Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Reflecting on the "Year for My Passion"


I wrote the following blog post almost 10 years ago this February... Now I am in reflection of how this whole year affected me almost 10 years later: 

            Whoa, what a concept!   A whole year to devote to what I eat, think, and sleep every day: writing.   I would start off every morning with pen in hand to write my “morning pages”.  This is a successful exercise for writers from the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron.  I write in long hand in a stream of conscience thought for three pages to dump all the trash out of my head.  Then I would proceed to a quick bite to eat, say my morning prayers and then sit at the computer to finish the novel I have been working on for the last 3 or 4 years.
            After devoting a couple of hours writing time to my novel, I would then take time to write either my weekly editorial article for the local paper, The Independent, my monthly essay for the
e-zine, goodmorningplanetearth.com, or my bi-weekly entry for my writer’s group blog.
            After taking a lunch break, I would do some query work to find a children’s book agent for my nine picture book story series.  I would also rotate doing promotional marketing for my first two books, “Home Is Where The Heart Is” and “Home Is Where the Learning Is”.  I have been sending copies off to book catalogues and reviewers for more exposure of my work. 
            For the last hours of my writing work day I would work on my homeschool writing projects.  I write for a bi-monthly family newsletter which includes an article about a positive aspect of homeschooling, a curriculum page for parents that I have designed and a review of two homeschool websites.
            The week would come quickly to an end as I maintain this schedule of writing and promoting.  Each month during this fabulous year, I would take one week off to travel to book conventions promoting my books, writer’s conferences to improve my writing or schedule book signings for bookstores to sell my books.  This would also include interviews on all the morning news shows and all the evening talk shows.
            After finding an agent for my picture book children’s series, I would carefully follow through on the artist’s picture design for each book and then see them through to print.  I would devote time promoting my children’s books through catalogues and book signings around the country.  Another stint on all the talk shows would be due for promotions.
            After taking six months to finish my novel, I would send it off for editing and work on another project.  I started a screenplay a few years ago and I would take the next three months of my writing schedule to finish it off and find a market for it.  The last three months of this wonderful year would be spent working on my next manuscript for publication called, “Dogs, Blogs, and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow’s Perspective.”  This would be a collection of the essays I have written for the blog and ezine I have contributed to and put together in book form.  The manuscript would be sent off to be edited and a cover design would be chosen.

            The more projects I start writing, the more I want to write.  My writing can be compared to a small snowball rolling down a hill, picking up speed and size until it is so big that it fills a whole mountainside.  This is what I would do if I had a year to devote to my passion.  And because of this devotion, my writing would fill the whole earth in promoting family, homeschooling and inspirational living.

Now ten years later I am the author of 6 books which are all non-fiction on the importance of the family. I am the contributing writer for many wonderful blogs and websites including deseretnews.com, familyshare.com, ksl.com, ldsblogs.com and others.  I have 10 grandchildren to visit and I am remarried with a new life to write about.

It is amazing when you put your mind to something you are very passionate about and keep it going for as long as possible. 

Be that person who inspires others to be better and don't let the blues get you down. 

Happy New Year and may you all find what your passion is and follow through in the coming year.

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