Timer Magic for Writers
Timer Magic for Writers
If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel may seem like a sheer, unscalable cliff. ("Gee, I don't think I can write today. I left my climbing shoes in my other backpack...")Keep in mind that you don't need to write the whole book today, so stop beating yourself up. Instead, just start moving, one footstep at a time.One of my favorite writing tools is a timer. My author clients and I swear by ours, and "timer magic" can work for almost any task that's looming over you. (Remember the old joke about how to eat an elephant? One bite at a time!)Get a timer and set it for fifteen minutes. C'mon, fifteen minutes-you can do anything for that long. Promise yourself these two things:(1) you'll be in your chair, and(2) you'll be willing to write during that time.Even if you're afraid you'll be staring at a blank screen, do it. That's your agreement.Now: butt in chair, hands on keyboard, set the timer, and go. Write down anything that comes to you-snippets of dialogue, ideas for an opening paragraph, why your heroine scratches her nose when she's nervous and hates velvet. Anything. Don't censor it.When the timer goes off, you're free to stop. You've done what you pledged-writing time in that chair. Congratulations!Now take a reward. Will it be a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream? Half an hour of guilt-free reading of a favorite author's new book? Do what feels good, and choose something that will motivate you next time.Next, decide exactly when that time will be (make it soon). If you're in the middle of a juicy paragraph and want to complete it, do. You can always set the timer for another fifteen minutes to keep going. Then do something extra nice for yourself. You earned it!As fifteen minutes becomes a habit, add more minutes to the timer to increase your momentum. Soon you'll be zipping along.Remember: it takes only one step to start a journey, and small steps can take you anywhere you want to go.Katey Coffing, Ph.D.
The Ultimate Magic Garden-Gardening
The Ultimate Magic Garden
Spring is the season to start planting seeds for the future. For me, the ultimate Magic Garden would be planted using the Feng Shui bagua as a guideline for the boundaries of the plot and incorporate flowers herbs and plants that correspond to each signifigant direction..The first thing I would suggest, is to mark off your garden(or balcony full of pots) as a square (or as close to a square as you can get it) and determine the directions -- north, south, east and west. Then use the rough guideline below, taking into account your climate and seasons to know what to plant where to bring you health, wealth, peace, guidance, happiness and protection. You don
The Magic Of Gift Giving At Christmas
The Magic Of Gift Giving At Christmas
Regardless of age, almost everyone can remember at least a few magic moments of their past at Christmas time. Even in our fifties and sixties, we can still very precisely recall how our parents celebrated Christmas. Those moments will never be forgotten because to all of us, Christmas is a very special time for our immediate families to be together. It is also human nature for us to pass along our family traditions to the next generation. It is without question, the most popular time of the year to show our appreciation for one another.It is also a time to celebrate with our extended families - our relatives and close friends. It is also the perfect time to recognize the people and customers we work with, to show our appreciation for their support. We also must remember that our associates at work also have the same appreciation for Christmas, making it the ideal opportunity to show them we are thankful for their efforts.Our customers are often the lifeline of existence. They are precisely the reason for your company's health and its ability to prosper. Christmas is a great time to show your thanks with a simple corporate gift. The more personal the better, because your close working relationship with that individual is why your companies continue to prosper together.Determining what to buy for each person at Christmas is a challenge much bigger than the shopping process itself. Despite having your Christmas list complete, negotiating through the crowds during the Christmas rush is not something we relish as a pastime.However, when it comes to shopping at hurried times of the year like Christmas, your best friend might be the Internet. Although still unexplored by many, shopping on the Internet has been popular with many for years and it has proven to be a safe, convenient way to shop for virtually anything. Buying gifts on the Internet is finally taking full advantage of the flexibility of your credit card. If you have an upgraded gold or platinum card, review the conditions of your card benefits. If you are a relatively light card user you may not realize the added benefits of buying with your card. Extra air miles, extended warranties, front of the line seating etc, are just some of the benefits we gain when buying with our upgraded cards.You will also be pleasantly surprised with the enormous number of specialized Websites for gift giving, for virtually any special occasion. Open your Internet browser (Yahoo, Google, Netscape, etc.) and punch in key words like Gifts, Gift Shopping, Gift Baskets, etc. You will be pleasantly surprised with the number of Websites that are listed and tantalize your every need.These Websites are very user friendly and most offer easy navigation, usually based on the gift occasion. Although most sites offer an enormous range of gift ideas, many also have a toll free number and on-line staff to answer any questions and even help put together a specialized gift for your particular situation. So avoid the crowds this Christmas, and for a relaxing change of pace, shop on the Internet.It will make gift shopping more fun because Internet sites will add a creative side to your gift giving that most department store simply can't offer. Surprisingly, Internet shopping is like walking through an exclusive shopping district, full of unique little shopping boutiques. You will likely see more gift ideas than you could ever imagine. So hop on the Internet and enjoy shopping this year.About The AuthorAdriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby, Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you'll find at her site: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm.