Taking a Few Weeks Off
I’m taking a blog break until mid-August! I hope you enjoy these summer days as much as I’m trying to!
I’ll be posting August’s goals on August 11th!
Happy summer!!
Writing Full Time During the Summer
There’s a tug-of-war within me all summer long. You know, the one that says, “Get to work!” while the other says, “Get out there and have fun!”
It’s especially bad right now. Since it’s the middle of July, I’m hoping my reluctance to stick with my schedule has peaked. I doubt it.
Writing full time during the summer pushes my self control to the limits.
I’d simply rather be having fun. Who wouldn’t?
We’ve been blessed to spend several weekends this summer with extended family. It’s a welcome change from last year when we were isolated. But after weekends surrounded by friends and family, I always need extra time to decompress. And my writing schedule really doesn’t allow much extra time this year.
This is where creating a weekly and daily goal list keeps me on track. The downside? I’m working longer days to make up for the fun weekends. And I would much rather to be out on my deck, soaking up the sun in the afternoons, instead of inside writing!
That’s the thing, though. Just because I’m self-employed and make my own schedule doesn’t mean I can take extended time off. I have deadlines, and they aren’t just suggestions. I don’t mind, though. I’m doing what I love, and I want my career to continue to climb.
There are always tradeoffs. If I scheduled my deadlines differently to allow for more downtime, I would have fewer releases, and I would make less money. No thanks!
At this point in my life, I prefer to forego lazy summer afternoons to release more books and earn more money. In the future, that might change or it might not. But for now, I’m pushing through the middle-of-summer tug-of-war, and so far, I’m winning!
Do you write during the summer? Is it challenging for you? What helps keep you motivated?
There is still time to enter the BIG Christmas in July Reader Giveaway! Go HERE for my blog stop and directions!
Christmas in July Reader Giveaway
Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the 2nd blog in this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway, which runs July 12-23, 2021. At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the secret words. Write them all down and provide the provide the entire answer on this Google form.
*If you missed the 1st stop, go to https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway-dangerous-christmas-memories/ for the first secret words!!*
Note: You must grab all the secret words from every author in the Christmas in July Reader Giveaway to be eligible to win a $400 Amazon gift card. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (20 in all). At each blog stop, the author will also give away copy or copies of their featured Christmas book.
Don’t you just love Christmas? Especially when you can win a huge prize–in July! Woohoo!
To further celebrate this amazing reader giveaway, I’m giving away 5 (FIVE) copies of THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS! US winners will receive a signed paperback, and International winners will receive an ebook! Simply LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog post to be entered to win one of the 5 copies!
All comments are moderated by me, so don’t worry if it doesn’t show up right away. I will see it and approve it the next tune I’m at my computer.
Comments can be left through July 23, 2021, 8:00pm EST. One comment per reader, please. Winner will be selected via random number generator and contacted via email. 18 years and older. Void where prohibited.
Will welcoming them for Christmas have him wishing for more?
Judd Wilson lives a solitary life…until he learns Nicole Taylor and her infant triplets need somewhere to stay. The cabin on his ranch is the perfect solution, but now his quiet Christmas alone feels a lot more crowded. Recently widowed, Nicole questions her swiftly developing feelings for Judd, even if the older man is wonderful with her babies. Is she ready to take that leap again?
***
Now, it’s time to for the secret words: In Christmas
Save the secret words, and when you reach the final blog, enter all the secret words on this form for a chance to win a $400 Amazon gift card!
Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Dennis Bailey and his Christmas book The Boy Who Cried Christmas. You can find it at THIS LINK. Remember, this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway will end on July 23 at 8 PM EST!
Leave a comment below to be entered to win one of FIVE copies of The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessings!
Let’s Set Goals {July 2021}
My writer productivity skyrockets when I set monthly goals. At the beginning of each week I break them down into daily tasks that will work within my current schedule. Do you know how great it is to finish projects? Of course you do! For me, setting monthly goals makes it all possible.
Every month I share how I did the previous month as well as my new goals. Let’s get to it!
How Did I Do? Jill’s June Goals
What I’ve Been Up To This Summer So Far
The busy summer has just begun, and I’m already loving it!
We’ve been able to spend time with both my hubby’s family and my family this month, which is practically unheard of outside the holidays. It was so great to see everyone.
We also celebrated our anniversary with a trip to the Toledo Zoo and a romantic dinner after. The zoo had baby tiger twins, and they were the cutest things. Plus, the otters were swimming and having a good old time. They are a lot of fun to watch. Here’s one below.
Digital Minimalism Experiment: 2 Years Later
A little over two years ago, I read Cal Newport’s book, Digital Minimalism (#affiliatelink), and it made a huge impact on me. I immediately did a digital minimalism experiment by setting rules regarding my phone and laptop. In fact, I wrote about it in a blog post back in March 2019, “Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.”
Here’s a snippet:
“Scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and various news sites often eat up precious evening hours. And I couldn’t tell you what I’ve gotten out of all the mindless scrolling! Another problem I have? If I’m working on my laptop and check in on Facebook, I feel anxiety over unanswered private messages (I don’t use Facebook Messenger on my phone and only get private messages from my laptop). Ditto for unanswered emails–even if I get them at 10pm!”
I also went on to describe the actions I was taking to combat the digital takeover of my free time.
Writing Through Your Moods
When I’m feeling blue, I don’t want to write. I don’t want to do anything writing related, either. I just want to sit on the couch, eat peppermint patties and caramels, take a nap, then sip coffee and watch the Food Network.
Do I sit on the couch and do all those things? No.
Well, I might take a thirty-minute break to indulge in them, but for the most part, I force myself to get something done on my work in progress.
Writing through your moods is a necessary skill.
Let’s Set Goals! {June 2021}
My writer productivity skyrockets when I set monthly goals. At the beginning of each week I break them down into daily tasks that will work within my current schedule. Do you know how great it is to finish projects? Of course you do! For me, setting monthly goals makes it all possible.
Every month I share how I did the previous month as well as my new goals. Let’s get to it!
How Did I Do? Jill’s May Goals
2 Great Contests!
| I’m participating in two BIG contest giveaways! Contest/Giveaway #1: I’ve teamed up with 45 fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Inspirational Romances to 2 lucky winners!Oh, and did I mention the Grand Prize winner gets a BRAND NEW eReader? 😁You can win my novel NAME OF NOVEL, plus books from authors like Suzanne Woods Fisher and Josie Riviera.Enter the giveaway by clicking here 👉 bit.ly/InspyRomance-May21 |
3 Ways to Avoid Distractions and Keep Writing
I’m currently writing the first draft of a new book. I’m working on one of those in-between chapters, and, needless to say, I’m distracted. How to fight distractions when writing?
Well, first let’s look at why I’m distracted.
I’ve reached a spot in the book where I’m not certain what will happen next or even what needs to happen. And instead of figuring it out, I avoid it.
I don’t even think I fight the distractions! Anything is better than the hard work of figuring out the best path forward with the plot.