Misty Zaugg's Blog - Posts Tagged "simple"
10-minute fix: Talk back to depression and anxiety. Health Tip #7
Hi friends,
I love sunshine! At least before we reach the super-hot, muggy days of summer. I'm sitting here in front of a sunny window in my role as an 'adult supervisor' while my teenage son runs a Dungeons & Dragons class at our local homeschool co-op. There is lots of laughter and creativity happening here. :D
I hope you also have sparks of joy wherever you are in the world.
Speaking of . . . I wanted to share a simple tip to help combat the doldrums brought on by depression and/or anxiety issues.
How to talk back to depression and anxiety in 10 minutes.
Many times our thoughts can pull our mood down or increase our stress by filling our head with ideas that cause those not-so-fun emotions.
If this is something you or someone you love struggles with and you're looking for new ideas, I really like the techniques taught in "Feeling Good" or "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns.
The basic premise of cognitive behavior therapy is that we have thoughts that lead to emotions and if we can change the thoughts, the emotions will improve.
Example:
1. You have a long list of tasks on your mental to-do list and looming deadlines.
2. Thoughts running through your mind might be: "I'm never going to get everything done in time. I'm going to miss deadlines, get late-fees, and be in all kinds of trouble. Why even bother trying when I'm going to fail?"
3. You feel disheartened, ready to quit and hopeless.
Simple exercise:
1. When you feel down or stressed, stop for a moment and write down the thoughts in your mind (see #2 above).
2. Then talk back with a statement you believe just as much as the disheartening one.
Example:
I'm never going to get everything done in time.
Talk back: I might not get everything done, but if I split them up into smaller tasks, I can get quite a few done. I feel a lot more calm when I have smaller tasks and a plan to do them.
----
I'm going to miss deadlines, get late-fees, and be in all kinds of trouble.
I might miss one or two deadlines, but if I organize the tasks with the urgent ones at the top, I bet I could take care of the most urgent ones in time to meet the deadlines. Some of the tasks can wait until the weekend when I can schedule some time to finish them. If I'm getting close to a deadline, I can call for an extension. Even paying one or two late-fees isn't the end of the world.
----
Why even bother trying when I'm going to fail?
I know in the past, once I actually sit down to take care of a yucky chore, it tends to get done much faster than I anticipate and usually isn't as hard as I thought it would be. Getting anything done on my list is better than nothing.
----
And that's it. As you replace the negative self-condemning thoughts with more realistic, positive ones, check in and see how your emotions have improved.
A few tips:
1. Do this as a writing exercise, not just in your head. Engaging more senses by writing (touch, sight) makes the exercise more concrete. It also forces you to define the nebulous 'bad thoughts' into specific words.
2. Write down your counter arguments. Same reasons as above. :)
3. Short and frequent is more effective. Spending ten minutes for six days will have more impact than an hour on a single day.
4. Find a friend and decide to do this together. Like any new habit, doing it with a friend will help both of you follow through.
How about you? Any simple tips you've found that help with depression and/or anxiety? I'm happy to include them in future newsletters.
Find a little sunshine and enjoy today!
— Misty :)
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I got some funny penname ideas from you like M. Zauggenaut and Zauggy Mist - LOL. I think I'll stick with M. Zaugg. :D
I have finally got most of the non-writing part done with this new series and am getting ready to brainstorm the plot direction for book 2 along with exactly what new spells and upgrades our MC will be able to acquire.
Not to mention he has a bunch of coin and rewards from the end of book 1 he gets to spend in the Academy store, so I'll have to make a whole lot of tempting armor, weapon and spell items to choose from.
It's always fun to give them the quandary of choosing when they really want all of it. :D
Oh, and his pet will be leveling up and needs a fancy, stealthy type skill or ability. If you have an idea for something cool a 'ninja' baby star-nosed mole could do, suggest it please!
I'm planning on the MC using the pet as a scout to spy around the school and keep tabs on those working against him and/or get good intel to help him and his buddies' progress.
So, this is a new writing skill for me, generating game-like content alongside the usual plot elements that I'm much more familiar with. Hopefully the ideas I come up are fun for my readers.
Thanks for your help and support!
Enjoy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
I love sunshine! At least before we reach the super-hot, muggy days of summer. I'm sitting here in front of a sunny window in my role as an 'adult supervisor' while my teenage son runs a Dungeons & Dragons class at our local homeschool co-op. There is lots of laughter and creativity happening here. :D
I hope you also have sparks of joy wherever you are in the world.
Speaking of . . . I wanted to share a simple tip to help combat the doldrums brought on by depression and/or anxiety issues.
How to talk back to depression and anxiety in 10 minutes.
Many times our thoughts can pull our mood down or increase our stress by filling our head with ideas that cause those not-so-fun emotions.
If this is something you or someone you love struggles with and you're looking for new ideas, I really like the techniques taught in "Feeling Good" or "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns.
The basic premise of cognitive behavior therapy is that we have thoughts that lead to emotions and if we can change the thoughts, the emotions will improve.
Example:
1. You have a long list of tasks on your mental to-do list and looming deadlines.
2. Thoughts running through your mind might be: "I'm never going to get everything done in time. I'm going to miss deadlines, get late-fees, and be in all kinds of trouble. Why even bother trying when I'm going to fail?"
3. You feel disheartened, ready to quit and hopeless.
Simple exercise:
1. When you feel down or stressed, stop for a moment and write down the thoughts in your mind (see #2 above).
2. Then talk back with a statement you believe just as much as the disheartening one.
Example:
I'm never going to get everything done in time.
Talk back: I might not get everything done, but if I split them up into smaller tasks, I can get quite a few done. I feel a lot more calm when I have smaller tasks and a plan to do them.
----
I'm going to miss deadlines, get late-fees, and be in all kinds of trouble.
I might miss one or two deadlines, but if I organize the tasks with the urgent ones at the top, I bet I could take care of the most urgent ones in time to meet the deadlines. Some of the tasks can wait until the weekend when I can schedule some time to finish them. If I'm getting close to a deadline, I can call for an extension. Even paying one or two late-fees isn't the end of the world.
----
Why even bother trying when I'm going to fail?
I know in the past, once I actually sit down to take care of a yucky chore, it tends to get done much faster than I anticipate and usually isn't as hard as I thought it would be. Getting anything done on my list is better than nothing.
----
And that's it. As you replace the negative self-condemning thoughts with more realistic, positive ones, check in and see how your emotions have improved.
A few tips:
1. Do this as a writing exercise, not just in your head. Engaging more senses by writing (touch, sight) makes the exercise more concrete. It also forces you to define the nebulous 'bad thoughts' into specific words.
2. Write down your counter arguments. Same reasons as above. :)
3. Short and frequent is more effective. Spending ten minutes for six days will have more impact than an hour on a single day.
4. Find a friend and decide to do this together. Like any new habit, doing it with a friend will help both of you follow through.
How about you? Any simple tips you've found that help with depression and/or anxiety? I'm happy to include them in future newsletters.
Find a little sunshine and enjoy today!
— Misty :)
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I got some funny penname ideas from you like M. Zauggenaut and Zauggy Mist - LOL. I think I'll stick with M. Zaugg. :D
I have finally got most of the non-writing part done with this new series and am getting ready to brainstorm the plot direction for book 2 along with exactly what new spells and upgrades our MC will be able to acquire.
Not to mention he has a bunch of coin and rewards from the end of book 1 he gets to spend in the Academy store, so I'll have to make a whole lot of tempting armor, weapon and spell items to choose from.
It's always fun to give them the quandary of choosing when they really want all of it. :D
Oh, and his pet will be leveling up and needs a fancy, stealthy type skill or ability. If you have an idea for something cool a 'ninja' baby star-nosed mole could do, suggest it please!
I'm planning on the MC using the pet as a scout to spy around the school and keep tabs on those working against him and/or get good intel to help him and his buddies' progress.
So, this is a new writing skill for me, generating game-like content alongside the usual plot elements that I'm much more familiar with. Hopefully the ideas I come up are fun for my readers.
Thanks for your help and support!
Enjoy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Ever have too much kale in your garden? Be Prepared Tip #15
Hi friends,
Quick update: My latest book, Awakening Horde, has had an amazing first week on Royal Road!
Thanks a ton to those of you who went over and left a rating, review or comment. It's still new enough that each one makes a big splash.
It even made it on the top 50 "Rising Star" stories list. Can you tell I've got a big grin here? :D
Top 50 Rising Stars on Royal Road
If you missed it last week - here's the cover and link:
Awakening Horde - Shieldwall Academy Book 1
But lets move on from fantasy novels to real life.
Have you ever planted kale in the spring, intending to eat a little healthier, only to have a bumper crop you don't know what to do with?
I have a super easy way to not only save it all, but to make it painless to include in your diet.
Check out these pics and instructions:
Step 1: Pick it all and rinse it off. (you can leave the small center leaves on the plants, if you want more to grow)
Step 2: Pack it into the dehydrator and turn on low. It will shrink a lot.
Step 3: Once dry, crumble on a clean counter and remove any long stems. Hint: Should look like peppermint tea.
Step 4: Pack into a mason jar and store somewhere dark and cool
Step 5: Add a tablespoon or two to your next smoothie or a 1/4 - 1/2 c to your next pot of soup, stew or curry. (Here's a yummy vegan Garbanzo coconut milk curry I made this week)
There are a couple awesome points to this process:
1. You get all your leafy greens harvested and preserved in a day or two - depending on drying time.
2. Very easy to grab and add to dishes = easy nutritional boost.
3. YOU CAN HARDLY TASTE IT!!
Ok, I had to put that in all caps.
As long as you drink your smoothie relatively soon after blending it, the kale doesn't have enough time to completely rehydrate = no bitterness and very little "green" taste. The kids are very happy, once they get past the look of pepper-sized green flakes in the drink.
And while it has more time to rehydrate in soups and curries, it still is a much milder green flavor than when chopped and added fresh.
If you try this, I'd love to hear how it turned out.
Maybe try a green smoothie this week with your next enjoyable book.
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Quick update: My latest book, Awakening Horde, has had an amazing first week on Royal Road!
Thanks a ton to those of you who went over and left a rating, review or comment. It's still new enough that each one makes a big splash.
It even made it on the top 50 "Rising Star" stories list. Can you tell I've got a big grin here? :D
Top 50 Rising Stars on Royal Road
If you missed it last week - here's the cover and link:
Awakening Horde - Shieldwall Academy Book 1
But lets move on from fantasy novels to real life.
Have you ever planted kale in the spring, intending to eat a little healthier, only to have a bumper crop you don't know what to do with?
I have a super easy way to not only save it all, but to make it painless to include in your diet.
Check out these pics and instructions:
Step 1: Pick it all and rinse it off. (you can leave the small center leaves on the plants, if you want more to grow)
Step 2: Pack it into the dehydrator and turn on low. It will shrink a lot.
Step 3: Once dry, crumble on a clean counter and remove any long stems. Hint: Should look like peppermint tea.
Step 4: Pack into a mason jar and store somewhere dark and cool
Step 5: Add a tablespoon or two to your next smoothie or a 1/4 - 1/2 c to your next pot of soup, stew or curry. (Here's a yummy vegan Garbanzo coconut milk curry I made this week)
There are a couple awesome points to this process:
1. You get all your leafy greens harvested and preserved in a day or two - depending on drying time.
2. Very easy to grab and add to dishes = easy nutritional boost.
3. YOU CAN HARDLY TASTE IT!!
Ok, I had to put that in all caps.
As long as you drink your smoothie relatively soon after blending it, the kale doesn't have enough time to completely rehydrate = no bitterness and very little "green" taste. The kids are very happy, once they get past the look of pepper-sized green flakes in the drink.
And while it has more time to rehydrate in soups and curries, it still is a much milder green flavor than when chopped and added fresh.
If you try this, I'd love to hear how it turned out.
Maybe try a green smoothie this week with your next enjoyable book.
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Awakening Horde is taking off on Royal Road - Misty's Writing Update :)
Hi friends,
A bit of sad news hit our family this week. My husband's father passed away. He was an amazing man, father of nine who worked hard and always had time to help out when someone needed him.
I'm writing this early as we'll be headed to the funeral this weekend where we will celebrate his life with the rest of the family.
So, maybe take an extra moment today to show a little love to the important people in your life. :)
I also have a short writing: My new book is going crazy on Royal Road and already bringing in a nice chunk of income to support further writing:
First, thanks to any of you who popped over to check out my new book on Royal Road and leave a kind review.
So far, there are 550+ people following the story and 52,000+ views of all the chapters! Not only that, since last week I climbed up from the #40 slot to #10 on the Rising Stars list.
Awakening Horde - Shieldwall Academy Book 1
It's so fun to see readers commenting, giving me feedback and encouragement. Some are helping me find typos. Others are dissecting the magic system and giving me suggestions. I don't even mind the small number of critical comments because they all give me a peek into what readers want in their stories.
And the money, you ask? Is this going to be worth it from a business viewpoint?
Well, as of today, Wednesday, 42 generous readers have already pledged a monthly amount (the majority $10 each) on my Patreon Page to support my writing.
In return, they can read twenty chapters ahead of the free Royal Road website and have fun helping an author continue to write the story they're enjoying. Win-win!
Minus fees and Patreon's cut, it's already a very healthy income for a single book, and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down any time soon.
Ratings make the biggest impact on Royal Road, so feel free to hop over, binge read a few chapters for free, and share with others what you think of the story. I’m send you a virtual high-five! :D
I'll be back early next week, and I appreciate your condolences and kind words. Family is very important to all of us and it is always sad to lose someone who's had such a great influence.
However, I’m comforted by my belief that families can be together after this life and look forward to seeing my father-in-law again someday.
I hope you and your families are doing well!
All the best,
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
A bit of sad news hit our family this week. My husband's father passed away. He was an amazing man, father of nine who worked hard and always had time to help out when someone needed him.
I'm writing this early as we'll be headed to the funeral this weekend where we will celebrate his life with the rest of the family.
So, maybe take an extra moment today to show a little love to the important people in your life. :)
I also have a short writing: My new book is going crazy on Royal Road and already bringing in a nice chunk of income to support further writing:
First, thanks to any of you who popped over to check out my new book on Royal Road and leave a kind review.
So far, there are 550+ people following the story and 52,000+ views of all the chapters! Not only that, since last week I climbed up from the #40 slot to #10 on the Rising Stars list.
Awakening Horde - Shieldwall Academy Book 1
It's so fun to see readers commenting, giving me feedback and encouragement. Some are helping me find typos. Others are dissecting the magic system and giving me suggestions. I don't even mind the small number of critical comments because they all give me a peek into what readers want in their stories.
And the money, you ask? Is this going to be worth it from a business viewpoint?
Well, as of today, Wednesday, 42 generous readers have already pledged a monthly amount (the majority $10 each) on my Patreon Page to support my writing.
In return, they can read twenty chapters ahead of the free Royal Road website and have fun helping an author continue to write the story they're enjoying. Win-win!
Minus fees and Patreon's cut, it's already a very healthy income for a single book, and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down any time soon.
Ratings make the biggest impact on Royal Road, so feel free to hop over, binge read a few chapters for free, and share with others what you think of the story. I’m send you a virtual high-five! :D
I'll be back early next week, and I appreciate your condolences and kind words. Family is very important to all of us and it is always sad to lose someone who's had such a great influence.
However, I’m comforted by my belief that families can be together after this life and look forward to seeing my father-in-law again someday.
I hope you and your families are doing well!
All the best,
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Misty's Writing Update: I just hit two Amazing Milestones!
Hi friends,
I got some fun ideas back from you about how to include cinnamon in a daily diet, including from Lynne who combines it with chocolate and pumpkin pie spices in her coffee machine.
I don't drink coffee, but chocolate with cinnamon and pie spices sounds delicious all on it's own or with a fruity herbal tea. Thanks for the suggestions!
In writing news, I have to say I'm pretty excited by how well this latest venture is going. Not only is it continuing to grow, but I hit two milestones on the same day this week.
Here are a couple of recent comments over on Royal Road about Awakening Horde:
"I like this story. It's got a great mix of ideas and is both fresh and familiar to me." - PumaDErik
"This is the best story on RR I've read in a while." - Nonalith
"Very excited to see what is next." - Winzzy
Cool, right?
My Royal Road experiment is chugging right along and gaining momentum!
And what are the two very encouraging milestones that both happened on Wednesday?
I reached 100 Patreons who have subscribed to support the new book!
Check out my Patreon Page
And the same day, my total income for the book since starting this experiment in early September reached $1500!
This is pretty amazing and quite the confidence booster to know that so many readers are willing to chip in a little toward keeping me writing.
I've been doing this writing gig for just over four years now and while it has brought in a bit of money here and there, it hasn't been super encouraging once I divide it out by how many hours I've put in.
So, more a labor of love, rather than a possible living wage.
But with this latest book going so well, it might just turn into something that could support full time writing.
So, for any of you who have taken the time to buy a book, write a review, or even just click a rating to boost visibility of one of my books, thanks!
May you enjoy a good book this week and support an author!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
I got some fun ideas back from you about how to include cinnamon in a daily diet, including from Lynne who combines it with chocolate and pumpkin pie spices in her coffee machine.
I don't drink coffee, but chocolate with cinnamon and pie spices sounds delicious all on it's own or with a fruity herbal tea. Thanks for the suggestions!
In writing news, I have to say I'm pretty excited by how well this latest venture is going. Not only is it continuing to grow, but I hit two milestones on the same day this week.
Here are a couple of recent comments over on Royal Road about Awakening Horde:
"I like this story. It's got a great mix of ideas and is both fresh and familiar to me." - PumaDErik
"This is the best story on RR I've read in a while." - Nonalith
"Very excited to see what is next." - Winzzy
Cool, right?
My Royal Road experiment is chugging right along and gaining momentum!
And what are the two very encouraging milestones that both happened on Wednesday?
I reached 100 Patreons who have subscribed to support the new book!
Check out my Patreon Page
And the same day, my total income for the book since starting this experiment in early September reached $1500!
This is pretty amazing and quite the confidence booster to know that so many readers are willing to chip in a little toward keeping me writing.
I've been doing this writing gig for just over four years now and while it has brought in a bit of money here and there, it hasn't been super encouraging once I divide it out by how many hours I've put in.
So, more a labor of love, rather than a possible living wage.
But with this latest book going so well, it might just turn into something that could support full time writing.
So, for any of you who have taken the time to buy a book, write a review, or even just click a rating to boost visibility of one of my books, thanks!
May you enjoy a good book this week and support an author!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Misty's Writing Update: Fall colors and How much have I earned with the new book?
Hi friends,
I love fall, but winter . . . not so much.
I recently decided that the amazing colors of fall are like a last party before the cold and grey skies of winter settle in.
Check out these trees - one near my church parking lot and the second in a nearby neighborhood. Just gorgeous!
I hope you find time to enjoy nature regardless of the season in your neck of the woods!
Also, with the holidays coming soon and my writing time getting more and more scarce, I've decided to scale my newsletter back to the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month instead of every Friday.
Please let me know your favorite types of articles and tips, and I'll make sure to do more of those.
Today's excerpt is from Deadly Lockdown, the first book in the completed Escaping the Virus trilogy:
"Kate's gaze moved to the bank of screens that had the crowd's attention. She wasn't close enough to see or hear details, but the grim-faced news anchors and numbers scrolling past on the bottom of the screen didn't bode well. She felt her pulse quicken."
Deadly Lockdown by Misty and Steph
Check out how Kate and Alyssa survive the fast-paced disease sweeping the US and find their way back to each other.
And finally, if you're curious about how much I've made in the first 6 weeks that Awakening Horde has been on Royal Road, read on!
Show me the Money:
Unlike someone like Brandon Sanderson or JK Rowling, most authors don't make a ton of money.
Plus, the new breed of independent authors wears a lot of hats. Their first goal (after finishing a book) is usually to earn enough to cover costs like editing, paying an illustrator for a cover, newsletter service fees, etc. The obvious final goal would be for writing to bring in a living wage and do it full time.
I'm somewhere in the middle of that. :)
My latest venture on Royal Road is still doing well, but the initial burst of interest has slowed by quite a lot. Now, I need to put on my marketing hat and work to get the word out more.
But is it worth it?
I'm happy to say that the 142 generous supporters over on Patreon have donated just over $1,800 so far, which has covered the expenses and made a big dent in the future $3k - $5k needed to produce an audiobook.
It's a pretty decent start, especially considering the book will still go up on for Amazon readers to purchase in the future.
If you're one of my fans who went over and commented, left a 5-star review or plunked down $10 on Patreon to help out - you're amazing! Every little bit helps!
I hope you enjoy seeing a bit of the inside life of an author. Let me know if you have any questions.
Enjoy a good book this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
I love fall, but winter . . . not so much.
I recently decided that the amazing colors of fall are like a last party before the cold and grey skies of winter settle in.
Check out these trees - one near my church parking lot and the second in a nearby neighborhood. Just gorgeous!
I hope you find time to enjoy nature regardless of the season in your neck of the woods!
Also, with the holidays coming soon and my writing time getting more and more scarce, I've decided to scale my newsletter back to the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month instead of every Friday.
Please let me know your favorite types of articles and tips, and I'll make sure to do more of those.
Today's excerpt is from Deadly Lockdown, the first book in the completed Escaping the Virus trilogy:
"Kate's gaze moved to the bank of screens that had the crowd's attention. She wasn't close enough to see or hear details, but the grim-faced news anchors and numbers scrolling past on the bottom of the screen didn't bode well. She felt her pulse quicken."
Deadly Lockdown by Misty and Steph
Check out how Kate and Alyssa survive the fast-paced disease sweeping the US and find their way back to each other.
And finally, if you're curious about how much I've made in the first 6 weeks that Awakening Horde has been on Royal Road, read on!
Show me the Money:
Unlike someone like Brandon Sanderson or JK Rowling, most authors don't make a ton of money.
Plus, the new breed of independent authors wears a lot of hats. Their first goal (after finishing a book) is usually to earn enough to cover costs like editing, paying an illustrator for a cover, newsletter service fees, etc. The obvious final goal would be for writing to bring in a living wage and do it full time.
I'm somewhere in the middle of that. :)
My latest venture on Royal Road is still doing well, but the initial burst of interest has slowed by quite a lot. Now, I need to put on my marketing hat and work to get the word out more.
But is it worth it?
I'm happy to say that the 142 generous supporters over on Patreon have donated just over $1,800 so far, which has covered the expenses and made a big dent in the future $3k - $5k needed to produce an audiobook.
It's a pretty decent start, especially considering the book will still go up on for Amazon readers to purchase in the future.
If you're one of my fans who went over and commented, left a 5-star review or plunked down $10 on Patreon to help out - you're amazing! Every little bit helps!
I hope you enjoy seeing a bit of the inside life of an author. Let me know if you have any questions.
Enjoy a good book this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Misty's Writing Update: Have you heard of NaNoWriMo?
Hi friends,
Thanks for the brilliant responses to the mental health tip last week. I got some great ideas from your emails to add to my list for future newsletters. Keep them coming!
Also, I'm a bit sad to report that the amazing growth of my new story on Royal Road has slowed down considerably, now that it isn't new enough to be on the popular Rising Stars list anymore.
My next step for marketing is to learn how to use Discord. Some of you are going to laugh at me while others might be asking, "What's Discord?"
It's another way to communicate with people online, in a fashion similar to the old AOL chatrooms (for those of you old enough to remember - lol)
In any case, other Royal Roal authors hang out in Discord chats. So, if I can network with some of them, we can do a shout-out to each other's stories.
Just another day in learning the business of online marketing for authors. :)
In more exciting news, did you know about the amazing writing event that happens every November? Read all the details below:
____________________
But first, for today's excerpt - a taste of Awakening Horde, currently up to chapter 53 and free to read on Royal Road
Awakening Horde: Free to read on Royal Road!
"The sudden darkness felt better and worse at the same time. Without being able to see, Pax could imagine he was in a small room, safe and enclosed. Only he knew better, and his mind began imagining a variety of encroaching horrors sneaking toward them unseen from the vast cavern. The growing noises of a battle below them only made it worse."
____________________
And here’s a run down on NaNoWriMo:
NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month
I know some of you are authors or may have always wanted to write a book.
Well, November is the time to do it!
This month, every year, aspiring authors across the world get together with a goal to write a 50k word novel in 30 days.
That's just under 2k words a day, which is my goal, since I don't write on Sundays. Not to mention that Thanksgiving is in November, so . . . :)
The fun part is, this event takes the often solitary process of writing and finds you a bunch of friends and tools to do it with. By signing up for free on the website, you can track your words, see your progress, read helpful forum posts, make friends to write with, get discounts and a lot more.
It's a great, supportive environment for a new author to push themselves. Also, a common hindrance for new authors is they get stuck rewriting that first chapter over and over, or spend hours tweaking the perfect plot or world. All of that keeps them from the most important part of being an author: writing more words.
NaNoWriMo helps with that.
So, jump in and give it a shot! Plus, feel free to add me as a writing "buddy". I'm listed under docmisty. I'd love to see some new friends write a book this month!
To more fun stories in the world!
— Misty :)
See all my books on Amazon here: Misty Zaugg Amazon Page
Misty Zaugg Website
Thanks for the brilliant responses to the mental health tip last week. I got some great ideas from your emails to add to my list for future newsletters. Keep them coming!
Also, I'm a bit sad to report that the amazing growth of my new story on Royal Road has slowed down considerably, now that it isn't new enough to be on the popular Rising Stars list anymore.
My next step for marketing is to learn how to use Discord. Some of you are going to laugh at me while others might be asking, "What's Discord?"
It's another way to communicate with people online, in a fashion similar to the old AOL chatrooms (for those of you old enough to remember - lol)
In any case, other Royal Roal authors hang out in Discord chats. So, if I can network with some of them, we can do a shout-out to each other's stories.
Just another day in learning the business of online marketing for authors. :)
In more exciting news, did you know about the amazing writing event that happens every November? Read all the details below:
____________________
But first, for today's excerpt - a taste of Awakening Horde, currently up to chapter 53 and free to read on Royal Road
Awakening Horde: Free to read on Royal Road!
"The sudden darkness felt better and worse at the same time. Without being able to see, Pax could imagine he was in a small room, safe and enclosed. Only he knew better, and his mind began imagining a variety of encroaching horrors sneaking toward them unseen from the vast cavern. The growing noises of a battle below them only made it worse."
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And here’s a run down on NaNoWriMo:
NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month
I know some of you are authors or may have always wanted to write a book.
Well, November is the time to do it!
This month, every year, aspiring authors across the world get together with a goal to write a 50k word novel in 30 days.
That's just under 2k words a day, which is my goal, since I don't write on Sundays. Not to mention that Thanksgiving is in November, so . . . :)
The fun part is, this event takes the often solitary process of writing and finds you a bunch of friends and tools to do it with. By signing up for free on the website, you can track your words, see your progress, read helpful forum posts, make friends to write with, get discounts and a lot more.
It's a great, supportive environment for a new author to push themselves. Also, a common hindrance for new authors is they get stuck rewriting that first chapter over and over, or spend hours tweaking the perfect plot or world. All of that keeps them from the most important part of being an author: writing more words.
NaNoWriMo helps with that.
So, jump in and give it a shot! Plus, feel free to add me as a writing "buddy". I'm listed under docmisty. I'd love to see some new friends write a book this month!
To more fun stories in the world!
— Misty :)
See all my books on Amazon here: Misty Zaugg Amazon Page
Misty Zaugg Website
Medication for emergencies - Be Prepared Tip #16
Hi friends,
I'm out of town for a wedding and having a blast seeing family (my grandbaby!!) and helping out during this exciting time.
I have to admit, I'm a bit behind on my NaNoWriMo goal to write 50k this month, so I'll have to buckle down when I get back home next week.
However, I wrote 5 1/2 chapters last week, so that helps.
With Thanksgiving coming up next week, I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday and time with family!
My next newsletter will be Dec. 2nd since I've scaled back to the first and third Fridays of the month. As always, please email with any feedback, questions or just to say hi.
And for our prepping tip today, here are some ideas on stockpiling medication for emergencies:
Medications for Emergencies
Having plenty of food storage won't help someone who relies on a medication that runs out during an emergency.
So, here are a few ideas on how to get more than a 1-month supply to be more prepared.
1. Switch to a 90-day mail order supply. Most insurance companies offer 90 days at a time for long-term medications and this will give you a longer cushion should an emergency happen.
2. Ask for another 90-day prescription and pay for it yourself. With a cooperating physician, explain your plan to be prepared, perhaps a need to travel or other reason that you would like to have enough medication for a longer term emergency. Even if insurance won't cover the extra prescription, it might be worth it to you to get the prescription filled. (Note: You'll want to use a different pharmacy as the one who just filled the identical drug will usually balk at giving you another refill before it's due.
3. Save money: Try GoodRx - the app will give you a coupon and show discounted prices at local drug stores in the U.S. It's completely free and can often give you even better prices than your insurance does. I know it has for me!
4. Not super common, but: We recently changed medical insurances, and while going through the hassle of changing over all my medications from one 90-day supplier to another, I discovered a hidden benefit of the change:
I got all new 90-day bottles of my prescriptions, regardless of how much medication I had left from the previous supplier!!
So awesome! This gives me a much better cushion of medications should a long-term emergency happen.
I know that changing insurances isn't something that happens often, but if it does, make sure to get a refill of everything to add to your emergency storage.
5. Finally, I store medications long term by placing them in mason jars with oxygen absorbers and then in the back of my basement fridge. Freezing is usually not recommended.
How about you?
What plans do you have to help make sure you and your loved ones have the correct medications during an emergency?
Thanks for all your support and have an amazing holiday!
— Misty :)
See all my books on Amazon here: Misty Zaugg Amazon Page
Misty Zaugg Website
I'm out of town for a wedding and having a blast seeing family (my grandbaby!!) and helping out during this exciting time.
I have to admit, I'm a bit behind on my NaNoWriMo goal to write 50k this month, so I'll have to buckle down when I get back home next week.
However, I wrote 5 1/2 chapters last week, so that helps.
With Thanksgiving coming up next week, I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday and time with family!
My next newsletter will be Dec. 2nd since I've scaled back to the first and third Fridays of the month. As always, please email with any feedback, questions or just to say hi.
And for our prepping tip today, here are some ideas on stockpiling medication for emergencies:
Medications for Emergencies
Having plenty of food storage won't help someone who relies on a medication that runs out during an emergency.
So, here are a few ideas on how to get more than a 1-month supply to be more prepared.
1. Switch to a 90-day mail order supply. Most insurance companies offer 90 days at a time for long-term medications and this will give you a longer cushion should an emergency happen.
2. Ask for another 90-day prescription and pay for it yourself. With a cooperating physician, explain your plan to be prepared, perhaps a need to travel or other reason that you would like to have enough medication for a longer term emergency. Even if insurance won't cover the extra prescription, it might be worth it to you to get the prescription filled. (Note: You'll want to use a different pharmacy as the one who just filled the identical drug will usually balk at giving you another refill before it's due.
3. Save money: Try GoodRx - the app will give you a coupon and show discounted prices at local drug stores in the U.S. It's completely free and can often give you even better prices than your insurance does. I know it has for me!
4. Not super common, but: We recently changed medical insurances, and while going through the hassle of changing over all my medications from one 90-day supplier to another, I discovered a hidden benefit of the change:
I got all new 90-day bottles of my prescriptions, regardless of how much medication I had left from the previous supplier!!
So awesome! This gives me a much better cushion of medications should a long-term emergency happen.
I know that changing insurances isn't something that happens often, but if it does, make sure to get a refill of everything to add to your emergency storage.
5. Finally, I store medications long term by placing them in mason jars with oxygen absorbers and then in the back of my basement fridge. Freezing is usually not recommended.
How about you?
What plans do you have to help make sure you and your loved ones have the correct medications during an emergency?
Thanks for all your support and have an amazing holiday!
— Misty :)
See all my books on Amazon here: Misty Zaugg Amazon Page
Misty Zaugg Website
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