{"id":459,"date":"2009-03-17T06:13:04","date_gmt":"2009-03-17T14:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=459"},"modified":"2009-03-17T06:14:21","modified_gmt":"2009-03-17T14:14:21","slug":"start-writing-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=459","title":{"rendered":"Start Writing Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do you find, at the end of your day, that you haven\u2019t finished all of the tasks you hoped to complete? Some of you may go to bed at night having never even started something you planned to begin\u2014like your book manuscript or an article. Does your writing project seem to be pushed to the back burner day after day, month after month, even though you keep promising yourself that you will tackle it? Brother, you need help!<\/p>\n<p>How can you look at yourself in the morning when you know that you are not fulfilling your heart\u2019s desire to write? How can you go to bed at night without having allowed yourself to spend at least a little while that day writing? <\/p>\n<p>If your life is filled with \u201cmust do\u2019s\u201d and \u201chave to\u2019s\u201d but no \u201cwant to\u2019s,\u201d maybe it\u2019s time to change something. Sure, we have to make a living. Of course, we must do and be for our families and friends. We have serious responsibilities. But I\u2019ve found in my life that if I\u2019m not also taking care of my own needs, I don\u2019t have much to give anyone or anything else.<\/p>\n<p>Have you read my book, <strong><em>The Successful Writer\u2019s Handbook<\/em><\/strong>? This is a little book I compiled in 2003. It\u2019s a collection of my best writing\/publishing-related articles and it includes a section on taking care of the writer. It\u2019s all about how a writer can create balance in his\/her life. Having been a full-time writer for many, many years, I have had to pay attention to my physical, mental and spiritual health\u2014in other words, live a balanced lifestyle. It\u2019s how I manage to function at my peak. And, for those of you who have a passion for writing or for a particular writing project, but who can\u2019t find the time to pursue it, perhaps you could benefit from some of my tips and ideas.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022\tFirst, order and read <em>The Successful Writer\u2019s Handbook <\/em>at <a href=http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a>.<br \/>\n\u2022\tWrite a daily to-do list and give each item a time slot. Include a time for writing and omit any recognizable time-wasters.<br \/>\n\u2022\tTake good care of your physical being\u2014get plenty of sleep, eat your fruits and veggies, hydrate and be sure to exercise some each day.<br \/>\n\u2022\tNurture your muse. Become aware of your sense of creativity in everything that you do.<br \/>\n\u2022\tEngage in activities that will stimulate your mind. This does not typically mean watching TV or going clubbing.<br \/>\n\u2022\tBecome one with nature. If you don\u2019t have room in which to create and nurture a garden, plant and care for potted patio plants or an inside terrarium (mini garden).<br \/>\n\u2022\tTake mini-vacations. Walk along a waterway, sit in a lush garden or simply meditate in your home while playing soft music for 15 minutes or so.<\/p>\n<p>If you are running around frantically every day taking care of business and only dreaming of  writing a book or starting a career as a writer, maybe it\u2019s time for you to slow down and look for another way to manage your life. <\/p>\n<p>Once you decide to enter into the world of publishing, be sure to order my book, <strong><em>The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong> <a href=http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html> http:\/\/www.matilijapresss.com\/rightway.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And, for fun, if you like cats, you must read my newest book, <strong><em>Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>\u2014now fully illustrated with over 80 photos of pretty, silly, funny, kooky, unusual and ordinary cats and kittens. <a href=http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades.html> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades.html<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you find, at the end of your day, that you haven\u2019t finished all of the tasks you hoped to complete? Some of you may go to bed at night having never even started something you planned to begin\u2014like your book manuscript or an article. Does your writing project seem to be pushed to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.9 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you find, at the end of your day, that you haven\u2019t finished all of the tasks you hoped to complete? Some of you may go to bed at night having never even started something you planned to begin\u2014like your book manuscript or an article. 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