Monday Mashup: Writing Tips and Self Care for Writers
I did it again. I filled up my Facebook queue with saved links like Emily Dickinson filled her mattress with poetry slips.
I scoured the internet, so you don’t have to. đ
Here are my favorite links from the past couple of weeks.
Writing Tips and Self Care for Writers, Along With Some Food for Thought
Self Care for Writers by paranormal/fantasy author, Jami Gold, is a must read for writers who like to go from one project to the next and need a reminder to schedule in some downtime too.
Illustrator Andrea Tsurumi shared You’ll Never Have Enough Time about carving out work time and space, avoiding burnout, and what going freelance really means.
If you’re feeling like Andrea from the last post, you’ll also enjoy 5 Tips for Making Writing a Daily Habit.
There’s lots out there about fair pay for writers right now and I thought this article on The Rich Writer Myth by Ros Barber was interesting. It’s written sharing examples of pounds, but I think you can convert it to dollars for us in the states.
Ros followed up her own article with one on The Guardian elaborating on the publishing industry with For Me, Traditional Publishing Means Poverty, But Self-Publish? No Way.
Because we can’t end on the bummer of bucks, or the misery of making moola, here are 20 Empowering Quotes By Female Authors That Are Perfect to Decorate Your Office With.
Self-Care and Body Positivity for All:
This was my de-stress project this weekend. Adult coloring and playing with my art journal.Â
I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time accepting compliments. I hear them and I immediately shrug them off or worse, name a flaw right afterwards. It’s something I’m working on. So of course, I saved this article on 7 Tips for Working on Your Self Confidence: Accepting That You’re Awesome.
And if you’re still feeling a little beat up mentally, here’s 6 Ways to Feel Better About Yourself Right Now. Read it, I’ll wait. … There now, don’t you feel better? đ
My facebook queue is always full of posts by Heather from Hiya Tootsie, and here’s one I wanted to share with you! What’s Luck Got to Do With It? 3 Ways to Honor the Work Your Dreams Require.
Are you constantly stressed from the day job plus the side hustle? This money saving blog offered all kinds of low stress money-making opportunities as well as a simple plan for setting money aside each month. How I Saved $1000 While Living Paycheck to Paycheck.
Because all bodies deserve respect, you should reward yourself by reading August McLaughlin’s How to REALLY Get Body-Positive. This post was blowing up my twitter feed and it’s worth reading more than once!
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What are the posts saved up in your queues? Got any other good ones to share?
How are you practicing self care this week?Â
The Redhots: A Picture Says A Thousand Words
Happy Redhots Day!
It’s another month’s edition of The Redhots and Marcia Richards and I are back and bolder than ever!
*crickets*
Ok, you caught us, we’re both crazed madwomen right now!
Let’s face it, the holidays are stressful! Believe me, I work in retail. I’ve put in an insane amount of days and hours for the past month – hence the disappearance of me from the blogosphere. But I’ve missed you all and wrote you a little poem while I was away. So settle into your pajamas, kiddos, Jess is going to read you a story!
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The Sale Before Christmas
It was the sale before Christmas and all through the mall the customers were shopping for gifts big and small! Â The registers were ringing, the managers running. And somewhere in their temporal lobes – a constant, steady drumming! Â This coupon! That special! Lines the length of trains! – Had this particular manager wracking her redhot brains! Â There were gifts to still wrap, Heck presents to buy! Not to mention the store potluck, that dang peppermint pie! Â There was severe lack of sleep and a small bought with the flu. But Christmas was coming! What’s a girl to do? Â The dishes began to pile at home, and the laundry was crawling the walls. Is this what Kris Kringle had in mind when he said âDeck the Halls?â Â At last the day came and went, though short, it was full of cheer. With family members, grace and thanks I can wish you a Happy New Year!*****
Your turn! This Redhots edition we want to hear YOUR holiday stories! Marcia and I are each posting a picture about the holidays and we’d love to hear your reactions, stories, perhaps poems (who doesn’t love a good limerick or haiku?) all about the holidays! Thanks for sharing and we hope you all had a very happy holiday!

(image from shutterstock.com)
Guest Post by Timothy McKinney: Can Money Buy You Happiness?
Happy Friday Everyone! We’re taking a change from guilty pleasures to talk about happiness. Specifically, that age old question, Can Money Buy You Happiness? Please welcome the author of The Power of Happiness, Timothy McKinney!
Plus: He’s offering 3 lucky commenters a chance to win an e-copy of his book! Leave a comment on today’s post to enter, or double your chances by also leaving a comment on my book review of The Power of Happiness here. All comments must be in by Sunday, September 16th 5pm to win!
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Can You REALLY Buy Happiness With Money?
âMoney, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.â
-Helen Gurley Brown
This past month, American cultural icon Helen Gurley Brown passed away after a lifetime of helping people challenge their beliefs. And, her quote about money really captures the age-old question, âCan money buy happiness?â
The answer to this question isnât as simple as one would think. To illustrate the challenge, letâs look at two peopleâone with money and one without. To keep as many things constant as possible, letâs imagine that these two people are twin brothers, Bill and Bob. They are, of course, the same age, have the same parents, and grew up in the same environment. They have the same level of health and are both in sales. Theyâre both married and have two children each. The main difference between the two brothers is that Bill made an investment when he was in college that made him a lot of money. Bob invested the same amount in a different company and didnât see a return on his investment.
Bill and Bob have a sister, Bonnie. One day, Bonnie comes to her brothers and tells them that her husband has left and taken all of their money. Sheâs got young children and doesn’t know how sheâll make the rent. She asks her brothers for a small loan. Bob is struggling to pay his own rent and doesn’t have any extra to give his sister. He feels awful, but must tell his sister, âI donât have the money right now, but why donât you and the kids come over to dinner this weekend. I canât give you financial support, but I can give you emotional support.â Bill has plenty of money and is easily able to give his sister the money. âDonât worry about it, Sis. Itâs my gift to you.â
Later that week, Bill and Bobâs mother ends up in the hospital after a fall. Sheâs broken her hip and needs surgery. Unfortunately, her insurance wonât cover the entire cost of the surgery. Bill says to his mother, âItâs okay, Mom. I can cover the gap. You just worry about getting better.â Bob visits his mom, too. He brings her a huge bouquet of flowers and a copy of her favorite book. He spends the afternoon with his mother in the hospital reading to her.
The next month, during the brothersâ annual âGuys Weekend,â Bill and Bob are sitting on a small boat on a lake doing some fishing. The subject of happiness comes up. Â âBill, are you happy in your life?â asks Bob.
âYeah, I am. Of course, there are some things I would changeâŚâ
âWhat would you change, Bill? You have all the money you could possibly want. What would make your life better?â
âWell, Bob, I kind of envy you sometimes. Everyone in the family knows that when there is a financial bind, they can come to me. Donât get me wrong, I love having the ability to solve problems with money. But I envy the personal connection that you seem to have with everyone. Itâs almost as if because you donât have the financial resources I have, youâre forced to give another kind of support. Money is the easiest kind of support there is to give, and sometimes I think it makes me a bit lazy. What about you, Bob? Are you happy?â
âYes, Iâm happy. But, Iâd change some things, too. I do wish I had more money. I think I would be happier if I did. It makes me feel awful when I canât help Bonnie or Mom. I feel like if I just had the money to solve their problems, then I wouldnât have to feel terrible for other people so much.â
The brothers lapsed into silence for a few moments and contemplated this. Finally, Bill broke the silence. Â âI guess itâs like this. Having money makes it easier to do the things that make you happy. It doesnât MAKE you happy, but it takes away the stresses that can make happiness elusive.â
Bob agreed. âYeah. I donât think that one of us is more or less happy than the other, Bill. We each use the resources we have to do the things we can to make others happy. Itâs about serving others and giving, whether itâs money or another form of support.â
This story perfectly captures the paradox of money and happiness. You can be happy with money, or you can be miserable with money. You can be happy without money, or you can be miserable with no money. But, thereâs no question that having money can at least ameliorate some of the stresses that can make one unhappy. Perhaps, Henry David Thoreau said it bestâŚ
âHappiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.â
Timothy McKinney lives in Redondo Beach, California with his wife Cindy and their two children, Heather and Robbie. He went to the University of Southern California, where he received degrees in Business and Psychology. Since 1997, Tim has been a corporate trainer who conducts workshops on subjects related to happiness and workplace effectiveness. He is a passionate vegetarian who enjoys SCUBA Diving in the Kelp Forests of Catalina Island.