HEARTICLES: Articles with Heart

When we think about the holidays, it's usually the time around Christmas. But really, and especially in America, it's the last three months of the year. Halloween begins with kids wanting the perfect costume for school events, and maybe a different costume for trick or treating with their friends. And while we might have a short lull before Thanksgiving, we're still consciously thinking about all the dishes needing preparation before the big day. Never mind the decorating! Come Black Friday — that day after Thanksgiving Day when we all realize there's just four weeks until Christmas — utter panic sets in. We have to shop for gifts, post holiday cards, put up decorations, make sure the dinner invites have been sent, and we can't forget to order The Bird, shop for food, then start cooking. There's no time to sit on our laurels, as the after-Christmas sales start on the 26th. Then comes New Years Eve and Day — another day of too much food and drink, and if you like...

{please note, this article is aimed at writer's not participating in this month's NaNoWriMo} "OMG! I haven't written anything — anything — in a month! Where has the time gone? What's wrong with me? I'll never get this book published if I can't hunker down and write!" Have you said this? I bet you have, at least to some degree. But let's look back over your last month, or number of weeks, since you've written. Have you been concentrating on submissions of a previous story? If you're previously published, are you submitting to reviewers or doing guest blog spots to promote your latest book? Are you a member of a critique group or have a partner you critique with? Do you write a blog? Have you got buried yourself in research? There are a number of reasons why you're not working on your story, but that doesn't mean you're not writing. If you're submitting to agents and publishers, that's important if you want your story pub...