Anne Tyler Lord

The Writer’s Life: #WriterlbsOff Friday Check-In #2

How are you doing you great #writerlbsOff warriors? Time for Friday Check-In. Feel free to take over the comments section, chat and support each other in successes and challenges. I hope this week was a good one, but if not, that is o.k., next week is just around the corner.

Do you need a little boost at times? I do. I’ve been watching the reruns of Ally McBeal for a good laugh each night. One of my favorite times is when she is going to a therapist who is played by Tracy Ullman, a great comedian.  She is just as crazy as Ally.  What Tracy told her to do is come up with a theme song that will help her when she is feeling a little nuts, upset, or down. When she needs it, Ally hears the song in her head, and often dances or just freaks out.  I think this would be fun for us!  Here is the theme song that Ally chose, “Tell Him”, to help her cope with man problems (and sanity problems) including scenes from the show. Ally shows you how to use your theme song for maximum benefits!

Ally McBeal’s theme song, “Tell Him,” and a demonstration on how to use it to your advantage.

Here is one of my theme songs right now, I kept to the Ally McBeal  songs, “Searching My Soul” by Vonda Shepard.

I use music all the time to change my mood, inspire my writing and get ideas.  The characters in my novel have theme songs for all subplots they go through.  I think music is a GREAT creativity enhancer.  Find a theme song for any of your goals, funny or serious, and share it with us for a fun Friday.

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28 responses to “The Writer’s Life: #WriterlbsOff Friday Check-In #2”

  1. Gail Jansen

    Hi all – it’s very inspirting to read all of your stories. I didn’t weigh myself at the start of this journey (Jan 1st) but I did weigh myself the next week and I began at 178lb. Lost 3.5 lbs the first week (which I know is mostly water weight), but despite not breaking my healthy eating promise, nor breaking my exercise commitments – the scale didn’t budge one iota this week. Grrrr.

    Still motivated to keep going. It took 2 years to put this weight on – it’s going to take a while to get it off.

    I do freelance work for a couple of newspapers – and wrote 15 articles in 2.5 days, so I’m kind of pooped (writing 4 more today) – but have found that the workouts and runs – help me get out of my head – by allowing me to get into my body.

    Hopefully next week’s scale reading is a little more encouraging.

  2. Nishi

    Hi Anne, and hello everyone!

    Signing in as me today and not the coffee cup 🙂

    Sorry about the delay in updating, I was really low last week and thought I did not have much to say here. I am no longer ill but my appetite is still non existent. (I miss my mum’s food!)

    Writing has been better. The online class is in the 2nd week and I have been researching and plotting for the class so I think that’s good. I wrote two more shorts and a little more in my 2nd WIP. i am actually taking a break from it to post this.

    This link really inspired and helped me with my writing, and I thought I’d share them with you here, in case anyone is suffering a writing slump.

    – 10 habits of successful authors http://short.to/13a13

    Sending healing wishes, lots of willpower and good luck to everyone here with their resolutions. 🙂

    – Nishi

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Nishi,

      So nice to see you this week. I’m glad you are feeling better. We all get low at times, I had a low weekend. But, I want you to know that you always have important things to say, as does everyone else, regardless of how we feel, or how badly a week may be going. I say that as much for myself as for everyone else. Low times can make you feel like crawling into a cave. Let us know and we can come get you, or at least bring you a blanket until you are rested enough to come out. That is how my weekend felt. And, I know others in this group are having times like that through the week.

      It sounds like that class is a good boost to your writing life. I have often thought about a class to get things flowing and get input from others. You have gotten a lot of writing done!

      Thanks for the link, that will be a big help to everyone, I’m sure.

      And, we send you virtual yummy meals to bring your appetite back!!!:)))

  3. Shon Bacon

    Well, this week wasn’t the best one for me. I did start exercising. Promised myself I would do so three times a week. It was slow in coming, however. I didn’t do much exercising between August and December, and so when I started again this week, my body was like WHAT IS GOING ON? Will have to start slow and build.

    On the creativity front, I did start organizing a past W-I-P that I wanted to start writing on tomorrow. HOWEVER, an author friend convinced me to choose a different project — something that was a bit out of my comfort zone. I agreed, and starting tomorrow, I will be working on it.

    Definitely need the encouragement, drill sergeant factor to keep me on my grind. With school and papers and proposals to be worked on for school, I tend to let go of those things most important to me: creativity and health.

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Nice to see you, Shon. Sounds like you have a busy life! I think we are all a little “shell shocked” from the holidays, except for a few super exercisers who commented above.

      Good luck with the new WIP and all those papers for school!

  4. Candice

    I did a short check in on Twitter, but I’ll check in here as well. I’m very proud of myself after my first 11 day spurt on this diet! I lost 6 lbs. (3 lbs. per week), 2% body fat according to my new scale, 1 whole BMI point, 1 whole pants size, and a total of 18 inches across my body – 6 just in my waist! My pants fit better, and some are even big!

    I think inches and body fat percentage numbers, as well as BMI, are more important than the number on the scale. I’m proud of myself because I’m doing this alone – my husband sat next to me while I had to eat raw veggies for dinner and ate steak and macaroni and cheese. He gives me lots of support, but that was VERY hard!!! After seeing my success, he has decided to go on the diet with me on this next spurt.

    Upcoming Challenge: I have a trip to Detroit this coming week for work, so I can’t start my next 11 day spurt until I get back since I won’t be able to cook. Just have to try and eat as healthily as possible while I’m out of town. Hopefully, the hotel they put us up in has a gym so I can at least ride a bike for 30 mins!

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Candice,

      As I mentioned in tweets, that is amazing progress. Good luck to you on your trip!

    2. Shon Bacon

      Congrats, Candice. That is AWESOME.

  5. Betsy Cañas Garmon

    Hello everyone! What an encouragement to read about everyone’s journey. My Friday’s are full of the American History/Lit class that I teach in my home to a group of lovely homeschoolers. {Including my youngest two teens} It looks like my Friday update will usually be on Saturday. 🙂

    I’ve had a moderate week. Great on the diet. Average on the exercise front with consistent activity {but not much finished} on the writing and creativity front.

    Cynthia – wow. What a week. I’m with Laura. Do you journal? I find when I have a lot of “life” going on that I need a place to just pour out & process. {No deadlines or expectations…} I am impressed that you finished a poem & short.

    Anne – I love the idea of using music to change mood, create energy & reinforce themes. Great reminder! With your love of character development, you should think about adding, “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky to your classics list. {since there seemed to be a Russian lit theme. :-)}

    Congrats to all for staying the course, new jobs & helping family! It’s nice to know that y’all are out there living life {and choosing health at the same time.}

    Speaking of life, my fourteen-year-old daughter and I have gone back to Season 1 of Gilmore Girls. We were watching re-runs on cable and decided that we wanted to see them in order. So we got DVD’s. Interesting to be watching with my daughter. Thinking a lot about simultaneously being a daughter and a mother…lots of circles.

    Oh! I almost forgot! I was invited to teach a workshop on journaling. The seminar is in an ecumenical setting, with opportunity to explore the habits and practices of journaling. The working title for my workshop is: “Sacred Space”.

    Julie – I’m with you on the not-weight-but-clothes thing! Haven’t pulled out the skinny jeans, but I can breathe in my current jeans. {yay!}

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Betsy,

      Looks like you had a great week!

      I’m beginning to miss teaching my kids and their groups of friends a little. It has been 4 months since they went to school. Sounds like you have a few wonderful teaching opportunities! Congrats, that sacred space class on journaling sounds interesting!!

      My kids absolutely LOVE Gilmore Girls. We are on our second round through it right now. We get the DVDs through NetFlix. In case you do too, be warned that Season 5 is mysteriously unavailable right now, boohoo. Is that show the BEST for dialogue?

  6. Julie (Okami)

    This week was not so good, too many business lunches, so I’m staying off the scale because I find it discouraging.

    Note to those of you who are really working out: as you replace fat with muscle, you may actually gain weight.

    I use the fit of my clothes to judge how I’m doing. Not great, but not bad.

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Great tip, Julie. And, hang in there, sometimes business calls.

  7. Louise Dragon

    Hi Everyone,
    Breezing quickly thru to tell everyone I lost .5 lb this week . . . not a lot, but it’s still slow going for me.
    Now for the GOOD news . . . [drum roll please]: I GOT A JOB! I’ve been laid off for four months and collecting unemployment sucks. Yesterday I was interviewed — such a cute little place — and one hour later they called and offered me the job. [dancing and singing “I’m so excited” wildly]
    Still not getting enough exercise, but I got my #FF story written today while babysitting. My daughter is going thru a tuff divorce and I’m trying to be as suppostive as possible.
    Continuing with the upkeep of 2 blogs will be challenging now that I’m working, but I’m going to give it good try!
    Write On all,
    –Weezel

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      WooHoo! Happy Dance!!! Now that IS GOOD NEWS! Congrats! They must have really liked you if they called back in one hour!

      It sounds like you are going to be VERY busy now! I wish you luck with the new job, the writing and helping your daughter – I’m sure she really appreciates it during her difficult time!

    2. Candice

      YAY! Congrats on the new job!!

    3. Shon Bacon

      Congrats on the job. That is the best new of the week, 🙂

  8. Anne Tyler Lord

    I still haven’t weighed myself. Mostly I forget in the morning. My weight has been about the same for years, so may take a little boosting in the exercise department. I am looking forward to warmer weather – one-two degrees ABOVE freezing – it is a heat wave. I will be able to get out walking! But so far, stretching and very light weight lifting is still my speed.

    I’ve done fairly well on the reduction of sugar and refined grains. Only a couple treats made their way to me via the kids.

    I have been writing everyday and managing to get a couple posts up each week. To me, this is a miracle. I am writing more consistently than I ever have without a job pushing me.

    I want to start reading some classic literature next week. I wanted to start with Tolstoy – got inspired by a Young Indiana Jones movie I watched with the kids – those movies are great and have a lot of educational special features. I learn a lot. Any votes for whether I should start with War and Peace or Anna Karenina?

    1. Cynthia Schuerr

      Anne, Thanks for your wonderful words of encouragement this morning. How can I fail with you and Laura supporting me.I hear you about the temps. It has actually went above freezing yesterday and today. So, It did feel like Spring on my walk. If only it were real.:-)

      Great job on eliminating or reducing the sugar. That is a hard one. And I am happy for you that you are getting your writing in everyday. We all know that is not always an easy thing to do. You are rockin’!

      Both of your reading choices are great, but my vote is Anna Karenina.

      Oh and by the way, my theme song is The Power of a Dream, by Celine Dion.

      1. Anne Tyler Lord

        Thanks Cynthia!

        I am getting both from the library today, will check out Anna Karenina first.

        That is a great theme song!!!

  9. Laura Eno

    I don’t think you sound whiney at all, Cynthia. That is a tremendous amount of pressure to be going through right now. My best to your brothers. Perhaps you could write about your feelings? Even if you never post it, it will be a release of tension for you.

    As to myself, it’s been another week of holding steady, weightwise. But, I’ve been steadily increasing my time on the treadmill so I’m excited about that.

    1. Cynthia Schuerr

      Awwww, Thanks for saying that, Laura. I didn’t want to bring negativity here to the board. I think your idea is a great one and I know it will help. I will write down my feelings, and maybe I’ll get a blog post out of it, somehow.

      Conrats to you, Laura, for increasing your treadmill time. Isn’t it fun to know others want to see you do well. That is awesome!

      1. Anne Tyler Lord

        always feel free to share your struggles and hardships – we all have them – and it is not negativity. We are here to support each other through everything that comes into our lives, the good, the bad, and the ugly, although I don’t think we have any “ugly” here, except for Laura’s Jezebel, but don’t tell her, I’m afraid of her.

        1. Jezebel

          Tap, tap, tap…do you hear the tentacles drumming on the desk?

          1. Anne Tyler Lord

            *not speaking…looking away….trembling*

          2. Cynthia Schuerr

            And …..as for you…..Jezebel!
            I hear your tentacles tapping. Do you need a little scratch behind them? I see you are keeping your word about your tongue……….no lick…Ahhh! Darn you, Jezebel. I am soaking wet…..now I have to change my clothes. You promised!!!!

    2. Anne Tyler Lord

      Yay Laura, holding steady is a great accomplishment. And, increasing exercise is to be commended. Don’t forget that great interview!!!!

  10. Cynthia Schuerr

    Hi Girlfriends,

    I am excited to tell you that I have lost another 2 lbs. I know it’s not as good as last week, but I knew it wouldn’t be. Not because I was a bad girl and didn’t exercise or eat healthy,(because I did) but because the initial weight loss is usually water weight. And that’s OK! Si I will celebrate my 2 lbs and look forward to 2 more next week.

    I have been walking every day for at least 35 minutes and then doing yoga stretches. I have hip pain from a car accident I was in about 10 yrs ago, so the stretching really helps alleviate the pain.
    Anyway, all in all, my weight loss and healthy living goals are being met.

    Hoooooooowwwwwwwweeeeeeevvvvvveeeeeerrrrrr, I am disappointed in myself, where my writing goals come in to play. OK, I wrote a poem, without even knowing it (long story) and I finished a short to send into Soft Whispers. That’s it! My last blog post was last year, Dec. 31, 2009. I can’t seem to get on it. I have looked at my WIP and made a couple decisions about my MC, but it’s not enough. Not if I am going to submit by Spring or Summer, as I promised myself.

    I don’t mean to be a downer to everyone, or sound whiney. I am not a whiner. But, I do want to be honest with you. I have a two brothers that are going through major health issues. One with cancer, going through chemo, and one suffered a major heart attack this week. I spent a bunch of time with him in the hospital. I am so worried about both of them right now. I am trying not to let them become excuses for not meeting my writing goals.

    OK! Nuff said! Done with pity party and will pick a theme song. I’ll be back in a little while. Thanks for listening everyone.

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Goodness Cynthia, you should read your own post. You had a very successful, and very busy week. Caring for others in great need, pain and illness, is more than enough to define a successful week in anyone’s life. There is no greater gift of our time, and no bigger definition of a good week than being there for those who need us. Sometimes there are more important things in life than writing and meeting goals we can do later. I like the idea Laura had about writing through the difficult times as part of the process. I send you and your family strength and peace.

      I see you are in the “stretch to alleviate pain” club that we seem to have made as a sub-group. But I won’t join your arctic walk club. Thank goodness it is getting warmer and the snow will be melting over the next week, at least to some extent.

      Hang in there, you have the right priorities.

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