Sunday, July 27, 2014

Week that was: 28 July 2014

A beautiful winter's morning.

Do you know how it is when words penned by your own hand come back months later to bite you in the butt? An 'I told you so' slapping you in the face when you really needed it? A reminder that you should have listened to you own advice?

Happened to me these last few weeks. And I'm very grateful for it. Last Feb I wrote a ';Week-that-was' post about being responsible for my own decision making and for making my dreams a priority. I was coming to terms with the extra responsibilities of working part time, raising a family and writing/self-publishing. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into!

It has taken me a few months to realise that I like being a writer, a story teller and a self-publisher. I don't like being pulled in so many different directions that I have no time for creativity or writing. So I decided that it was time to stop and just be me for a while.

This morning was the first morning of Me being Me time. It was lovely. The sun was shining, the coffee extra creamy, and the mash potato extra cheesy... I can breathe again for the first time in ages. I am really looking forward to getting back to writing and illustrating, dreaming again, and reaching personal goals. I plan to take up a few new crafts, write a few new books, and find balance in my everyday life. I am really looking forward to it.

Last Week's Achievements:
* Finished work at Liberty
* Sorted out tax returned
* Made a goal to publish two Steampunk books for the Squidlets for Christmas

This Week's Goals:
* Print and edit two Steampunk Fairy tales
* Finish business tax return
* Book promotions – free KOLL promotions
* Join Wattpad and begin story – thanks Zee for the inspiration!

Have a great week everyone!

~ Joy Findlay

Writery links for the week:

25 ways to write a real page turner of a book – LOVED READING THIS, FANTASTIC ADVICE!

Twinkle Toes Bookish Shoes Literary Feet – I WANT SO MUCH!!!

A very interesting read on creativity and mental illness.
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/07/21/creativity-and-mental-illness/ 

Book cover clichés: why using them will actually help you sell more books: I found this very interesting, both visually and the information on why to use cliché covers. http://www.creativindie.com/book-cover-cliches-why-using-them-will-actually-help-you-sell-more-books/

And an interesting idea of self-publishing with other self-publishers