​Are you like me and throw yourself into something and become obsessed with it only to move onto something else? 

I often felt, and still feel, a bit embarassed and ashamed I'm this way. I ask myself,  "Why can't I focus on one thing? Why am I all over the place with my hobbies?

But once I created an inspiration board, everything made sense.

It wasn't that I was necessarily all over the place, it was that I had a lot of hopes and dreams and was taking my time accomplishing them or figuring them out.

I heard good things about inspiration boards for years but kept shrugging it off, thinking it was silly. But I'm telling you, once you see your goals in front of you, it just feels  different. 

Do you have an inspiration board? 

 Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of notifications for my book release.

​The answer is yes. 

Yes, yes, yes!

Especially to us readers and writers. It's hurting our progress and creativity and multitasking while using social media is not a good thing either.

Here's one way to limit your time on social media 
Click on the image and follow these steps if you have an iPhone. ​

In my opinion, more still needs to be done but this is a good start.

How do you limit your time on social? What other ways can limits be put in place?

Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of notifications for my book release.

In order to grow as a person - and as a writer and/or reader - you need to develop self criticism.

There are 2 kinds of self-criticism: the downright negative self criticism and time-to change positive self criticism.

Negative: you're ugly, you're fat, you're dumb
Positive: you have to solve this problem with a different approach, learn more about this topic and stop putting yourself down

Let's try this together. In no particular order, acknowledge all the weaknesses you have with writing and/or reading.

These are mine:

1. I can't find or use the correct words half the time.
2. I was told by people in the writer's group I am a part of that I use too many "to be" verbs.
3. My sentences run on (look above).
4. I tend to overwrite. My current word count for my novel is 110,000. I brought it down to 108,000 but I'm working on reducing it even more.
5. I jump from one thing to the next. I'll be writing my book and then I'll get distracted by moving onto character layouts and other materials to use to add to the writing process.
6. When I revise and edit all I see is "she" "she" "she" and "he" "he" "he". Can I think of no better way to transition or start a sentence? I know it's only the second draft but still
7. I cannot sit down and read a whole chapter of a book without getting distracted by something else
8. I have a lot to learn​​​

How do you self criticize yourself? What weaknesses did you acknowledge you have? 

Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of my book release notification.

There are a world of books out there with so many different genres.

When you think about it, it’s cruel to limit yourself to only one. It’s like your missing out on all the other nutrients in the fruit basket if you only continue to eat apples.

I only used to stick to read romance until I expanded my mind and opened up to learning and trying new things.

These are the genres I used to avoid and now enjoy:

1. Biographies
 I said, “What the heck, why not!” and fell in love. 

2. Lesbian and bisexual romance
Now hold on, don't go getting upset. I'm just saying that it was something new to me to put myself in a different perspective as a straight female but I knew I was going to read this genre eventually and I'm glad I did/do.  Love is love.

3. Mystery 
A good mystery can really draw you in when it's done right. 


Some other genres I want to try but still avoid are:

1. Native Indian

2. Historical

3. Comic Books

4. Manga
This is so sad because I used to read it ALL the time when I was younger and somehow my love for it along the way. I hope this will change.

5. Superheros
Ugh. I'm sorry but I'm soo over superhero. It's run is done in my eyes and I'm waiting for this to be the old trend

6. Spiritual 
I'd like to get into reading these. I don't subscribe to a certain religion but I consider myself a spiritual person after once being an atheist.

7. Short Stories
I think this would be a good way to get back into reading without having to be intimidated by a thick book. Seriously, leave your recommendations in the comments below!

What do you think? What genres do you want to try?

Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of notifications for my book release.

"I’m just not into reading."

I always find it so peculiar when people tell me this. How are you “not a reader”?

You've been into reading since you were a child, it's how you learned to communicate, be imaginative and grasp important life skills.

Don't you read the news and posts on your phone?

Isn’t everybody a reader if not of different forms?

To not be a reader would be to not be a learner.

So please, stop telling yourself "you're not a reader" and if people tell you this feel free to roll your eyes.

What do you think? How do you respond to people who say they aren't readers?


Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of 2025 book release notification!

Who said writers block is a bad thing?

In fact, I don’t really “believe” in it.

During the time you’re not writing, there's so much you can do inspire a writing spree. 

Think of writer's block as a forced break to recharge your brain and go back to writing better and stronger.

Here are 4 things you can do to get rid of writer’s block:

1. Get inspired by things around you
I overheard random stranger conversations in the streets, I saw teenagers being rowdy in the streets and an individual with distinct features. All of these things can spark inspiration and brainstorming. How could you add it to your book? 

2. Watch TV and movies
TV shows and movies have conflict which is the key to every story. Look at what takes place, the characters, the story lines, and get inspired. Imagine which actor best represents your character and so on. 

3. Listen to the news
There's always a story to be heard! 

4. Work on other materials
There’s always something to do. It’s like telling your boss you finished doing all your work when you still have three hours to go. Work on character layout, plan interview questions, world build, edit etc (find materials here). When you work on these things it’s hard not to get inspired again as you look at it from a different lens.​

What do you think? Do you think writer's block exists? How do you overcome it?

Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of notifications for my book release.

Audiobooks are the new thing.

I can listen to one a week with ease.

However, there are cons to it as reader and especially as a writer. I've only recently noticed this and so decided to mention it here.

The cons of listening to audiobooks:

1. You don’t see the vocabulary or grammar of what is written
This is major. As a writer, and even a reader, you need to see how the words are written, how the sentences are formed. The grammar and vocabulary is important and seeing it is much different than hearing it. This is why I'm trying to read more physical books rather than audiobooks.

2. You’re probably multitasking.
While listening and it’s not a good thing
​

3. Difficult to follow if distracted
There are certain times when I completely tune out and have to rewind to where I last remembered.
​
4. Scanning and skipping isn’t as easy
​It's not as simple as skimming through a book or going back to check on a certain story element you need clarified or forgot about. 

​5. You or the app loses your “page”
O.M.G worse thing ever. I pray this never happens to you.

6. Don’t like the narrator’s voice
​There have been at least 5 books that I loved the premise and story but the narrator's voice totally rubbed me off. I have yet to pick up the physical book after not liking the audio version. I hope to change this.

So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree? What did I miss?


Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of notifications for my book release.​

​This Valentine's day if you still haven't found love, aren't interested or don't care, try picking up a book this year.

Here is a list of the top ten books of 2020.

Reading books takes you to another world, expands your thinking and allows you to work on yourself.

Books can get you out of slumps, motivate you and leave you more open to accepting and looking for love. 

How do you think people in prison survive their boredom and expand their thinking? Reading books. This man discussed how reading kept him from falling apart. Of course we're not all in such dire situations, but reading a book is never a bad thing.

If I wasn't convincing enough, one of my friends met their girlfriend and soon-to-be wife at a bookstore.

Hmm, maybe instead of picking up people at the bar, the next big thing will be a bookstore or the library?


So what do you think? Has reading books helped you be less lonely and gave you something to do when you were alone? What will you be doing this Valentine's day?


​
Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of 2025 book release notification!

Happy New Year!!!

I do something different than most. When I make new year's resolutions, they are for all of the new years ahead.

I believe you can't always complete your goals in one year and shouldn't have to.

Each year should be used to reflect on the long term and short term goals set in the previous year. I encourage you to give it a try.

Start with short term goals that you know you can achieve. 
This will give you a confidence boost because they're easy to complete and will get the ball rolling. It's okay if they're general and not that specific.

My short term goals are:

1. Continue to be happy
2. Read more
3. Declutter
4. Continue being healthy 
5. Consume less sugar ​

Be specific with your long term goals. 
​These need to be more precise, especially because you'll have these to accomplish over the year. Follow the SMART goal format. Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Reliable and Timely

*I'll show you one example of a SMART goal, and state the rest of mine for simplicity sake.

My long term goals are:

1. 
Specific:  buy a $400-600,000 2 bedroom house
Measurable: by the amount we save each month
Achievable: Yes
Reliable: Yes, We've been saving X amount per month at our bank
Timely: by 2025

2. Own less things 
3. Being successful in both my professions
4. Become a group exercise instructor 

5. Speak fluent Greek 
6.  Learn more about investing, financing and banking. Oh God...I'm yawning already.
7. Read more 

8. Earn more money
9. Give more to charities (currently if I'm at the store and asked to donate I do it! but I should do more)
​10. Speak more eloquently (reading more will help with this!)
​
And of course finish my book! ​​​​​

I challenge you to follow up with this post in 1 year, 2 or 3 and see what you've accomplished. What are you short term and long term goals? Do you even believe in new years resolutions? Let me know!

Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of notifications for my book release.

In today's society, everyone is multitasking. We have our phones, we have the TV, talking to friends, answering e-mails etc. We're accomplishing so much at once! Isn't that great?

Turns out it's not a good thing.

We aren't meant to focus on more than one thing at a time. As a result, we end up getting less done and the quality of our work goes down.

In fact, this study showed that it has negative psychological impacts and induces stress along with a host of other problems. It's yet to be determined if it permanently damages the brain, but it certainly is effecting our well-being.

​Even I notice when I'm doing too much, my stress and anxiety sky rocket and I have to tell myself to calm down and focus on one thing, even if it's for 5 minutes.

​If you do this,
​
You'll be able to read more and write better. 
​
Put time limits on your phone, turn off notifications on your emails and only check them at a certain time of day and focus on the biggest priority before you move on to the next.

Do you struggle with multitasking as well? How does it affect your reading and writing? Are there any tips I missed?


Like, leave a comment, share, and follow me on social media. Don’t forget to Sign up! I'll add you to the growing list of 2025 book release notification!