As Writers, Do We Procrastinate?

I'm curious about your writing habits. Do you have a routine you have to go through before you can write or do you just dive right in when the desire hits you? Do you have to make sure all the chores are done and the space is clean or can you write amongst the mess? Personally, I prefer an organized space, but when my muse starts screaming in my head, the house could be crumbling down around me and I would still be writing. Here's a fun little poem I threw together. I'm not a poet by any means, but had fun putting it together. Yes, I should have been working on my book and YES, I was procrastinating. My bad.

My Day as a Writer

My desk seems awfully cluttered, though I know I need to write.

But who can work in such a mess? I first must make it right.

It really should be easy. There isn’t much to do

Although the shelves above it could use a dusting too

The books, they are disheveled. I think I’ll organize

But not by famous author, I line them up by size

My next task will be easy, just clean the tiny keys.

And then the mouse and monitor, will polish up with ease.

It’s looking so much better, I really should be done.

Except that pile of papers, I file every one.

Now I should be ready to summon up my muse.

I sharpen all my pencils and pick a pen to use.

My notebook in the ready, I find my notes within

But now the dog is barking, before I can begin.

The napping babe is waking, there’s someone at the door.

I rise to get the infant, but trip and hit the floor.

The chair no longer upright, slams into my backside.

My favorite pair of pjs, are now ripped up the side.

The baby now is wailing, I struggle to my feet.

My writing time is over. I’ll have to claim defeat.

Until the day is over, I’ll wish I’d left the mess.

For now the real world beckons, my muse will have to rest.

By Christine Bryant

There's a Book In You"

I totally love this comic. Thought I would share.

Book Launching Party

"Martha's Freedom Train"
By C. Larens Hall

About the Book

With help from the Underground Railroad, Martha (age 12) and her parents escape slavery. When they find an entrance to a station hidden in a hill, they finally feel safe. Mamma has caught pneumonia because of the rainy weather and the cold rivers and streams they crossed. Papa learns about a wagon train of Mormons traveling west, and he takes Martha to meet them. Her heart almost breaks when he insists she go with these strangers. Martha encounters many exciting adventures. She helps put out a fire, and after Martha falls asleep beside the trail, they accidentally leave her behind. Upon reaching her destination, Martha wonders if she’ll ever see her mamma and papa again.

The Launch Party

For information about the Launch Party for this book, leave a comment on the author's blog by clicking HERE.

A Book Review

"Agents in Old Lace"
By Tristi Pinkston

About the Book
Shannon Tanner's perfect life is turned on end when she discovers her boyfriend, Mark, is not what he seems. Fearing for her safety, she enlists the FBI, who puts its best man on the job Rick Holden, who dons a dress and goes undercover as Shannon s roommate. For a while it seems that life is safe again, until Mark kidnaps Shannon's best friend. Shannon realizes the only way to save her friend and herself is to send Rick, her only protection, away. Agent in Old Lace is a thrilling combination of action, suspense, and romance that will keep you turning the pages until the end.

About the Author
Tristi Pinkston is a stay-at-home mom, home schooler, media reviewer, Cub Scout leader, freelance editor, obsessive blogger, and headless chicken. She s married to her first and only boyfriend, Matt Pinkston, and together they have four children: Caryn, Ammon, Joseph, and Benjamin. Tristi is a regularly featured presenter at the LDStorymakers Writers Conference and enjoys helping others learn how to fine-tune their writing skills. She also gives presentations on literacy, the Hole in the Rock Pioneers, and the importance of honoring the talents you ve been given. Tristi is the author of three historical fiction novels. Agent in Old Lace is her first novel with Cedar Fort.

The Review
By Christine Bryant

This is the first novel I've read by Tristi Pinkston and I must say I was impressed. Not only did she keep my interest throughout every suspense filled page, but she added a bit of humor and romance as well. This book is sure to appeal to just about any reader with its tough female character who's not afraid to stand up for herself and an even tougher hero that isn't too caught up in his manhood to put on a dress and a little makeup to save the girl. I found myself on the edge of my seat one moment and laughing my head off the next.

Well done, Tristi. I think you have a winner here.

To find out more about Tristi Pinkston and her books, click HERE.

To order "Agent in Old Lace", click HERE.

"Taming the Heart" - Progress

I spent Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah at a seminar put on by Dave Wolverton AKA: Dave Farland. Friday evening's session was pretty routine, getting to know Dave and meeting other class members. But Saturday was filled with so much information, my brain hurt. One of the highlights of my day was when I was eating breakfast in the hotel cafeteria and Dave walked in. He came right to my table, said good morning and asked to join me. For the next 30 minutes, I had a one-on-one conversation with one of the GREAT Sci-Fi/Fantasy writers of all time. He asked about my book and encouraged me to send him my first chapter so he could take a look at it. I couldn't believe how down to earth this man was and how approachable he is.

The second, and certainly not the least exciting thing, was having lunch with both new and old friends. Along with my friend Becky, there was Candace Salima, Lisa Peck and David West. What an enjoyable day.

The best part was being able to talk to Candace about the progress of my book, Taming the Heart. I submitted it to her publishing company, Valor Publishing Group, about two weeks ago and hadn't heard back. Her comments were encouraging and hopeful. I keep thinking this weekend was a turning point in my writing career, whether through the information I received, or from meeting new people and making friends, I don't know. But regardless, I had a great time and am still glowing from the effects.

Win Annette Lyon's New Book

Go to "Why Not? Because I Said So" and sign up to win a free copy of this book. Don't forget to leave a comment and sign up to be a follower.

"Sharing the Sabbath"

Prayer has always been an important part of my life. I believe in the power of prayer and all the blessings, guidance and inspiration that can be received from regular and earnest prayer. I'm sharing this video with you today in hopes that it will encourage you to go to your Heavenly Father in prayer and share with him the feelings of your heart. Have a wonderful sabbath day.

"Location, Location, Location"

I'm curious. Where do you find your muse?

With school out and summer vacations, reunions and outdoor activities filling our calendars, I find myself struggling to find not only the time to write, but the place.

Most of the time I'm in my office, where I can close the door for small periods of quality time and where my Muse seems to find me quite nicely . . . most of the time.

However, there are other times, like when I have to work at our restaurant, when I take my laptop and sit in the office with the walkin compressor hammering in my ear and the camera surveillance system howling with the chatter of customers and the sound of pots and pans being knocked about. Not the ideal place, but I still find I can write there.

Then there are the times when we go camping and I'm torn between stepping out into the beauty of nature for my inspiration and staying inside our trailer where I can focus and not be drawn into the lives of other campers and people passing by. Not to mention being attacked by mosquitoes.
Once and a while I take my laptop out on our deck while watching the sunset or listening to the falls from the nearby canyon. And other times I sit in the living room, while my son watches a movie or listens to music.

But I think the best place I've ever written was when I went back to basics, trading my laptop for a spiral notebook and my favorite gel pen and lost myself at the end of a long relaxing drive. I'd park by a stream, roll down the windows in my car and just listen. Listen to nature. Listen to my Muse and listen to the spirit. Those are the times when I write from my heart and do my best writing. My mind is calm and my spirit is open for inspiration.

So, today I want to know where you find your Muse. What's your favorite place to write? Where's the most unusual place you've ever written? Where's the one place you'd like to visit with your laptop?

As for me . . . I'm still searching. Maybe some of your ideas will inspire me.

"June Writing Challenge"

MEN ONLY

June's Writing Challenge has gone to the men, so relax ladies.
Let's see what they're really made of.

MEN, your challenge is to pick one of the following:

1 - Tell us about the first moment when you found out you were going to be a father.


2 - What it felt like to hold your baby in your arms for the first time.

OR



3 - For those of you who either aren't father's yet, don't want to get in touch with their emotions, or want to use the creative side of their brain . . . use your sci-fi/fantasy imaginations and create something totally fun and unique. Maybe your wife gave birth to an alien or a tadpole. Or your new offspring has a magical power. You decide.

Here are the rules:

1 - Email me personally to let me know you will stand up to the challenge because you want to show all us women you are tough and can do anything...LOL

2 - Post your story of 1000 words or less on YOUR blog on Saturday, June 20th, the day before Father's Day.

I will put your link on my blog so everyone knows who is participating and where to go to read your story. That's it. I can't wait to read what you guys come up with.

"The Path We Choose"

We never really know where the path we choose will lead us. As I reflect on a simple choice I made a little over five years ago, I find myself counting all the changes in my life that have come because of it.

While sitting in a Relief Society Planning meeting, we were asked to tell something about ourselves that nobody knew. At the time I wasn't doing a lot of writing and the only things I'd had published were in magazines. Even then, I'd kept that to myself, so when my turn came I reluctantly shared my secret with the group. It got the same reaction as everyone else when they'd shared, a few oohs and awes, then they moved onto the next person. Afterwards, a new sister in the ward approached me and said she was also a writer and that she and some friends has started an online magazine--Segullah. She gave me the link and asked me to check it out.

That night I scrolled through the magazine, and even though what I read was impressive, it wasn't what caught my eye. On one of the sidebars was an advertisement for the LDStorymaker's Writer's Conference. I clicked on the link and the rest is history.

Because of that one confession, sharing a bit of myself in a room full of LDS women, I've been blessed far beyond what I could have ever imagined. I've made friends, met people and made valuable contacts with professionals that could change my life. I've also written my first novel, been blogging for over a year and been asked to blog for Mormon Mommy Writers on Saturdays.

As I sit here writing this post, I'm waiting to hear from a publishing company about my manuscript. I sent it in last Friday and I know it will probably be weeks before I hear from them, but I can't stop wondering where it is in the process and what they think of it. The biggest irony of the situation is, the very first person I had contact with when I emailed for more information about the conference, is the same person I addressed my query letter to. She is the aquisitions editor for the publishing company I submitted my manuscript to. I've come full circle.

I guess the main reason I write about this is because I almost didn't go to that planning meeting 5 years ago. I had so many things I needed to get done and could find plenty of excuses not to, but a voice kept screaming in my head to get off my fanny and GO! I'm so grateful that I listened.

So, as I reflect on my choice and the blessings that have come from it, I understand how the littlest of decisions can affect our lives. Who knew that night would have been a pivital moment for me and that sharing a simple thing about myself could change my life?

"NEW MOON"

YIPPEE! Finally, we get a sneak preview of Stephenie Meyer's "New Moon". Enjoy!!!





Oh, and I decided to add a picture of the wolf pack. YUMMY!