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blog, blogging, challenges, Ciara Knight, dogs, exercise, Facebook, Getting Back to Basics, health, Joely Sue Burkhart, Life List Club, link mashup, Margie Lawson, Maria Zannini, Raelyn Barclay, readers, reading, Rise From Darkness, Roni Loren, Sherry Isaac, Triberr, Twitter, writers, writing, Yours to Take
- The Writing: Still muse-less. I’ve done some morning pages but nothing is being unlocked. I’ve done some work on blog posts. So not a completely writing free week. Since nothing is speaking to me, I decided a class was in order. I started The Art of Developing Great Conflict through Margie Lawson’s Academy on Friday. Unfortunately, my muse-less state is making the very first exercise a challenge!
- Roni Loren had a fabulous post on her pre-writing steps which I loved as it feels a lot like what I do but more.
- The Reading: I read Rise From Darkness (Battle for Souls)
by Ciara Knight. I’d picked it up when it was first released but hadn’t got around to reading it. Then I recommended it to my niece and was grilled for details, LOL. So I read. Still haven’t decided on a craft book but I think the above mentioned class counts.
- My friend and mentor, Joely Sue Burkhart has a new release coming out on Tuesday, book three in the Connaghers series. Yours to Take
is Vicki’s story. And oh what a story. Additionally, Joely will be stopping by the blog later in the month. Squee!
- The Blogging: Check with the initial goal (blog 3 times a week, comment on at least 3 blogs per day, and 2 new blogs each week). And Check with the new goal of writing and scheduling a post toward my month’s worth of posts.
- Speaking of blogs, my friend and mentor, Maria Zannini has started a new blog about Getting Back to Basics. She’s going to have tips on budgets, saving on groceries, shopping garage sales, and many, many more subjects.
- The Social Media: Not so good on the conversation or non-blog related updates end of this goal. I’m feeling rather uninteresting at the moment, LOL. I’m pretty sure I meet the sharing part though.
- The Health: I think I averaged 5 glasses of water a day. As we’ve already jumped above 100 for a few days this year, I really need to focus on getting up to 8 glasses, minimum, and maintaining. Sugar reduction is going a lot easier than I expected. Perhaps because it’s a reduction not a deletion. So using the same mindset, I’m going to add reducing the caffeine as well. I probably drink 6 to 8 caffeinated beverages a day, not counting other caffeine sources. Dog walking went pretty well. We got in 3 quality walks (25 minutes each) plus 2 meet the kids at the bus stop/park kind of walks. Still aiming for the quality walks every morning, baby steps, then increasing the length of time of those morning walks.
- The Life List Club blog is full of uplifting and supportive posts. This week’s offering is from Sherry Isaac, Weigh the Method, Relish the Outcome, and I was struck by the question “are you ‘disturbed’ enough to effect the change?”
- To support the awesomeness that is ROW80 you can go HERE
Hey, Raelyn! Your inner muse is still on hiatus? Oh… You sound a bit bereft; I’m sending a writer hug your way. :}
Your class sounds interesting from the title, though. Dream up some weird idea that you’ve had in the past and write a piece of flash fiction about it….I don’t know if this will actually work..but it sounds like a good idea! Ha.
Aw, thanks sweetie. I think I’ll have to piece together a completely new idea as all the current WIPs aren’t speaking to me. I think I’ll break out the new Steampunk Tarot deck 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Nadja!
Oooh, a steampunk tarot deck? I’d love to catch a glimpse of that one!
Lena, if you look at last month, I posted a picture of the entire deck (which didn’t do it justice at all) on the 8th. And on the 26th, posted a link to a review of the deck. But yeah, I’ll have to do a spread or something to show it off here 🙂
So, my muse grabbed her flaming dagger of power and headed off for the Dark City (where the muses party after hours) in search of your muse. She said it wouldn’t take long, especially if you start crafting things without her – somehow that irritates them into rapid action. *grins*
Have a great week, Raelyn 🙂
LOL, good to know!
Thanks for stopping by Gene 🙂
My muse has been absent too! Maybe it’s spring? We should all get outdoors and search for her! (well before noon, both where you are, and where I am!)
LOL, definitely any outdoor searches must be conducted before the heat hits! Spring? What’s spring? 😆 Hope you find your muse soon.
Thanks for stopping by Julia!
We had wonderful t-storms overnight that I slept through. So now the humidity is like 95%, looking to be 95 today. Oy. South Texas isn’t for wimps. 😀
No humidity, thankfully. Had enough of that in Florida to last me a lifetime, LOL. They said mid-80’s today but we’ve already passed that at our house and it’s only 1pm.
5:30pm and 91F. Oof.
I think your muse is over here visiting. 🙂 I’ll send her your way, lol. Don’t beat yourself up too much on the water thing. Don’t forget that fruits and vegetables count toward that too expecially if you eat melon fruits. I let you slide on the emails because I knew you were struggling. 🙂 I’ll let you get away with Mondays. hehe
Oh, I nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger award! Stop by Tuesday to get the deets http://featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/beautiful-blogger-award/
Actually, I count on the fruits and veggie to provide the extra over the summer heat. Still need to get up to 8 glasses. Besides, water helps flush out toxins and stuff, making weight loss and management easier 🙂
Ref: emails
It’s more that I’m not used to initiating them, LOL. By the time I’m up and at my computer you’re probably at work. I’m not sure which time zone you’re in but I’m sure you’re at least an hour, if not two, ahead of me.
Thanks for the award Mel. Glad you stopped by!
You can send them any time! I check email throughout the day, as you can tell 🙂 I think I’m two hours ahead of you.
Hey, did that muse show up yet? lol
Thank you for the lovely mention.
Ref: muse-less
When I find myself particularly muse-less I take in a new movie, or sometimes an old classic just to see how they structured the story. I don’t know why but it gets my brain percolating.
I actually tried to do that last weekend but That Man’s work schedule crushed my plans before they could get off the ground, LOL.
Thanks for your support and for stopping by Maria!
Great update. You are so much better than I for drinking water. I just cannot stand water on its own. I never actually get thirsty and I live in the soaring heat of Dubai? Odd.. but if I do get thirsty, water make me more so. I find I need something either sweet or citrus to quench my thirst. I drink around caf teas and one or two decaf teas a day. If I drink more caf then I simply will not sleep. I switched to decaf years ago. I love English Breakfast and Assam tea though so I indulge earlier in the day then change after 5pm. It helps. Best of luck with your goals. X
Dubai…wow! I usually put a splash of lemon or lime juice in my water but that’s more for taste than anything.
Thanks for stopping by Shah 🙂
Loved Gene’s answer for you lost Muse! lol I’ll send mine to search for yours too and press her to come back soon lol
Other than that, a great week! And I love Margie Lawson. I took one of her classes and read 3 of her lesson packets … so helpful! I hope you like it too!
Have a great week!
Margie isn’t teaching this particular class but I’m finding it interesting. I definitely have the lecture packets on my list if I don’t get into the actual classes down the road.
Thanks for stopping by Juliana!
Have had some muse issue myself of late, although mine is in residence but not particularly in agreement with me. I, too, think Gene will come through for both of you.
Good for you in all you are doing for your health, especially the sugar. Truly, I applaud you as there just is nothing good about sugar. You might consider decaffeinated coffee that has is organic and gone through the Swiss water process. It seems to be richer.
Have a great week.
Karen
Every little bit is a step in the right direction, right?
Thanks for stopping by Karen!
I’m new to ROW80 so I’m stopping by for the first time. Lot’s of wonderful support has been offered so I’m just going to send you warm thoughts and best wishes from across the oceans.
Welcome and thanks for the support. I’m glad you stopped by Margaret 🙂
Hey Raelyn. I gave my muse a couple of days off while I recuperate from a rather busy weekend. So if she finds anything out about your muse, I will definitely let you know 🙂
You’re flying through Basil and Abby’s story so I know your muse isn’t MIA!!
Thanks Angela 🙂
Your muse will return shortly! Have fun in that class – I want to take one of Margie’s classes sometime (because they sound amazing), but I just don’t know where to start!
I plan to buy all of the packets and figure I’ll work through whichever one seems to apply to the current WIP at the time 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Karen!
I love that there is an entire search party out for your muse, with Gene’s fearless lady heading it up! I’m confident she’ll be found soon 😀 Sounds like you still had a good week regardless of your missing half. I too tend to read or watch something new when that happens and usually about the time I’m enjoying miss muse rides back on in. Have a great week, Raelyn!
LOL, after the weekend I had I’m kinda surprise I’m not being hit left and right by said muse. Isn’t that the rule of thumb, the busier you are the more the muse wants to play?
Thanks for stopping by Lauren!
Will need to visit Roni’s blog to read that post. My pre-writing routine is so incredibly disorganized. Thanks for the heads-up!
You, disorganized? Nah!
Thanks for stopping by Liz 🙂
Hmmm, that muse is STILL being elusive? Maybe you need a change of scenery. Depending on what kind of WIP you have, maybe something to set the mood? Maybe you’ve tried all of that, but every little thing you do that changes things up can make a difference. I hope you find your muse soon. 😦
I’m starting to think I’m trying too hard, LOL
Thanks for the support and for stopping by Lauralynn.
Have you tried offering a reward for the return of your muse? Organised a search party? Or throw a party and then, even if you didn’t find your muse, you’d be having so much fun you wouldn’t care!
LOL, I like the way you think Claire!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
You are so ….accountable. Great job this week. Yeah. I’ve been pretty uninteresting on social media as well. BLAH. 🙂
ROW80 helps keep me on task 🙂 Yay for the blahs, LOL
Thanks for stopping by Brinda!