5 HABITS THAT SAVE TIME

Have you reached a point where you can no longer see the top of your desk? Are you missing deadlines?  Misplacing important papers? These five time management tips may help quell that breath-squeezing nemesis of procrastination that holds us back from being productive.

The excuse "I don't have time . . ." is a lie! Time management studies have proven we waste 45 minutes a day looking for documents, papers, phone numbers, or eMails because we don't take the time to organize and file. HABIT ONE: Start filing papers scattered around the office each day. 

As an indie author, I understand how difficult it is to prioritize but putting out fires is not a management plan. Make yourself sit down once a week and plan out a day-by-day activity sheet. What's the top priority for the week?  HABIT TWO: Productivity thrives when projects are outlined and timelines are set. It forces us into accountability.

HABIT THREE: Clean up eMail, phone, and business card contact lists. Categorize your contacts: Fans, press, publishers, etc. Two great reasons to do this: 1) gets rid of erroneous addresses and names of unknown origin and 2) allows you to release important information in the most expedient format.

HABIT FOUR: Choose two or three social media venues to get your message out. It may take a while to find which ones work best for you. Set a timer, if need be, to limit on-line use. I try to limit myself to half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening. I also give myself half an hour to just chat with friends but that's on my time; not when I'm working.

HABIT FIVE: Take time to organize the websites you want to visit someday. Whether you do it on the computer or in a 3-ring binder, tab it for quick and easy access.

Here's wishing you more time to write and much success.

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

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VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
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FIND LIVING HISTORY IN OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS

My fingers delicately thumbed through the browning pages of the aged book, a prized gift from a new friend. I didn't know what I was looking for. I was browsing, hoping to immerse myself into the lifestyle of  the south from the 1860s to the early 1900s.

Reading the Honorable Daniel Pratt: A Biography, Eulogies on His Life and Character by M. S. Tarrant (1904) offered information I would have otherwise never found. Pratt was an amazing man, truly a visionary. Beloved by the community, honored for his philanthropic work, admired for his ingenuity, he used his wealth and prestige to better the lives of his employees. Still, after all these years, he's a model of the American dream and the positive influence of capitalism.

This 6" x 9" treasure gave me a glimpse into living conditions, education, and employment opportunities, so, that when I traveled to Prattville, Alabama a few months later, and my host took me on a tour of the town, I could visualize the buildings even though some were now torn down, or abandoned. Two of my greatest moments were: one) walking up a set of stairs that my great, great grandfather climbed every day when he worked at the Pratt Gin Manufactory and two) touring his home which just happened to be for sale when I was visiting.

No matter what your story or genre, consider researching conditions to add to the overall ambiance of the location. Things, such as: weather patterns, building materials, road conditions, housing, jobs, local slang, town celebrities, to name a few.

Remember, you may be fully dressed in just a shirt and slacks or a little black dress but it's the jewelry that adds the sparkle. It's the same thing with writing. Don't forget to add the sparkle.

Enjoy the hunt. I wish you much success.

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day!

I think Thomas Merton said it best (and unfortunately I'm going to paraphrase) when he said, "If you love someone and still want to change them, then you are wanting to love a reflection of yourself and not love the other person for who they actually are."

I wish you true love and all the joys that come with that. If you write about love, I hope it's in its purest form and shines brightly on the strength and commitment two people share. And if you need inspiration or clarification as to what true love is, look into the eyes of a baby and be renewed.

MONEY - YOURS FOR THE ASKING

A few years ago, a favorite aunt of mine passed away. She was close to a hundred years old, so, needless to say, she had lived a long life. Even though I miss her dearly, I have the pleasure of cherishing the memories of times we'd spent together. She wasn't rich by any stretch of the imagination. So, needless to say, I was beyond surprised when I received a packet from her attorney telling me their office found an unclaimed amount of money with me named as beneficiary. Now, before you think we are buying and selling islands in the Pacific, let me say that we received enough to have a nice dinner in her honor and then it was back to reality.

This experience led me to wonder . . . how many people know there are government offices in each state for unclaimed property? You may have a claim that is rightfully yours for the asking (with proper identification and forms) whether you earned it yourself or are an heir apparent.

Here are some examples taken from real life experiences:
A new bride and her husband took out a life insurance policy when their first child was born. Sixty years passed and the policy had been forgotten. Grandma and grandpa died and the family knew nothing of their inheritance until someone checked the unclaimed property web site in the state where grandma lived as a young bride.

We are a mobile society. Careers and jobs change. We move, divorce, remarry. Buy and sell property. There may be financial residue from a number of sources we never considered.

In a letter I received from Jeff Atwater, State of Florida Chief Financial Officer, unclaimed property includes lost or abandoned funds, such as: inactive bank accounts, securities, forgotten insurance refunds and uncashed payroll or utility deposit checks. You may be a beneficiary!

Here's wishing you a successful treasure hunt.

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing
and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

THE POWER of the PEN

It seems, nowadays, everybody has an opinion about everything! No one keeps it to themselves nor should they be forced to, if they choose to voice it. That's the beauty of the First Amendment. The part of it we seem to forget is: along with a personal opinion comes counterpoints which, if expressed these days, will most likely meet with harsh criticism, even disdain and mockery. What happened to respecting differing views? What happened to the art of listening to opposing sides of an argument and then drawing a conclusion based on facts and common sense?

If I were to answer my own question, I would say that I believe a part of this rudeness comes from a lack of respect for our language and the written word. It's true when they say that the pen is mightier than the sword. Our language is as complex and facile as the people who use it. Nations have fallen because of a few well-placed words. Journalists have been murdered for reporting or lampooning trending topics. Politicians have turned historic events into talking points and the media has bastardized our language to make reality (as they see it) palatable. Celebrities have ridden the tail of a comet to stardom with outrageous gibberish, as though having their face in front of a camera somehow empowers them with knowledge.

I saw a tee-shirt recently that said, I'm a writer. What's your super power? Being a writer is an awesome career choice but with it comes a hefty responsibility. Writers are at the forefront of entertainment, education, news, policy, and world debate, Our thoughts, observations and writings have the ability to persuade and inspire others. It can also be used to coerce, dilute or propagandize. We must never underestimate the power of our pens. Nor should we use them for anything but good.

If you are considering a career in JOURNALISM, take these 5 points to heart:

1     Check sources and facts. Even some of the most brilliant and prolific writers from the New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine have taken shortcuts. It has cost the conglomerates readership and credibility and writers their jobs.

2     Write passionately not emotionally. Write objectively. Let the story unfold naturally.

3     Don't become a part of the story. If you have a pre-determined idea of what the story's outcome is, then you'll be looking to strengthen your point of view rather than investigate the true story.

4     Trust your gut. If something just doesn't smell right (JDSR) keep digging but use common sense. The last thing you want is to be arrested for harassment or stalking or worse yet, injured.

5     Keep an open line of communication with the editors. They are your best friends for assignments, contacts, and as a sounding board for story ideas.

Good luck with your career and may you pen never run out of ink!

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

Ernie Banks fan? Like my Facebook "Book News" page and see a picture and story from my friend Penny Lane Juhlin (learn our connection to Mr. Cub).

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

WHAT'S IN YOUR BUCKET LIST?

I've accomplished many of the goals and dreams that were squirreled in my bucket list, such as riding in a hot air balloon, but there are many more to fulfill, including a zip line ride in the jungles of Costa Rica.

We all need to remind ourselves of our dreams. If we don't, life will overcome us and we will never complete what we have challenged ourselves to do. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when I reached inside the "bucket jar to choose a new adventure. My dreams are written on paper shreds the size of a Chinese fortune. I let them swirl through my finger tips before picking one. Some were tattered. Others bent or folded. I never know from year-to-year which I'll choose. To me, that's half the fun but in all honesty, I recognize (by the feel of the paper), some of the goals I'd written. It's like reading marked cards and my fingers quickly passed by some of the more outrageous dares. I made a mental note to type all of them on the same paper stock so next year I can't cheat.

The inside of the pottery jar where these clips of fantasy are housed has rough nubs where the sides meet the bottom and one piece of paper in particular seemed impaled to the bottom. I picked and pulled until it loosened and then brought it to the surface. The paper was yellow with age. The message was: Grow your hair long enough to donate to someone in need of a wig. Someone struggling with a life-altering illness. It had been in there over twenty years!

I've not had long, long hair since I was in the eighth grade. Could I do it? I really wasn't sure anyone would want it. Ground zero is, at the moment, jaw length and if human hair averages 1/2" per month  . . . I'm making a commitment to my mop of hair for 18 months. I've been blessed with good hair. I'm just not gifted with styling it. A feeling of panic began to creep in. What if I grow it and don't want to cut it? What if it looks hideous on me and vanity forces me to cut it? What if it has too much gray in it and they won't take it? 

But then I asked myself the only question that mattered. What if I do it and it makes a difference in someone else's life? Someone who has struggled with more than the occasional tangle or bad hair day. l don't know if Pantene Beautiful Lengths and the American Cancer Society will accept my hair or not because of the interspersed gray (must be less than 5%). I won't know for a while. Is that going to stop me from trying? No. Am I going to go for it? Yes.

If this seems like something you'd like to do, too, visit www.Pantene.com and follow the prompts for Beautiful Lengths to view the rules. I'd love to have your company along the way. Ask your friends to join us. We'll post a journal on here every 8 weeks to see how we're doing. Send me a picture of your hair now and we'll post updates on our progress. I'm hoping to make a donation by Valentine's Day 2016 but more realistically, it'll be that summer. What do you think??? Are you in?

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

GREAT LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS

TO DELIGHT/INSPIRE the READERS IN YOUR LIFE

Great Finds Under the Tree 

Uh-oh . . . you may be in trouble. Your gift may be a little late.  However, there's still time to find something . . . quite different!

COMICS: You may not recognize the name of my friend, author/producer/screenwriter, Alan Brennert but you certainly know his work! He has written for L.A. Law; published the book "Molokai," and more recently, "Palisades Park;" and put pen to paper for some of our most popular comic books (Batman/Cat Woman) which is what I want to tell you about because it's Christmas time. Alan has placed a number of items from his personal comic collection for sale through www.blastoffcomics.com. It'll be fun to look around and see what's still there. Even if all items are sold, there's still time to order one of his books. For more information about Alan, visit his website at: www.AlanBrennert.com.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: There are two series every family should own, in my estimation. 
One is written by Brad Meltzer,  a #1 thriller author who could not find inspirational books for his daughter to read. Meltzer wanted to introduce her to the ordinary people who have changed our world. People like Rosa Parks, Einstein, Lucille Ball, Amelia Earhart, Abraham Lincoln, and (coming in January) Jackie Robinson. www.bradmeltzer.com

The other introduces children to American history through the fictional character of Rush Revere. Young readers are transported through time travel and befriended by a horse named Liberty. It's becoming a run-away favorite with the middle school set. For  more information visit: facebook.com/rushrevere or http://rushrevere.com. 

HOLIDAY THEME: Richard Paul Evans newest offering, "The Mistletoe Promise" is rapidly climbing on the NYT Best Seller list. If you know a reader that loves stories filled with hope, this may be the gift for them. Evans is a favorite author of mine not only because of his writing but because of his compassion for children and families that are struggling. I would suggest visiting his website to learn more about The Christmas Box House, I've had a chance to visit. Amazing place. http://www.richardpaulevans.com

HOT and STEAMY! USA Today and NYT bestselling author Melissa Foster, knows a thing or two about romance . . . and chocolate. Foster not only has a devoted fan base but she is one of the best friends an indie author could have. If you are interested in learning more about the Dreaming of Love series, visit http://bit.ly/dreamingoflove_paperback. If you're an indie author and want to learn more about self publishing www.fosteringsuccess.com.

As a twelfth-hour shopper, I hope this helps fill some of the voids on your Santa list. I wish you a Merry Christmas and the Happiest and Healthiest of New Years.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube