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Thank you to everyone who either stopped by the National Writing for Children Center yesterday to comment on their choice for our new logo for our weekly podcast, Book Bites for Kids, or they emailed to tell me which of the three logos they preferred.

Everyone’s comments and suggestions were a BIG help!

And now, here’s the new logo we chose for Book Bites for Kids, based on those comments and suggestions:

Please visit the National Writing for Children Center today and help us make the final choice for the new logo for Book Bites for Kids.

Thanks so much!

Book Bites for Kids, a weekly podcast that I host for the National Writing for Children Center is coming to BlogTalkRadio.com beginning this Friday afternoon, August 24th.

Click on the button below to find out how to listen to - and call in - to the show this Friday.

If you want to be successful in any field, first you have to know what you want.

Sounds easy, right?

It’s not.

In fact, most people don’t know what they really want.

So it’s no surprise they’re dissatisfied with what they have, what they do, and what they are.

If this sounds like you, join us this Thursday night, August 23rd, at 7:00 CST, for Writers on Call.

This week’s teleclass is called, How to Know What You REALLY Want.

Find out more about Writers On Call, and subscribe, HERE.

Like most writers, I often find out more about my new books from checking at amazon.com than I do from my publishers.

I’ve been checking amazon.com every day to see if they’ve posted the cover for my new book, The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

Since they had the release date of the book as September 2007, I figured the cover should be up soon.

I thought my publisher had indicated the book would be released in 2008, but I’ve been surprised about a release date before when I checked at amazon.com - and I don’t usually bother to dig out my contract to check the release date.

Well, yesterday when I looked at amazon.com, I noticed that the release date for the book has been pushed back to May 2008.

That’s a bit disappointing since I was hoping to have the book for my school presentations this year.

Oh, well…not much I can do about it.

I guess I’ll just tell students about the book and try to get them anxious to read it when it is released in May.

You know what they say, “the kitchen is the heart of the home.”

That’s certainly true at our house.

The kitchen is where we gather to cook, talk, and enjoy a delicious meal together at the end of the day.

We also have one important “tool” in our kitchen that gives it true “heart.”

But this tool has nothing to do with cooking and everything to do with communication.

It’s a small chalkboard hung on the wall next to the stove.

We call it the Family Message Center.

It’s where we leave all sorts of messages for each other.

For example, if I’m going to leave the house before my husband gets home from work in the evening, and I want to let him know where I am, instead of reaching for the phone and leaving him a voicemail message, I reach for the chalk and scribble down a message on the chalkboard.

Something like: Gone to my writer’s meeting. See you around 8:00!
XXXOOO

We also use the chalkboard to wish each other a happy birthday, wish everyone a Merry Christmas ( we count down the days and use it as our own advent calendar), share important quotes we’ve read that we think are worth sharing, and even post a word for the day and a definition.

But the messages I most enjoy seeing on our chalkboard are the unexpected ones.

As when our grown son Tyler drops by for a meal, and later I look at the chalkboard and see that he’s written,

Great dinner, Mom! Enjoyed the chess game, Dad. Thanks!

Or, our son Nick will sketch a cartoon character, along with a silly joke.

My husband likes to write things out in “code” so we have to figure out what he’s trying to tell us.

Not that his code is anything the average person can’t decipher instantly.

Silly, but endearing messages like - URthe1Iwant2C2nite.

I use the board to post affirmations - although my sons have been known to alter these statements and turn them into silly jokes.

But the point is, you can improve family communication with a simple chalkboard.

When you get in the habit of leaving messages - whether your message is a word for the day, a thank you, a happy birthday wish, or even an affirmation - everyone in the family suddenly has something to “say” and will usually write it down.

And you’ll probably find your family talking about the messages during dinner some evenings, too.

So create better family communication.

Get a chalkboard.

And use it!

by Dan Goodwin

How easy do you find it to focus on one creative project, and to really make some significant progress?

When’s the last time you really felt “That was a great session of creating, I really enjoyed it and feel I moved it on to the next stage”?

Most creative people struggle to get this focused. New ideas pour in constantly, and rather than stick with the project you’re working on, it’s so easy to just jump aboard the next interesting new wave and ride it until another new one comes along.

You end up with dozens of unfinished projects scattered around – both physically, and scattered around as fragments in your head.

Having fresh ideas is a crucial part of a fulfilling creative life. But another equally important element is finishing creative projects, feeing proud that you’ve completed something and that it’s an authentic expression of who you are.

Rather than flitting from project to project like a confused moth in a room full of candles, sometimes it’s good to get laser-focused on just one at a time.

So here are 3 steps to get your creativity focused:

1. Write your “Statement of Intent.” Pick one creative idea to work on and commit to a period of time to work on it. Write your commitment down, it makes it clearer and more likely that you’ll follow through with it. For example: “I commit my creative energies to working for 30 minutes a day for the next 14 days on my new short story about my time travelling in Singapore.”

Include in your “Statement of Intent” an overall period that you’re going to work on the project (eg 14 days) and how much and how often (eg 30 minutes per day) to help you get really focused.

2. Do not disturb. Throughout your period of focus, do all you can to eliminate distractions. Create in a place that is as undisturbed as possible. If necessary, let people know of your intention and kindly request they respect your privacy for that short period of time and allow you to focus.

To manage incoming new ideas, simply keep a small notepad nearby. When a new idea appears, jot it in your notepad to work on at a later time, then close the notepad and continue on your current project.

3. Review, adjust, create. Don’t worry about setting a specific goal like “I’m going to finish 10 pages of my new altered book”. Instead commit just to giving the project your time, energy and focus and allow it to evolve naturally, in whatever way it needs to.

At the end of your period of creativity, review your progress. Congratulate yourself on what you’ve achieved. Ask what’s worked well and what you can adjust to help you be even more focused the next time. Then set a new Statement of Intent and get creating again!

This 3 step process is a powerful way of getting focused with your creativity, and building your confidence in creating.

Now it’s your turn. Start with step 1, and write your Statement of Intent. Then work on through the other 2 steps. Happy creating!

Would you like to kick-start your creativity today? Then download your free copy of the Explode Your Creativity! Action Workbook at www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Goodwin

As director of the National Writing for Children Center and coaching coordinator for the Children’s Writers Coaching Club, I get to have a lot of fun each month speaking with other children’s authors and illustrators for our two monthly teleclasses, and our weekly podcast, Book Bites for Kids.

Last night we had a wonderful teleclass for club members with children’s author/illustrator Dianna Bonder. Dianna is a warm and generous person who lives many people’s dream life as a writer and illustrator on a small island that’s part of British Columbia. Her children’s book illustrations are amazing.

Read more about Dianna Bonder’s work here and even get a glimpse of her enchanting artist’s studio in the woods.

To find out more about the Children’s Writers Coaching Club and these monthly teleclasses, visit the National Writing for Children Center.