Guest posts: An Interview and Novel Resolutions

Happy new year, fellow authors and readers!

December ended up being sort of a bust for me with regard to writing thanks to a nasty cold that knocked me on my rear end for a week, but I did reach 23K on the third Lycanthropy Files book, and I wrote and submitted a short story to an anthology. I guess that's not so bad.

Mid-December, author Nancy Lee Badger interviewed me on her blog. She asked some fun questions including three things people don't know about me (the answers may surprise you), when I started writing toward publication, and what's been rewarding about it. You can read the full interview here.

Today I'm pleased to be guest posting on RWA's Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal chapter blog on a novel way to approach writing resolutions. I talk about how we can apply Mindfulness principles to our process to minimize stress and keep us motivated.

So one of your New Year’s resolutions is to write a novel?

Congratulations! I wholeheartedly support choosing to do something that brings you joy and won’t require you to give up favorite foods or otherwise deprive yourself of something you love. Let’s talk about how you canmindfully support yourself as you embark on this journey of discovery into your own mind and life.

According to the definition of Mindfulness on Psychology Today (link: http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulness), “Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.”

I teach this principle to my patients, and research has demonstrated its effectiveness with insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders. Since it’s generally accepted that we writers are a little nuts, this is a good thing. Okay, I’m kidding (mostly).

Here are some Mindfulness skills that I’ve tried to apply to my own writing life:

To read the rest, click here. Even if you're not a writer, you may find some tips that are helpful for you. 

I hope 2014 brings you peace, love, and good surprises!