Nights When the Moon Howls

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls ~ George Carlin

Do you ever have nights when you just can't sleep because your mind was racing?  How do you deal with those nights?  Sometimes my mind races because I have a new thought or idea in my head.  Sometimes, it has to do with my current WIP and I just sit down and continue my writing for the day, which adds to my weekly writing goal. 

Other times, I have brainstorms about other new and exciting novels yet to come.  I also take the time to get out my ideas "on paper" and then I can usually rest.  The cool thing about this approach is I have notes and some writing started for six additional projects. 

No matter what your dream goal, I hope you have an outlet for the creative insomnia that hits everyone once in a while.  Whether it's reading a book to help you relax and get to sleep or actually working on your dream journey, you just never know when that creative energy is going to hit.

How do you deal with your late night creative energy?

Never Wear Anything that Panics the Cat!

Never wear anything that panics the cat ~ PJ O'Rourke

If you have cats, you know they are creatures of habit.  My cats seem to follow the same schedule each day, lying about in their certain spots at certain times of the day.  The only thing that changes is the time I wake up to feed them in the morning or when I rearrange the furniture on them.

When you grow and change while achieving your dream journey, sometimes the people closest to you can get panicked because of the change.  That’s a normal part of life, you’re changing and they are not and most people don’t like change.  But remember, that change is a part of growth and you must grow, in most cases, to achieve your dreams and goals.

So instead of not wearing anything that panics the cat, I actually challenge you to wear something that will panic the cat, figuratively speaking, and step out of everybody’s comfort zone.  What have you done lately to panic the cats in your life?

The Dust of Everday Life

Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze ~ Amanda Cross

There are many types of romances, but the one I want you to think about is your dream journey?  Do you have a romance with your dream journey?  If you do, I can almost guarantee that creating boundaries like making sure that household chores get done so you can work towards your dream goals turns that dust of everyday life into a golden haze.

Last week was my fifth week at my new job on my new schedule.  I experienced some exhaustion, but when I realized it was because I’ve been able to devote more time to my creative pursuits, I was actually energized.  Prior to this schedule I’m working, I was lucky to write 15 minutes a day.  Now I take whatever time it takes me to write 800-900 words per day so I can achieve 5000 words per week.  And those of you on a writing journey with me know that can take a lot out of you.

So now I actually have to set a boundary that I don’t surpass the 900 word goal in the mornings.  If I do, I seem to be tired to the point I can’t concentrate at work later in the afternoon and early evening.  And by limiting my creativity, telling myself I can’t work on something, actually seems to get creative juices flowing when I allow myself to work.  Funny how that works? 

How has working on your dream journey made your life more enjoyable?  I’d love to hear!

The Only Failure

The only failure is not to try ~ George Clooney

Once again, I am at a loss for additional words to add to the quote I've chosen for today.

Happy Birthday, George Clooney and thanks for the great thoughts!

Here's to the Feeling of First Learning to Ride a Bike

Here's to the feeling of first learning to ride a bike ~ Jill Badonsky

Do you remember how excited you were when you first rode your bike on your own?  The feeling of freedom and accomplishment that you were just a little bit independent than you had been before?

As adults, those "learning to ride a bike moments" are translated into firsts when it comes to our jobs, goals, and dreams.  I remember in direct sales the excitement I got each time I recruited a new team member.

When it comes to my writing, I've had some firsts that have developed into some nice continuing routines.  Starting in February, I've been consistency writing 5000 words per week.  This allowed me finished A Place to Call Their Own and now I'm 26,000 words into my next novel, Disappear With Me. 

Now 5000 words per week is my new minimum and I do whatever it takes to reach that goal.  Even this week, my work schedule will be adjusted later in the week, so I've made some adjustments to my writing schedule.

What firsts have you experienced recently that you have made into regular routines? 

In Order to Understand

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse, something that is already clear in my mind.  If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it.  We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand ~ Cecil Day-Lewis

I watched the movie A Room With a View last week, doing some research for a WIP.  I found out that Cecil Day-Lewis is actor Daniel Day-Lewis’ father, so it was cool to run across this quote for today’s blog post.

The key thought that jumps out at me is that he says we don’t write to be understood, but to understand.  I think that is so true of any profession, creative or otherwise.  We do what we do to understand something different about our field or even ourselves.

Direct sales companies are great examples of men and women who achieve tremendous personal growth while building successful direct sales networks.  Every company I belonged to had examples of successful individuals who built themselves from the ground up.  If you have seen the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, you know that Kathy Bates’ character goes through a transformation throughout the movie.  Part of that transformation is becoming a successful Sales Director within the Mary Kay organization.

And I know I am understanding so much more as I finish writing my first novel and start writing the next one.  I have learned a lot about crafting a good story and the publishing industry itself.  The fun part is getting to learn a lot more about the historical subjects I am researching for the novels.

What about you?  What have you learned or what are you learning about in your dream journey?  I’d love to hear!

Lump in the Throat

A poem begins with a lump in the throat~ Robert Frost

I might challenge this and say that any dream begins with a lump in the throat.  I can remember the day that I read the words that inspired me to start writing A Place to Call Their Own.  I can also remember the day that inspired the writing my next novel, Disappear With Me.  Both of these days are “lump in the throat” memories for me.

Lump in the throat moments have been few and far between for me, so my advice is that when you get them, act on them.  Remember, there is not time like the present to start working a goal or a dream.  Even my mother, who is looking forward to retiring in August on her 62nd birthday, has found a new passion that she’s looking at pursuing.  And she’s so excited about the possibilities.

What lump in the throat experiences have you had lately?  I’d love to hear!