Hello graduation time,

Hello summer,

Hello hot days and beach reads,

Does the busyness ever stop? Probably not.

That's why I'm revisiting Time Management this summer

I'll tell you a little more about how in a minute.

Summer this year means travel and travel always upsets my writing schedule. Or, any schedule, really. So I need to make the most of the time I have, not try to make MORE TIME. Which is virtually impossible.

Unfortunately, I've hit a speed bump in getting Coffee Stains out in September. The book cover graphic is getting done, but the editing is not. My editor is just so busy. Which is awesome. I'm glad when my favorite people are busy with work, but that means she and I can't look at it until July.

September is still possible....maybe....if I can get all the things done for it. So keep a watch out. Whenever the real launch date is, you all will have first opportunity to buy it!

In the meantime I'm still working hard on flash fiction, nonfiction creative essays and working on two other novels that seem to want to take up space in my head. If you're wanting to write this summer, keep a look out for the writing sprint mini course that I'm putting together. It'll be FREE for my newsletter subscribers. And if you're looking to take writing seriously and want to jump into the Creative Writing Community, come check us out! You can join us for a writing sprint for free to see what we're all about! Just hit reply to this email and tell me that you want to join us ASAP for a writing sprint!

As a bit of a side note, my fantasy book An Audience with the King is on sale this week. You can get the ebook for $.99 here. Or at Kobo or at Barnes&Noble.

Last summer, as many of you know, we packed dup our house in Dallas and moved east to the DC metro area. What the locals lovingly call the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia), which I think is quite apt since the traffic reminds me of long lines at the actual DMV.

Disruption in our life as well as disruption in the world was a big factor in me feeling quite unstable in my work. I did get things done and kept moving, but there were many days that I felt like my mind was on the verge of just wanting to give up and binge watch television. Perhaps binge watching is fine for you, but it tends to throw me down a hole of depression. I am someone who actually receives energy from working, especially if I'm working well. And last summer working well was a STRUGGLE!

I'm a creative. I have a creative brain. I walk in circles starting things and then coming back to them over and over again. It drives my husband nuts because I do this in house work as well. It is very typical to see me start cooking, then unload the dishwasher in the middle of cooking, take a book over to the shelve while getting something form the fridge, go back to cooking, wipe something down and place the towel in the dirty clothes, switch the laundry, come back to cooking, etc.

I'm trying to stop multi-tasking but it's hard! So I'm very happy that my friend Stacy Juba put together an entire TIME MANAGEMENT course! I really loved her Book-Editing Blueprint course (which you should definitely check out if you're a writer) and have been waiting for this course specifically and it's now on sale through June 26 with some fantastic limited-time bonuses!

Want to know what's in it?

●      Tackling email and social media

●      Organizing your digital files and bookmarks

●      Automating routine tasks

●      Decluttering your home and setting up an inspiring work or writing environment

●      Unwinding, improving focus, and getting into a flow state

●      Handling distractions and interruptions

●      Prioritizing, planning, and breaking down goals into manageable steps

●      Mastering your calendar

●      Pushing through creative blocks and setbacks

●      Nailing your writing or work sessions

Stacy is always so thorough and she gets so much done throughout the year. I can't wait to learn a few of her secrets. I can also tell you, since I've already bought the course, that the bonuses are SUPER!

Just FYI, the links above are my affiliate links with Stacy. If you buy through them I make a small commission, but you pay nothing extra. If you prefer that I not make any money, you can get the course through Stacy Juba's website directly:)

Get the Time Management course!

A bit of flash fiction to end this newsletter. Remember, if you want access to the writing prompts each week all you have to do is find me on Instagram. Find all of my flash fiction on my website.

I didn’t think you would mind

I didn’t think you would mind if I took the answer from your test. After all, I didn’t have time to study and you have nothing better to do.

I didn’t think you would mind not being chosen for the cheerleading squad. You can’t even do the splits. I honestly assumed that you trying out was just a dare. I'm doing you a favor, believe me.

I didn’t think you’d mind me ditching you and our plan to go stag to the prom. I got asked and you didn’t, so obviously you feel left out, but really, if you were a real friend, you’d feel happy for me.

I didn’t think you’d mind going home with him from the party even though you were super drunk and could barely walk. It’s not my responsibility to make sure you gave consent, anyway.

I didn’t think you’d mind being told to your face that I think you’re stupid. After all, you are stupid and I know that because you ask questions that challenge my world view. The rest of the class thinks so too.

I didn’t think you’d mind if I didn’t speak to you when you walked in. After all, I don’t know you and I’ve been in the same place for a long time and have no desire to make new friends. Since you move a lot, I figured you’d just move along and make friends elsewhere.

I didn’t think you’d mind that I flirted with your husband. You aren’t looking great these days and anyway, if he’s flirting with me then he isn’t with a stranger, right?

I didn’t think you’d mind not being invited. For starters, you don’t think the same as us, you don’t make the same amount of money as us and you never dress right for the outings. 

Why would you even want to come? Don’t you have other things to do like bake or scrapbook or something? And anyway, you’re too eager to have a conversation about more than hair and nails and botox. Since we don’t want to go deeper than scratch the surface of agreeing with what is cool on Instagram and what’s allowed by Georgetown political standards, I didn’t invite you.

I didn’t think you’d mind.