The Kindness Project

I'm excited to have been asked to join The Kindness Project! Yay!  What is The Kindness Project? Read on...

Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren't feeling entirely whole. It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts. We post the second Wednesday of every month. Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.  


When the awesome Lola Sharp asked me to join The Kindness Project, naturally I said yes. Then I started to panic. Why? Because I don't even feel qualified to talk about being kind. Or to spread any sort of inspirational message about being kind. So I spent a while thinking about what to write. Then I procrastinated by Googling random stuff. 


And I found this quote: 

Image via Google 

It got me thinking that an act of kindness, however large or small, should be offered without expecting repayment. We do something nice because we want to do it. 


It doesn't even have to be a huge gesture. A smile. Holding open a door. And how often does a nice comment on a bad day make all the difference? Kindness is like a hug you can't feel. The gesture may not change lives, but the fact that you took the time makes all the difference. 


It may even inspire someone to pay it forward. 


Want more? Check out the July posts for The Kindness Project: 


Alina Klein                             Katharine Owens 
Andrea Hannah                      Len Lambert
Barbara Watson                     Liza Kane
Carolina Valdez Miller            Lola Sharp
Christa Desir                          Lindsay Scott
Claire Hennessy                     Matthew MacNish 
Elana Johnson                        Michele Shaw
Elizabeth Davis                      Sarah Fine
Elizabeth Poole                      Sara Larson 
Erica Chapman                      Sara McClung
Jessica Corra                         Sophia Chang
Leigh Moore                          Tracey Neithercott

Where I Poke Things With Sticks

Or you can head over to Operation Awesome and read my post there. *bats lashes*

You may have been there already, but I'm blogging over on Operation Awesome today. 

Also, head over to Katrina's blog. She's interviewing awesome author (and one of our critique partners, Angela Townsend) about her novel, FROZEN FURY. 

Jack Sparrow, Mystery Agent Contests, And Wednesday LOLS

I'm over on Operation Awesome today. Last week was my potty training/writing analogy. This week I'm sharing writing wisdom from Jack Sparrow.

Also, I have to let you know that July 1st will be Mystery Agent time over on Operation Awesome. More details to follow, but here are the genre details our M.A. is especially looking for:

YA and MG: southern gothic, historical fiction, magical realism, science fiction, supernatural/ paranormal, ghost stories, humor, fantasy, thriller/ suspense, edgy YA, friendship MG. 

And now some Wednesday lolcats:
    

Happy Wednesday!

Pst... I Know About A Contest

It's Wednesday. It's June 1st.

A new month brings the possible glow of new projects to start. Old projects to finish. A summer eating ice-cream and enjoying lazy days in the park. Oh, yeah, I just remembered that we're also one step closer to the release of Harry Potter Part 2.

Sorry, I had to have dancing Dumbledore again. He makes me laugh.

Anyway, I bring you a contest to start the month (courtesy of Operation Awesome): We're Giving Away Critiques... Want one? . And you can win me. Well, not me personally, but I'm giving a query critique away.

And a huge *fist pump* for my awesome friend and CP, Amparo. Amparo finished the first year of her Masters degree yesterday.

I don't know about you, but today I've got some planning to finish for my WIP. What about you? Any goals for this month? Are you starting a SNI?

Christmas Is Like Writing. Writing Is Like Christmas

It's Wednesday. Yay!

There are only three days left until Christmas.

The whole preparation for Christmas is like writing. December arrives. You write down the gifts/food to buy. You plan your time for shopping. At the shops the next few hours are spent battling others for the last 'it' gift of the year. You trudge home with the bags and realise there are more things to get. The shopping battle resumes another day. You rest. Then comes the day when the shopping is done and the wrapping begins...

The day arrives. We celebrate. We eat. We relax. And do it all again next year.

In writing we do the same thing. We write down our idea. If you're a planner, you might spend some time outlining.  You open the word document. You spend hours typing, battling with your characters. You agonise over word choices. You rest. The writing resumes the next day. And the next. The cycle is repeated until the first draft is complete. Then the editing begins...

The day arrives when we're finished. We celebrate. We eat. We relax. And do it all again on the next wip.

Just like Christmas.

I'm also blogging over on Operation Awesome today. Gonzo and Rizzo are heading over there now. Feel free to stop by.

                                                                                            (Image: Fanpop.com)

And a big thank you to everyone who stopped by to comment on the Be Jolly By Jolly blog fest on Monday. I loved seeing all the holiday decorations (and drooling over those yummy recipes). I'll be working my way through the comments later today.

Half-Way Day

Yay it's Wednesday. It's also cold and getting dark early.

I don't know about you, but it makes me want to wrap up warm, watch the previous Harry Potter films (my The Deathly Hallows countdown for Friday) and eat cookies. I also want to attack my MS with the red pen of editing death and do some more plotting/writing on my wip, but that's a given. :)

But there's the slump of doubt that kicks in this time of year. Holidays are fast approaching along with the daily routine. It ends up feeling like there's so little to do and so much time... strike that, reverse it.

How to combat this? I would suggest copious amounts of cookies/chocolate or any other treat of choice. Also, pop over and see Elana.

Oh, I'm also posting over on Operation Awesome today. 

So what do you do to combat the winter slump?

Writing Reviews

While I live in the word of my imagination for a good portion of the day, I also venture out into the real world once in a while.

Even though the bright light hurts my eyes, and turns me into a slimy monster if a drop of water even touches me. Oops, sorry that's what I get for watching Gremlins last night.

Anyway...today I am off to the land of the bank for an account review. I've been putting it off for a while. Sorting out my current/savings accounts is not something that fills me with glee. I'd rename it "Book Funds" rather than savings if I had the chance.

But then it hit me...a review is an awesome way of checking in as a writer.

During the account review they ask you loads of 'useful' questions like "What do you want your money to do for you?"

What I want to say is "Buy books and pretty things." Instead I mumble something like, "Grow."

And that is what I want to do as a writer -- grow.

- Am I investing time in learning my craft?
- Am I returning my debits from the writing community with interest? By this I mean do I contribute to the writing community enough?
- Do I push myself hard enough to make my money/wip) grow (with a word count)?

So far I hope I'm meeting all my goals. Because, like money, writing only works for you if you invest in it.

P.S. Today is also my day to post over on Operation Awesome.

Mouse-ka-hey, Mouse-ka-hi, Here We Go...

I don't know if anyone has watched The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but there's a song in it that follows me around ever since I bought the goddaughter a book with it in.

Now she watches the show I have to sing it every time I see her. Trust me, it's not a pretty sound. :)

Mickey sings it when he gets his mouse-ka-tools to work through a challenge:

Mouse-ka-hey, mouse-ka-hi, mouse-ka-ho. Mouse-ka-ready, mouse-ka-set, here we go.

You're a thinker and a stomping workin' through-er. Mouse-ka-me, mouse-ka-you, mouse-ka-doer.

And I realised that these words can be applied to my wip. If I have all my tools ready I can select the right one (be it my outline, a character sheet, brainstorming) and stomp through it.

If a toddler can be taught perseverance so can I. 

I knew watching kids TV would pay off.

Happy Wednesday everyone. :)

Hooray It's Wednesday!

So Wednesday is here. The weekend is so close I can taste it...and it's my post day over at Operation Awesome.

But today is not just about me. Nope. Today is about hopping over to Matthew Rush's blog and helping Emily White on her road to query sparkles.

Today is about checking out Elana's contest AND details on Lisa Desroches Personal Demons prize package.

Today is about going signing up for Talli Roland's blogsplash to make The Hating Game the biggest e-book on Amazon come December 1st.

Today is about visiting Jen and get the chance to win a pre-ordered copy of Rose Cooper's Gossip From The Girls Room.

Today is about getting over Humpday with some fun.

Oh yeah, and maybe I'll do some writing. Can't forget that.

How will you add some fun to Wednesday?  :)