"Write now is good."

How about a "writing crawl"?

Photo: Writing our poem by glynnish

During my ongoing search for creativity boosters, I found Sketchcrawl.com:

Sketchcrawl.com. is the brainchild of cartoon artist Enrico Casarosa, who after a night participating in a pub-crawl for a friend's bachelor party, where a group stops in at multiple bars on a given route and has a drink in each, came up with the idea of a sketch-crawl. Armed with some pencils and watercolors, Casarosa spent an entire day walking through the city, stopping to sketch whatever interesting came into view.

"Giving yourself this kind of mandate for a full day changes the way you look around you. It makes you stop and see things just a tad longer, just a bit deeper ... needless to say I loved it," writes Casarosa on the website.

How about taking a "writing crawl"? Spend an entire day, walking wherever inspires you, and stop every once in awhile to write.

This can be done alone or with friends. If you take the walk with friends, I suggest swapping notebooks along the way and writing in each other's a time or two; it will commemorate the walk and who was on it, and your writing will be a gift for your friends that they'll have in their notebooks forever. (Notebooks do last a long time these days...)

From "Sketch-Crawl to Revive Creativity" from Minds Island via Moleskinerie.

"Organizing the Writing Life" Day 3: The BEST Organizational System Ever (Part 1)

Photo: Success by kevinthoule

Welcome, everyone, to Day 3 of "Organizing the Writing Life."

If you're joining us again, welcome back! If you're new to the series, I want to introduce you to guest blogger Sharon Sarmiento, an Online Business Manager whose work "involves managing the daily operations of online businesses and streamlining processes to maximize personal and business productivity." She also writes an inspiring blog, eSoup, and her passion for helping people thrive in their lives through better organization has landed her in the Boston Globe and more than twenty other newspapers.

In addition to running her own e-business, Sharon is a painter and writer who is familiar with the organizational struggles that creatives face. For today and the following three Tuesdays, Sharon will generously share her knowledge and insight to benefit us all. Today's topic, based on blog-reader questions, is:

The Best Organizational System (Part 1)

Reader question: Is there one catch-all system under which writers can organize everything related to a writing project?

Sharon's answer:

Yup. As far as keeping things organized, I recommend and use the productivity system called “Getting Things Done” (GTD), created by David Allen. This system isn’t unique to writers--it's a simple system that works for everyone from gas station attendants to the CEOs of major companies. It doesn't matter what you do for a living.

GTD has sort of a cult-like following on the Internet (and when I say "cult-like", I mean that in the healthiest, most productive way), so there's a good chance that you've seen the initials GTD floating around the blogosphere and have perhaps wondered what the big deal is.

Here's a little Q & A to get you acquainted with what the GTD hubbub is about:

1) What are the benefits of using the GTD system?

Well, according to David Allen's website,

Implementing GTD alleviates the feeling of overwhelm, instills confidence, and releases a flood of creative energy. It provides structure without constraint, managing details with maximum flexibility. The system rigorously adheres to the core principles of productivity, while allowing tremendous freedom in the "how." The only "right" way to do GTD is getting meaningful things done with truly the least amount of invested attention and energy.

2) How does it increase creativity?

As a creative person myself and someone who works with people I like to call "creative visionaries," I've noticed that one of the hallmarks of creative personalities is the daily (sometimes hourly) influx of new ideas. Now, some of the ideas are absolutely amazing and are definitely worth pursuing, and others are, although extremely creative, less feasible to be implemented in the real world.

With creative people, many times we'll have so many ideas that it's hard to know which ones to pursue, which ones to let slide, and which ones to file away to be tackled someday in the future.

I've seen it so many times--entrepreneurs or creative thinkers who are not executing their best ideas because their best ideas are getting lost in the shuffle. What I have found is that GTD helps me get these ideas off my mind (or get the ideas off a client's mind), so that our minds are free to concentrate on one thing at a time.

To do this idea-capturing thing, I use a simple list making system. Here are my lists:

1. A calendar--to house my to-do items that have a specific date and time
2. Next Actions--basically a to-do list without specific dates and times
3. Someday/Maybe--stuff I'd like to do someday eventually
4. Waiting For--things that need input from other people before I proceed
5. On-the-go--this is a little spiral bound memo book that I keep in my purse. If I'm out and about and I get an idea or it pops in my mind that there's something I need to do, right away I write it down on the on-the-go list I keep with me. When I get home, I can transfer the item to the appropriate list.

There's nothing that says you can't keep these lists electronically, but I have a soft spot in my heart for old-fashioned paper and pencil, so all of my lists are in hard-copy form. This also means that no matter where I am when I come up with ideas of things I need/want to do, I can simply pull out the paper list and write it down.

3) Is this system a pain in the butt to implement?

Not really. I mean, you do have to change the way you view and process incoming information, but it's really not rocket science. It's just lists and simple time management strategies. One thing about this system though, is that it's more of a lifestyle than a work strategy. It's something you do for your life, rather than just at the office.

To learn more and get ready for Part 2 next week, here are a few "Getting Things Done" resources:

1. "The Top 5 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Life"

2. "HowTo have more peace of mind and increase your productivity"

3. "HowTo master workflow: Stop storing info in your brain"

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Any questions or comments for Sharon? We want to hear from you — drop a comment, and let's keep the conversation going.

Next week's topic (April 24th): The BEST organizational system ever! (Part 2)

See you then!

Bonus links: Take a peek at previous posts from the "OWL" series —

• Day 1 — The maximum-efficiency desk
• Day 2 — Maximize time AND juggle multiple projects
• Day 2 (update) — iPod as "motivational timer"

Reminder: Writers, get even more organized tomorrow (right here!)

On Tuesday, April 17th, the third installment of "Organizing the Writing Life" will feature some very helpful organizational systems for writers.

Organization guru Sharon Sarmiento will discuss additional tips and tools to help creatives get their energies focused and productive, so be sure to drop by. She will also respond to any additional questions or comments you have.

If you missed the first two weeks, or want a quick refresher, check out:
• Day 1 — The maximum-efficiency desk
• Day 2 — Maximize time AND juggle multiple projects
• Day 2 (update) — iPod as "motivational timer"

See you then!

My top 5 secret identities

This week's prompt for Sunday Scribblings is "secret identity."

Throughout my lifetime, usually around Halloween, I've taken on other identities. They've not been so secret, as my disguises are most often homemade and simple. It's always easy to tell that it's me.

But then I realized this: After I take the Halloween costume off and it's back to normal life, if I still feel like my costumed self, yet I look like me, then that's a secret identity, right? Aha!

So I've come up with a short list of favorite secret identities. These sprang to life when I was much younger, and are in no particular order:

1. An intergalactic princess fleeing the Empire with her two adorable 'droids in tow. (I felt like Princess Leia, though strictly earthbound, for at least a year.)
2. A ten-year-old neighborhood spy, in cahoots with best friend, stealthily roaming the neighborhood with notebooks and pencils in hand, soon discovering that there was absolutely nothing worthwhile to record. Once we found a neighbor taking a nap in his car, but because he napped for so long, we eventually gave up finding anything else out about this "incident" and went home. (Our parents had no idea...or did they?)
3. A black cat. (Is this why I made feline-allergic people sneeze?)
4. A dolphin or a mermaid, depending on which pool and which mood I was in at the time. (It's still fun to pretend this while swimming.)
5. Static. Yes, static. One time when a telemarketer called, I pretended to be noise interference on the line. The call quickly ended. My secret identity was highly effective. (The twelve-year-old mind is full of strange inspiration. Now I just thank them and say I'm not interested, though it's not as effective as being static.)

Now you know.

For more takes on "secret identity," visit Sunday Scribblings.

Google Books' map function — wow.

Do you know about Google Books? It's in beta, but it already does something that no online other book search function does:

It provides an interactive map of ALL places mentioned in the book.

How many places are mentioned in "Around the World in 80 Days"? This map will show you (see image above).

Where does the action take place in "War and Peace"? From looking at its map, all over Europe and into the Middle East.

The adventures in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"? They take place in a much more global sense than I'd remembered.

Here's how to find these illuminating maps using Google Books:

1. Go to Google Books.
2. Type the book's title in the "Search books" field.
3. Click on which version of the book you want from the list that Google Books provides.
4. On the right-hand side of the page, there will be a "Summary" of the book. Underneath the shortened summary is a link for "More about this book". Click on the "More about this book" link.
5. On the book's summary page, you'll find:

- Selected pages
- Related books
- References from other books
- References from scholarly works
- Key terms, and
* Places mentioned in the book

6. Gaze in wonder at the map. Bonus: If you click on any of the red Google map pinpoints, a dialog window will appear which tells you what page (and sometimes a quotation from the passage) in the book this precise place is mentioned.

Type in a few favorite book titles, and see what you get.

Now if Google figures out how to produce these maps for science fiction and fantasy books, I will be beyond impressed.

Found via NOTCOT.

Note: I tried to find "Siddharta" by Herman Hesse, but it was not part of Google's database, though it did provide a link for me to find it in other libraries. Perhaps this is why it's in beta — they're still working to complete the book database.

A bookshelf sort of chair

I found this chair last week, and I keep thinking about. It's so imaginative. Form and function meet well. Some designer's bibliophile dreams realized. Brilliant and fun.

I continue to wonder:

- Is the chair comfortable?
- How many books can fit?
- How would it feel to sit surrounded by so many books?
- Where's the cup holder for my tea? (Just kidding — having beverages nearby could be hazardous to the books.)
- How does one keep the cats from turning this into the ultimate scratching post? (So much luscious tree-based products to shred...)

Still, I'm quite taken by it. Imagine an entire couch made like this. Bookshelves WHO?

The bibliochaise is available through nobodyandco in six different wood and cushion colors, only in Italy at the moment...

[BB-Blog] found this through TrendsCentral's IG Picks.

"Organizing the Writing Life" Day 2 Update: iPod as "motivational timer"

Photo: would someone please clean this s**t up? by ||peppersmom||

This week's installment, Day 2 of "Organizing the Writing Life", has a great comment thread going: a lot of reader feedback and a couple of additional tips from Sharon Sarmiento, guest blogger extraordinaire and resident goddess of organization.

One tip that Sharon left in the comments is something I want to highlight. It's a fun, efficient use of music that can further help us get things done:

Sometimes I incorporate music by using my iPod as a motivational timer. If I have 10 min or 15 min, I set the iPod to automatically turn off at the end of that time. It's like playing musical chairs--you want to get as much done as you can before the music stops. (I use this more with cleaning and yard work than with writing.)

If anyone wants to use their iPod as a motivational timer, here's the HowTo: If you can't do the 4-hour workday...your iPod is the key.

If you don't have an iPod, I think putting on any of your favorite tunes in combination with an egg timer or the timer on the kitchen stove should work. The keys are to use music as a motivation, and timebox your task.

Sometimes I write really well with music, though this largely depends on the type of scene I'm writing. If I have only 20 minutes to write, I'll put on music and just crank out the words. It's amazing how much ground I can cover in a short amount of time.

Thanks for the stories, Mr. Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 — April 11, 2007)

His book "Cat's Cradle" had a huge impact on me when I first read it in college. I gleefully read it many more times. His story made me feel that he deeply enjoyed writing, and that inspired me to write.

The New York Times is running a detailed obituary on his life and work.

Here's the Wikipedia entry about him.

"And so it goes."

"Organizing the Writing Life" Day 2: Maximize Time AND Juggle Multiple Projects

Photo: clocks.jpg originally uploaded by markbarkaway

Welcome, everyone, to Day 2 of "Organizing the Writing Life."

If you're joining us again, welcome back! If you're new to the series, I want to introduce you to guest blogger Sharon Sarmiento, an Online Business Manager whose work "involves managing the daily operations of online businesses and streamlining processes to maximize personal and business productivity." She also writes an inspiring blog, eSoup, and her passion for helping people thrive in their lives through better organization has landed her in the Boston Globe and more than twenty other newspapers.

In addition to running her own e-business, Sharon is a painter and writer who is familiar with the organizational struggles that creatives face. For today and the following four Tuesdays, Sharon will generously share her knowledge and insight to benefit us all. Today's topic, based on blog-reader questions, is:

Maximize time AND juggle multiple projects

Reader questions: How do I get more out of the time available? And any advice on keeping track of multiple projects?

Sharon's answer:

Sure, I can throw some fun, quick, creativity efficiency hacks your way:

Tip #1: You can circumvent procrastination and perfectionism by using a productivity trick called timeboxing. Basically what you're doing is setting a limited time for yourself to get a task done, and then you just do the best job you can within the time available. I employ this technique when I do my 4-hour workday, and it helps me stay on task and get more done in less time. This technique also works wonderfully when doing creative tasks, like writing. Productivity guru Steve Pavlina talks about how he uses this productivity trick for writing:

I use timeboxing when I have a task or project that I wish to complete, but I don’t really know where to begin, or it seems like it’s going to be a long time before I can finish a meaningful chunk. Or maybe it’s something I find really tedious and would have a tendency to procrastinate on. Then I use timeboxing to simply commit to working on the task for a given period of time to make a dent in it. I normally use a period in the range of 30-120 minutes. I release any concern about reaching a particular milestone within that time ­ I simply commit to putting in the time, regardless of how far I get. An example where I use this approach would be when I’m writing a new article. Finishing a complete article will usually take me 3-8 hours. Sometimes I can complete an article in a single stretch, but most of the time I’ll stretch it over multiple sessions. So I use timeboxing to just put a dent in the article and get started, committing myself to writing for 1-2 hours without worrying about how far I get. Then I just repeat the process until the work is complete. A side effect of this last method is that I’ll often end up working much longer than I originally intended. If I commit to working on a tedious task for just 30 minutes, it’s easy to get started because I’ve given myself permission to stop after only 30 minutes. But once I’ve overcome that inertia and am now focused on the task, 90 minutes may pass before I even feel the desire to stop.

Tip #2: My buddy Andy Wibbels combines positive peer pressure with timeboxing for one rollicking day of group writing fun. For one day, all writers from around the globe are invited to join forces and participate in Andy's legendary "Writing Integrity Day" (a.k.a., Shut Up and Write!).

"Writing Integrity Day" is part positive peer pressure, part writing game, and part tricking yourself into being productive. This is for authors, wanna-be authors or just anyone who has some writing that they need to do but have been putting off. So, basically it's for everyone under the sun, and it's completely free. You can work on anything--articles, blog posts, a novel, your newsletter, journaling--whatever. He hosts these every few months or so.

Here's how it works:

1. We all get on the phone at 10am Eastern/New York time. (Andy provides the teleconference line and every calls into the number.)
2. Everyone takes 10 seconds (no more!) to say what they are going to work on for the next hour.
3. Hang up.
4. Write like hell.
5. Get back on the phone the next hour and do it again.
6. Rinse and repeat until 5pm.

Of course now that you know the game plan, you can organize your own writing integrity day with your own community of writers. When Andy puts these on, people get so psyched about it! Procrastination is a guilt-inducer--we all jump for joy anytime we can band together and conquer procrastination while still having fun and getting some work done. :-)

Tip #3: The Perfect Apostrophe. This is sort of a "What NOT to do" rather than a "HowTo"--I don't know if you're familiar with productivity expert Merlin Mann and his blog 43 Folders, but he has a hilarious story about when he was given (and blew) the book deal of his dreams. Ironically, the book was supposed to be about productivity, but Merlin was so focused on the details that he just couldn't get it together to write the book before the deadline. This podcast episode is about when he became completely obsessed with creating a binder in which to keep his notes for the book. He kept on devoting more and more time to the crafting of the perfect binder with a cover that looked like a book jacket---Oh well, he tells the story much better than I do :-). It's pretty funny and illustrates that there is a thin line between being productive and just plain procrastinating. Also, sometimes our perfectionism is a procrastination technique. For any writer, a must listen!

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Any questions or comments for Sharon? We want to hear from you — drop a comment, and let's keep the conversation going.

Next week's topic (April 17th): The BEST organizational systems ever! (Part 1)

See you then!

Bonus link: Take a peek at last week's post, The Maximum-Efficiency Desk. Your desk will never be the same again — in a good way. ;)

World cultural treasures, now available online

Turning the Pages™, the British Library's online rare books and manuscripts gallery, is an inspiration. It reveals some of the most influential texts in world history. When I stumbled across the site, I felt like I'd found treasure, now open for all to see. It is also one the most comprehensive, beautifully done and easy-to-use multi-media set-ups I've seen online.

Some of the great books featured are:

• Leonardo da Vinci's personal notebook — It's breathtaking to see his scribbles.
• The oldest printed "book" — the Diamond Sutra printed in China in 868. You actually turn the scroll to see the entire work.
• The first atlas of Europe, which Mercator put together in the 1570's
• Mozart's musical diary — This also includes 75 audio excerpts.

There are many additional books featured on the site, and too many great works to list them all.

The British Library has made it fun to look at these books. All items can be magnified; to do so, click the magnify button and drag a large, flat virtual magnifying glass across the map or text. Click the audio button to hear more facts about the notebook, or simply read the text by clicking the text button. The help button is nearby, but the site is so effortless to use, it doesn't seem it will get much attention.

For a quick, wondrous peek, take the online highlights tour. Experts' articles on the works are part of the features section. Block out some free time, and enjoy.

In the excitement of finding this site, I forgot to note where I first found the link...