What I’ve Been Up To This Summer So Far

What I've Been Up To This Summer So Far, Jill Kemerer, Busy Summer

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.

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Digital Minimalism Experiment: 2 Years Later

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.

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Let’s Set Goals! {June 2021}

Let's Set Goals {June 2021} Writer Productivity

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

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3 Ways to Avoid Distractions and Keep Writing

3 Ways To Avoid Distractions When Writing By Jill Kemerer

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.

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Slowing Down This Week

Slowing Down This Week By Jill Kemerer

My husband is off this week working on our deck, so I’m slowing down, too. It worked out perfectly since I have a lot of time before my next book is due.

I’m working on a nonfiction writing project I plan on indie publishing. If I get a chapter written, I’ll be happy. Besides that, I’m researching, baking, and hopefully, going birding.

What’s birding you ask?

Well, here in Northwest Ohio, birding is a big deal if you’re into that sort of thing. Unfortunately, The Biggest Week in American Birding will be taking place virtually this year, but since I’m within driving distance of some great spots to see warblers, I plan on taking a day to try to spot them.

This year I have a good camera and good binoculars! Last time I went (a few years ago), I had a $12 pair of binoculars from Walmart and my phone camera. Not the best equipment for birding, but it worked for me! I really enjoyed seeing different species of warblers along with native birds and bald eagles’ nests. They are huge!

So that’s my plan. Take it easy. See some birds. Write a bit.

Do you ever take a week to slow down? What do you like to do?

Join me next week for GOALS! Woohoo!!

Is Improvement Automatic {Aspiring Writers}

Is Writing Improvement Automatic? Jill Kemerer

Way back when I submitted my first novel for publication, I was certain getting published would happen quickly–a year, tops. I believed talent would take me places.

Confidence is a good thing. It pushed me through a lot of hard times.

But reality came knocking quickly, and with it came humility.

When I realized getting published might take longer–much longer–than I thought, I questioned if I had any talent at all. Had I been lying to myself?

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Building a Cushion into Deadlines

Building A Cushion Into Deadlines By Jill Kemerer

You’re crushing your goals, on track to meeting your deadline when disaster strikes. A week later all you can think is well, that didn’t go as planned.

I lived this last week. On Sunday, I woke up with a killer migraine, and I didn’t feel better until Friday. A five-day migraine might be a record for me (and not one I particularly wanted!). Anyway, I had to throw my goals for the week out the window. I do not like missing my goals. I really don’t like missing them AND being sick.

Meeting Deadlines

It wasn’t catastrophic for me. I try very hard to work ahead, and I always build a cushion into my deadlines. Migraines can hit me out of the blue so, in order to meet my deadlines, I have to be smart. I cannot wait to the last minute to finish a book, especially since that last minute might be spent on the couch with a cold cloth over my eyes.

Meeting deadlines is easier if we plan for the unexpected.

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Maintenance Marketing for Writers

Maintenance Marketing For Writers By Jill Kemerer

Promotion and marketing are ongoing tasks for writers. What’s the difference between them? I’m not a marketing major, but I’ve been doing my own marketing and promotion for years. I have my own way of defining them.

I promote my books. I market my author name/brand to build my platform.

For me, marketing is the overall strategy of building my platform. Promotion, on the other hand, is the overall strategy of selling a particular book.

There isn’t anything technically accurate about this definition. It’s just the way I separate the two in my mind.

There are things I do on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis that I call maintenance marketing for writers.

The goal of these tasks is to provide content to my platform on a regular basis as well as attract new readers to find and follow me. Then, when I’m promoting a new book, the additional book-centric content is a natural continuation of what I’m already doing.

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Let’s Set Goals {March 2021}

Let's Set Goals March 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 February Goals

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Slowing Down for the Details

Slowing Down For The Details, Jill Kemerer

It’s no secret I like to get things done. If I have a to-do list (and I do!), I’m continuously working to check things off of it. I work hard to manage my time well Monday through Friday–and I love the loose unstructured feeling of the weekend.

But sometimes I crave less noise, and I find myself slowing down for the details.

On Monday morning more snow arrived and with it a winter storm warning of 10-16 more inches in the next twenty-four hours. Great. More snow. Here in NW Ohio, snow storms happen. No big deal.

I try to be a once-a-week grocery shopper, and I needed to stock up so I headed to the grocery store. Most of the store was well-stocked, but I noticed the entire cooler of eggs was nearly empty. In the produce section, a long shelf sat bare except for six lone bananas. The bins underneath, usually full, had nothing in them. There wasn’t a carton of strawberries (on sale this week) to be found.

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