Words Of Advice

Words Of Advice For 2012

A Cautionary Comic For Writers by Debbie Ohi

Debbie Ohi is super cool, knowledgeable and funny so I suggest you check out her blog Inkygirl if you haven't already.

I think that her comic makes a much better point than I can. We all say we will do more writing, that we'll make more time for it etc etc etc. But often we end up distracted. I kind of have to be online because of my job (writing copy for websites), because of this blog and because I write and review books so I like to keep informed about what's going on. But that's no excuse for the stupid amount of time I spend just refreshing Facebook and Twitter. I think that every single one of us could do with cutting back a little bit, even if you visit Facebook just one less time than usual that's a good few minutes extra that you could be writing!

Check your email and reply to any emails that are urgent but then try to stay offline until your work is done! Then once that's over you have lots of free time to Facebook, tweet, chat, email, read blogs and generally fritter away the hours on the internet to your hearts content.

My life pretty much revolves around the internet, and that's totally cool because everyone lives different. But we all need to strike a balance.

Also, go outside once in a while. Even if it's just to walk to a bookshop or the library and back.

So here are my words of advice for 2012: Write. Write more. Write lots. Write until you can't stand not writing. Write until it becomes a need, something you have to do. Write because you want to, because you love to, because you can't imagine a life where you're not writing. 

To do list

Johnny Cash's to do list

To do list, 2012 edition!

 Send out my manuscript to agents

 Start a comic

 Continue writing my blog every day

 Write book 3

 Watch more anime

 Read more comics

 Do some form of regular exercise

 Get a puppy and kitten

Something For The Weekend

It's New Years Eve today so I hope you're all planning to do something fun! I've never been one to go out for New Years, I went to a pub with my friends once in my first year of university and that was the only time. That pub was cool though because there was a dog! Anyway, I've pretty much always spent New Years either with my parents or with my friends at someone's house.

This year my fiancé's brother is staying with us and I think that they do fireworks on the beach opposite our house every year so we get a free show!

But before you run off to make the finishing touches to your party plans check out some of my suggestions to do today!

Something to eat:

Boozy Appetizers - Cucumber and rummy hummus

I love cucumber, I will eat it as if it's an apple and hummus is one of the tastiest things on the planet if it's done right so these look delicious to me. The added rum makes them a little bit different and grown up too. The recipe is from PETA and although I'm not a supporter, they do have some great veggie recipies.

Something to make:

DIY fabric bunting

Now this is actually an idea for a kids birthday party, but I think it would be fantastic for any occasion. At a New Years party you could clip on pictures of you, your family and your friends from earlier in the year to show everything you've done!

Cupcake toppers

I also love the idea of making little cake toppers like these, they add a touch of fun and silliness to a party. Just because you're a grown up doesn't mean you can't add a little childish fun into the mix! I always think that by doing fun little things like this it can help everyone relax.

Something to read:

For the animal product avoiding people out there, and all those who don't bother avoiding them at all, check out Like a Vegan for some very yummy, healthy recipes to start off your New Year!

Something to watch: 

For those who may be starting out the year by themselves or are feeling lonely right now, watch this:

How to be alone

" Lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless, and lonely is healing if you make it."