. :-)

    I've been to the Imax theater in Branson many times, but I haven't seen the Ozark movie. It's quite a theater, isn't it?! And completely off-topic, but next time you're in Branson, you really MUST visit Dick's Five-and-Ten in downtown Branson -> https://www.dicks5and10.com/ You will LOVE it! THEN you must eat at the Farmhouse Restaurant a few doors down. Good, ol' country cookin' in a "mom and pop" atmosphere. AND don't forget to visit my alma mater (College of the Ozarks) and dine at the fabulous Keeter Center. :-) You're welcome!

    You are entered and thanks for the giggles!

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    1. Hi Cynthia:

      We have to visit Dick's five and dime at some point on each visit. However, we've never been to the Farmhouse Restaurant but we must go next time. We have to see "Samson" at the "Light and Sound" in March. They have the best Christian shows I've ever seen!

      BTW: the Ozark Imax movie is called, Ozarks Legacy & Legend, and it was made for that theater and I far as I can tell it plays once or twice every day. Great production values.

      We had a friend from church who became a president of one of the Ozark colleges. It might have been yours. His name is Dr. Ed Strong. It was a Christian college and a very good one.

      Good luck with your new book! Perhaps we'll see you at a show in Branson later in the year.

      Vince

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  21. Cynthia, congratulations on sailing off Unpubbed Island! Thank you for a great blog post. I love the cover on your book and added your title to my to read list. Time management is something I'm still working on, and I'm nearly 55! At least now, I feel as though I have it under control :))

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    1. Pat, over the years I've gotten so much better at time management, but it certainly didn't happen overnight. And it's something I still struggle with from time to time. The important thing? Don't beat yourself up over it. Determine to improve on one time-stealer at a time and go from there. Thank you for adding HHD to your reading list! I hope you love it!

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    2. Pat, that's great that you have found improvement in time management. I still struggle.

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  22. I am constantly working on strategies to make this work. One thing I learned from Pamela Redmond Satran, who gave us "Younger" but isn't all that bad. She had an article on time management in a writers' magazine a few years ago (remember writing advice ON PAPER?). Pam said at that time that she'd learned to do her fiction writing, which requires creativity and concentration, in the morning and her nonfiction writing (not as hard but it pays the bills) in the afternoon. I try to follow that, unless I'm on absolute deadline for my nonfiction.
    Other thing I do is curate my private life. No new hobbies, especially those that require some training. When I practice a hobby it's one to relieve me from the stress of writing. I also curate my social life. If it's ministry I'll make time for it, but I don't Do Lunch unless there's a good reason. And I'm careful about social media. I'll talk to writers and close friends, but I have never watched a cat video on Facebook. And believe me, I've had offers.
    The trick is to do what only you can do. Only you can be the wife, mother or grandmother your family needs. Only you can write the book or books you're supposed to write. Only you can do the ministries God has put on your heart. Which beats cat videos any day.
    Off to do errands, see you Monday. Love you guys. Yes, Missy, I'll blog in September.

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    1. Regarding your private life, all those things you mentioned, Kaybee, are spot-on. And I confess...I have watched cat videos on FB! But it was research! Lol (Okay. Fibbing.) Looking forward to your Seekerville guest-blog!

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    2. Great, Kathy! Email the seeker addy and we'll be in touch about it.

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  23. Congrats on getting published!
    As a stay-at-home mom of two preschoolers, my work time tends to be when they're asleep. I hope to expand it once they're both in school. But I probably do need to say no to other things more. I just love doing too many things!

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    1. Amy, I've been where you're at, and juggling those precious moments for our work can be hard. The truth is when we have littles still at home, life and work can become a balancing act. Your precious children take precedence over anything else so you are absolutely doing the right thing. Honing in on those sweet spots of silence where you can work uninterrupted takes a steely resolve, but it sounds like you've developed a great plan!

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    2. Amy, I remember those days of writing late at night (mine were not nappers). It's a tough time!

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  24. I’ve always had trouble saying no, but I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t be all things to all people without taking care of me. I’m still not where I need to be but I’m working on it. Thank you for sharing. Blessings

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    1. Hi Lucy! Saying no, no thanks, I'm sorry, but I'll have to pass - they all get a little easier after a few times. You are right - you cannot be "all things to all people" without taking care of you. It doesn't mean we're selfish. It means we recognize we're not effectively serving others if we're running on empty because we've over-committed. You'll get there!

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    2. Lucy, that's so true about taking care of ourselves.

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  25. Thanx for the blog. Your time management tips work for a lot of situations. I work nights at a hotel. So many calls come during the day...because I'm home. I turn off my phone. Immediate family text me to see if I answer. If I don't, they are out of luck until I wake up! Thanx for the giveaway!!!! Congratulations on publication!!! Miralee is awesome!!!

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    1. Hi Jennifer, wow, working nights is a hard gig. Fielding calls and texts during your at-home hours, I'm sure, is a balancing act. Sounds like you've hit your sweet spot in discovering what works best for you.

      Thank you for your well-wishes! Yes, Miralee is wonderful. :-)

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    2. Jennifer, you have to get your sleep! It's smart to turn off your phone.

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  26. So, so true! It's why I tend to have to pack up and decamp to a coffee shop to write. Those wretched distractions abound in my home...some productive, most not!

    Congratulations on your debut novel! It sounds delightful!

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    1. Erica, I've tried writing in a coffee shop. Can't do it. I don't know why. Now, I do love coffee shops...the coffee. The scones. The coffee. The... Well, you get the picture. Ha!

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    2. I LOVE the white noise of a coffee shop! I have a computer app/website that I have listened to before that uses it. haha

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  27. Oh my goodness! This is so true! I'm such a people pleaser...always have been. Plus, I'm a minister's wife, so I'm on lots of committees. But I have decided I need to step out of a few and learn that I can't do it all and write. Besides, I am a puppy mom and have enough distractions as it is! Yikes!

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    1. And Sherrinda, your fur baby is the sweetest thing EVER! :-)

      I think in the past 25+ years, I've served on every church committee ever created. Lol While I'm blessed to have served, and I hope been a blessing to others, the committee ship has now sailed on and to be honest, it's rather liberating.

      Blessings on your future release, my friend!

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    2. Sherrinda, I saw that sweet video of your puppy on FB today!! It would be tough to work when he's looking at you with those puppy eyes and whining. :)

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    1. Woohoo! Good for you, Christina! And practicing good time management doesn't mean we can't help family and friends sometimes or be available when needed. Each situation is different. You're right - prioritizing is key.

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  29. Congratulations, Cynthia! I hope I'm not too late checking in to be put in the drawing. This was a great post. I am always interested in how other writers manage their time. I need to do so much better than that. I currently have two jobs--one as a substitute teacher and the other part time at a book store. Juggling two jobs and still having time to write is tricky. However, I often have time while subbing when the students are working to do my own thing and I try to write at those times. But even in the summer when I'm not subbing, I still find myself wasting so much time. I need to be much more intentional with my time. Thanks for the great suggestions.

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    1. Hi Sandy! Absolutely not too late to enter drawing. :-) My goodness, you are burning the candle at both ends with two jobs AND writing. The main thing, and something you recognize, is making the most out of your downtime when you have it.

      Blessings as you move forward!

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  30. Congrats on your release!

    And this post is so timely. We all have had a Sally Sue in our lives at one point or another.

    Thankfully, my family aren't big talkers on the phone and these days phone ID is a great way to just not answer the phone. I've silenced mine before and only look at it at the end of each writing session.

    I need to talk to my mother more and she's always good about not calling me if she thinks I'm working. I've started calling her when I'm keeping one of the grandkids and putting my phone on speaker phone. The babies seem fascinated listening to us talk.

    I haven't done this, but if push came to shove, I'd buy a burner phone with a few minutes on it and only give that number to the 9-10 people in my life that need to get in touch with me in an absolute emergency. Hopefully, they'd only call that number if they couldn't get me to answer my normal phone.

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    1. I like that phone idea, Pam!

      You know, I don't miss the "old me" one bit. The girl who ran from pillar to post, people-pleasing, squirrel-chasing, and bending over backward to do everything every minute of every day for everyone else BUT myself. Those were lean writing years.

      Thank heaven for Caller ID!

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  31. I can so relate to his post, Cynthia. I've been a victim of people pleasing disease for a long time now. It's only as I've gotten more serious about my writing, more books published, and more gray hairs, that I've taken to laying down the law. I no longer answer my phone and I've learned to say no. It's been hard because I've always prided myself on helping my family and friends. I'm learning to prioritize and, most importantly, I've taken myself off the back burner. This is a must if we writers are going to pursue our dreams.

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    1. It IS hard, Christina! And I think for women it's harder because we wear so many hats. Three cheers for taking yourself off the back burner!

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  32. Congratulations Cynthia on the release of your first novel! I can almost imagine the rollercoaster ride you are on at the moment. All in God's perfect time... Thank you for your "timely" post. Instead of responding right away when I saw it earlier, I took your advice and made my writing time my priority this evening while the kids were ( and still are) sleeping. Lee-Ann

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  33. Time management is a big issue for me. I'm the one who is always late to everything. (Would love to enter your giveaway)

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    1. Hi Dianna, when we recognize some of our struggle areas then we can focus on rearranging certain aspects of our lives. Thanks for stopping by!

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  34. Throw my name in the hat please! Time management is a constant struggle for everyone in the family.....

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    1. Time management is a struggle for all of us at one time or another! Keep plowing forward!

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  35. OK, so you mean when I offered you that three-book contract, it didn't come with the guarantee you'd come organize my closets? Oh no!! :-)

    Seriously, this was an excellent article, Cindy. I'm glad you learned to set the boundaries we all need to set as some time in our lives. And your books are too important to NOT write them. Hugs!

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  36. Great post, Cynthia!! SO happy for you and your writing success! (*adding more confetti to the pile*). ;)
    I'm running a "few" days behind (LOL) but still wanted to chime in and say how much I enjoyed this.
    Hugs, Patti Jo

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    1. No worries about being late, Patti Jo! I appreciate you dropping in! xo

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  37. Hugs back to you! *squish* (No, ma'am...I won't clean your closets. BUT I may bake you cookies during my downtime!)

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  38. I’m glad you discovered a way to end the stuff that was draining you and keeping you from your job. Sometimes people just need to be told that your time is valuable. Thanks for the insight. Yes, it is ok to say no!

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