E is for Every Effort #AtoZBlogging Challenge

Okay, so it's only five days in and I am really pushing myself to keep going in this A to Z Challenge. After a long day of handling family and work responsibilities, it is tough to consistently blog every day. This is especially true since I have been out of the blogging loop for a while.

My "Writing Enemy" has been in full swing today. It started with not wanting to get up on this cold morning. With a little effort, I got up and began the day. Instantly, I made the rounds and woke the kids. In what seemed like a flash of time, we had breakfast and were out the door.  As the kids went through their school day and as I went through my work day, I made an effort to consider my blogging topic:
 "Today is E," I pondered. "What interesting topic can I write about? Ugh, is there even ANYTHING interesting about the letter E?"

This internal dialogue suggests I certainly could have benefited from a few extra minutes this morning. However, with a little more effort, I continued to ponder my topic. After all, if I was going to have an easier time with my post this evening, I'd have to be ready.

After work/school was a mad rush of travelling to the doctors for one of the kids, unexpected medical tests, homework, dinner, clean up... and then BAM! An hour before I should be turning in to bed I finally have the time to do the next day's post.

It was extremely tempting to just head to bed and "let it go", but I made a strong effort to sit down in front of the computer and open my blog. I still wasn't sure what my topic would be until I started writing. Many times, that's how it is with my writing. I can plan for a certain type of post or writing, but too often, my writing turns into something else entirely.

Now, exactly two minutes after my preferred bedtime, I'm nearing the end of my post. I've overcome a busy day and many temptations to  get here. I have made every effort to complete day 5 of the challenge. Hopefully, with consistent effort, the challenge will become more like a second nature.

How are you doing on this fifth day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge?

D is for Daily Schedule #AtoZBloggingChallenge

One secret to successful writing that I learned early on (and still struggle to follow) is to write - no matter what. It is essential to find time to write something and exercise that writing muscle in our heads.  I am guilty of letting go and putting my writing last on the list. It is an easy temptation since there are so many demands on our time such as work, family, kids, and everyone's activities.

One way to tackle these time obstacles is to establish a daily schedule. Whether you write full time or work full time and then write, it is essential to set time aside for your writing. We give so much of our time to everyone else in our lives, it is okay for us to take this time for ourselves and our writing. I am learning how to do that for my own writing, and I owe much of that to this blogging challenge I'm doing this month. I hadn't planned on it, but it's working out that my writing schedule is between 8-10 on weeknights and 2-3 hours in the afternoon on weekends.

I recommend writing out a schedule and posting it on your desk. I also have placed  my desk in a central area in my home. With so many commitments and such a busy schedule, it would be too easy for me to get caught up in everything else and neglect my writing. With my desk in a more prominent place, it is a glaring reminder from my muse. It says (or screams), "I'm waiting!"

So, what is your daily writing routine? How to you keep that writing muscle in shape?

C is For Creative Writing #AtoZBlogging Challenge

What makes your writing your own? What makes it shine out above all the other pieces out there? Our own creativity is something that accomplishes both of these things. Ask any avid reader why they like a certain book, blog or author and they'll usually describe something unique that came from the author. The way the author presented their material in the way only they can present it, is what prompts us to have a favorite author.

This umbrella covers all aspects of writing, especially an author's voice and style.  I think about the many YA books I've read recently. If you browse through some of my older posts, you'll see some reviews of books I've done on Brenda Hiatt, Rachel Morgan and Heather Sunseri.  I loved every book I reviewed by these authors, though the stories and the creativity in them were all very different.

As authors, we all have our own resources of creativity. So, how do we tap into them? Where do we find these snippets of inspiration? Below are some suggestions for unleashing that creative monster dwelling within you:

1.  Brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm.  I am only beginning my first novel and I've run into several episodes of writer's block. The best thing I did to get those creative juices flowing again was to just write. Write about anything. Pick a word that has something to do with what you are writing and go from there. Whether you free write or put it all down in word maps, you will be writing. Pretty soon something will hit you and you'll think, "That's it! That's what I was looking for!"

2. Be Nosy.  Admit it. A certain tone from the table next to you in a restaurant caught your attention and you are listening intently, hopefully without being noticed. Or you see someone walking down the street with a strange looking outfit on and you start brainstorming what their story is. Use these moments to boost your creativity, even if it will have nothing to do with your current project. However, chances are you may find one or two jewels to use.

3. Read.  Our brains are fully engulfed in the creative world when we are reading. Sometimes we may  read a word or  a situation that reminds you of something in your story. That may be all you need to continue your brainstorming.

What do you do when you need a boost in your creativity?

Books, Books, Books #AtoZBlogging Challenge

As a follow up to yesterday's post, my topic for the letter B is "Books, Books, Books". More specifically, books for children with health issues.  As a teacher and an author,  I firmly believe that reading about something is the best way to start to deal with that specific problem. Children can identify with the characters or learn how that character handled the situation they were given.

Below is a list of books for children with various chronic diseases, along with a small description and a link.

Riley's Heart Machine
By Lori M Jones

Riley  is afraid of what her friends will think if thy find out about her pacemaker. In Riley's Heart Machine, Riley needs to overcome her fear of being different and finally shares her secret with her friends in a "unique" way.







Now Caitlin Can
By: Ramona Wood

This is a story about a little girl, Caitlin, who is in need of a Kidney Transplant. This is told by the point of view of Caitiln's older brother Freddie.









Pennies, Nickels and Dimes
By: Elizabeth Murphy Meals

Ashley and her friend try to raise money for her Transplant  Operation and learn even more about Organ Transplantation in the process.








Going to the Hospital
By: Fred Rogers

A picture book detailing a typical hospital visit and common forms of treatments that occur there.










These are just a few of my favorites I found when I was searching for books for our family. What are some of your favorite specialty books?

Angel Donor and April #AtoZChallenge

A is For Angel Donor and the Month of April

I really didn't want to start the A to Z Blogging challenge talking about one of my own books. I brainstormed writing tips, inspirations, book reviews and even favorite Disney characters. I went as far as typing my first paragraph when it hit me. April, in addition to being the month of the blogging challenge, is also a month that is close to my family's heart. It is also known as Donate Life Month. This is not just any month to me or my family.

Donate Life Month is a month of features and activities to raise awareness of the need for life saving organs and to celebrate those who chose to save a life through organ donation. You can learn more about it here. 

Why is this month more than just a cause for our family? Unfortunately in 2002 we were introduced to chronic illnesses and organ transplantation with my daughter. As her disease went on, it was clear. She needed a liver. Her childhood was clouded by illnesses, doctors and hospitals. It was during this time that the idea for Angel Donor was born. 

I often wished I could read my daughter a book that she could identify with on the subject. She worried about her doctor visits and hospital stays and at times struggled to really understand what was happening. Thankfully, because of the generosity of a family during one of their most trying times, our daughter received her much needed transplant.

However, this was not going to be our only experience in our family. Our third child was also born with a chronic condition and may need a transplant in the future as well. 

While I haven't been active lately in blogging, I have several posts on my Angel Donor blog, which offers just a glimpse into the transplant community. I urge you to take a look and leave a comment on any of the posts. 

So as I was brainstorming and wondering what I could write about, I chose something that I hope will be meaningful and inspirational to anyone who comes across this post.

Have you had any experiences with organ transplants? What are your challenges? Hopes?

The A to Z Blogging Challenge

In light of my renewed dedication to writing more, I began to blog surf. That was dangerous. I came across something I've also participated in a few years ago: The A to Z Blogging Challenge. At first I was ready to move on to the next blog, but then I thought about it. I'm getting my writing routine back. I also have a goal to blog more. What better way to improve my posting and frequency than to participate in an event like this? After all, 26 days should help me revive my blogging habit.







Then I noticed the new component: a theme reveal. It sounds like another fun component of this challenge, and maybe I will be more up for it next year. For now though, I'll be happy if I successfully complete the challenge. It will take organization and dedication, but I think this challenge is doable this year. 

So, what about you? Who's participating? Who chose a theme? 

Breaking through the Block

"Have you written anything more on your book yet," asked my oldest child. "I really want to know what happens."  I had shared some of my early writings from my first NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month)  novel with my daughter and she wants to know what will happen. 

The truth is, I hit a major writer's block right in the middle of NANO and didn't get past 5,000 words. The novel was going great until I hit a wall. No matter what angle I tried, I could not go any further. Maybe the pressure of hitting so many words a day while working full time had something to do with it. Maybe I was trying too hard. Maybe I didn't plan it out enough. Or maybe it was a combination of everything. The fact remains that I could not get anywhere with my novel for four months. 

However, I kept at it - even if it was just a little character development here and there. And finally it happened. I was ready to give up on the book, when everything began to click. It all started to fit together. FINALLY.  

I'm beginning to see that writing a novel is a bit like solving a puzzle. At first it is just a bunch of jumbled pieces. But if you look at each piece carefully, you will eventually match up the fitting pieces. I'm also beginning to see that my characters don't always share everything with me right away. Maybe they're testing me out as much as I'm testing them out. 

Now that I have broken through the block, I'm ready to tackle the novel head on. Although I'm mostly focusing on the outline and getting to know more about the characters, I'm finally moving forward. It was as if I found the missing key to the entire story. What a feeling to "break through" the block. The adventure only gets better from here.