Wednesday in Wyoming - January 6, 2021

 

It's not just Wednesday in Wyoming. It's also winter in Wyoming, which is why I'm highlighting winter at Fort Laramie, one of my favorite spots in the state, this month.

In case you don't recognize it, the building is Old Bedlam, the oldest still-standing historic building in the state. It served in several capacities while the fort was commissioned but is most famous -- or, should I say infamous? -- for being the bachelor officers' quarters. That's when it earned its nickname.

What do you suppose those officers were doing to give it that name?

Words for Writers - Mastering Those Dreaded Deadlines

 

Do you hate deadlines as much as I do? I think part of the problem is the word. According to my dictionary, a deadline is “a line drawn within or around a prison that a prisoner passes at the risk of being shot.” What an image! No wonder I don’t like deadlines. In fact, I prefer not to use the word at all. Instead, I refer to them as due dates. Using a term that frequently describes the projected birthdate of a child seems much more appropriate. After all, what’s due on the date formerly called a deadline is another form of creation, a manuscript.

Whether you call them deadlines or due dates, they’re important parts of a writer’s life. Consistently meeting due dates is the hallmark of a professional writer. Whether the due date is for the entry of a manuscript into a contest or its delivery to an editor as part of a contract, it’s important – I’d even say vital – that the date be met. I won’t claim that it’s easy, but I offer four techniques that can improve the probability of meeting your due dates.

 1. Set a realistic date. If it’s already the end of March and you want to enter a completed manuscript in a contest on April 15 but you haven’t started writing, odds are that that particular date isn’t realistic. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Instead, plan to enter the contest next year. Similarly, if an editor calls to say she loves your proposal and wonders how soon you can have the completed manuscript to her, take a deep breath before you answer. Even better, tell her you need to work out the schedule and you’ll call her back. Then figure out how long it will take, realizing that it’s impractical to think you’ll work eight hours every day. When you’ve created what seems like an achievable schedule, add in a couple weeks for contingencies. Trust me, you’ll need them.

 2. Create a picture of your goal. Mental images are great, but I’m talking about a physical picture, one that’ll help motivate you. If your goal is to enter a contest, create a picture of a blue ribbon or a statue with your title on it. If your goal is to send a completed manuscript to your editor, create a picture of a book cover with your name and title on it. Once the picture is complete, make a number of copies. One goes on the refrigerator, another one on the phone, still another on the TV remote. The purpose is to remind you that your goal is your highest priority and that snacking, calling a friend or watching a must-see TV show are keeping you from meeting that goal.

 3. Divide and conquer. By that I mean, divide your project into small, manageable tasks, ideally ones that require no longer than a day or two to complete. By doing that, you’ll be able to determine whether or not you’re on schedule. Like the picture, it’s important to have more than a mental plan. You need a written schedule, showing when each chapter (or scene, if you break it down to that level) must be finished. The critical point here is to know whether or not you’re on schedule, and if you’re not, to take corrective action immediately. That leads to the last point.

 4. Just say ‘no.’  If you’re going to meet your due date, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll need to make some sacrifices. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: writing needs to be your highest priority. That means that email, Facebook and all the other things that take time away from writing need to be put in second place. And, if your schedule has slipped, that afternoon at the mall may need to be postponed until you’ve met your due date.

There’s no doubt about it. Meeting due dates is hard work. It requires determination and discipline. But you can do it. I know you can, because you’re a writer, and that’s what writers do.

 

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 30, 2020

 

It's hard to believe that another year is ending and that this will be my final Wednesday in Wyoming post. What a year it's been!

To end this extraordinary year, I decided to include a series of French postcards with wishes for both a merry Christmas and a happy new year. The postcards were a gift from a friend who knows I'm a Francophile.

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! May 2021 be a healthier, happier year for all of us.

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 23, 2020

 

How often do you see angels made of burlap? This one caught my eye more years ago than I'm going to admit when my husband and I were shopping at the Nuremberg Christmas market during his deployment in Germany. It's still one of my favorite Christmas decorations.

Merry Christmas! 

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 16, 2020

 

Everyone needs at least one teddy bear. Right? And every good teddy bear needs a Santa suit. Right?

I'm proud to say that I made both the bear and his suit and that he sits in the kitchen to make me smile every December.

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 9, 2020

 

Santa on a carousel? Why not!

A friend who knows how much I love carousels and that I contracted an incurable case of carousel fever during the International Year of the Carousel (2000) found this holiday-themed merry-go-round for me.

It's so cute that I keep it on display all year long. Ho, ho, ho!

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 2, 2020

 

This month's Wednesday in Wyoming posts are staying close to home -- my home, that is -- as I share some of my favorite holiday decorations.

We all want to feel welcome, don't we? That's why when my sister-in-law showed me this design, I knew it was one I had to turn into a needlepoint pillow.

Welcome!