Tag Archives: The Muffin

Deadlines and Delivering

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time-calendar-saturday-weekend-60032I’m always a little surprised at how many books there are out there about writing prompts. Because with me, there is really only one prompt: a deadline.

Yep, a deadline sure prompts me to get going! Not necessarily my own, self-imposed deadlines. I’m talking about those deadlines that are tied to payment and/or business. Like magazines that have a calendar of themes and no ands, ifs, or buts about when you can get articles or essays in to be considered.

Or maybe a Chicken Soup for the Soul call out. Which reminds me! Remember when I said I had a great story that had Chicken Soup for the Soul written all over it so I couldn’t share it here? So I did write it up and squeezed that story in just under the deadline. And it was selected for the Miracles and More book coming out in February. Wheee!

So deadlines can work wonders for prompting my writing muscle to get down to business. Which is why when I was in the shower, thinking about a package that was supposed to be delivered, and a YA novel that had some unfortunate reviews, added to a Muffin date due on the calendar, I came up with “Are You Delivering?”

Surprise!

 

Another Writing Challenge (But Cookies!)

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2011-09-01 14.32.13I know you’ve probably been very busy writing–and for those of you who met whatever Nano goal you set down, YAY!–but I’ve got one more writing challenge for you.

First, you’ll have to zip over to The Muffin and read all about The Lost Art of Writing. And then, after you’ve yelled a few choice words at me–I’ll leave that selection up to you–you can get busy writing.

Maybe you’ll write a note to one of your kids, telling them how special he or she is. And your kid will be like, “Well, this is weird. And mushy. And yeah, kinda icky.” Your kid will likely make a big show of not caring one whit. But I promise you that same kid will hold on to that note for the rest of his or her life.

Or maybe you’ll send a letter to a friend this holiday season instead of signing a name on a card. And your friend will be like, “Well, this is awkward. I didn’t even send a card and here I have this lovely letter. Now I’m going to have bake cookies for her.”

Not that you sent the lovely letter just so you could get cookies, but hey. It could happen.

And P.S. I just went to the post office this morning and bought a whole bunch of stamps.

And P.P.S. My favorite cookie is anything with pecans in it.