A Journaling Retreat: Part 2: An Introduction and Planning

Journaling Retreat

Part 1 of this blog post series can be found here:

http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/11/journaling-retreat.html

Every month, I do some type of journaling retreat between 1 and 14 days. Most of the time, I do it at home or at least go hang out somewhere else, like Starbucks or Barnes & Noble. Ideally, though, I would go to Jamestown or Yorktown and sit there and write. 

My latest journaling retreat is today and tomorrow. I, unfortunately, do not have the time to getaway and write, except maybe to Barnes & Noble. However  that's okay. Since I set up my new desk, my office is quite fresh to me and inviting. I actually would really lvoe to do my full retreat here. It's like a christening of the new desk.

NEXT JOURNALING RETREAT: 22-26 JANUARY 2013

This is the next planned journaling retreat I have on my calendar. 

SCHEDULED JOURNALING RETREATS

The other journaling retreats I have planned are:

07 February 2013

19 February

26-29 March

18-19 April

10 May

24-28 June

12 July

1-2 August

23-27 September

14-18 October

21 November

16-20 December

YOUR JOURNALING RETREAT

Even if you cannot take all day each day, would you like to join me in a journaling retreat? If you can give it at least one more hour each day than you do now, that is the start of taking a journaling retreat. Of course, the more time you can give it, the better. 

I apologize for not giving you more warning about this journaling retreat. However, I will still post blog posts as if you can take the time and join me in the retreat.

SCHEDULE THEM

I recommend getting the other journaling retreats on your calendar now so nothing else can get in the way of you taking the retreats in the future. If these dates don't work for you, you can always refer to these blog posts at a time that works better for you. 

NEXT

Stay tuned to this blog and you will get your instructions for what we're doing today for the Journaling Retreat for today and tomorrow.

~ Stacy Duplease

Do you want to be the most productive writer you can be?

Do you want to be the most productive writer you can be as you write your novel for NaNoWriMo?

How can you be the most productive writer you can be?

The answer is simple.

PLAN.

That's it.

Have an outline. 

Have your schedule cleared and have your time writing each day listed on the same schedule. 

Tell others your plan to write and ask them to help you honor your plan.

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Author
A timeless kind of love... 

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Check out my new blog

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: What is your plan?: How much writing per day? How many days per week?

Journaling Chronicle: What is journaling? The simplest response

Slow Down

It's the weekend. Finally. I cannot help but think about how busy our lives are nowadays. Why do we think that a busy schedule gives us worth and validates our existence? How silly is that? We're worn-out, stressed to the core, weary, and tired. Yet, we still push ourselves. We have to do it all. We refuse to rest.

How different our lives would be if we stopped to smell the daisies, tiptoed through the tulips, and sat on our patio to enjoy the fruits of Spring. Make it your priority to SLOW DOWN your schedule so that you can actually enjoy life for a bit. So, you don't die an earlier death. So, you can be more fulfilled and happy.

Slow down. Curl up with your pet, a cup of coffee or tea, and a book (or maybe blogs like this). Journal maybe for a while. But, stop. Halt. Rest. You don't have to be busy. Enjoy the blessing of the life you've been given it and don't squander it with busyness.

Rest for a while. It's okay.

(For the record, this is as much for me as it for any of you.)

Enjoy your weekend.

What's Left on This Blog After Crazy Writer Makes Two New Blogs?

Good question. I'm also changing the schedule yet again (please don't strangle me) in order to reflect these changes:
Sunday: Thoughts on Dreams
Monday: January's Lasting Legacy
Tuesday: Thoughts on Writing
Wednesday: Genesis' Lack of Patience
Thursday: The Murder of Owen Knight
Friday: Demarcations
Saturday: Thoughts on Journaling/Blogging

Cammi's Story, Tanpres, Zeagar have moved to: www.Speclitstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Thoughts on Motherhood have moved to: www.Momstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

This will always be my main site. I'm also thinking of starting a blog on journaling... We shall see. (Lord, help this overachiever.)

So, what do you think?

Thoughts in General About Books:

What do you like in a book? Can you send me your thoughts on it, please?

Me: I like to escape this world, and my life, for a while. I like to get lost in the story and imagine myself in the story. I like something that teaches important life lessons and has a good moral to the story. I like several genres equally. I love to find quotes from books that I keep in a notebook as inspiration later.

Stacy Duplease

Blog Vol. 9 SBS

Celebration of Editing All Four Books for CCWC:

I just finished editing the last of the four books I'm taking with me to the CCWC (Colorado Christian Writers Conference). The four are: Cammi's Story, Genesis' Lack of Patience, The Murder of Owen Knight, and Demarcations. Now, I need to write my summaries and then edit all of them again. The CCWC is in 15 days. That gives me three days a piece to read through them again. Wow. I'm going to be a busy lady for a bit.

I'm starting to get to the excited-panicked phase. Too much to do. Too little time. However, with my schedule of sixteen hour days, I can accomplish the feat. I have no doubt.

It's rather odd not having a full-time job in the workplace now. In many ways, I think I should go back because I worked a great deal less than I do now. (Sorry former employer, in case you read this.) I tend to push myself when writing. I want to make a living at it. Bless my husband for his support and belief in me.

I digressed. It's rather off not being in the workforce because I'm already losing track of time. I look at a calendar several times a day to keep track in my mind what the day and date are. Also, pinching the pennies to make them stretch as far as I am able is another task I now have. I probably should have focused more on that all along.

Well, let me turn to the summaries now. Today, I'm going to work on Genesis since that's the one I just finished editing and it's more fresh on my mind.

Here's my latest and shortened and latest version of my blog schedule:

Sunday: Dreaming and Writing Blog--(SBS)Monday: Zeagar???? (Title in progress. Sci-Fi. SLSBS)--Tuesday: Cammi's Story (SLSBS)Wednesday: Genesis' Lack of Patience (SBS) Thursday: The Murder of Owen Knight (SBS)Friday: January's Lasting Legacy (Still writing. Started over again on 4/27. Combining thoughts on being a mom-to-be with this blog. SBS)
Saturday: Demarcations (SBS) and Tanpres (SLSBS)
Key: SBS=Stories by Stacy BLog; SLSBS-Spec Lit stories by Stacy Blog

One-Sentence Summaries:
See Blog Vol. 3 SBS on 28 April 2009.

Paragraph Summaries: (Work in progress)

Zeagar
Five teens are asked by the U.S. government to explore other planets within the Zeagar Galaxy and to write up reports/blogs about their experiences.

Cammi's Story
Cammi and Ramey find themselves in a strange fantastical world called Lethana while they're asked to recover the Lost Volumes.

Genesis Lack of Patience
Aubrey writes a series about marriage and how to fight every day to keep and treasure your spouse even through the impossibly difficult life-circumstances thrown your way.

The Murder of Owen Knight
A writers group finds themselves in a situation where they're being hunted and one of them is murdered.

January's Lasting Legacy
A book about four moms and three dads planning for a baby.

Demarcations
Sara moves to live with her grandmother and start over in a small town and opens a cafe and bookstore where she meets several new friends.

One-Page Summaries: (Work in progress)

Zeagar--Work in progress.
Cammi's Story--Preparing for CCWC
Genesis Lack of Patience--You'll have later today.
The Murder of Owen Knight--Preparing for CCWC
January's Lasting Legacy--Work in progress
Demarcations--Preparing for CCWC

January's Lasting Legacy:
Four moms-to-be form a social group to support one another through pregnancy. It tells of their experiences, outlooks, and plans. The three men involved with the women will also form their own group. So, it's not just for women readers. It's for the whole family.

My Schedule for 2009:
See Blog Vol 3 SBS on 28 April 2009.

Blessings,

Stacy D.

*******

Please see my other speculative fiction blog at: www.Speclitstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

You can also find me on twitter at: Storiesbystacy and email me at: Storiesbystacy@gmail.com

While each blog will be a stand-alone, if you're new to this blog, you may want to go back and read the previous posts in order to get the most out of the blog.

Blog Vol. 5 SBS

An Updated Schedule and Etc. Etc. Etc.

Happy Tuesday. I hope you're well.

Today, I seem to be scattered and realize I bit off more than I could chew when I promised a synopsis of each of my books for today. I will have that this week (I hope). I'm just not sure when. Also, I want to give several different types of a sentence, a paragraph, and one-page summaries. It will help you get acquainted with my novels, but will also allow me the opportunity to practice giving a pitch to a publisher for the CCWC (Colo. Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park).

I'm going to try to put this out every day in the morning or around noon at the latest. So, please bear with me while I try to get adjusted to my new schedule. I need to edit, read a novel, read some on how to write, write, exercise, do some housecleaning, pack a box or two, snuggle with my beagle, and have time with my husband every day so I'm trying to figure out how to make it work. I'm a morning person and get my best writing and editing done in the morning. Therefore, I promise the blog will be sent out by noon. I will try to send another in the afternoon as a bonus from time to time.

My schedule has already been modified because I'm currently kicking around two new novels in my head as I edit my book, Genesis' Lack of Patience. Also January's Lasting Legacy is about motherhood, so I'm going to combine my thoughts on planning to have a baby with that day's blog.

Here's my shortened and latest version of my blog schedule:

Sunday: Dreaming and Writing Blog Monday: Zeagar???? (Title in progress. Sci-Fi.)Tuesday: Cammi's Story Wednesday: Genesis' Lack of Patience. Thursday: The Murder of Owen KnightFriday: January's Lasting Legacy (Still writing. Started over again on 4/27. Combining thoughts on being a mom-to-be with this blog.)Saturday: Demarcations

*** I'll keep adding to the next three sections over the next couple of weeks:

One-Sentence Summaries:

Zeagar
Five teens are asked by the U.S. government to explore other planets within the Zeagar Galaxy and to write up reports/blogs about their experiences.

Cammi's Story
Cammi and Ramey find themselves in a strange fantastical world called Lethana while they're asked to recover the Lost Volumes.

Genesis Lack of Patience
Aubrey writes a series about marriage and how to fight every day to keep and treasure your spouse even through the impossibly difficult life-circumstances thrown your way.

The Murder of Owen Knight
A writers group finds themselves in a situation where they're being hunted and one of them is murdered.

January's Lasting Legacy
A book about four moms and three dads planning for a baby.

Demarcations
Sara moves to live with her grandmother and start over in a small town and opens a cafe and bookstore where she meets several new friends.


Paragraph Summaries:

Zeagar
Cammi's Story
Genesis Lack of Patience
The Murder of Owen Knight
January's Lasting Legacy
Demarcations

One-Page Summaries:

Zeagar
Cammi's Story
Genesis Lack of Patience
The Murder of Owen Knight
January's Lasting Legacy
Demarcations

January's Lasting Legacy:

I have a confession to make to you about my writing style. I have a bad habit of getting a quarter into the way of a book and starting over when I get stuck or when it doesn't come out the way I imagined. January's Lasting Legacy has had even more do-over's than normal for me. I'll let you know once I know more about it myself. I just started over again last night. I do know this about the plot, however: Four moms-to-be form a social group to support one another through pregnancy. It tells of their experiences, outlooks, and plans. The three men involved with the women will also form their own group. So, it's not just for women readers. It's for the whole family.

Etc. Etc. Etc.:

*** This section will be for the miscellaneous items where I don't want to devote a whole blog to, but still deem important. I realize the name is redundant, three times over, but there is a reason for it. Etc. Etc. Etc. was the one of the first books I ever wrote. It was when I was ten years old. My dad owned a print shop at the time and had an old Itek Typesetter, for those of you who know what that was. For those who don't, it was the precursor for print shops of the personal computer. It was a big clunky thing in which you actually had to program it for every page and give it commands of what you wanted to do. At any rate, that's what I used for this book. I still have it somewhere. In the process of moving, I'll try to find it and will share some of it with you.

*** Book I just finished reading last night:
Cold Ridge by Carla Neggers

*** Book I started reading last night:
Maximum Ride: Book 1: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. It's a fantasy and written for children, but young adults and adults love it. I'll tell you more about it later.

*** Check out the Amazon Kindle 2, a computerized book and library. I'll write more on this later. I love it and never thought I could make the switch from paper books to computerized. Wouldn't have it any other way now. It saves on shelf space and I am a nut about collecting books.

My Schedule for 2009:

*** May 13th-16th, Colorado Christian Writer's Conference
*** On vacation May 17th-June 2nd
*** Packing to move from June 3rd to July 1st
*** Moving from Colorado to Nebraska the first week of July.

Blessings to You,

Stacy D.

*******
You can also find me on twitter at: Storiesbystacy and email me at: Storiesbystacy@gmail.com

While each blog will be a stand-alone, if you're new to this blog, you may want to go back and read the previous posts in order to get the most out of the blog.

Blog Vol. 3

Blog Schedule and My Books

Today is my first real day of writing full-time and for a living. Before now, I had a full-time job and wrote full-time. So far, I'm working for free, but plan to change this factor. After all, I'm going to the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference in Estes Park, from May 13th to 16th. (Check out WriteHisAnswer.com for further information.)

I have four books that I want to prepare and present to publishers at the conference:
1. Cammi's Story
2. Genesis' Lack of Patience
3. The Murder of Owen Knight
4. Demarcations

They are all the first books of four different series and each of them are drama with romance as part of their theme. I will devote a blog posting to each book, along with up and coming books I'm writing, each week and will sometimes do several blogs in a day.

Here's my tentative list of blog posts I'll do:

Sunday: Dreaming and Writing Blog

Monday: Thoughts on being a mom-to-be. (I'm still in the planning stage, but am actively trying to change my life to be the best it can be for carrying a baby of eating well, exercising, and of my interior life. I'll discuss how preparing for baby impacts every facet of my life, including my writing.)

Tuesday: Cammi's Story (It's a fantasy, by the way. Fully written. It's Book 1 of the Lethana Series.)

Wednesday: Genesis' Lack of Patience. (A definite drama about marriage, divorce, and depression/grief. It's fully written and is Book 1 of the Aubrey's Marriage Series.)

Thursday: The Murder of Owen Knight (A drama, thriller, and a murder mystery. It's fully written.)

Friday: January's Lasting Legacy (A drama about a mom-to-be and how she, along with her grandmother, wants to leave a lasting legacy for the baby she's carrying. I'm writing the book now. Just started.)

Saturday: Demarcations (Drama. Romance. It's about a town and the people of the town of Escape, Colorado. Each book will be about getting to know a different character. Book 1 is fully written.)

I'll send other blogs in there to tell you my personal story and journey interlaced between those at variable times. I'll also talk about life and share words of wisdom I've learned or heard. But above all else, I'll tell you wild beagle tales because my Mr. Zack is such a character I cannot help but want to share. I doubt that you'll get bored with my little human/cat/dog/old man. He's confused about his real identity.

Let me know what you think about my line-up. I'll try to keep the same thing on the same day so you can find it easier to keep track of which day you want to read most.

Also, for those of you who get turned off at the thought of reading Christian fiction, you need to know that I talk far more about faith and prayer (which you could say positive affirmations or meditations) than I do about Jesus Christ. I'll mention verses form the Bible, but only to make a point about a life lesson. I want everyone to feel free to read my writings and not be turned off by them. So, you could say I write Christian-light. If I ever write a blatant Christian blog, I'll make sure to put something in the title to let you know it's that way and you can ignore that blog, if you desire.

For now, I am going to start to try to write a synopsis of each and share that with you tomorrow. I'll start my schedule in the next few days. I'll also start to tell you about myself so I'm not a stranger to you.

Have a great day. Live a life of memories worth preserving and live intentionally to create a lasting legacy. How each of us decides to do this will be drastically different. How do you plan on doing this today? Write me and let me know.

For me for now, getting ready for my Writer's Conference in 16 days, preserving my thoughts on paper, and writing this blog is how I plan to leave my legacy.

Blessings to You,

Stacy D.


*******


You can also find me on twitter at: Storiesbystacy and email me at: Storiesbystacy@gmail.com

While each blog will be a stand-alone, if you're new to this blog, you may want to go back and read the previous posts in order to get the most out of the blog.

Blog Vol. 2