A Step in the Write Direction--April 1, 2013

A Step in the Write Direction

April 1, 2013

Update:

I knew writers were procrastinators, but 25 submissions for the grandfather/father anthology on the last two days before the deadline—wow! Obviously, it will take some time to go through those and the ones I received in the days and weeks before to make the final selection. If you submitted one, you will hear from me—one way or the other…. Cross your fingers for me. Tomorrow I’ll receive a call from an editor at 2:30 Arizona time letting me know if she’s accepting a book manuscript. Will let you know next week… Thanks for your prayers for my husband Gary. He is still very weak from the C-Diff infection, but is doing better, I think. After they took him off one diuretic, he gained 8 pounds in 2 days, so they put him on another one and now he has lost 9 pounds (which he can’t afford. He’s down to 106.). He’ll have an echocardiogram tomorrow to check on the blood clot they found in the heart last September, then will have the defibrillator replacement on April 22^nd.

Thought for the Day:

“Yes, Lord, I have to die—with you, through you, and in you—and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess....I see clearly now how little I have died with you” (Henri Nouwen).

Laugh for the Day:

Husband (to wife trying on new hat): Of course you can buy it, dear. I like that middle-aged look it gives you.

Writer’s Hints:

Today we’re including a guest posting by Alyssa Avant on Organization that I know you will enjoy. Don’t miss next week’s blog on selling reprints!

Have a good week spreading the gospel

through the printed page.

Donna Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

Post by Alyssa Avant:

First of all, I have learned that God is my secretary. He handles all scheduling choices. I have MY priorities, but if He says something else should take priority over those, that's what we do. In my heart, I have a list of truly important (that birthday party—things I can never get back, things I know I will regret NOT doing if I don't—that DOESN'T include marketing, websites, etc. It DOES include kids, family, friends and definitely God—which includes church and things for my kids' schools.) Then I have the urgent—things like paying bills and taxes, which there would be dire consequences if I don't get that done. Next is the cool things God lets me do—my websites, blogs, and my groups—the relationships with people who will be there on the other side as well. Under that is marketing and selling and writing. Under THAT is cleaning house and everything else.

So if I'm doing something at the bottom of the list and something higher up shows up to be done, that gets done first. Do I sometimes live with a mess in my house? Yes. But when a friend shows up at my door, the writing and marketing, etc. comes secondary to that.

Now, one thing organizationally that I do is keep two notebooks on my desk for my "list." My list is not "things I have to get done" to be worth something like it used to be. Now, it's things that need to be done or that I'd like to be done. Why do I have two? Because as I cross about 5-6 off of one, I write the new list on the other, then start fresh.

Does this work? For me, it absolutely does. I have 3 kids, a husband, 3 businesses, 3 blogs, 2 newsletters, 23 books out, a house, 2 schools...I teach Sunday school and volunteer for VBS. I would go crazy were it not for just letting go and letting God direct every day. I highly recommend becoming His best friend and trusting Him with absolutely EVERYTHING!

Visit Alyssa at:

http://www.facebook.com/l/NAQGDZvfEAQHV-6Mm_j_8obkWjtMh7Bi4ydgRZewVry88bw/www.stacistallings.net