How do YOU carve out the time to write?

Here's a great  post from fellow-writer Elizabeth Inglee-Richards on that topic.

I love Elizabeth's work, bold and quirky urban fantasy.  Her straightforward, deceptively simple style can convince you that nothing is more likely or natural than a pro hockey team composed of were-hyenas.

Yes, you read that right.  Pro hockey.  Were-hyenas.  They're called Bouda. You know you want to read more. Here's one. of her tales


Me, I'm lucky in that my job outside the home has a lot of down-time. I am not just permitted I'm encouraged to bring my laptop and write.  Apart from that, I find it helpful to get out to a cafe to work, because I am far too much of a hippie housewife, and if I stay home I'm too likely to get caught up in making soup or hanging laundry outside, or cutting up ordinary ladies' blouses from the thrift store and making them into peculiar but comfortable tunics along the lines of an Indian kameez.  Never mind.  You don't really want to know.

But even though I have a lot of time to write in theory I am naturally a disorganized person, and I do not make the most of what I have.  Elizabeth's hints are very simple, very practical, very do-able.

I love the last one; I think it's something we all need to remember:

6) don’t beat yourself up: we are all human and life likes to laugh at us. If you can’t get to your computer (or you sit there and you don’t get your five words down) let it go. You can’t control the past, you can only control the future.

nice blog interview with my friend Carol Ann Kauffman

a delightful and insightful talk about writing, from a multi-talented author

Just Write.

Nerd Girl Sunshine talks to Carol Ann Kauffman

Kauffman's Time After Time series is based in a most unusual premise: in each story the two lovers are and are not the same.  

Different mythologies tell us that the souls of a pair of fated lovers are twin flames, or a single soul divided into two.  Kauffman turns this concept into a series of novels in which the souls of Richard and Nicole meet again and again, in different times and places, different bodies and personalities, at different ages.

Waiting for Richard appealed enormously to me because the lovers - like me - are well over sixty years old.  But I also enjoyed The Basilicato featuring much younger lovers and some wild adventures, murderous foes, etc.  I can't wait to read more of the series.

It's a.... Mystery!

My newest story is out.

A Mystery For Marissa 

Story #One in the new romance series about a book club in (where else?)  Oakville.

The Monday 

Mystery Society

When young bookstore owner Rob starts a new reading group, The Monday Mystery Society draws ten diverse individuals, all attractive in their unique ways—and all of them single. How many will still be single by the night of the group’s closing party? 


Rob was content to divide his time and passion between running the independent bookstore he loves, and playing amateur soccer--until he met Marissa.  She may be the woman of his dreams, but unfortunately, the gorgeous nurse stiffens up at the mere hint that he might ask her out. Thinking fast, Rob invents a mystery reading group, just for the chance to spend some time with the gorgeous nurse. 

The big mystery on his mind now is how far he’ll have to go to get her attention.  Does he need to show up wounded (as some of his teammates already have) in her ER? 

Welcome to Oakville, where people still know their neighbors, friendships last a lifetime—and gossip is a force of nature.

My Oakville anthology is out.

                                                 

Welcome to Oakville

a small town where people still know their neighbors, friendships last a lifetime, and gossip is a force of nature.

          "Tell me where Oakville is, so I can move there!"

                                      ~  Annette Matrisciano

                                           author of Dead Rite

Now you can get the first three Oakville stories as a single volume.  The ebook is available now, and the print version is coming soon.  Makes a great vacation read for the romance lovers in your life.

help for a writer's most dangerous physical activity

 Sitting.

We sit to write.  We sit to read.  For hours and hours and hours every day.  And it's not good for us.

Sometimes we try standing to work instead, but that doesn't really help, because it brings on another set of problems.

The only solution to this problem is periodic movement--but sometimes that just seems like too much trouble.

I mean, yeah, I know I should go take a walk, but that means first (oh, the horror!) getting dressed, and putting on shoes, and going outside, where it's probably rainy or blindingly sunny, or windy, or something weather-related. Besides, I'm on a roll here, and I'll lose it if I leave it now.

Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little.  For one thing, I actually  like to walk, and even better, I've found that I can do a lot of my best thinking about a work in progress while I'm walking.

But the fact is, if I'm in the middle of something that's going so well I don't want to leave it (or so badly that I'm ashamed to leave it until I get a grip on what's wrong), I'm not going to set out for an hour-long walk, or even a little half-hour stroll.  I'm unlikely to walk more than a few yards, to get a drink of water or another cup of coffee.  I'm  more likely to just sit there rubbing absent-mindedly at an aching shoulder and groaning softly to myself.

In an earlier post I mentioned Suzan Colón's blog, how I found my way there through a very appealing photo of a bookstore, and discovered some great articles.  The other day I clicked on a button labeled Take a Yoga Break.  Here's what I found.

http://takeayogabreak.com/sitting-the-new-smoking/

"Take A Yoga Break™ is a series of yoga-based moves designed to help counteract the dangerous health problems associated with long-term sitting. TAYB poses are simple, quick, and can be done right at your desk—no special equipment, fitness level, or OM required. Seat-izens™, stand up for your health with Take A Yoga Break!"

Now, I love yoga.  My second Oakville story, Comfort and Joy, is about two people brought together by their shared love of yoga.

I'm certainly no expert,  though and I don't do it anywhere near as often as I wish I did.  So this app is a very appealing way to put yoga right next to me, without the need to sign up for classes or even change my clothes.  I love it!  

Here's a little more info:

"Sitting is the new smoking," Suzan says, in terms of dangers to your health.   Take A Yoga Break (TAYB for short) is a series of yoga-based moves that help counteract the dangers of long periods of sitting. TAYB moves reactivate electrical activity in the legs and gently stretch muscles, and they can be done right at your desk in just minutes.

Take A Yoga Break’s creator, Suzan Colón, is the author of ten books and a former Senior Editor of O, the Oprah Magazine. The aches and pains she felt from sitting at desks for years led her to do yoga, and to become a certified instructor at the world-renowned Integral Yoga Institute. She went on to earn certificates of completion in Therapeutic Yoga and Yoga for Arthritis. Suzan designed TAYB for people of any age, shape, and fitness level.

The Take A Yoga Break™ app has a timer that gives reminders to stand when you want them, and then shows step-by-step instructions and illustrations for over 30 simple, gentle moves. Go through the list in the Exercises section to pick your favorites. Swipe to see each step and the whole move animated.

Take A Yoga Break™ app,  is available on iTunes for iPhone and iPad. (Android version coming in early 2015.)

For more on how to beat the dangers of sitting, as well as tips on office wellness and health, visit TakeAYogaBreak.com and follow TAYB on Twitter and Facebook. To contact them, email info@takeayogabreak.com.

  

“…an app that will remind users to push away from their desks and perform the poses right there, no stretchy pants or mat required.” —Fast Company, Innovation Agents