Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 248 – Educate

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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Benjamin Franklin

Many thanks, Spidey for this particular quote.

Yes, I am a teacher, but I am not thinking specifically about my career when I read this quote.

We are, no matter what age, capable of learning new things. I don’t believe that old ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ baloney at all.

And in that vein, I love to educate myself more on topics that are of personal interest to me.

Right know it is all about my writing, and the craft of writing.

I have build an arsenal of craft books to refer to when at the editing stage of my writing. But do I have the time to actually write them?

Sure, I dip into them once in a while, but I haven’t fully devoured them.

Then today, I was made aware of one that I thought might be a perfect read for me… and I started reading it, and have only a little bit left to read now.

It is called Time Management for Writers by Katie Forrest, and I am going to to all out there and say, if you need some help with managing time, whether you are a writer or not, you SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

Sprinkled with personal anecdotes, Katie has really broken down the whys and wherefores of how we spend our time each day, and some extremely easy ways to identify our goals, our ‘Whys’, (as she calls them), and then implement strategies to maxinmise our efficiency.

I, for one, am definitelty excited to start a routine where I am more conscious of when I am productive, and how I can create a world that works for me, in my personal life, professional life and with my passion for writing.

Part of my new routine, to be established, will be a set amount of time, 3-4 days a week, where I read a craft book, and actually digest what I am reading and take notes.

This will enable me to hopefully create better words from the off, when I get back to my creative writing.

See. Educating myself!

And if you are interested, here are my ‘Whys’ for writing.

So… tell me, is there anything new you are learning right now?

When It’s Time To Commit #CoverReveal for Marriage Unarranged – Ritu Bhathal

OMG Peeps! The cover is out there!

Please click below to get your first glimpse of my soon-to-be published novel, Marriage Unarranged!

Cover Reveal Rip

And make sure you’re following me at www.ritubhathal.com to find out when it’s due to be published!

Source: When It’s Time To Commit #CoverReveal for Marriage Unarranged – Ritu Bhathal

Children In Need #bbcchildreninneed

Yesterday was the day of Pudsey Children In Need on the BBC, where the country is urged to help raise funds to help children around the country who may have illnesses or difficulties that they would require a lot of support, physically and financially.

It is a great charity,a nd many have benefitted over the years…

We alway take part at school, encouraging the children to dress up and raise money. The teachers are no different, and when it comes to dressing up and taking part, well, you know me!

Not sure how much we raised so far, but it was great to see my class all dressed up! I had several Pudsey’s like me, and pleny of spots!

Chai And A Chat #58 #ChaiAndAChat

Happy Monday to you all! It’s the start of week three back at school, and plenty is going on around us!

  • If we were sipping chai together I’d start by telling you that I am still standing! Yes, the aches and pains are drifting from here to there, but they are not bad. My knees still hurt, but not as extreme as the week before. My shoulder aches. But, over all, it’s not too bad at the moment. I ran to the hospital on Tuesday in my lunch break to have the next set of bloods taken. So now it’s waiting until this Friday for the next Drs appointment.
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that my dear Beauts in my class are such a lovely bunch! They are still enjoying our Superhero topic, and they love dressing up in capes and masks, and rescuing everyone! And the idea that if they are Super helpful and Super friendly, they have more of a chance of getting on the class rainbow, has worked a treat! They aren’t allowed to tell me themselves, but if another classmate comes and says someone has been Super in any way, to me, they get to be my Superkids for the day!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d say that on Wednesday, we were all dreading our twilight evening. It would mean 2 hours after school, not actually training, but meeting with other teachers in our age group from our academy, and comparing classes and attainment. Thankfully, our Reception meeting didn’t take as long as we hd anticipated, so that was a result!
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that the weekend arrived, quick as a flash, and it was a busier one than the last few weeks. We spent Saturday evening with the in-laws, and the night, I was up most of the night with Lil Man, who was sporting a raging temperature and a really sore throat. As he is prone to tonsillitis, I took him to our local walk in doctors surgery and after a two hour wait, we were told that yes, his tonsils were mildly inflamed, but not infected (thank goodness). So, no antibiotics, but lots of salt water gargles and keeping his neck warm.
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d say that Lil Princess had a great afternoon as she had arranged a visit to one of her new secondary school friends’ house. We both had a lovely time, as I got to have a cuppa and chat with her new friend’s parents and the girls spent the afternoon esperiementing with makeup and hairstyles. Makes me feel happier, that I know some of her new friends.
  • If we were sipping chai together I’d not forget to mention that I have mad a plan to do a cover reveal for THE BOOK soon, possibly this week, so if you haven’t already, make sure you follow my author blog, http://www.ritubhathal.com, so you don’t miss out! I have been very busy, editing crutch words out of the manuscript this week, and from a list of arounbd 10 words, there are 2 left to check. That means I have been through the manuscript 8 times in the last 3 weeks, adjusting and deleting! Once I finish this time consuming task, I need to spell check and read myself to make sure it all makes sense, then I can send to my editor for the final read through! OMG, so nervewracking….! I still have to write a proper blurb yet!
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that today and tomorrow I will be at school until late as it is that time of year again… parents evenings! I actually quite enjoy them, speaking to the parents about how their darlings are coming along! But it’ll be tiring.
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d mention that obviously, Friday I will have my Dr’s appointment, so fingers crossed there will be something to discuss, after all the blood tests.
  • If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d let you know that I already can’t wait for the weekend!

Right, that’s me done Peeps! Let me how your week has been.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 245

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“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks for that Spidey. How did you know that I have been struggling with making a padrticular decision recently?

You all know I have been writing, or rather, editing the last few months on and off. My novel manuscript is almost as polished as it can be, give or tale a few crutch word tweaks.

I made a crunch decision a few weeks ago, to self publish, and join the ranks of Indie authors out there.

I have self published already, but that was my poetry book.

My initial dream was to get a traditional publishing deal, but I know that is a tough call. A few positive rejections and I thought “Hey, it can’t be that bad, if the comments I got have been pretty positive.” so I made a little decision, in my mind.

If they aren’t going to do it, then I’ll do it myself!

I haven’t been working on that book for nigh on 19 years for nothing.

And so, my decision has been made, and I have had huge encouragement from various sources too.

I have also made another decision, that within the next week, or so, there will be a cover reveal on my author blog!!! Eeeeek!

Yes, I have a beautiful cover. And I can’t wait to share it!

So if you haven’t already, follow me there on www.ritubhathal.com and you’ll see my pretty cover first, when the post is up!

I’m nervous as anything, but can’t wait to hear what you all think!

So… tell me, what decision have you made that you will never regret?

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