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Default Jul 31, 2020 at 12:04 AM
  #101
Where is Squarepegguy when I need him? I'm having trouble getting a photo for the cover with enough resolution. Sound familiar? A friend offered to design the cover. Very cool. The downloads from Creative Commons all come out as jpgs. I need higher resolution. I need to know what my designer friend wants to work with. Then I need to get in touch with the photographer and ask for a high-res photo. I don't want to bother the photographer and then not use his/her photo. It's nothing that can't be resolved. And I'm lucky to have these resources available. An embarrassment of riches actually. Anyway, the cover work has been one surprise after another - some good some bad.
Happy stepping.
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Default Jul 31, 2020 at 11:11 AM
  #102
Delightful, you've laid out your steps. I appreciate that you're holding off getting to the photographer till you feel confident you can use what you ask for.

Today: office hours from 9 am to about 2 pm. Watching for some confirming emails and thinking how to promote my playshop in 2.5 weeks.

Breathing after a crazy run of hard work, medical issues, projects finishing, and continued grief with covid losses, invaded cities, … and it just goes on.

I guess when you can't catch a break you have to claim one.

Happy weekending everyone.

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Default Aug 01, 2020 at 11:52 AM
  #103
Welcome to August.

Getting things done is hard work. Doing them well is even harder. We learn and lean on one another to slog through from putting it on a list, the too-long middle, and on to the finish line. We celebrate crossing the finish line.

Everyone is welcome. Focus on whatever time horizon you feel works. I just finished reading Superforecasting by Philip Tetlock. One of the people he quoted said that when he was approached by a direct report with an idea he'd ask for a time estimate to completion then mentally doubled that and move up a unit. So, if I approached him and said something would take a week, he'd double it to two weeks, and go up a unit and expect it to take 2 months!

Even if we're all that far off the mark, we do eventually finish things.

Formulas? There are no set formulas, we're trying to get things done! (my cover of a quote from Thomas Edison).

Take it up a little bit a day. Share it, report progress, complain, keep at it, get near the finish and complain even more about how hard it is to close out, finish, celebrate, rest.

Revu2

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Default Aug 02, 2020 at 06:54 PM
  #104
I'm afraid your time frame is right on, or even a little optimistic. Things I think I should get done in two months take about four years, and then some.

At the moment, the book cover is going well. My designer friend suggested I try iStock and I found a lot of good photos there. I have to pay for the photo, but not enough to make me hesitate. I found about twenty that I like. I culled it down to about ten, and emailed copies of the photos to my friend. So now, the ball is in her court and I have to wait.

On a way less cheerful note: A friend told me she was done - she was done interacting with humans. I didn't say the right things. I didn't know what to say.
I get depression. My answer to depression is to get exercise, see people, and get out of the house. All of this is made more difficult with COVID. I've been concentrating on myself, getting myself out when I start to get twitchy or down. And I haven't considered that other people might be having a tougher time than I am.
In response to my friend's statement, I wrote her a note saying sorry if I wasn't paying attention; I called a friend whom I haven't talked to in a while, and I wrote a comment in a neighborhood chat - "if you want to help get our schools, businesses and churches open, practice social distancing. This comment is designed for those who don't believe the threat is real.

That's three positive steps.

Next step - I'm leaving the computer and I'm going to water my garden.

Good luck, good wishes, good stepping.
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Default Aug 05, 2020 at 01:50 PM
  #105
I assume you're working your tail off, Revu2. Me too. I've been editing, typing, proofing, emailing, like mad. An experience I haven't had in quite a while. At the moment, everything is working.
Happy stepping.
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Default Aug 06, 2020 at 12:03 PM
  #106
Working tail off? Not much right now, but always plenty to do.

Today I'm commenting on the challenge mindset that someone just "discovered." Like grit and growth mindset, and the Americas, it was here all along and people were already inhabitants.

Anyway, it's fun to see research document what anyone who attends might notice. This from the Institute for Competitive Sciences:
What is this Challenge Versus Threat Business Really?
Put simply, the Challenge Mindset (or gain orientation) is when we view a stressful or competitive situation as an opportunity to increase our set of resources, while a Threat Mindset is when that stressful situation is viewed as an opportunity in which we may lose some of our already existing resources.
In my life, I played around with compound interest calculators and found that with just half of one percent—.5% or .005—of gain each time I did something, in a 140 iterations I'm twice as good as I was at the start. What this does is reminds me to cheer my 'small' improvements along the way. For example, I check in to PC frequently and go directly to my subscriptions page. I don't need the email notifications. One improvement was to adjust my general notifications setting. Probably helped but still get too many in my inbox. Next small tweak is to make sure that box is empty after I finish this note.

What this does is reduce the clutter a bit in my email inbox for, oh, let's say half of one percent.

My traffic yellow painting work interrupted due to rains today. Two days off. After the recycling is hauled away and if it's sunny, I'll tackle it tomorrow.

Using the time to map out how to apply for a new consultant's roster.

To the challenges,
Revu2

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Default Aug 09, 2020 at 12:58 AM
  #107
None too busy, so busy finds me. Today managed to get to 3 hardware before I found an acceptable combo lock for our garbage dumpster. Walking and buses.

Fatigued? Sure, but it's not time to rest.

Because I then stood in line to buy stuff at the Farmers Market. Then back home, rest at last for a few minutes. But I got up and continued to paint the yellow traffic paint on the entrance to our garage. More painting tomorrow.

It's been fun to see my hafapercent insights stack up. I once was a "professional painter" meaning I got paid for it (not much) for a few weeks. Remember a lot: keep the roller and brushes moist by sprinkling water on them and wrapping in saranwrap to store overnight. Work everyday if you can so the brushes are renewed. Line the tray with plastic. Punch holes in the inside of the paint can inner lid so excess paint can drip back in the can.

Now I invented something. I have a set of plastic 4 x 4 food storage containers. About $2.50 for 4, I think. Lined the bottom with plastic and stretched and taped down saranwrap across the top. Then I punched two holes near opposite corners of the lid, one to drip out paint, the other for air. Filled this with paint. One hand held the brush or roller and the other this dripper thing. This saves so much time because I don't have to keep refilling my small tray or reach for more paint, I just drip and roll.

Just checked, there are some products that store paint in a bottle/handle. $18. my DIY system costs maybe 90¢, at the most, 95% cheaper.

I'll try not to spend it all in one place.

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Default Aug 09, 2020 at 11:49 AM
  #108
HI,
Interesting stuff. I think the challenge turns into a threat - for me - when I don't think I have the energy, resources, of ability to meet it. Resources usually means friends or relatives who know what I want to know. (Barbara Sher's influence - share knowledge and abilities.) - example I have to use KDP's template. Their chapter numbers stop at ten. When I added chapters, the first nine chapters moved. My son-in-law told me to right-click to open a new cell. Simple, but I didn't think of it. I'd probably been taught that thirty years ago, but . . .
I enjoyed reading about the painting. I love painting (never did it for a living, but paint a lot for myself.) And I've always made a drippy mess. I had figured out a couple of your hints, but not the hole-punching or lining the tray with Saran Wrap. So thanks. I have a fence that needs to be waterproofed, and I've been putting it off.

For today - I'll try to get the table of contents finished. I have to add the page numbers, and it's a bit different, but I think the same principle applies. Then - a couple of emails, more proofreading, more work in the garden, a load of laundry, and I can goof off shamelessly.

I love the feeling of stepping when I accomplish things. And I hate the feeling of trying to step and being stopped. I'll bet that's what stops a lot of scanners. Maybe that's not fair; I can't look into their heads.
Okay, off to work. Hi, ho, hi, ho . . .
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Default Aug 09, 2020 at 01:19 PM
  #109
. . . trying to step and being stopped - case in point. It took me an hour and half today to get the table of contents written. I spent at least an hour on it yesterday - probably a lot longer. And another hour the day before that. That's the stuff that stops me. Today, I tried several approaches. I finally got all the chapters and pages entered - and found nine pages of empty tables below what I had entered. It was kinda funny, actually. Eventually figured out how to delete the empty pages. Had I just entered the chapters without using the table setup it would have taken me a half hour at the very most. Oh, I still haven't double-checked that the numbers are correct.
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Default Aug 09, 2020 at 09:14 PM
  #110
Why or why is it so hard for apps to get TOC right? I totally get the frustration. In one of the prior WORD versions the trick was something like place .c. in from of the heading and it would catch it and place it in the TOC. When I finally got that to work, you guessed it, we "upgraded" and had to start all over.

Finished the painting I needed to do today. Next up: the steps. Going to go with 6 inch bars right at the edge. That's all that's needed to get up them in the dark. I have a call from 1:30 to 3 and another from 4:45 on. I'll see how much I can do in an hour. I'd rather not miss a day so the roller and brush stay moist.

Getting an idea of some type of stamp or sheet with paint, 6 x 3 or 4 inches and folder or 90° in the middle. I can sense the material but don't know if anything like it exist in real life, yet.

Or, a thin cardboard stencil that I can use on several steps. It'll be easier to paint leaning up the steps, I so should start at the top and work my way down.

Thanks, for lending your ears, PsychCentral. Anyone lurkers have steps they are wanting to take?

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Default Aug 10, 2020 at 06:27 PM
  #111
After much angst, I got the TOC right. I hope. I'm giving the book a final edit, but I think, except for adding the photographer's name (which I can't do until we pick a cover photo) the insides are good to go. My designer friend asked for a deadline, so I said "two weeks." The book should be ready for KDP's review on August 22. It should be ready for purchase a few days after that. I should add that there will probably still be typos in the manuscript. Sorry, readers.
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Default Aug 11, 2020 at 10:59 AM
  #112
Hang tough, D.

I'm enjoying a side steps a day dance with a friend. We each have some project in mind and most days email something like: 8/11: Y or 8/11: N in the subject line and that's all.

It's a buddy system like this thread meshing Seinfeld keep the string alive w/ the quick updates that BJ Fogg developed for his tiny habits followers.

So, I'll do some of that here.
Project: writing draft with flair for a consultant's roster
Due: 11:59 pm 8/28
length: about 14,000 characters (it's their process) or 2,000 words, 8 pages

I will add 'flair' during the drafting process to keep me interested. Flair are things I may or may not let into the final doc. Flair are counter quotes (mocking the tone of application), literary quotes, misquotes, poems, parodies, and under or over hype of myself.

8/11: Y.
R

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Default Aug 11, 2020 at 05:49 PM
  #113
I think Nanowrimo is similar to Jerry Seinfeld's "don't break the chain." You get badges for writing several days in a row. And in order to get the 50,000 words, you need to write almost every day,
Good luck with your project. I like your "flair"

Me - I'm just stepping along now. I've been staring at the computer for too long, and my brain is about to melt. I'm going outside for while.
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Default Aug 11, 2020 at 06:56 PM
  #114
So my designer says that four to six weeks is more realistic as her husband is home-schooling their kids, and she's swamped handling most of the outside work. She asked me how I plan to promote the book. This is the elephant in the room. As you remember, I hate marketing and i'm not very good at it.
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Default Aug 13, 2020 at 01:17 AM
  #115
Re Nano: yeah, there's a lot of apps and badge offering or 'gaming' ideas. What's working well for us is the accountabuddy™ day-by-day check in. Just like here.
Obit today for painting yellow traffic paint on a few curbs & steps at my condo. It's about 10 days. Washed out the brush and roller, tossed what I could. Everything drying overnight then it's really done.
I'm on condo break before shopping for a chimney sweep. After that it gets hard again as I'll track down some suspected overbilling issues.
On application: 8/12: Yes.

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Default Aug 14, 2020 at 12:39 PM
  #116
yes, accountabuddy(TM) is important - probably more important than anything else. Congrats on tasks completed.

Me - I got everything done on that list I posted last week except the letters. My writing is moving into new directions, and that's challenging, as I'm going to have to think in different ways from what I've been doing (Bad sentence for someone who says she's a writer). My steps are - in no particular order"
Start working on new novel - that means writing instead of editing.
work up marketing plan and implement. Start with reading all the advice I have on marketing, plan what to post on Twiter, Facebook, Instagram,.
Develop a new blog.
Write those friggin' letters that I've been avoiding.
And, in between that, I'm still adding last touches to "Through Unfamiliar Waters." I just discovered, after about a year of editing, that Vivian's friend is Denise in Bar Harbor. I chose Denise because she'd been Vivian's friend in "Through Unfamiliar Waters." Two days ago, I realized that Denise was Johanna's friend, not Vivian's. And it's unlikely that Denise would have known both women. Also, Jeremy threatened Alex with Alcatraz, and, about a month ago, I realized that Alcatraz hasn't been an operating prison in over fifty years. How can I overlook such obvious things????
Hopefully, there isn't something else like that lurking undiscovered.

Happy stepping, everyone.
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Default Aug 15, 2020 at 11:37 PM
  #117
My writing is moving into new directions, and that's challenging, as I'm going to have to think in different ways from what I've been doing (Bad sentence for someone who says she's a writer).

a/ My writing is moving into new directions, and that's challenging, as I'm going to have to think in different ways from what I've been doing.

b/ My writing is moving in new, challenging directions that make me think and in different ways about both what I write and how I write.

I'll stop there.

Steps: worked on application: Yes.
More of same tomorrow along with reviewing how to use break out rooms on Zoom and setting up my last slide.

Up and onward, Revu2

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Default Aug 18, 2020 at 12:11 PM
  #118
Revu2, good to hear you're stepping along.

Interesting twist on my words, Revue. And, yes, to different ways. I am beginning to think in new directions.
Three first goals:
Explore Amazon's site and find and carefully read about everything the offer to writers.
Keep working on Johanna's story and Brat's story.
Start establishing presence on social media.

I got my first idea about the social media goal. Boy, is this thinking in a new direction! The end product will be posts on a blog and tweets, Facebook posts, and other posts as I think of them. What to post about? Two thoughts worth blogging about are - 1. In this age, technology does a lot for us, but we are losing the ability to think because so much thinking is done for us. and
2. Scanners. When I first heard the word scanner, I was sad because I'm not a scanner. I had much more curiosity when I was in college than I do now. But the down side of being a scanner is that it's hard to finish something, see it through the hard times and the boring times. Scanners are capable of sticking to a difficult task , many of them are college grads, and you can't get through college without some nose-to=the-grindstone effort. It's just that that type of work goes against their nature. And I think of so many people who have posted on Barbara's Boards and here on psych central with great ideas, and then they never post anything again. And maybe they're off doing successful things and don't feel the need to post. But. for me, the measly steps and an accountability buddy are the way to go.

That's what I came up with. It's all still a bit hazy, but that's two meaty ideas to blog about. In between, I can post bits of my writing, I wish my short stories were shorter. And I can post interesting pictures. Maybe I'll post pictures from creative commons. Some of them are really good. And I can post a lot of Barbara's ideas.


Happy stepping

This is the point in the creative process where I see scanners disappearing from the stepping thread. - When they go from a hazy "I have a dream. Everything is perfect" place to harsh reality. And sometimes I think you need to step away and let your brain "perk" before the ideas show up. But if you're going to succeed, you need to come back and tackle the harsh reality one step at a time. And then there's the part where the world socks it to your face with various versions of calamity. "Who do you think you are." No one wants to publish your work. Someone you love dies or divorces you.

Anyway, that's what I've come up with. And I'm going to use your twist somewhere in my blog if it's okay with you.
Today, I want to make a board with post-it notes and tack all my ideas onto it. - Which, as I think of it, is a very scanner thing to do.

Oh, and I can use some of the quotes I copied from the Boards.

Where is square peg guy when I need him?
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Default Aug 19, 2020 at 02:48 AM
  #119
Got to my application.
Quote & use however you want.
Interesting thoughts on Scanners and their flitting away from the hard middle parts to the shiny new beginnings of something else. I tell myself "I finish what I start." Not literally always true as I do deliberately abandon stuff, but enough of a prod to get me through the hard middle boring sections of the journey.
I like you idea of mining Barbara's site for your blogs. There were so many beautiful gems that people put up them. Like the brushing back and forth in the forums polished their motives, sharpened their thinking, and clarified their feelings. The wayback archives might be a good resource.
Next up on the yuck list: dealing with chronic leaking water just north of our condo. Could be from our lines (hope not) but it will get messy as I most likely will have to encourage the City to contact the uphill neighbors about it if that proves to be the source. Yet, once I do a decent concrete thing (find the account documents, for example) I let go of the drag and just keep at it.
College: think about what you will write about, start research, lock in the topic, do enough research to write a decent paper, write the damn paper, edit it, rewrite paper, turn in. Rest, and repeat till they say stop and hand you a piece of parchment.
Revu2

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Default Aug 20, 2020 at 11:38 AM
  #120
Ton of wildfires in California. I'm probably okay where I am but the governor said everyone in CA should pack and be ready to leave at a moments notice. I'll never look at lightning the same again. Yesterday, I pulled out "Temporary Address", the prequel to "Through Unfamiliar Waters." I knew it would be bad, but I didn't realize how bad it was. Since I self=published, I can go back and change it. Not an option with a professional publisher, but a pro would never have published it in the first place. Life is a constant learning experience. I think today, I'll cut back some of plants growing around my house. There are some mini=pine trees, and pines burn fast and hot even when they're green. (The minis are thirty years old and about ten feet tall, so not that mini.

We have over a hundred individual fires - some have been grouped into "complexes" which share the fire crews. The two largest complexes are over 100,000 acres each with no containment. That's huge.

I'll be stepping, but I probably won't be happy.
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