Day 17 - The New Book

I think Tiki is getting a little tired of me being on the computer so much. Robert's laptop was sitting in the floor and she put her little toy heart right in the middle of the keyboard. So I quit working and played with her for a bit. She is so sweet and patient most of the time. She will come and lay right by my chair until she thinks I have been here long enough and then she demands that we play. She is good for me. Thank you Robert and thank you Lord.

I was on the computer early this morning. I sincerely planned to get two chapters finished today but - alas - life happened. I had to check out the tree trimmers for our neighborhood association and this kitchen of mine - I just can't seem to train it to stay clean. Oh well, it looks better and so does the laundry. Then when Robert finally got in tonight we took the time to discuss how soon we need to go see our very good friend in Dallas who was taken back to the hospital last night because of his stage 4 lung cancer. We also finally got around to planning some of his CEU class trips and my writing conference in CA. Oh yes, I also collected fabric for preemie quilts and the finished preemie quilts from our great quilting friends in Guthrie. The terrific quilting friends from Davis and Ringling will be bringing theirs up tomorrow. What an exciting time of month. Almost as exciting as when I get the privilege of delivering them.

You thinking...she didn't write today. Yes I did!! I finished Chapter Seven and have the material ready to start work on Chapter Eight tomorrow. These chapters are turning out so much longer than I had originally planned that I am not sure that I am going to be able to finish by the 28th, but I am going to give it a shot. I have already written 95 pages and 20,372 words and I am not half way through with the material. There is just so much that needs to be shared on this topic and it is so important to those who need the information...as we all have at one time or another.

Tiki and I have about had it for the day. So if we can talk "Daddy" into joining us, we are going to call it a completed and successful day and start again tomorrow.

Sweet dreams to all of you...my wonderful friends.

Day 16 - The New Book

It was cold and windy again today. I am still ready to move to Hawaii if I could just talk my hubby into going.

It was a cold and windy day but an interesting one. I had an opportunity to do a guest lecture at Oklahoma Christian University and I spoke on some of the material from my new book. I went through the section on searching for a job, designing a Resume, writing a cover letter and putting together your first impression look. This was a group of art design students and since I was aware that they are predominately visual, I decided to begin the class with a 15 minute visual study of getting an interview.

"Sad Sally," "Big Bertha," and I all attempted to obtain an interview. Surprisingly enough, I was the only one who succeeded. It was fun and I think that the students picked up a lot of good ideas in a very short time.

If the reactions of the students and the lead professor, their note taking and their questions, were any indication, I think I am on track with this new book. That is exciting to see.

As usual, I gave it everything I had to give and I am very, very tired tonight. I tried to do some research and began work on a new chapter, but I have to give it up. Guess that means I will have to double up tomorrow.

My new book review came in today also, so I get to add that to the "to do" list. Isn't it fun! I love it when the "to do" list gets so long that I run out of paper or it falls off of the desk.

I am getting giddy. It is time to get some rest. I slept in the den last night because Robert was out of town and the heater in our bedroom went out. The den - even the couch - felt better than that 51 degree bedroom. Our bed will feel wonderful tonight.

I am going to carefully post this before I get careless and erase it like I did a few minutes ago. I am excited about having another wonderful and productive day tomorrow. Thank you for hanging in there and supporting me in this effort.

Here is to another blessed day from our Lord. Good night.

Day 15 - The New Book

How could I have forgotten to share with you my very special experience yesterday afternoon. Our oldest grandson, Kris, called and asked me if I would help him put together a very special Valentine for - what appears to be - a very special young lady. (Did I say, "very special" three times? Oh well, that is what happens when you get tired and besides they were all three "very special" moments.)

He came over and I helped him find the material to put together a large Valentine with all of the memorable items that he had collected during the times that they have been dating. Wow!! No one ever did that for me!! The best I got was a duplicate valentine from last year because Robert liked the wording so much he just gave it to me again. That is kind of neat, too, you know.

Back to the book...Chapter Six is rough drafted and printed. I am sure that it will need a lot of work, but so far the proofer I have working for me (my hubby) is not finding an over abundance of mistakes, for which I am very grateful. So far I have only totally rewritten one chapter. I think that is pretty awesome. Of course, I do a lot of rewriting as I go and it is pretty well outlined before I hit the keys. Even though that is not what Nick Daws calls "freewriting" and certainly is not as fast as "freewriting," it works for me and I guess that is what it is all about.

Tomorrow is quilt collection day and I am scheduled to guest lecture at Oklahoma Christian in the afternoon, so writing will have to wait for the evening. I am going to put my research in order before I go to sleep so that it will go pretty rapidly. I am getting into some of my more knowledgeable subjects like time management and stress management, so it will be fun.

It was very cold today. Robert is doing a free clinic tomorrow and I know that he will read this blog before he goes to sleep, so, Honey, sweet dreams and remember how much I love you.

Tomorrow will be another wonderful day.

PS The book sales went well today at the ERW meeting and I got a call tonight for five more sets. Yea!! Money for rice for the kids of Haiti!!!

Day 14 - The New Book

Happy Valentine!! I hope all of you had a wonderful day. I would have except I woke up this morning to more S N O W!! Do I ever need this cruise!! Come on friends...let's do it! If for no other reason, consider it a mental health week for your good friend...ME!

Church was wonderful as usual. What better way to start a day. Then this afternoon...as promised...I headed for the office. I did finish Chapter Five today. I now have 5 chapters, 68 pages and 16,159 words in a pile on the floor...waiting for more.

This week is going to be tough to keep up because of so many other obligations. I am taking my books to the Edmond Republican Women's meeting tomorrow to sell for the Haiti's children fund. That will take some time and then Tuesday I am guest lecturing at Oklahoma Christian University. That will not only take some time but some preparation as well. I think it will be fun as I am going to do a little teaching through "drama." This particular group of students are all very visual and will learn quickly through a drama presentation. Robert and I have a luncheon on Thursday and Tiki has to go to the groomer on Friday and I need to go to Ardmore for a day, but I don't know how or when I can work that in.

But I will persevere!! I promised and my word is good! Deadlines are things that writers become accustomed to very quickly and if you are not good at them, you don't get very far.

However, tonight it is late and I am going to read my Bible and get some rest.

Thanks for joining me every day. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy sharing with you. Let me hear from you once in a while and, please, pass it on to anyone you care to.

Day 13 - The New Book

Okay, I am giving in. This was taken at our Valentine dinner last night. The food was served on a three tiered tray with the meat on the bottom, the veggies in the middle and the desert on top. We had already had soup and salad. The best part was the good looking man on the left.

Inspirations is a lovely restaurant and they also gave me a beautiful long stem red rose. Of course it doesn't hurt that our daughter, Kristie, is the assistant manager there.

It was a wonderful evening. Between that and the wonderful sunshine today, I didn't get much done. (I even got out of the house without a jacket on!!) I had to "make hay while the sun shines," as they say as tomorrow it rains and snows and the bottom is suppose to fall out of the temperature.

I did work a little on Chapter Five (not enough) and studied our guide book some more about editing and publishing. I have so many things that I want to get out, that I am particularly interested in that section. I know, I just need to get it done. That and my exercise are not my two best discipline areas. If I do decide to start speaking again, I must have my book(s) available to the attendees. It is so hard not to spend time on what I really love to do and that is write.

Tomorrow is church and then I WILL head to the office. I guess I took my one day off for the week today. (Thank you Lord for the rest.) I still have 15 days left and I have 17 chapters and the editing to do...gonna have to step up the pace!! If I write 10 pages a day, I will still have a couple of days to do the editing, although there will not be as much as there could be because I do a lot along the way. (I know, I am not suppose to, but old habits are hard to break.) Keep encouraging me! I need it!!!

I did get some information figured out for the writers conference in CA today. I am very excited about attending that. I also talked with a few about the cruise. (Come on...we need some more of you to go!!) So all in all it was a pretty productive day...just not for the book. I will do better tomorrow, I promise.

Day 12 - The New Book

Today was truly a glorious day. The sun was shining and it was warm enough to walk outside without freezing for at least part of the day. We got Mom's store room cleaned out (filled up the garage, of course) and then my fantastic husband surprised me by taking me to Inspirations' Tea Room for a romantic Valentine dinner... chocolate covered cherries, roses and all. I would send you a picture, but he is just too good looking to share.

I completely rewrote Chapter Three today. It just didn't feel right and I did a major rewrite on it. It is so much better tonight and I am so relieved. Also completed the research for Chapter Five and got the introduction completed. Sometimes I have to get it on paper before the thoughts, and the way that they are fitting together, disappear. (Couldn't be anything about my age, could it? No! Just lots of wonderful ideas.)

I feel good about the way the book is moving along. I am anxious to finish it because I sincerely want to go back and finish another of my books titled "Help Me Lord, I Can't Be Everything To Everybody." I have been asked to share some information about doing Christian women's conferences and retreats and am seriously considering it. If I decide to pursue the idea, I will need to select a collection of topics. I think that book would be a good series. It is about time and stress management for Christian women in different seasons of their lives.

My writing and speaking friend, Beverly, thinks I should put together a series on communication and leadership skills for Christian women. What do you think? What is needed right now? I would love to hear from you.

Chapter Five is on the burner for tomorrow along with a lot of sunshine. It is supposed to snow again on Sunday and Thursday. We were talking about getting away for a few days, but so much for that. Like I said, winter is a good time to write in Oklahoma.

Until tomorrow....

Day 11 - The New Book

I finished Chapter Four today. Yeah!! That is a total of 56 pages, before editing, of course. Somehow it feels a lot longer than that. I am not comfortable with Chapter Three yet, so I am giving up the computer for the night and curl up in front of the fire and do some editing and rewriting. Also have some reading to do for the new chapter.

This grayish, bone cold, icy, snowy weather is a blessing when you have a lot of reading and writing to do. I have no desire to get out of the house. Robert and I went to the mall today to order him some new glasses and I did not even walk into a store. (Of course, I am not much of a shopper anyway.) Hopefully the sun will be out tomorrow and for the next week or so and I can get some of my errands run and do the presentation for Haiti on Monday and the one at the University on Tuesday without freezing to death.

Still have lots of friends and family who need serious prayers...Charlotte, Dan, Carl, Patrice, Jim, Cindy and all their families. And, of course, all those precious children in Haiti.

More later...got to get back to work so I can hit the computer early tomorrow.

Day 10 - The New Book

Chapter Four - "Getting The Job You Want." Interesting how God works. I knew that this was the chapter that I needed to work on today and I spent most of the morning adding to the research. I didn't get to write until this evening and only got through about 1/4 of the topics (even though I wrote 10 pages) but it is well on it's way. I should be able to finish it tomorrow. I need to finish it tomorrow because I received a call from the University this afternoon asking me to do a guest lecture next Tuesday on "Getting The Job You Want." Would you believe?

I really need this book finished. They want to see it as soon as it is completed so that they can decide whether to approve it for a required reading next winter session. Twenty-one chapters minus four??? I still have a day or two of work to do! :)

We have so many friends in the hospital right now that it is hard to concentrate on other things...like writing a book. I know how heavy their hearts are. We have so recently been there. I pray that they will all feel God's loving arms around them tonight and can get some much needed rest.

It is still so overcast and dreary. I am about ready to move to Hawaii! (Don't I wish. I can't even talk Robert in to going out of town!) Tiki and I really bundle up when we go out to keep that old, cold wind out of our bones. Speaking of Tiki, she says that it is time to quit and play so guess I will.

Tomorrow is another glorious day!

Day 9 -The New Book

Chapter No. 3 - rough draft - is in the can. It was a long chapter about self esteem and needs a lot of editing, but the rough draft is finished! Yes! Interesting how it sometimes turns out so different from the original plan. It begins to take on a life of its own.

The snow finally melted today and tomorrow must be errand day so we can have another snow on Thursday. It was beautiful with the sun shining and I was still begrudging the cold until I talked to the CBA editor this morning in Colorado Springs and found out it was 10 degrees. Suddenly 25-33 sounded pretty warm.

Pretty good day all in all. I got my book review submitted for the month, fixed a couple of meals (or maybe that was yesterday), did some laundry, played with Tiki, talked to some really excited ladies about the "Girl's Cruise" and got the third chapter done. I feel good. Time to read my Bible and call it a night.

By the way, if you haven't let me know for sure that you are "cruising" with us in September, call me tomorrow!! I am putting a group plan together as we are getting more numbers. Yahoo!!

Tomorrow: walking, lunch, hair, church and chapter 4.

Oh, by the way, click on to http://www.refresheverything.com/TheHugsProject and vote for The Hugs Project in the Pepsi contest. They have a chance to win $50,000 and that would pay the postage to send 6,000 boxes to our troops for Christmas. You can vote every day until the end of the month. (Don't vote for anyone else as that weakens our votes.) Thanks.

Good news - I got an invitation today to make a brief presentation to the ERW on Monday about the books for Haiti. Hope we sell tons!! Also had an email a short time ago about a lady who wants to write a story about our book sales. I am so grateful. Keep praying for these precious children.

And to all a good night...

Day 8 -The New Book

I finally figured out what I was struggling with so hard yesterday - in the middle of the night, of course. When I got to the office this morning and quit fighting with the way things were moving on this new book, it really took off. I have pretty well finished the first two chapters today. At least the first draft is completed. I read some more of Nick Daws book last night and found some very insightful information about research and free writing. As much as I hate to admit it, he is right. :) When the outlines are in place, the free writing is much easier. I did not, however, manage to write as rapidly as he predicted. I have worked most of today on these two chapters. That is okay. At this rate, I should be right on target for my 28 day completion. Yeah!

Still getting emails about the cruise. Hope you will get in touch and go with us. Right now, I will go on either one of them if one other person will go with me. I am ready for the reward and I know I will be by April and/or September.

While I am thinking of it, please don't forget to share the book sale with your friends. We still have a ways to go to reach our goal for the Haiti children and we don't want to not make it. Please, do what you can to help. Thanks

Enough for tonight. Thanks for hanging in there with me throughout all of this. It is motivating to me to know that someone is expecting me to produce at least something, every day on this new book. I really appreciate your time in reading my blog.

Have a great evening!! (It is snowing again!!)

Day 7 - The New Book

I remember my husband saying to me years ago that it was Sunday and I needed to take a day off. He said that even God took one day off a week. I also remember telling him that God was a great deal more organized than I was or He would have to work on Sunday too.

Of course, he was right and he would have been right had he told me again today. After church I was right back at it and I should have backed off. It seems that nothing I did today was productive. I couldn't seem to get anything organized and nothing seemed to fit together in any way whatsoever. So. I am out of here.

I did get the plans for a "Cruise for Girls" started and I am very excited about that. If you knew how much I love to cruise, you would understand. It is, to me at least, the most peaceful vacation of all. That will be my reward for accomplishing my goal.

I have a sign in my kitchen that says to "Focus on the Treasures." That is what I am going to do tomorrow. I am going to take this outline, focus on the treasures, pull them all out and put together a dynamite book! Watch out world!! Here I come!!

We have lots of friends who need special prayers tonight, so when you say yours, please mention those that you may not know but that God knows needs His special love tonight. Thanks

Day 6 - The New Book

There is so much material floating around in my head that if I don't write fast I am going to lose it! I don't want to forget something important and yet I know with so many topics to be covered I am going to have to be concise with my words. Of course, isn't that what a good speaker does???? How true the saying that you learn more when you teach than when you are the student.

I now have a 34 page outline and with the addition of the three pages of topical research I did today, it should be close to complete. I think it is time to start "free writing" and began to consolidate some of these ideas. I need to see where they are going and what needs to be deleted and/or added.

Fun, yes. Fatiguing, yes. And in the middle of all of this I have decided that all of the gals I know (and their friends that I don't know) need to get together in September and take a cruise to celebrate our collective birthdays. So look at your calendars and check September 12 to see if you can join us on a cruise out of Galveston, TX for 7 glorious days and nights. It is only $429!

We can all celebrate not only our birthdays but the new books that Beverly and I are writing.
How fun is that?!?!? Every goal should have a reward and I have just discovered mine.

Time to rest. Tomorrow is another busy day.

Day 5 - The New Book

Have you ever reached a point in your life when you think, "I just can't do this - especially now." After having worked through the outlines for the first thirteen chapter, I was beginning to feel that way and so I quit for the night, feeling just a little sorry for myself for all the work I have to do and all of the other things that need to be done as well. Then I flipped over to check my emails and this is what I found.

My college freshman roommate and I have recently reconnected and she sent me an email about an artist who does magnificent pencil drawings of animals. I was thoroughly enjoying looking at them but keep thinking about what she had said at the beginning..."read the last part of the email." So, I did. The artist is named Doug Landis and his work is known as Mouth Art because he has no hands. He does all of his fabulous drawings with his pencil in his mouth. Check him out on the Internet. You will be glad you did.

That was today's inspiration. The end of the email said: "We find excuses for not doing things because of imperfect facilities but where there is a will there is a way."

The first draft of the first thirteen chapters is completed and the rough draft for the last eight chapters are well on their way. Yes, I am tired. But I do have the will and I will find the way.

Stay tuned. We will have a new book soon.

Day 4 - The New Book

Interesting day. I read more of the guide today and got into how to break the topic into chapters and the chapters into sub topics and then turn the sub topics into questions and then use three words or phrases to answer each question. Whew!! That was a mouthful and that is how I felt after reading all of that information. I am glad Daws said that a lot of people have a tendency to skip this part of the preparation and "Don't!" because it will make the final version flow much better and be easier to write. Honestly, if he had not said "Don't" I probably would have skipped it. I am a pretty good off the cuff writer and usually organize in my head before I start writing. However, I pledged to try this technique and I am going to stick with it.

Most of this evening I have spent going over research materials. I have researched this topic for probably two decades and I wanted to see if any of it is still valid enough to use at this date and time. Still not sure. I have lots more to review.

Long days and then I dream about this book at night. Fun though and I would recommend it to anyone. It is a wonderful experience.

Day 3 - The New Book

Today was a challenge. I knew that Section IV of the outline was going to be the most tedious and I suppose I was postponing it because I kept coming up with something that "had" to be done today.

I had lunch with a good friend and encouraged her to start writing the book she is dreaming of, delivered preemie quilts to three hospitals, got my hair fixed, wrote a book review for CBA, delivered some more sets of books that were sold to raise money for Haiti, played with Tiki and waited patiently for Robert to come in from El Reno so that we could go out to eat.

Did you see any writing in there? Wellllllllll I promised and I did it! I finished the draft of the outline tonight. It is eight pages long and pretty thorough. I think I have plenty to go to work on and the guideline book says that at this point I am suppose to take a break and then we begin to write. That means tomorrow. Yeah! The fun part is about to start.

By the way, the book I reviewed this month is really good. It is by Donna Partow and is called "Making Money From Home." You might want to check it out in your local Christian book store soon. I think you will find it worth your time.

Time to watch the news and see if more snow is in the forecast.

Day 2 - The New Book

Bite size pieces...that really is the trick.

Most of the time when I am writing I marathon and am totally wiped out by the time I am finished. This time I am doing it in bite size pieces and it is amazing....it is still happening.

Today I took the 147 bits of information and began to put them into like sections. It looks like the book will be broken down into four sections with numerous topics under each section. Of course much work is left to be done on getting the wording right on titles, but it is started.

The first three sections are pretty well outlined. The fourth...well...it needs more work. I know what it will contain but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, I am going to bed. Sweet dreams to all and to all a good night.

Day 1 - The New Book

Beverly and I started our 18 day project today. We have pledged to use Nick Daws' book "How To Write A Book In 28 Days or Less" and write a book in the month of February...i.e. 28 days.

This was Day 1. I read through Module One and decided to write a book based on the communication skills class I have taught at Oklahoma Christian University for the last 15 years. It is designed to help very talented young people get a job and turn it into a career. The head of the department has really encouraged me to put the ideas that I have used in that class, into a workable format for the students of the future.

So, I am trying.

Today I sat down and started writing ideas from my class that I want to cover in the book. I came up with 147 different "thoughts." Tomorrow I will start trying to put them in some semblance of order.

I have a working title: "How To Get and Keep A Job"

Subtitle: ____ Steps to Turn Your Job Into A Career

Daws' book said to brainstorm for 15 minute...when I looked up it had been almost an hour! Wow!! It was fun and amazing...just the way I have taught all these years and yet never though about applying it to writing...one bite at a time. "You can even eat an elephant, if you will eat it one bite at a time."

Tomorrow should be interesting too. Check back each day and I will keep you posted.