Writing Schedule and Goals

I have to admit life has been interfering with my writing and everything else over the past few months.  I retired from the day job at the end of April and since then it's been hard to get into a new schedule.  It was amazing, when I had the day job I got far more done than being retired.

Now that a few things have calmed down in my life a bit, I'm determined to get back on schedule.  And I'd thought I'd review goal setting.

I started out writing out the next few months on paper, because for me I have to balance writing and packing up a house to move to my new home two states away, plus there is critique group meetings, book club meetings, RWA meetings and the RWA National conference.

So what did I do:

1. I looked at each day individually
2. Wrote down what needed to be done that day
3. Scheduled my time for example: get up at 7 a.m., write 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., pack up house 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3 p.m. set up for next day
4. I also put in any doctor appointments, grocery shopping, laundry, anything that will take time away from what needs to be done
5. I didn't overload my days
6. Took every Sunday off
7. Took a few other days off when I knew I'd need a break

It's going to take some time to get into this new schedule, but I'm determined to do it.  I have deadlines for books, plus a deadline to be moved out of my current home so it can be placed on the market and into my new home.

I'm taking small steps, making the goals small and measurable.  I have my critique group who will keep me accountable for my writing. I have to keep myself accountable for the packing.

I'm going to work hard on this new schedule, because if I don't write then I don't get paid.  Writing is now my full time job, so that means its time to buckle down and write.

Have a great week.  

It's Monday...Again

It seems like time is flying and I have nothing to show for it.

I've had a busy beginning of June, finally closed on my new home, rushed to empty my SUV of all the stuff I drove to the new house, then filled my sister's SUV with everything we bought and emptied it at the new house.

I'm so thankful for my sister, she's been helping me with the house since the beginning.  It all started last Sept. when I took my yearly family trip to see my sister.  Knowing I was going to retired from the day job this year, I knew I it would be easier to move now than down the road.  And since my Mom will be living with me I also knew I needed a ranch style house.  Her house has stairs now and it's killing us both.

We found a new complex of houses going in, toured the one I liked, made some modifications and there was the sale.  There were a series of delays, but finally last week I closed on the new home.  My sister sent me pictures at every stage of the building, and even now she's going out there putting in area rugs, waiting for furniture deliveries, etc.

I owe my sister big time for all her work.  She's enjoying herself, she couldn't wait until the house was mine so she could go in and clean (Yes, my sister is strange) but also so she could put things away we had stored in her garage, and decorate (what little I'll let her).

Now comes the big job, cleaning out my Mom's house, packing what we're taking with us and moving it.  This is a good move for me and my Mom.  I will have my own office to do my writing, and an actually library  as well.

I need to get back onto a schedule and that will come next week.  This week I still have a lot of little things to do.

Have a good week.

Guest Author: Olivia Ventura

Please welcome Olivia Ventura to my blog.

Happy to have you here Olivia to talk about your newest release.

Not always Happily Ever After

Did anyone else watch season one of Once Upon a Time and think, huh? Don't get me wrong. I actually enjoyed it, and will probably watch season two. But confusion set in pretty early. Spoilers to follow...

My dilemma? The purpose of the show seems to be for Emma to break the curse, allowing everyone to return to fairytale land. The question I ask is: why would they want to?

Think of it this way. In fairytale land:

Cinderella's husband disappears

Jiminy Cricket turns an innocent couple into puppets and becomes a cricket

The Huntsman becomes a slave to the Evil Queen's whims (although on Earth, he dies, so it's really a lose/lose for him)

Hansel and Gretel are separated from their father, destined to roam the woods forever

Red Riding Hood eats her boyfriend (and not in a good way)

Why would any of these characters want to go back?

Funnily enough, some of these not-so-happy endings are actually based on the original fairy-tales, which were meant to be cautionary stories for children, i.e. Hansel and Gretel was supposed to keep the kids from wandering in the woods alone.

In Catch a Shooting Star, my latest release, Jess tells children's stories. She makes up her own, and I can guarantee that none of them end badly. The shame of it is, you can't earn a good living that way...

Social misfit Jessamy James pays the bills with a cleaning job so she can do what she really loves: tell stories to children. She meets NFL superstar Nathan Powell when she cleans his house. He’s intrigued by her reclusive attitude, and she’s drawn to his open personality and lack of defensive walls. It doesn’t take long for attraction to set in, and for a relationship to blossom.

When Nathan is accused of dealing drugs, Jess is caught up in the media storm and finds her own vocation slipping through her fingers. They struggle together to clear his name and rescue both their careers.

Click here to read an excerpt or to buy Catch a Shooting Star. Or go to www.oliviaventura.net

Friend and Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter. I'll be receiving a shipment of swag soon, so giveaways are on the horizon!

Thanks for joining us today, Olivia.

Hooked Up at the Wedding

Today is a wedding celebration!!!!

We're celebrating our current release - Hooked Up at the Wedding

Join Emma Lai, Sandra Sookoo and myself over the next few days as we celebrate our newest release.

We will be having some fun, today see below to see how to win a free book.

The Final Dance by Emma Lai

Ashley Beaufort’s duties as maid of honor take her back to the ballroom after all the guests have left, but the bride’s shoes aren’t the only things waiting for her, and she gets the chance to live out a fantasy with a her favorite country-western singer.

Buttercreamed by Sandra Sookoo

Kyle Morrison is a cocky cake decorator with an ego to match his talent. If there’s one thing he likes more than seeing a bridal couple enjoying his creations, it’s hooking up with a willing woman at a wedding.

When he’s propositioned by Paige, who’s also a fan of his work, how can he resist such a sweet challenge? Sex in a work room is more than icing on the cake.

Unexpected Gift by Marie Tuhart

Most men can't handle Sabrina Orin’s job as a doctor since the hours can be 24/7, but she still has needs. What better way to satisfy them than to hook up with a hot guest at a wedding?

Ryan Caine never expected to find a woman at the wedding he’d want to hook up with, and when Sabrina agrees to go to his room with him, he finds he doesn't want to let her go, but she's gone when he wakes in the morning. What’s a man to do?

Letting Memories Go by Emma Lai

After seeing John Cabot, her first love, over spring break, Liza Chambers realizes she needs to let some memories go before she can move forward. She seizes the opportunity at his sister’s wedding to put the past behind her. Will her actions rekindle their old flame, or only create more bittersweet memories?

Proper Women Don’t by Sandra Sookoo

Delia Latham’s back in Savannah for a friend’s wedding. Though she’s moved away from the life of tradition and snobbery, she’s always needed to tell her old beau—Chase—goodbye.

When Chase and his friend Jarod catch Delia unawares while she’s skinny dipping late at night, how can she refuse when he suggests a three-way hook-up? Proper women don’t do such things. Good thing she’s not one of them.

Unexpected Surprise by Marie Tuhart

Eric Montgomery has had the hots for his best friend’s fiancee’s maid of honor for months. When he finds her in his hotel room and his bed, he thinks the gods are granting him a gift.

Close proximity to the sexy best man has left Marina Landers desperate for release, and when Eric appears in her hotel bedroom, she seizes the opportunity to find out if the rumors about his domineering ways are true.

They have a wild night of kinky sex, both thinking when morning arrives, they'll go their separate ways, but things don't go quite as planned.       




Today, I will pick one lucky winner from comments, please put your email address with your comment.


To check out the book you can go to the following:


Sybarite Seductions click here
For Amazon click here
For Smashwords click here
For ARE click here


On Tuesday visit Emma Lai's blog by clicking here
On Wednesday visit Sandra Sookoo blog by clicking here


And on Thursday visit Sandra Sookoo blog for a wedding bash blowout by clicking here

Hope you enjoy our Hooked Up at the Wedding bash.

New Book Release

Today, I have a new book release with two other talented authors Emma Lai and Sandra Sookoo

Hooked Up At The Wedding

Unexpected Gift by Marie Tuhart

Most men can't handle Sabrina Orin’s job as a doctor since the hours can be 24/7, but she still has needs. What better way to satisfy them than to hook up with a hot guest at a wedding?

Ryan Caine never expected to find a woman at the wedding he’d want to hook up with, and when Sabrina agrees to go to his room with him, he finds he doesn't want to let her go, but she's gone when he wakes in the morning. What’s a man to do?

Unexpected Surprise by Marie Tuhart

Eric Montgomery has had the hots for his best friend’s fiancee’s maid of honor for months. When he finds her in his hotel room and his bed, he thinks the gods are granting him a gift.

Close proximity to the sexy best man has left Marina Landers desperate for release, and when Eric appears in her hotel bedroom, she seizes the opportunity to find out if the rumors about his domineering ways are true.

They have a wild night of kinky sex, both thinking when morning arrives, they'll go their separate ways, but things don't go quite as planned.      

You can purchase Hooked Up At The Wedding at http://sybariteseductions.com or any of your favorite e-bookstores.

Stop by on Monday 6/4 for some fun around the release of Hooked Up At The Wedding.