It's NaNoWriMo Time

In 2004 I learned of National Novel Writing Month. Here, thousands of writers virtually gather and head toward a 50,000 word goal. I had a timeline and several scenes from following the writing exercises in Pumping Your Muse and considered the challenge of finishing the work in one month. It was like playing connect the dots. The timeline told me where I was headed and the exercises not only developed characters but also put together a fantasy world. Today, that book is Windwalker.

Last years manuscript has undergone the first round of edits and rewrites. I hope to have it submitted by the end of the year.

So what about this year? This year's story idea stems from a walk I took with my grandson. I try to encourage my grandchildren to use their imagination, and it doesn't take much. As the story progresses, I may tell you more. I can tell you it all started after a light rain and walking around puddles one street over. I said to my grandson, "Imagine if you jumped into a puddle and fell through. Would you be falling up or down?"

So what does all this have to do with losing weight? It's easy to let life's circumstances become excuses for why we don't make healthy food choices. I'm hoping that now that I've established the habit of moderation, it will reflect in my writing life as the heat turns up and I churn out 50,000 words on top of all the other deadlines. Stay tuned. We'll see if it happens.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

NaNoWriMo, Stress and Eating

I happened to be in a chat for writers at Inspired Author last night. Most of us plan to join the NaNoWriMo race this year. For some this is the first time, others like myself are Veterans. The one thing we all have in common is the pressure and stress that comes when tackling a new, large project.

As we discussed tips on what works when taking this project on, the conversation turned to food. People joked about coffee and chocolate, and someone mentioned that they buy more junk food in November that any other month.

Why do I bring this up? Well, it goes back to mood. How does mood affect our eating? Stress affects mood, and mood affects our eating. What's the answer? Make a plan.

I know November will be a bit intense. I know that I'll be writing 50,000 words on top of my other writing and editing responsibilities--BUT--I have a plan. Stay within my calories (1,000-1,200) and exercise at more days than I don't each week. It's what I've been doing. It's a priority. Learning to live moderately is something that needs to happen no matter how busy I get or how overwhelmed I feel.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Those Old Time Feelings or Is It Feeling Old?

Today was one of those emotional roller coaster days. No reason, just feelings. I even finished a book review for Novelist's Book Camp, and wrote a new goal related article. Plus, I've made a lot more progress on my novel in progress--so the feelings have nothing to do with negative stuff in my life as a writer. In fact, my page and several articles are up at Inspired Author. So what put me in this mild funk? It could be the gray, cloudy, rainy...overcast...well you get the idea.

How much does weather affect our mood? And how much does mood affect our eating? We'll take a look at mood tomorrow.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Stress Busters

I don't know about you, but one of the reasons I tend to eat more of things I shouldn't is stress. Well, I like to blame it on stress. In the past few months, I've left family and friends behind and moved to another state, left my job after twelve years, am living with my daughter and her family, continue building my freelance writing business, have been looking for a house for three months... You get the idea. I've got stress going on.

In my writing life, I've taken on new responsibilities with more deadlines, more editing clients, my book Windwalker had to be read one last time before release, Change From the Heart had to be finished up and submitted (that is in the process by the way), plus reading through the first draft of Beyond the Seventh Gate trying to get rewrites and edits done before the end of the year... Again, yes there is stress.

The point is, life is full of stress. I could fill this blog with stressful things, however overeating or junk food binging is not the answer. According to Mark Gorkin's Stress Doc's "Top Ten" Stress Tips, exercise is the number one stress buster. " Exercise releases mood-enhancing chemicals, like endorphins, the mind-body's natural painkiller and mood calmer. Briskly walking 2-3 miles allows us to experience a tangible sense of accomplishment and control. When everything is up in the air, exercise helps us feel grounded. Even better if you can find an exercise buddy."

So instead of reaching for a cookie, slip on a jacket and head out the door. Give yourself time to think and go release some of the mood-enhancing chemicals.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Inspired Author

Today I received the link to my Fantasy Topic Editor page at Inspired Author. Not every article is up yet, but his site is already loaded with help for every writer no matter your genre. I'm excited about this project. I'll also be adding articles on Creative Writing--so keep your eyes open for that.

On the weight front, yesterday I spent the day out looking for a house so my writing was limited more to editing. I continue to rewrite and edit my manuscript for my next fantasy novel titled Beyond the Seventh Gate and just about have my book review for The Novelist's Boot Camp ready to submit. With that said, I admit, I didn't exercise yesterday.

But remember, it's about moderation. I'm not "legalistically bound" to exercise, but I know exercising more days than I don't is the key to losing weight. I'm fast approaching my weigh in on November 1. I'm hoping to see that I've lost 20 lbs. We'll see! Today I plan to hit the treadmill again as the weather here in northern GA remains cooler than normal.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Brrrrr Winter Is Coming -- How to Keep Exercising

Those of you who follow my writing know that I made the move from Florida to Georgia this year. This is the first fall colors I've seen in almost 20 years and I find it breathtaking. However, the "unusually cold" weather also takes my breath away. I slept with socks on my feet last night.

I also find that the cold water curbs my appetite for exercise. Oh wait; I didn't really have an appetite for exercise. Well it does put the kibosh on the routine of exercise. I start out thinking--later when it warms up. But later, I'm busy. If I don't fit exercise into the morning, the chances of following through and actually working this old body diminish significantly.

For the last three days, I've climbed aboard my daughter's treadmill. You know--it's one of those things that work great as a clotheshorse. I'm sure many of you have harbored one in the corner of a bedroom, basement of some out of the way place. All kidding aside, once I climbed on and started walking I remembered that I actually like treadmills because I can read while I walk. On yesterdays hour-long trek I read through a good amount of my manuscript for Beyond the Seventh Gate.

But for today, here's the point. We don't always feel like exercising. The weather isn't always perfect for exercising. Our joints can't always do every exercise. However, we need to have a plan B. God created us to move around to burn energy. If we don't move, our bodies store the energy to use later. The storage receptacle is fat. If you don't want to be a storage unit, you have to use the energy.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Anthologies

Today I found my story Lighting of the Tree highlighted on the site for Classic Christmas It's the story about "the townspeople of a tropical paradise find the Christmas spirit, despite the palm trees and warm weather." Out of 82 authors, my story is highlighted. All I can say is, "Wow!"

On another note, I received the contract for my story Caleb Sees the Light to be included in the anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness. I'll keep you all updated as to a release date.

Tonight I meet with my local writers' group. The fellow that usually runs it is busy with another writing opportunity, so I'm going to "run" the group. It's a great bunch of people and I look forward to it.

As for my eating, with all this going on--I'm still counting calories, although my exercise has cut back just a bit with recent rains. I'll have to figure out a Plan B.

Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

A Creative Boost

I worked on formatting changes for Change From the Heart~Lifestyle Budeting today. Things like changing the footnotes to endnotes is enough to make me tear my hair out. However, my editor has offered helpful tips of how to accomplish some of the formatting changes. I spent a good portion of the morning working on this project. Everything else on my writing list of things to do for the week had been accomplished.

This afternoon, I took a break and wrote a short short based on a writing prompt over at Pumping Your Muse Writer's Prompts I chose the prompt where I used the word slaver. I had fun creating a character that slavers.

Joking aside, even the stress of formatting changes didn't push me to eating to satisfy my emotional tension. Tomorrow we plan to make a trip to an apple festival. About 300 vendors are scheduled to there. I have no idea what that means, but I'm looking forward to a new experience not just the food that will be sold there.

Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Budgeting Book

Yesterday I submitted the complete manuscript for Change From the Heart~Lifestyle Budgeting. Boy it felt good to get a big project off my plate at least for a little while. I clicked that send button and went out for a walk. The crisp day in the low 60's stimulated me to walk quickly. Color kisses the trees with hits of red here and there, and I look forward to seeing the change of seasons after living so many years in Florida.

Two mockingbirds squabbled and chased each other in and out of Bradford Pear trees. The usual gang of dogs had dwindled to three and I only saw them once. My mind skipped to possibilities for my next fantasy novel as characters start to take on life.

I walked in the door invigorated. Had a couple of articles to finish up, but thought I'd check my email first. Wow! Already heard back from the Dabbling Mum on the budgeting book. Stuff to do! Tweak the About the Author page, do some reformatting....

Made me thinking of living the moderate life. It's never done, it's just what you do. One thing at a time. What a beautiful day for a walk. Glad I didn't stay in to write the articles first. I would have missed so much and been tempted to jump right in on revisions. Moderation offers so much more.

Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Classic Christmas -- Lighting of the Tree

Today I received a package in the mail. I knew it was a book and figured it was the writing book I'm scheduled to review. So, instead of opening it, I continued to read through the manuscript for Change From the Heart~Lifestyle Budgeting. If all goes well, I should have that submitted within the next day or two.

Anyhow, back to the book that came in the mail. I'd been sitting on the porch, which these days works for my office. You can't beat the view. I came into the house to get a cup of coffee and asked my grandson if he wanted to open the package and see what it was.

To my surprise he pulled out a book with a Christmas cover. I'd forgotten about this book! My short story Lighting of the Tree had been accepted almost two years ago. Let me say, this is a great collection of holiday stories. If you're looking for a good read, this is it.

Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Tucking My Shirt In and Other Good News

For those who know me well, you know my love for Science Fiction, Fantasy, Twilight Zonish stories and the like. With that said, I have to tell you I'm thrilled that my short story "Caleb Sees the Light" has been accepted. Here's the best part. Not only does the story have a science fiction element, but it is written from a Christian perspective!

The title of the anthology is Light at the Edge of Darkness. I've read all the stories in this collection, and I'm honored to be among them. I'm not sure when the book will be out, but you can take a look at the cover at The Writer's Cafe Press AND get a lesson about Christian Speculative Fiction.

Who would think such a thing could stir up controversy? I would. When my husband played with a Contemporary Christian music group, I met people who thought he was part of playing the devil's music. You see he's a drummer. It just seems odd to me that people focus on vehicles and tools as good or evil when it is the way people use them that will fall into either of those categories.

It reminds me of the way dieters look at food. Good or evil. In fact, since I've learned to apply God's word, the lesson of moderation has reminded me that food itself is not good or evil--it is the motivation of the eater that falls into one category or the other.

The freedom I have found in not dieting, while learning moderation is celebrated today. Not in eating something special (because the food is not the special thing--it's the event). Here it is...you ready? I actually tucked my shirt in today!

As you know, I'm not weighing until the first of the month, but I can tell I've lost more weight. I can't thank God enough for bringing me to this understanding and new lifestyle. I've called diets a lifestyle before, but when they were done--they weren't my lifestyle. I guess that would be a good topic for tomorrow.

Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Plan to Exercise

A cool front blew through last night and this morning a cool 51 degree blanket draped the neighborhood when I stepped out the door. My daughter and I walked a refreshing, brisk three miles while enjoying one another's company.

When it comes to exercise, it's important to have a plan. Just like my writing. I set goals each year. From those goals, I set monthly goals. From the monthly goals, I set weekly goals. This keeps me on track to meet deadlines. Planning to exercise is no different. Make a plan. If you don't like cold weather or hot weather have a plan to work around the weather. The important thing is to exercise. REGULARLY.

Making routine exercise part of your life makes a difference. It doesn't matter what goal you are working to achieve. If it's writing--make a plan to exercise your skill sets. The more you use them, the better you'll be. The more you exercise your body, the more fit you'll be. The important thing is to make a plan. That way when life throws a curve, you'll still know what you're aiming at and hit it more often.

Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

A Day of Rest

Today I took care of a lot of projects that have piled up. Things like putting together the Appendix and Resource pages for Change From the Heart~Lifestyle Budgeting. For fun, I wrote one more article for the Fantasy Section at Inspired Author. You'll have to watch for it. It's about amenities in a primitive fantasy world.

I've also finished putting together the Developing the Creative Writing Habit online writing class at Writer's Online Courses. If you want to develop the writing habit, meet other writers, and walk away with a short story, check it out.

I've also spent a good portion of the day editing. There's always plenty of that to do for my own work as well as that of others because yesterday I got sidetracked writing and sending out Press Releases announcing Pumping Your Muse's cover of the month award.

With all that said, I decided not to walk today. One day off every now and then is fine. It's part of moderation. However, I've staying within my calorie limits. Moderation is so much better than dieting or following a program.

Donna Sundblad
Author of
Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Editing and Eating

Today I've spent most of the editing manuscripts for others. It's part of what I do as part of Team Spirit Critique and Editing. Some days it seems a bit of a daunting task, but I've learned to take it a little at a time. Give myself a goal. Ten pages and then take a break and work on something more creative.

It reminds me a bit of eating right and exercising regularly. You don't always see results unless you stick with. You see a difference with many tiny changes. Things like counting calories, exercising regularly, making better food choices, all put together change your life and your weight.

Donna Sundblad
Author of
Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

A New Lesson in Moderation

You've heard it said you're as old as you feel? Let me say that's not always the case. Today instead of walking, I went on a bike ride with the grandkids--about 1 1/2 miles worth. I figured I'd been walking steady enough it should be no problem. But in the words of my granddaughter I learned soon enough that "Going downhill is funner."

I knew if I went for a bike ride I'd be working different muscles than when I walk. However, I don't own a bike. Instead, I used my grandson's old bike. The hard seat left a little to be desired, but because I'm only 5'1" frame I didn't look like my knees reached to my chin when I pedaled (although I felt like it).

The hills of Georgia are beautiful until you try pedaling uphill. By the time I raced down the first hill and climbed back up one crank at a time I knew this ride would be longer than I thought. When I walked in the house my legs wobbled, but I'd learned another lesson.

I started out with plan to ride the three miles I usually walk. Instead, it didn't take long to know I'd push myself if I went half the distance. If I had to, I'd even walk (which I did just a bit up one of the hills).

Donna Sundblad
Author of
Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

More Exciting News--Pumping Your Muse is Voted Cover of the Month

Received more good news today. Pumping Your Muse was voted cover of the month. My cover artist Mel Landon has been such a blessing in my life, and I'm thrilled for her to get this bit of recognition.

Things are coming along with my articles at Inpired Author. I finished up another first draft of a fantasy article this morning and jotted the first inklings of a course on fantasy writing. It's exciting stuff and I can't wait to share it.

Through all this, I'm staying within the calories and continue to walk. I'm feeling a difference in my clothes and actually seeing a difference in the mirror. The fun thing for me to realize today is that even with good news, I didn't feel like needed to celebrate with food.

Donna Sundblad
Author of
Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Weigh-In

Well here it is, the first of the month and the day I decided to weigh in. I paused to consider, should I really weigh in? Why? The reason I stopped to ponder my motives and reasoning is because throughout this quest to lose weight, God has taught me that that isn't the REAL goal. The real goal is to learn to live moderately and that includes my eating. So, I decided to go ahead an weigh so I can let you know how things went for the month.

Remember, this is the month I traveled away from home for 10 days, had my fantasy novel Windwalker released and am working on 100 articles and a few classes for Inspired Author, while keeping up with my column and editing responsibilities. Stress is a real factor when eating emotionally, but I praise God for the way he's renewing my mind.

I stood with my toes pointing to the scale. Would I be disappointed? Does it matter what the scale says? Not really. What matters is today and how I live for the Lord. If I really believe that, it won't matter what numbers show up right? Hmmmm...should I really weigh? I did. I'm 4 lbs. down from last month. I'm thrilled with that!


Donna Sundblad
Author of
Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker