TWC SPOTLIGHT

Here we are, facing the end of another year. December is the time to review the past year and pat yourself on the back for all the things you accomplished. It's also time to get ready for 2008.  

In my years with The Writer's Chatroom, the biggest problem most writers seem to have is finding time to write. Here at TWC, we do our best to help you find more time to churn out that immortal prose we know you're capable of. This month we're going to help you...organize. 

Getting organized doesn't have to be a mind-numbing chore. There are many websites and programs that make the process fun! I've spotlighted two of them this month. 

At TWC, Linda Hutchinson is our reigning queen of organization and goal setting. She's written an article on the topic for you, and will be leading the charge in the December 9 chat.  

Linda is putting the finishing touches on a workbook to help you organize your writing life. This workbook will be given to all chatters in attendance on the 9^th. But if you miss the chat you will have to buy the workbook.  We know how much you like F*R*E*E stuff, so don't miss this chat! 

The holidays are a busy time for everyone. Be sure to schedule a couple hours on the 23^rd to join us for our annual TWC Christmas Party. You don't have to celebrate Christmas to enjoy the party. Renee makes our holiday party lots of fun for everyone. You just never know what she's going to come up with next! 

We are also bringing you live chats with Leann Sweeney, L. C. Hayden and C. Hope Clark this month. Not to mention the open chats every Wednesday night. Come and join us. 

Congratulations to all who completed NaNo, and "good job" to all of you who tried. Even if you didn't hit your 50K, you still made progress. Celebrate your achievement! 

Special holiday wishes to all those in our Armed Forces, from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate the sacrifices you make to keep us safe. When you are making out your Christmas cards this year, please include the following:
          A Recovering American soldier
          c/o Walter Reed Army Medical  Center
          6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
          Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

Keep writing!

Audrey

PS: Letter written...checkmark on the list. All the pieces of the newsletter assembled...check. Post to members...another check, and I'm done for the night. Time to go dancing!

Glenn Walker is a writer with too much time on his hands or, depending on the day, not enough time on his hands. He loves, hates and lives pop culture. He knows too freaking much about pop culture.  Given that, he
has to vomit up his voluminous opinions on it in his blog... 

Welcome to Hell... http://www.monsura.blogspot.com 

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ARTICLE

Organization as an Art Form  

by  Linda J. Hutchinson

How "organized" is your sock drawer?  Do you have rows neatly divided by color, type, style?  Or are they dumped into the drawer fresh from the dryer?  (I know some who will wear their socks and then put them back into the drawer to wear again.  Definitely not my style, but it works for them.) 

The art of being organized, like any other art form, doesn't have hard-hitting rules.  Even though several writers and organizational gurus have attempted to come up with a one-size-fits-all plan, no plan will work for everyone. 

I'm the "organized chaos" type.  I may have a stack or two of unrelated paperwork on my desk, along with a pile of books to be read and reviewed, but can easily find what I need, or ignore it all and get on with the story.  My desk may look messy, but don't take a pen from it without asking because I'll know it's gone and come looking for it. 

The best way to organize your mind, your desk, your life, is to do it your way--if your way works.  If your way isn't working--and you'll know it isn't working if you can't lay your hands immediately on what you're looking for--then perhaps it's time to analyze the situation and make some changes. 

If you're a beginning writer, now is the time to set up your system.  Don't put it off.  If you're doing what you should as a writer, you'll soon find your work in a heap with no way of tracking submissions or income.  Set yourself up to succeed NOW.  Do it in 15-minute increments if you have to.  Those characters ricocheting in your cranium will thank you later. 

Invest in your writing career by having what you need to stay organized.  Buy file folders, envelopes, file totes or drawers or cabinets (or make them from cardboard boxes), pens, CD's to back up your work, and software to create professional level product.  Your product is what you have to sell--your writing. 

What you produce for sale is what settles the argument of whether you are a professional writer or a wannabe.  I use MS Word and its spell-checker, but couldn't write a paragraph in most instances without the help of one of two dictionaries and the thesaurus that I keep on my desk.  On the shelf behind my desk are The Chicago Manual of Style, The AP Stylebook, and the MLA Handbook. 

Start organizing by deciding on a starting point.  Sounds much simpler than it is, but you have to start somewhere.  Then attack in baby steps, time increments, or do a clean sweep if you're of the grand gesture persuasion.   

Once you get it organized, keep it that way.  It's much easier to pick up and put away a few items on as as-needed basis, than to face a ceiling-high pile of who-remembers-what. 

Most writers I know need to be organized to stay in top writing form.  Our minds are usually messy enough, whether we're creating worlds or writing fact-based non-fiction.  

Check out www.GetOrganizedNow.com and www.LifeOrganizers.com for guidance.  

Life Organizers:  "With effective time management, you can squeeze more productivity out of each day - and actually accomplish more". 

If your real world is in order, you'll be able to paint, knit, sculpt, or write any story.  It's all art. 

I have written the script of a major motion picture and it's in development even as we speak! It's the first of a series of motion pictures, and I'm writing the novels to each one as well, so you know I'm typing as fast as I can! I'd love to come back and chat with y'all, any time. I hope you meant it, because I'm saying the word: "March."   Darlene Hartman AKA Simon Lang (Who will be returning to the chatroom in March.)

December Chats and Guests

For more information, visit our schedule page.

All chats start at 7 pm EST.

Website Spotlight

I recently discovered a new system for getting organized and getting more done. I'm having a great time with it!

Simpleology is "The Simple Science of Getting What You Want". I've only been using the system for a week, and I'm already making headway.

Many of you who come to chats know that I've been procrastinating for a year (or more) on my novel rewrite. My third day in this program, I rewrote the first 20 pages.

Setting up takes a little time. There is software to download and install, and then you need to go through and set up your goals. Once you're set up, go look at your computer desktop. Suddenly, all your to-do lists are right there, impossible to ignore.

The software updates your account on the web from changes you make on your desktop. For dial-up users, you can add tasks or mark off completed tasks on your desktop. Next time you connect, it will update your web account.

The first thing I learned is that I procrastinate because I severely over-schedule myself. With all the tasks I intended to do (in one day) laid out in front of me, I realized it was impossible. There aren't hours in the day for anyone to do all that.

I'm getting better at setting priorities, and more realistic about what I can do. I'm also making small steps toward my goals every single day. Even if it's only one page, it's progress.

The course is simple to understand, laid out in a very humorous way, and makes an impact. Best of all, the whole thing, course and software, is F*R*E*E. I know there will be products for sale in the future, but so far I haven't seen a mention of buying anything. Just loads of information and a terrific program for getting myself organized.

So head over to Simpleology and get on track to make your dreams come true. It's as simple as it sounds, but it works.

Hey, any program that can help ME beat procrastination has GOT to be good!

 Audrey Shaffer checked off a task when this write-up was finished. She has a new blog post scheduled for Monday. http://audreysays.blogspot.com 

Need a little help organizing the non-writing side of your life? I've got a really "fly" suggestion.

"Are YOU living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) like Franny in the pink sweats? Do you feel overwhelmed, overextended, and overdrawn? Hopeless and you don't know where to start? Don't worry friend, we've been there, too."

The FlyLady can help. She takes you step-by-step through creating a system to conquer the chaos in your home. Remember, cleaning and organizing your home will free up more time to write!

The FlyLady system isn't for women only. We all know that some male writers become stay-at-home parents to try and find more writing time. Any man who is doing the job properly knows that it's nowhere near as easy as they thought it was going to be. Let FlyLady help you get it all under control.

Warning: The FlyLady program is email heavy. Be prepared for up to 15 emails per day. Don't let it scare you away. Read the Welcome Letter, where she explains it all.

So there you go. Get your home under control, then get some writing done!  

Audrey Shaffer isn't very good at housework, but she can help you set goals and organize your writing life. http://www.audreyshaffer.com/coaching.htm 

Audrey Shaffer      Linda Hutchinson      Renee Barnes