Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Ways to Increase Your Daily Word Count

Published by CAstfalk on 03/10/2015

I signed up for the 10 Minute Novelists 365K Club, which means I’m striving to write an average of 1,000 words a day every day this year. This has forced me to find a variety of ways to add to my tally of words written. I offer this list not only for self-proclaimed writers, but for anyone looking to stretch his creativity, to increase his command of the written word, and reap all the other benefits associated with the tasks and accomplishments listed below.

Blog. I approached this one with great trepidation, but it’s gone well. Not only do I have self-imposed writing requirements and deadlines, but it has helped me to crystallize my thinking.
Write a letter. More and more, this is becoming a lost art. Texts and emails are nice, but nothing beats a hand-written note on paper. Make it a love letter to your significant other, to your children, a friend with whom you’ve lost touch, or maybe an elderly person who’s been left out of the loop in your life because she doesn’t use a computer or electronic devices. (Bonus points for use of cursive.)
Pencil to the paper.

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Have You Set Yourself Up for Mediocrity?

Published by CAstfalk on 03/09/2015

The Equally High Price of Low Expectations

I wrote recently about the dangers of setting your goals out of reach. (Have You Set Yourself Up For Failure?) One commenter correctly noted the “delicate balance” between over-reaching and “not pushing yourself hard enough.”

The flip-side of lofty, unattainable goals that do little more than discourage is setting the bar so low you stifle growth.

I studied classical ballet throughout most of my childhood, but classes were typically contained to the school year. One year, my mother signed me up for summer classes. Due to the smaller number of students, the class to which I was assigned was more advanced than my skill level.

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Seven Quick Takes Friday

Published by CAstfalk on 03/06/2015

Partners In Crime

Patience has been in short supply lately. (A natural byproduct of having babies in your 40s?) I’ve caught myself speaking to my kids in an irritated tone or tending to their needs in a begrudging manner.

Our children are a huge blessing, and I’m making a greater effort to be fully-present to them and remind myself how privileged I am to be their momma. So, I’ve spent more time making them smile and laugh, which is a beautifully simple thing at their ages. When they aren’t destroying things, whining, or pitching fits, they are easy to love.

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Flash Fiction Challenge: Part Four

Published by CAstfalk on 03/04/2015

Back for the fourth and final week, I’m taking part in Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge. (To recap, every person posts a 1,000 word story beginning. Each week, another writer builds on the story culminating in a four-part tale written by four different authors.) I’ve written Part Four of The Time Keeper.

The Time Keeper

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Have You Set Yourself Up for Failure?

Published by CAstfalk on 03/02/2015

The High Price of Unreasonable Expectations

One morning last week, my husband expressed frustration with interruptions to his morning routine.

“Every morning when I fill the sink to shave, someone comes in here needing to use the sink. I need to get up at 5:00 a.m.”

I had just rolled out of bed, so it was somewhere between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. He was still in the process of shaving, as evidenced by the lather on his face.

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Small Success Thursday

Published by CAstfalk on 02/26/2015

Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week.

Thank-You Notes Done. I facilitated the kids getting their Christmas thank-you notes done. Then the notes from my oldest daughter’s birthday. And Valentine’s Day. And my youngest son’s birthday. Seems like a little thing, but with four children, generous family and friends, and multiple occasions, it becomes a protracted task.
Toddler Bathed Without a Poop Incident. Don’t know how or why this started, but for three consecutive baths, we had “incidents.” I’ll spare you the details, but is unpleasant, to say the least. To top it off, the culprit is terrified of the whole scenario.
Continue readingSmall Success Thursday

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Flash Fiction Challenge: Part Three

Published by CAstfalk on 02/25/2015

Back for the third week, I’m taking part in Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge. (To recap, every person posts a 1,000 word story beginning. Each week, another writer will build on the story culminating in a four-part tale written by four different authors.) I’ve written Part Three of Love Story.