The Blog Spa

Ever feel the need to get away?  

Susan J. Reinhardt and I were discussing how we felt a little burnt out with blogging, trying to keep up with writing posts and visiting blogs and whatnot. Blogging, entangled with work, commitments and life can seem extra challenging at times.

Don't misunderstand - we love blogging. Because...

• You meet great people. Susan and I first connected through blogging and became good friends. And of course, we've met you too. :)

• It provides exposure for our writing and other pursuits.

• It acts as a forum to interact with other writers. 

• It's an opportunity to give back to the writing community.

• It offers a way to sharpen writing skills.

The perks are great! It's an amazing experience to be part of such a wonderful group of people.

But still, week after week, especially with other commitments, blogging can bog you down sometimes. During our discussion, I mentioned the need for a Blogger Burnout Spa to refresh the tired blogger. We discussed a spa equipped with chocolate and good reading material, nestled in a secluded location. The peaceful atmosphere, of course, would provide much needed rest and rejuvenation.

Never one to miss a writing opportunity, Susan came up with this post where she elaborates on her ideal spa.  

Which of course, made me think. My perfect blog spa would include:

• Chocolate
• Tea
• Good books
• Wonderful mountain views
• Hiking paths
• My husband :)

Then I started thinking again. How can we avoid blogger burnout?

Anyone who has been blogging a while knows that it's not for the faint of heart. It takes time and effort. A good blog doesn't happen by accident, and it isn't just about posting. Maintaining the site, returning comments, visiting others' blogs, etc. are part of the package too.

Here's my short list to avoid burning the candle from both ends:

1) Take regular breaks. Stepping away frees time for other activities. This change of pace can offer much needed breathing room and inspiration.

2) Share guest posts. The occasional (or frequent) guest post offers a reprieve for the host and a bit of variety for the readers.

3) Consider post frequency in light of other priorities. Blogging can consume more writing time (as in, you don't get to other writing) than one might think   For example, I post twice a week, but am seriously considering going down to once a week for a season so I can focus on pending projects.
 
How about you? Do you ever need a break from blogging? What do you do to avoid burnout in any area of your life? What would your perfect blog spa offer?

Have a great weekend!

Happy writing,

Karen


Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ!

We interact with people all the time. They encourage us and brighten our days in unexpected ways. I believe that the writing community is particularly adept at this. Wouldn't you agree? Writers are, in a word, awesome.

Think about the writers you know, like the critique partner who works with you to improve your article or manuscript. The writing friend who listens, supports, and keeps you strong when challenges arise. The author who takes time from their schedule and offers council, advice, and inspiration.

What about the ones who take time to make us feel special by commenting on our blogs, re-tweet our posts, chat with us on forums, and wish us Happy Birthday on Facebook. They're treasures, all.

As Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi put it,
 
Kindness ROCKS! 

To commemorate the release of their book The Emotion Thesaurus, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting a TITANIC Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ. And because I think KINDNESS is contagious, I'm participating too! :)

I am blitzing Susan J. Reinhardt of Christian Writer/Reader Connection. Susan and I met shortly after I started blogging, and she offered endless support and inspiration. I barely knew which end was up in the blogging world, and Susan patiently guided me over the many hills and valleys.

Our friendship blossomed from there, and she is now like a sister to me. We chat, brainstorm, laugh, and critique each other's work. We're even collaborating on a novel, and you don't just do that with anyone! As a token of my thanks to Susan, and to celebrate this Blitz, I'll be sending Susan a little surprise via snail mail soon.
 
Do you know someone special that you'd like to acknowledge? Don't be shy, come join us and celebrate! Send them an email, give them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. Kindness is one of the best ways to share with and celebrate the others in our lives. :)

Speaking of kindness, Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for you as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse asap to pick it up.

What Random Act Of Kindness have you been gifted with lately? Do you like to surprise people with random, no special occasion actions or gifts?


Happy writing,
Karen

MyTwo Cents

 Just in case you are interested, 

I'm offering my two cents as guest blogger 

over at Susan J. Reinhardt's blog,  

Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

Hope you can hop over and join us.

Thanks a bunch!

Happy writing,

Karen

 

Photo credit: Stock Exchange

A B C D E F G...

Alphabet Fun

Susan Reinhardt recently featured a fun post that shared personal info the A to Z way. Thought I would jump in and give it a try too.

Here's everything you wanted or didn't want to know, alphabetically, about me.

A) Age - Old enough to have a 3 year old grandson, and young enough to play baseball with him. Here's a quote from yesterday's game, "Run, Grandma, run!" So I did.

B) Baked goods - Cheesecake (my sister Wendy's recipe is the best ever).

C) Chores you hate - Scrubbing the tub and cleaning the kitchen floor. Oh, and weeding the garden.

D) Dogs - Had two when my kids were growing up, a chocolate lab named Hershey and a mutt named Oreo.  I just realized they were both named after food. This probably means something.

E) Essential start to your day - Reading my Bible, spending a bit of time with my husband before he heads off to work, and a nice cup of tea.

F) Favorite color - Green, not too minty, not too Kelly, somewhere in the sage to dark olive greens are best.

G) Gold or silver - Gold, but if you buy me something in silver, I won't be upset. :)

H) Height - 5' 6". And no, I'm not listing my weight.

I) Instruments you play - I played the flute (not very well) in grade school. Also took piano lessons and hated to practice. My Mom told me that if I gave up piano I might regret it later. She was right.

J) Job - Writer. But you knew that already. I also teach online writing classes for teens and adults, do a bit of tutoring, and keep the books for my husband's carpentry business.

K) Kids - Two sons, a daughter, and a daughter in law, all in their twenties. I am blessed with great kids.

L) Live - North central Kentucky, US. Before we moved here, we lived in southern New Jersey.

M) Mother - Went to be with the Lord in March of 2010. I miss her. Very much.

N) Nickname - My Dad would sometimes call me "Karrie", but other than that, nothing ever stuck.

O) Overnight hospital stay - The only ones worth mentioning are the ones where I got to bring home a little adorable bundle of Lange.

P) Pet peeve - Just one? The misuse of the apostrophe s.

Q) Quote - Just one? :) Psalm 32:8.

R) Right or left - Right.

S) Siblings - Three younger sisters, including the one who passed away last November.

T) Time you wake up - Around 7 am.

U) University you attended - Went to college in New York state for a short time. I'm a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature (two different programs), and of course, am learning new things all the time.

V) Vegetable you dislike - Brussels sprouts and asparagus. I'm shuddering just thinking about them.

W) What makes you late? Checking my email before heading out.

X) X-rays - Other than dental x-rays, only one.

Y) Yummy food - An Italian hoagie, made the right way. Oh, and authentic Jersey pizza. We recently found a pizza place here that makes it the way we used to get it in NJ. The owner is from Brooklyn. :)

Z) Zoo animal favorite - Koala bear.


Other Stuff

The October lineup of classes at Coffeehouse for Writers includes Writing and Marketing Personal Experiences, Blogging for Profit or Pleasure, Queries, Boot Camp for Writers (taught by yours truly) and more. Classes begin October 10. Click here for details.

Taking a break for the rest of the week, but will return Monday, October 10 with a review of Jody Hedlund's latest book, The Preacher's Bride. We'll round things out with an interview and giveaway; hope you can join us!

Are you game to give this A to Z thing a try? If nothing else, pick a letter and tell us something about yourself, won't you?

Have a great week,

Karen

Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Don't Try This at Home

Picture this: 

It was late Friday evening, and Susan J. Reinhardt and I were on the phone, discussing and editing portions of our book. Ideas are flowing, ideas are not flowing, Microsoft Word is cooperating, Microsoft Word is not cooperating. A new idea surfaces, and we get off track and head down an interesting but not super productive rabbit trail.

(If you happened to miss the post about our collaborative project, click here.)

We're tired, we have the chapters under review about memorized, and we need to finish the task because we've got a deadline. I'm the evening's designated typist, and I am working to keep up with our revisions, making sure they are recorded accurately. Amidst our laughing, groaning, and tossing words about, the phrase "Don't try this at home" pops into my head. So, not one to keep important thoughts from my co-author, I said it out loud, garnering a good laugh from Susan.

Yes, that's us, two regular adventurers, taking the plunge into the land of the historical fiction novel. What's the rush on the edits? Well, Susan just got back from a writer's conference in Philadelphia. While there, she met with agents and editors. We wanted to test the waters and see if there was any interest in our book, so Susan pitched it to them. We were thrilled when an agent and an editor were interested. So the flurry of activity this week in PA and KY - that was us, working to tweak and refine before sending our chapters off.

I'd be remiss if I failed to mention a few things that pushed us through - perseverance, prayer, and chocolate. Don't jump out of the plane without them!

Susan is sharing more details about her conference experience today on her blog.  There was interest in Susan's other manuscript, too, so it was a productive weekend for her. Congrats, Susan! If you have a minute, hop over and say hello. She'd love to see you.

What writing adventures have you had lately?


Blessings,

Karen

Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Giveaway Winner

The results from random.org are in. :)

Congratulations to Susan Reinhardt, 

winner of the 300 follower giveaway!

Thank you all for your support.

Have a great weekend!

 Karen

Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Partners in Crime

I know. You thought I was the "Goody-Two-Shoes" poster girl didn't you? Well, I used to be. Mostly, anyway. Then I met Susan J. Reinhardt of Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

Yes, Susan is a great friend, writing colleague, and blogging mentor. But the little known fact is, she and I are partners in crime.

What have we done? Well, you see it's this way...Susan and I have teamed up to write a book together. Yes, it's true. And we are getting into trouble even as we speak, scheming and plotting and whatnot.

I cannot reveal all the details just yet, but I will tell you that it is historical fiction set in Colonial America.

Susan and I are sharing a few thoughts about this partnership in the form of a Q & A on our blogs today. I hope you will hop over to her blog and check out what she has to say.


Karen: Were you nervous about the project before you started? How about now that things are underway?

Susan: Karen and I had joked about the possibilities, but then started kicking around ideas. I was nervous because I never co-wrote a book before. As the book progresses, I'm adjusting to team writing.


Karen: I am still nervous! Susan has a lot more experience than I do, having several novels under her belt. I'm learning much as we go, and Susan is a great teacher. :)

Karen: What advice would you give anyone considering a collaborative effort?

Susan: Make sure you like each other. A lot. You'll be spending a lot of time together brainstorming, researching, and writing together. :)

Karen: I agree with Susan. I also encourage writers to check out this post at Pen and Prosper. Jennifer Brown Banks hits the nail on the head with great advice in Pros and Cons of Creative Collaborations.

Stay tuned! Susan and I will share more tidbits as our adventures unfold.

Have you ever collaborated on a writing project with anyone? Do tell!

Happy writing,

Karen

Photo credit: Lockheed -stock.xchng

Guest Blogger - Susan J. Reinhardt

I'm excited to welcome special guest blogger Susan J. Reinhardt. Susan and I connected online (yes, over something writing related!) and have been friends ever since.

She's a great source of wisdom and encouragement, and a talented writer too.  Lest I risk giving her the big head, here is her post...



Time Management – Jesus Style            

“Oh, no, I’ve got to be in Galilee by Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. I’m running late.”

These words don’t appear in the Bible. When Jesus walked this earth, He was bound by the limitations of time. He had the same 24-hour days allotted to us. Yet, He never seemed rushed or stressed out.

People might argue that things were different back then. After all, they didn’t have the Internet, TV, cell phones, computers, or a thousand other modern conveniences. While that observation is true, they faced other time pressures. Getting the crops in on time and harvesting without the help of farm machinery required back-breaking labor. Travel presented dangers still seen in many areas of the world today. I’m sure the issue of time management isn’t exclusive to the 21st century.

Throughout the gospels, mention is made or inferred that Jesus spent time in prayer. His relationship with the Father took priority over every other area of life. Often He got away by Himself, with no disciples around and no crowds. When people demanded His attention and He could not get away, He still remained attuned to the Father’s voice.

Every day, we face choices of how to spend our time. Some might follow a rigid schedule. Others field the events that come their way like Lucy did, trying to keep up with the candy conveyor belt and not doing a very good job. A "kick back and not deal with anything" approach appeals to another group. None of these options work well and carry consequences for our spirit, soul, and body.

So, how can we learn from Jesus in the area of time management? Let’s take a look.

1. He knew where to find guidance for His daily activities…in constant communication with His Father.

2. He kept His priorities in order. He knew from the time He was a young boy, conversing in the temple with the elders, He must be about His Father’s business.

3. With a clear purpose and knowledge of time constraints, He prioritized. He didn’t fall prey to the “I can have it all mentality.”

4. He knew how to delegate authority. He trained others to do the work of the ministry, instilling in them the importance of obedience to God and serving others.

5. The clock or the urgency of a situation did not rule His life. When he was on his way to heal a man’s little girl, the touch of the woman with the issue of blood caused a delay. He was flexible when so-called interruptions postponed his plans.

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, he reveals more and more of Himself to us. We become sensitive and attuned to his voice, and the Word of God becomes alive in our heart. When we follow through with obedience in the small areas and see the results, our spiritual muscles get stronger. We’re able to discern between something good and something Godly.

Our task lists will be written by him, not us.

Thank you for sharing with us, Susan! If you have a minute, stop by Susan's blog, Christian Writer/Reader Connection. She'd love to see you!

What roadblocks do you hit while writing? What time management tips do you have? Please share!

Happy weekend my friends,
Karen

Photo credit: Silent Fury http://www.sxc.hu/photo/800846

Poetry Contest & Quick Note

Susan Reinhardt of Christian Writer/Reader Connection is guest posting over at Susan Panzica's Eternity Cafe today. I'll be scooting over to say hello, how about you?

The 6th Annual Writer's Digest Poetry Contest is accepting entries till December 15, 2010. A cash prize and trip to the WD Conference in New York City will be awarded to the winner. Click here for details.

Happy writing,
Karen

Photo credit: vancity197  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/921894

Award Time

On Friday, Tyrean of Tyrean's Writing Spot presented me with the Blessed Blog Award. Thank you, Tyrean! I am blessed and honored by your kindness. 

                           

I am passing this award to Susan J. Reinhardt of Christian Writer/Reader Connection. Not only has Susan's blog been a blessing, but her friendship and support are gifts I am thankful for.                                                                      

Several months ago, Tyrean gave me two others, the Blogger Buddy Award and It's Like We're Soulmates award. Many thanks, Tyrean, for being a faithful follower and blogging friend. If you have a minute, hop over and visit Tyrean's blog; she is featuring a 365 Days of Blessings series. Quite inspiring, and a wonderful daily reminder of all things thankful.

Lydia Kang of The Word is My Oyster, and Rhonda Schrock of The Natives are Getting Restless blessed me with The Versatile Blogger award. Thank you, Lydia, and thank you, Rhonda! I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and I'm glad we've met through this amazing world of blogging. Lydia's blog is dedicated to the craft of writing and always has a grand assortment of topics and discussions. Rhonda's blog is another stop full of goodies and humor about writing and life.                                            

Lynn at Place to Create bestowed the Rose Award to Write Now a while back. Forgive the delay in sharing this Lynn, but please know it is gratefully accepted and appreciated! Lynn's blog shares about her writing journey and other treasures in Alberta, Canada.

The Write On award was presented to me by Lindsey Edwards of The Write Words. Thank you, Lindsey, your kindness is a blessing. Lindsey's blog is another treasure full of links, book reviews, and writing support.  

I have many blogs from which to choose to pass The Rose Award, The Versatile Blogger, and The Write On awards. But I cannot! My list of favorites is longer than my arm, so please, faithful followers, feel free to choose one of the three as my appreciation for your blog. Congrats to you! :)

Finally, Stephen Tremp of Breakthrough Blogs surprised me with the Awesomous Maximus Award. Stephen, thanks so much for your vote of confidence. It is greatly appreciated! Breakthrough Blogs documents Stephen's journey to publication, along with other essentials for the writing life.

What blogs have you found to be award worthy?

Have a happy writing week!

Blessings,

Karen

The Big Rocks

Christian Writer/Reader Connection's
Susan J. Reinhardt shares an interesting story about prioritizing. This thought provoking little treasure makes you think. Questions that came to my mind were, well, let's just say that you need to read the post first. I don't want to give it all away! No doubt some of you have heard the story before, but it is a good reminder of what's important.

Following My King shares similar thoughts in this post. It's an appropriate time of year to reflect and reassess goals, desires, callings, and priorities.

One of my favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (NKJV) One translation says "For I know the plans I have for you"; either way, it speaks so much in regard to our Heavenly Father's love and plans for us. May our priorities align with His calling for our lives.

What have you learned about your calling and priorities this year? We'd love to hear about it. Blessings to you:)

Book Giveaway and Interview

Stop by Susan Reinhardt's Christian Writer/Reader Connection for an interesting interview with author Jean Fischer. Jean has worked extensively in children's publishing and shares great info on writing and the publishing industry. She shares some good inside tips to finding freelance markets. Leave a comment on the blog and you will be entered to win a signed copy of Jean's latest book, Kids' Bible Dictionary. Sounds good, Susan! I'm definitely entering this one:)

Happy writing!

Favorite Blogs

I follow several blogs, and they are all good. The inspiring tidbits you can glean from them are endless. You never know when something will hit you and spark an idea, or minister to a certain area in your life. This is a grand and blessed thing.

One recent favorite, posted by my dear friend Susan Reinhardt on her blog Christian Writer/Reader Connection, talked about balance. Yes, balance, that thing I spout off about needing, but am often challenged in obtaining! Susan offers a different and refreshing perspective on it. But then, Susan always has something terrific to share. Check it out here if you like:

http://susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com/2009/07/balance.html

Over at The Write Power blog, written by another dear friend, MaryAnn Diorio, I found some good advice about characterization vs. character. MaryAnn always has great advice on the mechanics of writing, among other things. Visit her blog here:

http://thewritepower.blogspot.com/2009/07/characterization-vs-character.html

Please feel free to share your blog favorites. There are so many good ones, I think we need to lobby for more 'blog' hours in the day. ;)

Happy writing!

Another Contest!

Susan Reinhardt of Christian Writer/Reader Connection blog fame is having her final contest this week. This drawing concludes her Blogoversary month's celebration. This week's contest is giving away three (yes three!) of Julie Lessman's historical fiction books. Hurry on over to Susan's blog and leave a comment and your email address to ensure entry by May 30, 2009. Drawing will be held on Sunday, May 31.

http://susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com/