Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 514

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 9, 1941: British cryptographers crack Enigma code for Eastern Front. Germans take Vitebsk, Ukraine.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 8, 1941: US Marines land in Iceland to relieve British troops in keeping Iceland secure. US-made B-17Cs enter combat with RAF, but British have problems with armor and systems freezing. Jews in Baltic States required to wear yellow stars.

Keep Juggling - Using a Chart to Track Writing Goals

[image error] One of the biggest surprises of being published was the juggling act. Before publication, I'd get a story idea, research it, plot it, write it, and edit it. Then I'd start my next project. After my first contract, that all changed. I'm usually doing publicity for one book, working on my publisher's edits for another, writing a third, and plotting a fourth. There are multiple projects and multiple deadlines. Real deadlines.

Afraid I'd drop one of the balls and miss a crucial deadline, I started a simple goal chart to keep me on target. Also, after I saw the pattern of arrival dates for my publisher's projects, I added them to my chart for future books so I wouldn't be shocked when the project arrived.

My chart extends through the end of my next contract, but here's a sample for the next three months. To orient you, Revell is my publisher. Blue Skies Tomorrow, the third book in the Wings of Glory series, releases August 1, so the publicity column is pretty full - I deleted stuff too. Book 1 in the next series, tentatively titled Wings of the Nightingale, is due September 1, and I'm plotting out Book 2. Revell's title & cover questionnaire tends to arrive 6 months before the catalog date - in this case, September.

[image error] Even for a technophobe, this is really easy. In Microsoft Word, go to "insert" then to "table." Choose how many columns you want (I have seven), and how many rows. Then under "Table Tools" and "Layout," click on "Autofit" and choose "Autofit to contents." This lets your cells expand to accommodate the text. You can play with colors or highlighting. I use red for deadlines, green for events, and light blue for "life" events that will impact my writing - a vacation or conference or child's graduation. Using an Excel spreadsheet also works well, especially for a writer with multiple publishers or numerous speaking engagements. I don't show it here, but I leave empty space in each month to write in new tasks as they come up.

At the end of the month, I highlight all the completed goals for that month, update my chart - shoving incomplete goals down (hate that!) and adding new commitments. Then I "cut" the completed month and place it under "completed goals" at the end of the document. This helps me track the ideal versus the real in my goal setting.

I print my goals each month and tack them on the bulletin board above my computer to keep me focused (see in the picture?). Each week I look at the chart and write out daily goals. Those go on my bulletin board too. I use colored highlighters to mark off completed tasks. Because it's fun.

I love to learn from others - how do you keep track of your goals? How do you keep those juggling balls in the air?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 7, 1941: Nazis murder 5000 Jews in Kovno, Lithuania.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 6, 1941: Peru invades Ecuador over border clash, launches air strikes against Ecuadorian cities.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 5, 1941: RAF bombs Münster in first large-scale attack on this German city. German U-boats begin to operate in Arctic seas.

Happy Independence Day - Look Back for Inspiration

[image error] Happy Independence Day! This poster seemed appropriate with its Revolutionary War theme.


In 1943, the United States, and the rest of the world, faced its greatest threat. Germany, Japan, and Italy with the other Axis powers, had conquered vast areas of the globe. The Allies were just beginning to make progress, clearing North Africa, invading Sicily and Italy, and invading some Pacific Islands, but the road ahead looked long and difficult. It would prove to be so.

This poster reminded the people of 1943 of their heritage, that Americans fight for liberty. The American colonists fighting for freedom in the Revolutionary War faced the greatest military power of the time and prevailed. Their example inspired World War II soldiers to fight for liberty at home and abroad despite the odds.

Likewise, we can learn much from the past. When I think of what men and women of the 1940s endured so we could be free in 2011, it inspires me to embrace their values.

This Fourth of July, remember what made America great - our love of liberty, our willingness to fight for what's right, our ingenuity, our flexibility, our sense of humor, our diversity, and our moral strength - and embrace it. Keep America great by keeping Americans good.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 4, 1941: British Communist Party decides to support war effort. Communist Yugoslavian leader Tito (Joseph Broz) calls for Yugoslavians to revolt against Nazi rule.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 3, 1941: Stalin declares scorched earth policy in Soviet retreat from Germans.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—July 2, 1941: RAF Eagle Squadron with American volunteers begins operations, escorts bombers to Lille, France. Citizens in Nazi-occupied Lvov, Ukraine against racist Nazi laws. Japanese army orders draft of 1 million men.