The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program

If you're not writing a book, then what are doing with your life? Oh, you're thinking about writing a book ... then, yes, you're right on task.

Speaking of tasks, that's what you'll find here; some simple tips for helping you complete your writing tasks.

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program
Via ZENHABITS
http://pulse.me/s/bCKRO

Post written by Leo Babauta. I’m often asked about writing (something I’ve done professionally for 22 years) ...

Reverb10 :: Defining Moment

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 29 :: December 29, 2010 :: Defining Moment

• Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice)

This is not an easy prompt. Actually this question has taken way more than my allocated 5-7 minutes and I'm still coming up short, but I'll give it a go (and I'll try to make it brief).

Last Fall, I decided to stand up for something that I believed in. I teach at a university and there was a situation that was a 'teachable moment'. I wanted to seize the opportunity, but doing that meant that I had to act fast. I was told to slow down and that there could be some repercussions for doing things willy nilly. Ha. I wasn't insulted, but obviously folks don't know me at all because I've NEVER been known to do anything willy nilly.

Some of the students who attended the 'controversial' panel discussion (Oct., 2010)

The point is that I intentionally went against the grain and basically stood on an island to put together a panel discussion for our journalism majors. It created a good amount of tension in my department - there was only one other full time faculty member who publicly supported me. But in the end over 60 students showed up for the panel (even after the initial room that it was scheduled to be in was cancelled and we had to book another room at the last minute that was extremely hard to find). The students did not know the back story, but they were grateful for an opportunity to discuss the 'controversial' topic.

Now that everything has died down, I've been appointed to take care of the scheduling and the planning of an official campus-wide series on the topic ... and to think, just weeks ago folks made it seem as if I was putting my job on the line.

It just goes to show that you have to 'stand up for what you believe in'.

Reverb10 :: Achieve

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 28 :: December 28, 2010 :: Achieve

• What's the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you image you'll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today. (Author: Tara Sophia Mohr)

I want to continue to read books for leisure. I'm amazed at how many people I know who haven't read a book (front to back) in years. Who does that? Well, apparently my friends. The good news is that I'm in a reading group. And although I live and work away from my group, I still keep up w/the readings and I submit my comments in advance. I also ask for a recap from the group and I call at least one of the members for other missing deets from the recap.

Books on the Literary Sistas reading list for 2011 (Jan., 2011)

We mostly read fiction, which I love. We've only read books by African-American authors. Love that too. Our reading list for this year seems amazing. So excited about it:

• Let the Lion Eat Straw by Ellease Southerland (Paperback) 171 pp

• Powder Necklace: A Novel by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond (Paperback) 304 pp

• Glorious by Bernice L. McFadden (Paperback) 240 pp

• Wench: A Novel by Dolen Perkins-valdez (Hardcover) 304 pp

• 32 Candles: A Novel by Ernessa T. Carter (Hardcover) 352 pp

• The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel by Lola Shoneyin (Hardcover) 288 pp

I have most of the books on this year's reading list for my group and I've already begun to read one of the books. So, I'm off to a good start.

I'm saying I want to do this like the fact that my friends have fallen off will rub off on me. Not gonna happen. I will, however, mix in some other books along w/the my reading groups selections. Matter of fact, I've been reading "Who Stole the News?: Why We Can't Keep Up With What Happens in the World and What We Can Do About It". Just want to read a bit of non-fiction too.

My Good Reads list is current as is my Shelfari on Facebook. Now, I'll just have to see if I can continue to post the book review that usually goes along w/my completed readings because ... I did fall off in that regard last year.

Reverb10 :: Ordinary Joy

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 27 :: December 27, 2010 :: Ordinary Joy

• Our most profound joy is often experience during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brene' Brown)

I remember going to visit a friend this summer in D.C. and I stayed at his house. We did some piddling around town and what not and that was cool. But I remember getting back to his house and just staying up and talking about all sorts of things: music, movies, life ... and all of a sudden it's 1 a.m. on a school night. Good people, good times, ordinary joy.

Reverb10 :: Soul Food

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 26 :: December 26, 2010 :: Soul Food

• What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins)

The first thing that I can think of is the food in Italy. Delicious, but you already knew that. However, what I found most interesting is the simplicity of much of the food. When we'd inquire about how some foods were prepared, the response was often: salt, pepper, lemon, garlic or some variation of that.

The breakfast bounty at the Agriturismo Marciano Bed & Breakfast. (Nov., 2010)

What I'll need to do is figure out how to combat the food disparity in Cairo. There are many food options there, but often the food at restaurants is just marginal. When it comes to preparing food at home, it's a matter or finding good veggies and fruit and fish and chicken ... however, I am planning on growing some herbs (inside) in the next month or so.

Reverb10 :: New Name

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 23 :: December 23, 2010 :: New Name

• Let's meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott)

I've already played this game. And the answer is Jada Adams. Nothing special about it, so I don't have a 'why'.

Reverb10 :: Future Self

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 21 :: December 21, 2010 :: Future Self

• Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?) (Author: Jenny Blake)

I think I'd tell myself:

"In order to make change to achieve some of your life goals, you need to start to make small steps in that direction. You need to chart your destination and work diligently to make those goals a reality."

That short and simple advice says it all: you can only make progress if you do something toward the progress; your dreams can only manifest so much in your mind.

Reverb10 :: Healing

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 19 :: December 19, 2010 :: Healing

• What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011? (Author: Leonie Allan)

Laughter is always the healer for me. My girl Tonja in Cali never ceases to give me some serious laugh out loud moments.

I try to slip in some fun and funny comments on occasion. Even when I'm mad, I can usually settle myself down by trying to poke fun at the situation (though that usually comes after some profanity-laced ranting).

For 2011, finding some focus and me time would be a nice healing remedy; at least in theory it sounds good. There's also spa time, manicures and pedicures and oh, good food.

Reverb10 :: Try

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 18 :: December 18, 2010 :: Try

• What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did/didn't go for it? (Author: Kaileen Elise)

2010 was good for me in regards to today's prompt - trying to travel more and see the world after spending the bulk of my life in the U.S.

Since moving to Cairo, I've traveled around Egypt quite a bit. That was my plan for my first year. I went to Siwa, Alexandria, the White Desert, Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Mount Sinai, St. Katherine's, Rosetta and Luxor.

Fort Qaitbey in Alexandria, Egypt (Nov, 2010)

But now, I'm trying to venture out and see more of the region. I went to Kuwait in October and had a really nice time. Then last month, I took my first European vacation and spent nine days in Italy: Rome, Sienna, Cinque Terra and Milan. So refreshing.

Someone asked me if these were places on my 'bucket list'. No, but in terms of proximity, I've got it made and I need to take advantage of that.

I'll start 2011 with a Nile Cruise in mid-January. We'll fly to Aswan, take a quick trip to Abu Simbel and then cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Other than that, I've considered a tour of Europe in June. Possibly Turkey next summer too. Oh, and I'll probably go back to Italy. I already miss that good Italian food.

Reverb10 :: Lesson Learned

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 17 :: December 17, 2010 :: Lesson Learned

• What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward? (Author: Tara Weaver)

I need to stay focused and uncompromising on my happiness. For me, I'm sometimes easily derailed.

Also, I need to pay attention to the lesson in the things that happen in my life. Especially when crazy ish goes down. And that's how it's been of late. The lessons are coming in as a super duper daily dose. No complaints from me on the lesson load though. I'm just drinking it all in knowing that I need to pay attention. That's the beauty on my perspective on this now ... just be open to get a lesson out of situations, whether good or bad.

Reverb10 :: Friendship

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 16 :: December 16, 2010 :: Friendship

• How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst? (Author: Martha Mihalick)

I'm just going to respond to this prompt in a general sense and not specifically. This is not my best post for Reverb10 AND I could not find a picture that was a good fit. Oh, well ...

I have some wonderful friends in the U.S. Love them all and appreciate their contribution to my life. I tell them this all the time. And even though I now live in Cairo, we still manage to help the friendship grow. There's nothing like getting these urgent sounding voicemails from various parts of the U.S. Or getting a series of email messages saying 'call me'. You know how it is. We live in a world now of instant access. If I call your mobile phone, which you always have with you, why aren't you taking my call? What could you possibly be doing?

Being a long distance close friend is sooo not the same as getting a call that some crackhead broke into your friend's house and you're there in at her house in about 10 minutes (true story).

I said that I would do better, but the time difference is tough to deal with. Sometimes I just can't find the energy to say up and make phone calls and get caught up w/my friends. So, I'll challenge myself to try again to do better for 2011.

Meanwhile, I'm slowly crafting this small community of friends in Cairo. It's relatively easy to meet up w/colleagues, but I'm trying to break out of that comfort zone. Time to meet some fresh faces and explore a little more.

Reverb10 :: 5 minutes

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 15 :: December 15, 2010 :: 5 minutes

• Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh).

My fondest memories of 2010 involves traveling and spending time with family and friends.

• Bringing in the new year with some friends in D.C.

• My ten hour layover in NYC before returning to Cairo = too much fun!

• Hangin out w/my girls in Vegas.

• Spending time w/the fam this summer in Akron.

• My week in Chicago w/my girl.

• Birthday celebration in the summer in D.C.

• Hosting my reading group, The Literary Sistas, at my parents house this summer.

• My trip to Kuwait.

• My first European vacation to Italy: Rome, Sienna/Tuscany, Cinque Terra and Milan.

In Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy (Nov, 2010)

The only non-travel and non-family memory is ending this semester of teaching. It has been a ridiculously insane semester: drama, complaints, lazy students ... but today was the last day of class. I'm feeling melancholy because it seems like more of my students than usual 'got it'. There was a lot of give and take. There were times when they were mad at me and I was frustrated with them. But now, after 15 weeks, the growth is noticeable; I can tell that they feel the value of what they've learned. I know that I've left an indelible mark on their education. And whew, there's a learning component for me too: knowing when to push and how to compromise and trying not to wear my emotions on my sleeve.

In the end, it's a good thing and a good feeling. I've had this experience before. It's definitely an affirmation of why I teach.

Reverb10 :: Appreciate

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 14 :: December 14, 2010 :: Appreciate

• What's the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)

I have two points to list under what I appreciate most this past year:

1. My family and friends
2. A good and steady Internet connection

I've come to appreciate my family and friends more and more. Last year, I left the U.S. for the first time in my life. I moved to Cairo, Egypt to live and work at a university. It's been a wonderful experience, but sometimes I just want to have some of my Mom's mac and cheese (even though I can do a pretty good version of it myself; see image below); I want to jump in my Jeep and visit my grandmother or other family members. And I love to hang out in Cleveland w/my reading group and just trolling around the city.

Not my Mom's Mac and Cheese, but mine! (Nov, 2009)

So the move abroad makes me miss and appreciate my fam and friends. And the time difference doesn't help. Technology gives me many ways to keep in touch w/folks. But on many days, I'm just too exhausted to make calls. Of course, I send emails and check out updates on Facebook, but sometimes I feel like I'm just out of touch and missing out ...

Speaking of technology, the Internet can be a friend or foe. I usually have a decent Internet connection, but sometimes it's not the best and that makes for frustration when trying to Skype or using other forms of voice communication. Lately, it's been mostly smooth. But I can see the value in this as well. Not only for communicating w/my fam and friends, but I depend on the Internet for work too. I teach on campus two days a week, so the other days, I need to be available via the Internet.

The Internet is also my source for connecting w/my online community which I mentioned in my Reverb 10 :: Community.

Okay, time to wrap this up and get ready to visit my peeps in the States for the holiday season. Let's hope that Santa drops me some new tech devices to help keep me connected internationally.

Reverb10 :: Action

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 13 :: December 13, 2010 :: Action

• When it comes to aspirations, it's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen. What's your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

Well, duh, the next step is to make it happen.

To make it happen I need a plan. To make a plan, I need to take the time to make a plan. To make the time to make the plan, I have to make a conscious decision that the plan is important enough to make the time to do it.

Once I have a plan, I think I can easily execute. I see you 20-11 ...

Reverb10 :: Body Integration

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 12 :: December 12, 2010 :: Body Integration

• This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn't mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

It's true that I really did plan to blow off this prompt for Reverb10. Just wasn't feeling it. Probably not feeling it because I have not been in tune to my body this year. So sad.

I mean, last year I got up at 5a twice a week, just so I could go rowing on the Nile. But that's quite a sacrifice with my teaching schedule and getting to work on time. And I went sandboarding last year too. What an adventure ... busted my knee up pretty good though.

Me after my sandboarding spill in Siwa, Egypt (Nov, 2009)

So that leaves me with nothing but some sedentary habits for this year: take a one hour commute each way to work and teach all day at least twice a week. My only saving grace for taking care of myself on those long and crazy days is that I make myself go to the gym on campus: it's new and it's fancy. After 30-45 minutes in the gym on the elliptical machine, I'm all good, refreshed and sane again.

But there's still hope for more body integration. I'd planned on buying a bike after I had such a good time in the "Biking Depression Away" event in Cairo. Supposed to go and buy a bike tomorrow in the hopes that I'll ride in the morning at least once a week. In the voice of a superhero, "Mind and body - UNITE!"

Reverb10 :: 11 Things

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 11 :: December 11, 2010 :: 11 Things

• What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)

Reverb10 :: Wisdom

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 10 :: December 10, 2010 :: Wisdom

• What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)

This year has been full of challenges and opportunities for personal growth. I'm constantly analyzing situations and wondering how I can 'do better.'

At some point over the past year, I found myself telling myself, more often than not, to shutup. Of course, that's the internal conversation. Of late, it just seems that I can't get a word in in some conversations. I mean, recently, I've been in more countless situations where people like to hear themselves talk; people who've forgotten or don't care about the meaning of a 'conversation'.

So I've resorted to telling myself to just shutup. And it has to be shutup. I know that self-censoring is an option, but in these cases, I'm not choosing my words, I'm choosing no words. I've decided that I'm not going to battle for speaking time. I've decided that I'll just sit back and watch the show from another vantage point. Actually, it's possible that I'll tune out all together.

It used to be that I'd force myself into the conversation and get my point across ... it got to be exhausting: "what I'm trying to say is ..." or "I had a similar situation ...".

Unfortunately, the wisdom of that decision is not being a better listener. No, these people who entrap others to prop themselves up don't care if you're listening or not. So, the wisdom for me is being able to be comfortable in my quiet space and when I decide to add something to a discussion, my contribution is more thoughtful.

Reverb10 :: Party

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 9 :: December 9, 2010 :: Party

• What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Author: Shauna Reid)

Well, it's taken me all day to think about this question and try to come up w/a response. Unfortunately, I've realized that I'm not the party girl that I used to be. I've been to a good amount of events in the past year, mostly house parties, but I can't think of one that 'rocked my socks off'.

For me 'rocked my socks off' is good people, good music and the next thing you know, the sun's coming up.

The makings of a good party. NYE '09. (Dec, 2009)

My sister hosted a New Year's Eve party that was nice. There was good food and music, but it was mild; no one danced on the tables or was embarrassed about their behavior the next day . I celebrated my birthday in D.C. this summer w/my sis and some close friends. We mostly ate a little and talked a lot; we got home at a decent hour. I even went to a Halloween Party here in Cairo. There were some scary-like snacks like cookies in the shape of fingers, but again, the craziness was tamed (I did leave at 11p though because I had to get up early the next day for a day trip).

So I've come up empty on this one. Which is more than helpful as I look toward twenty-eleven. That 'rock my socks off' party ... is in my not-so-distant future.

Reverb10 :: Beautifully Different

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 8 :: December 8, 2010 :: Beautifully Different

• Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

Wow, this is a good one. Trying to think about who I let in my inner circle and if they're a close friend, then there must be something about me that they like. I'll go with 'sense of humor' for 100 ... or maybe it's my candidness. I can do proper and professional, but when I can be myself and just down to earth, well, there I am telling all sorts of stories in a very fast and animated way. That's complete w/gestures and intonation and some crazy facial expressions too.

Me driving my Mom's car last year after the Annual Ten Friends Party. Taken by my brother. (Dec, 2009)

I have some friends who egg me on in terms of silliness and some of the outrageous things we say. We go back and forth and on and on and the next thing we know, an hour's gone by. Good times indeed.

Reverb10 :: Community

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 7 :: December 7, 2010 :: Community

• Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?.

The online community has been very nurturing for me. I like the comments and conversations via Twitter. I have both a personal account and an account that's more work related. Mostly I like the wealth of information that I'm able to sift through via the online community. I'm a huge fan of Delicious too. It's another place where I've made lots of connections and I'm able to share information and insight there too.

I like that I've identified with the online community in Cairo. And when I'm traveling or home for the summer, I've been able to connect w/my online friends offline.

A card that I made (Jun, 2009)

For 2011, I'd like to get back to my craft community especially the folks over at 2 Peas in a Bucket. I found that card making brought some solace to my life; some me time and some level of serenity. It's art therapy and I miss that. I have many of my craft supplies w/me in Cairo (and I bought stuff over the summer that I haven't touched yet) and there's not real to make some cards and what not. Here's a link to my Radiogirl Cards blog, though you already know that there's not much new there.