Monday Meeting

Hey you!! Get back to writing in there!!

I've had a few intense weeks as my kids finished school, and am so excited for the summer schedule.  My kids have already fallen into the rhythm of playing together, swimming at the lake, and just hanging out.  They were made for summer, I think.

Now, I am trying to fall into a writing rhythm.  A before and after type deal.  Before the kids wake up and the frenzied activity begins, and after the kids fall asleep exhausted.  Bookending my day with writing.  That's what this week is all about--pounding out the writing time.  I'm hoping that soon I'll have some really awesome goals to report, but right now, it's still just about finding the rhythm to summer write.

In case you've been as unplugged as I have been, here are some updates:

WIBIJ, or Where In the Blogosphere is Jon?!, is undergoing construction.  We'll let you know when we are up and running again.  We thought that the beginning of summer was an excellent time to make improvements on the blog format.  Feel free to stop by and chat, it's always a party over there!

Paul is giving away books, and starting a discussion around titles for reluctant boy readers. Definitely worth stopping by.

Adventures in Children's Publishing is giving away books (ending today, so throw your hat in the ring!), and talking about...

...WriteOnCon--the free kidlit writer's conference taking the internet by storm in August.  Make sure to go register July 1st! Woo-hoo!!

And, be sure to stop by here on Friday, and give Steve Brezenoff some love.  We're kicking off the Summer series of Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond with a discussion of his book, the Absolute Value of -1, due out in the fall.

So, tell me, what goals do you have this week?  Will I see you in The Practice Room?  

Tuesday Monday Meeting, and Yes, I Found the Edge of the Blogosphere and Fell Off

Phew, it has been a very full week since I last posted. I wish I could say that it's over--the busy-ness--but it's not, and I'm just going to have to take things by the seat of my pants, like usual. I've been gone from the internet all week, and guess what? It goes on without me!! I am not the star at the center of the blogging world :). Okay, so I guess that I already knew that, but what I didn't know was that a few days away feel like a year. Like I fell off the edge, and am now climbing all the way back up. And I thought the blogosphere was round. Go figure!

Anyway, my kids are just wrapping up school this week, so I might not be around much this week as well. Thanks for sticking through it all with me--I had a horrible feeling that I might open up blogger to find that I had zero followers today.

Goals for the week:

To spend today recharging my batteries, and shifting my focus from family stuff around the clock to a good balance of writing and family stuff. I'm planning on reading and running today--getting back into the mental frame to write. And then getting back into the writing tomorrow. Easing into it. Hoping that I remember which of my many drafts is the current one. :)

My other goal is to climb back up the edge of the blogosphere and visit some blogs.

We are postponing this episode of WIBIJ until next Wednesday, June 23rd, and it should be a great game!

I rock at water balloon tossing. Just thought you would want to know.

So, what are your goals for this week? Are you in a time of transition? And, it's been awhile since I asked, so, what are you working on? (I'm still revising my star story!)

And, I got a big hoot out of this:

I would have guessed that the S was for "superman", but for "spikes" is just so much better! 

Monday Meeting, Making Lists

Times of transition make it difficult for me to stick to my routines. We are in a transition right now as we move from school year to summer. And in the meantime, there is a flurry of end-of year activities. I am backlogged on everything, including writing. And I get through all this the same way I get through writing--by the seat of my pants.

Yes. I'm a pantser.

But, I also love lists and organization. There is magic when I write things down. I actually get things done. Unfortunately, writing is not the only thing on my list today. (The kittens tried to then eat this list after the picture was taken, which feels about right when I think about how much time I actually dedicate to my writing these days.)

Other things on today's to-do list include planting pumpkin and sunflower plants/seeds, clean kitchen, put away laundry, pick up medicine, pay bills, re-organize attic, plan for sleepover party for Friday, RSVP for end-of year parties, send in permission slip for field trip, order DVD of son's chorus concert (he had a 'solo'), and not forget any school events which I am supposed to attend. Figure out teacher gifts. Spend time with family. Oh, and dinner. I can't forget to feed my kids. (Well, I can, and sometimes do, but it's not pretty!)

So, somewhere in there, I want to run and write. I'm hoping to unplug with Tina to get the writing in, and maybe run into town and do errands there to get my run in.

Getting writing onto the to-do list seems about the extent of my writing goals this week. :)

What is on your to-do list today/this week? What are your writing goals?

Friday Feature: Our Spirit

I am very excited to tell you all about my friend and writing partner Robert's newly launched non-profit website, Our Spirit. Designed to be a resource for LGBTQ teens who might feel turned away by organized religion. Robert's message? "Love…that's the whole story."

Our Spirit's Mission:

Our Spirit believes that the true basis of life and religion is love and that all people deserve to be loved, including – especially! – youth who don’t fit the straight and narrow vision of sexuality. Our Spirit uses the broad reach of the internet and the intimacy of narrative film to help youth develop tools for self-acceptance.

Why?

Adolescence can be difficult enough without struggling with questions of sexual identity.

Organized religion is one of the last places where it’s acceptable to spread hate and homophobia.

The Our Spirit website will air movie shorts this summer, called The Romeo Files.

It has an amazing page, LGBTQ-Whatever, which is wonderful collection of resources, including lists of books and movies.

And, as if you needed more inspiration to click over and check it out, there is a whole page of Words That Help, including quotes like this:

For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation. – Rainer Maria Rilke, German poet


I would love it if you would visit Robert's wonderful website, and leave him a message there, and let him know what you think of his endeavor. I'm so excited for his non-profit launch!! I'm so excited that this resource for teens is up and running. And I'm excited to hear about what you think!


Woo-hoo, Robert!!


P.S. check out the results of the fun and furious WIBIJ game--Award Ceremony at 1PM!

And--I LOVE this book review by Tahereh--it makes me want to read the book NOW!

Tuesday Monday Meeting: Smiles for a Runner

Rarely do I really know how I am feeling until I slip into my jogging shoes, tie my car key into my laces, and step onto the trail for a run.  Running is emotional, almost spiritual. I connect with all of me. From my smallest breath to my biggest idea. I connect with the ground beneath my feet, the sky above, the snakes slithering past, and the other people on the trail. We strangers smile as we run past each other.  Connected.

I have a strong faith, in me, in my writing, in my understanding that we as people are all connected to one another.  That connection may be the most conventional part of my faith.  Maybe what people call God.  That force that moves within me, through me, and connects me to everyone else. What provides the possibility for growth and personal evolution.

You can't go far in the writing blogosphere without stumbling upon people talking about and experiencing doubts.  Or bigger, experiencing a crisis of faith.  Of writing faith.  Am I a good enough writer?  Am I strong enough to be vulnerable, and open to writing growth?  Can I hear what others say about my writing and get better, stronger, and take what I need, and leave what I don't?  Can I survive the rejections?  Am I good enough?  Will I ever be good enough?  Should I give up?  What if I never...?

But the thing that we forget is that in order to have faith, there must be doubts.  And, that when you have doubts, you also expose your faith.  So, I ask you, in this very connected world, what do your doubts tell you about the faith that you have in yourself, in your writing?  How do your doubts help you understand the depth of the faith you have in your writing?

My writing goals this week include finding a balance between writing and my kids' lack of school.  My youngest is home all the time now, so things will be shifting.  Writing every day is a goal I'm hoping to achieve. What goals do you have this week?

If you would like to connect with other writers, check out Tina's Practice Room, our WIBIJ game (STARTING THIS WEDNESDAY AT 1:00--WOO-HOO!!), or Sheri's Graffiti Wall--an interview today with the awesomely wonderful Casey McCormick.  Put your doubts aside, and just sit with your writing faith this week!