Eight Steps to Your Best Writing Year by Gigi Devine Murfitt

Gigi Devine Murfitt

Author Gigi Devine Murfitt is back to share some tips that will help us reach our writing goals in 2017. Which one needs to be at the top of your list? 

~ Dawn

Eight Steps to Your Best Writing Year

In my last post, I shared about a few classes that helped me as a writer. One such course is Michael Hyatt’s class he offers each year. It is called Five Days to Your Best Year Ever.

Michael is the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. When the company was merged, he left to launch his book, Platform-Get Noticed in a Noisy World, and his own business for intentional leadership where he mentors thousands of writer’s just like you.

I participated in this class in 2014 and 2016, and it helped me to start my year with clear writing and personal goals. The class is only offered in the late fall and closes in early January. Hopefully, if you didn’t participate, you can join at the end of 2017.

From Michael’s experience in the writing and corporate world, he suggests the following to set yourself up for a great year.

1. Reflect on the past year. As I reviewed my journals from the prior year, I found several potential writing ideas to add to my ever-growing list. I saw some changes that needed to take place and set them as goals for the New Year.

2. Keep a positive attitude.  It is important not to focus on what you did not accomplish in the prior year, but to learn from it and move into the New Year with a new perspective.

3. Express Gratitude. Gratitude helps with staying positive. I have a gratitude journal that helps me track the things I’m grateful for. Think about what you are thankful for in your writing life.

4. Eliminate the Excess. Is there something in your life that is not positively contributing to your writing life? Maybe it’s time to make some changes.

5. Set smart goals. If you set a clear vision that is specific and measurable, you are more likely to be successful. Focus on why you want to achieve that goal. When we know the why, the how and when fall into place

6. Break your goals down to manageable pieces. Perhaps you can break your goals into tasks for each month or quarter. This will help you focus while you accomplish small bits of the big goal.

7. Schedule your year. Seeing the tasks of each goal on a calendar will increase your chances of getting finishing them. This process also protects your time.

8. Include time to unplug. Be sure to schedule down time throughout the year to recharge. Put this time for God, family and fun on your calendar as you prepare for your year.

A look at this list can be overwhelming. But just as our articles are broken into paragraphs and paragraphs into sentences and sentences into words, breaking down our writing goals will provide a map to get to the end destination.

If you don’t already subscribe to Michael’s blog, I highly suggest you do. It is rich with helpful tools for writing and life.

Bless you in this New Year with goals to make it your best.

JOURNAL THE JOURNEY 

Journal of Gratitude

OF GRATITUDE

Recording moments of gratitude is a very beneficial process to better health. This Gratitude Journal is the perfect place to record daily blessings.

Dr. Robert A Emmons, Ph.D. is the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude. As professor, at the University of California, Davis. he says that, “Gratitude has the power to heal, to energize, and to change lives.”

Albert Schweitzer said, “Gratitude is the secret to life.”

Brian Tracy said, “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”

Recording your gratitude is a relatively easy process. Take time to jot a blessing in the morning and again, at night. Or write two or three entries each day. Make it your own and watch how it improves your day.

The blessings for generations to come will fill the pages of this journal as you take time to write each day. Bless you on your gratitude journey.

Visit www.DochasPublications.com

 

 

Gigi Devine Murfitt writes and speaks about some of life’s most challenging topics. Raised in a single parent home with nine siblings, and the mother of Gabe whose story of being born with three-inch arms has inspired millions, she has served as coach, encourager and support to many throughout her life. Sought out by those facing all kinds of hardships, her passion for over forty years has been going deeper with God by journaling to connect the events of her life with the promises of his Word.

Connect with Gigi and learn more about her work by visiting the following sites:

www.GigiMurfitt.com

www.GabesHOPE.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gigi.murfitt  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GigiMurfitt

 

Writing Thankful by Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi Chiavaroli

Two weeks ago, I thought I knew all about being thankful. I mean, I thank God every day for the blessings of my life—a home, a loving husband, two kids who make me laugh when they’re not making me pull my hair out, a warm bed, a sweet dog, and of course my salvation.

And those are good things—amazing things—to be thankful for. But why should I stop there? This past week I read Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I’ve heard wonderful things about this book, but never picked it up until now.

I shouldn’t have waited.

This is not a book review, it’s a life review. My life. As I reviewed the last thirty-three years of my existence, I realized I hadn’t lived thankfulness, I hadn’t lived fully.

Voskamp claims that we unwrap joy when we give thanks. And she’s not talking about just giving thanks for the visible blessings we perceive. She’s talking about searching out thankfulness, giving thanks in the trials and situations we wouldn’t normally find thanks in.

I tried this the other day when Son #1 threw a Styrofoam ball in anger at Son #2. Instead of letting my anger—what I often perceive as righteous anger, but is really quite lacking in righteousness—take hold, I stopped. I thanked the God of the universe for these two boys who grew within me and who I love with a crazy kind of love. Then I thanked God for balls—Styrofoam or otherwise. Silly? Maybe, but the simple act of thanksgiving snuffed out the act of knee-jerk anger. I was able to deal with the situation with a bigger picture in mind. I know I won’t do this perfectly all the time. But if I could consciously remind myself to be thankful in all things, I know I would live joy.

What about writing? Too often I find myself groaning over much-sought-after results. When is the last time I was simply thankful for the ability to write? The ability to string words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into stories? What an awesome privilege to make stories out of nothing, to learn about myself and humanity in the art of a story.

For as Voskamp says, “Why doubt the dare to fully live? Now and right here. Why not let all of life be penetrated by grace, gratitude, joy? This is the only way to welcome the Kingdom of God.”

I hope this Thanksgiving is especially meaningful as you ponder what true thanksgiving is all about. I invite you to join me in writing thankful. Blessings!

****

Heidi Chiavaroli writes History Woven in Grace. She is a wife, mother, disciple, and grace-clinger. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has finaled in the Genesis contest and My Book Therapy’s Frasier contest.

Happy Thanksgiving and Thank You!

Image courtesy of  Bing.com

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

I Thess 5:16-18 NIV

The Seriously Write team would like to thank you, dear readers, for traveling this writing journey with us. For faithfully stopping by to read our posts, for brightening our days with your comments, and for sharing us with your friends.

Wishing you a day filled with love and laughter, family and friends, faith and fun.

Happy Thanksgiving 

from your friends at Seriously Write!

JANUARIES by Tanya Hanson

January

When I was little, January was the cruelest month. Watching the Rose Parade only reminded me I had another year to wait before Christmas came again. Oh, I don’t mean just presents and cookies and new black patent leather Mary Janes. I mean the whole wonder of memorizing Luke 2 for the Christmas program at school. The joy of the carols, the “gloria” of the angel wings I wore in the pageant. Most of all, the splendor of a tiny baby who was really the King of all kings...

The Januaries of high school and college weren’t much different. January only meant the end of Christmas break and back to the grind. And as a teacher myself later on, January slung me headlong into final exams and report cards.

January five years, though, found me barraging God with gratitude. After a long sophomore slump, I had a second romance novel scheduled to release!

And it released the same day my husband was diagnosed with cancer.

Those horrible months taught me it wasn’t about the book. It was prayers and tears and caretaking as he battled to live, then struggled to regain his health.

Because of my husband’s ordeal, and the stretching of faith so taut my breath can still stop, I got the urge to write inspirational romance. By January 2010, I believed God had opened a new window, and I soon contracted a bunch of novellas about a fictional Colorado ranch family. I stood there, glowing, atop my pretend Rocky Mountain town. Into these stories flowed the people and stories of my own life and heart. Despite my best efforts and prayers, though, I can’t say I’m any kind of success. So once again, I realized it isn’t about the books. This time, it’s about the message.

Maybe reading Book three, a woman will get her husband or son to check himself for testicular cancer and help save his life. Maybe somebody will realize there can be falling in love during cancer. Maybe, like in Book Four, some reader’s estranged family will break down barriers that divide them. Maybe some couple on the brink of collapse, due to the stresses of an unimaginably disabled child might, can find the faith and trust to make it, upon coming across Book Six.

Maybe, like in a few of the stories, readers will simply realize that taking a city slicker wagon train trip can be just plain fun!

I don’t know.

This January has opened a new window, and it’s a terrifying one. By year’s end, I’ll be another name, Anya Novikov, and part of a young-adult launch. I left teaching years ago, I’m a gramma now of two tiny boys, and I have no idea how to reach a teenage audience. I guess I’ll have to use the next few months to try to figure it all out.

One thing. Mine won’t be the only set of footprints in the sand as my new journey starts.

 

Determined to get her life back on track, Mary Grace Gibson takes on a substitute-teaching job, grateful for the room and board offered at Hearts Crossing Ranch. The bustling family life helps her heal after abandonment by her ex. But her little boy’s serious disabilities make her cautious about revealing her secrets to anybody. Even Scott Martin, the handsome cowboy who’s fast stealing her heart.

Her former student now grown up, cowboy and graphic artist Scott Martin is instantly drawn to the beautiful single mom. She’s had some hard luck but never let go of her faith. Their age gap doesn’t fret him, and their kisses ignite his love. But as they fall for each other, Mary Grace’s lack of trust in him shatters his feelings, for he’s been down that broken trail before.

Purchase Link

I’m a California beach girl happily married to my personal hero (firefighter and cancer survivor). We’ve got two grown kids, who are the best thing I’ve ever done, and two little grandsons who totally obsess us. I love travel, country music, Hallmark movies, and McDonald’s iced coffee. I don’t like to cook, am terrified of down escalators, am a proud Defender of Wildlife, and I volunteer at our local horse rescue.