Manuscript Finished and Sent Off - Yay!

Completed Manuscript - ready to be posted

I have now come to the end of writing my manuscript for my 2^nd book “Creating your first ever CV in seven easy steps”.  34,000 words, 11,000 over what I initially had planned.  It was tough this time because I was fitting it round everything else that I do, so I really did have to develop a writing practice and ritual that helped me get through it.  My note taking and book development takes place off line, with pens and pad.  Then, when I’m ready, I move to the computer where I expand on the ideas and start the writing process. 

I absolutely love sitting down with a journal and pens, developing ideas, thinking of the process and creating the formula.  However, sometimes, in translating that to sitting in front of the computer screen, I need to be guided and cajoled into it.  Don’t get me wrong, I love it when I’m there and ‘in it’ however with this second book and managing my time, I have developed a really important practice that gets me through that initial phase of ‘starting’.

Step 1: Take some Concentration Essence – from the range of 12 flower remedies by Jan de Vries (it’s Wonderful stuff, I love Relaxing and also Emergency).

Step 2: Make your environment welcoming; light incense, a candle, essential oils. ( I love Clary Sage and Geranium, plus Nag Champa.)

Step 3: Use music when you begin.  Put on a piece that you can start to link to your writing.  I never listen to words in music; Two years ago, I started to listen to the same particular Baroque album over and over again, now it has free-associated itself to my writing practice. Just recently I have also introduced Sacred Drums, which too, assists my brain function and almost takes me into a trance-like state.

Step 4: You’re now going to do something computer based and methodical

• Tidy up files on your desktop – all those messy documents and downloads – well, it’s time to organise them. Set the timer for 10 minutes and get going.  Send them to the Recycle Bin.

• Sift through any old word documents that you have saved and relevant to your creative practice and file it in an Ideas Folder - you have one of them, right?

• Print out anything that you have found inspiring – only do this if your printer is all set up to receive (don’t be getting up, sidetracking and setting up the cables!).  Print out what you feel is relevant.

• Go through your photos and assign them to albums, send ones you want to print out to a Print File so that you can do that at a later date. 

• Create a new desktop background that inspires you.  

• Generally do any clean up work on your computer that gets you 'in to' the zone, whilst taking in the music, letting the concentration essence work its magic, drinking some tea and smelling some smells - it's all about the senses!

Step 5: Go and find something or someone that reminds you of your creative self, could be from childhood or younger days - maybe a cuddly toy you used to tell your dreams?.  Give Hugs and sit him beside you so that he can be witness to the occasion.  Yes, I’m serious.  Go on.  (Oops, I think that gives away the fact that this is EXACTLY what I did : ))

Step 6: Finally, when your head is in writing mode - Reread your writing from the day before or the last time you wrote.

Step 7: Make a cup of tea (in a mug you adore) and before you know it, you’ll be back into the swing of it.

Some of the above may instantly appeal – you may already be doing some of them – so Well Done YOU – hope that I have helped with any ideas.

Much Love

Jules xx

PS this can work just as well if you have revision to do or a computer task that needs undivided attention. 

Writing and Meditation

I have a deadline to write my 2nd book by the 31st March.  That's quite a tall order - one that I hasten to add, I set myself to the publisher.  With everything else I'm doing during my week I have started to be reeeeeeallllly strict.  So I have set myself some rules: (lets call them guides, being gentle with myself)

• Get up early and write for at least 2 hours while the world sleeps.
• Walk Lucy as a lovely break before I get back into it again.
• No Answering le Phone (landline/or moby): that means, putting phone on silent, turning off vibrate and turning it upside down (or better still leaving it in another room).  
• No sneaking a peak at Facebook unless I'm on a break.
• Turn off email so I don't see it arrive.
• Drink cups of tea at allotted Tea point. 
• Drink Water (still or sparkling - whatever le mood takes)
• Have Jan de Vries Concentration Essence often: works beautifully to get me in to writing focused mode (or anything that I need to do, for that matter).
• Play my lovely Baroque music -to get my brain into a lovely yummy place.
• Have Snacks as long as it's not chocolate brought in by hubby (whoops); aiming for apples, bananas and other healthy things.
• Break up writing with Goddess Leonie's meditations: if you haven't tried her meditations and you're a Goddess (well we are, aren't we?) then I would skip along to her portal GoddessGuideBook - it's AWASH with wonderful resources and a community, which I haven't dipped my toe into yet, but do intend to.  You can just buy the meds, but if you want the whole shebang, you can join the circle for $99 for the year.  There's so many inspiring courses, kits, ebooks and inspiration there.  Her meditations help me heaps at the moment.   I have a flaxseed eye pillow which I wrap around my eyes and I go off on a journee with her soothing Australian lilting accent.  I do one of these in between any writing I am doing.  

I just Choose and Go.  Check her out

I have two other projects which I'm working on:-
1 with Hubby
2 with me and chez Art.

Hope Monday's being a lovely Monday today
Much Love
Jules
xxx

PS I will phone you back when I can if you phone me! Hope you understand though.

My Muse (she's the one who reminds me to take a break)

Thank crunchie it's Friday

Been a busy day today - a lot of talking and on my feet.  The day started really well, I was visited by Tizzy Faerie who brought me some beautiful yellow roses, which now take pride of place on the table in our lounge.  It was and is always a lovely way to start my day.   I also met a really interesting woman today who was just visiting the health shop.  She was from the west midlands - 'just visiting'.  Maybe not, maybe sent there to meet each other.

We started talking about Jan De Vries Body Energy book and the hand positions, chakra points and she told me she had a clinic and did a form of therapy called, Bio Danza.  The dance of Life.  It looks and sounds amazing and something that really I'm attracted to.  Reconnecting with the body and taking the head out of the equation.  I could do with some of that.  I'm often in my head space and hold on to feelings in my body, which is why I always struggle with my weight.  (There's obviously so much more than this one feeble sentence).  She's going to be running a workshop soon which I'm quite tempted to attend, so let's see how that transpires.

I also had an email about becoming an EFT practitioner (emotional freedom technique).  Now I am normally the Julia who loves these kind of things and it's a great offer, with a £150 reduction for level 1 and level 2.  I have spent a short while doing EFT personally and with family/friends and I can really see its benefits and wonders, more so than psychotherapy and counselling.  (which is where my background started in the health field, as a counsellor).  I wonder and contemplate whether this is something I need for myself right now.  Do I really just want to focus on my writing my 2nd book, as well as my Mixed Media Art.  Do I need EFT? Do I know enough?  Do I want to practice professionally or can I just be and continue with what I know?  Is it necessary to do it?  What's the purpose?

Anyhoo, to the right (above) is a sketch that I did when I was in France, it reminds me of a time there, where I spent 5 months and the sketching frenzy I had.  I'm always sketching and colouring in and this is where my heart lies.  My mum says it's what I used to do the most of when I was 8 years old.

8 years old - always a good indication of what makes your heart sing in life.

Have a warm and gorgeous night
Jules x