4 Practical Ways on How to meet a Deadline

The first time I wrote a book on a deadline it was both exhilarating and scary. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to meet a deadline. 1. Banish self doubt. There isn’t time to constantly second guess every decision. If an editor had faith that you could deliver, have that same amount of confidence in [...]

How Does a Mother Balance a Writing Career with Homeschooling?

Home-schooling is already a full-time job, so how does a mother balance a writing career along with it? There are some specific things that we can do to adjust our teaching lifestyle so that we can also enjoy the talents and passion that the Lord instilled in us. In my last article, I spoke about [...]

Procrastination Nation

Hello, my name is Julie, and I’m a procrastinator. It’s something that I struggle with often. I have a short attention span, which isn’t helpful when you’re writing novels. I’m the mom of a four-year-old and have a full-time job. If I procrastinate, I’m not going to get it all done. It has forced me [...]

The Evolution of Distractions (and Wasted Time)

My distractions have evolved many times over the course of my writing journey. At first they were obvious: toddlers. I had two kids under the age of two and clearly could not write while either were awake. This offered a crisply defined line between writing and everything else. Naptimes provided neatly packaged blocks of time [...]

Time Management 101: How to Do it All!

“How do you do it all?” Is the #1 question I get. I have to start by saying that I’ve worked through many of these things with my life coach Judy Baer. She helps me “think through” trouble areas of my life and find a solution … what a concept! I realize the “life” doesn’t [...]

Marketing: 10, 100, and 1000 Dollar Work

So you’ve got a book coming out and the marketing director at your publisher calls you up, very excited about your book. You’re excited too, until she tells you all the things she wants you to do to promote your book. Put up a web site. Create a blog. Make a Facebook fan page and [...]

Maximizing Your Time

Chances are that you know whether you are a morning person or a night owl, but are you maximizing your time by putting your peak hours to their best use? Many of us juggle household management with work and the business and creative aspects of maintaining a writing career. Working with and not against your [...]

No More Excuses! Just Write It!

After ACFW conference I thought I was ready to dig back into my WIP and pound out the words. But I wasn’t. Before sending off my proposal, my agent suggested I make a few changes, and so I dove into editing, again. Vacation hit right in the middle of editing and when I got back, [...]

Writing After a Medical Crisis Hits Your Loved One

Last month’s article, How Do You Write When a Medical Crisis Hits, discussed how to keep on writing in the midst of dealing with an elderly parent being hospitalized. Once your beloved senior has been released from the hospital though, your interrupted writing should be back on course, right? Not necessarily. Even though they are [...]

Letting Go of Appearances

You already know the signs when something’s got to give. Overscheduled and overtired, you dread what you once enjoyed. Overextended and over-budget, essentials find their way to negotiable status. Daily living takes on a frayed look, tattered around the edges, which you most likely recognize because you’ve been there before or you’ve been there a [...]

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