Would you return to the past if you could?

If you could return to the past, what moment would you revisit or redo? I learned that returning to the past didn’t necessarily mean revisiting yesterday. It could also mean precious time with family, an opportunity that I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t won a prize.

Daily writing prompt
Where would you go on a shopping spree?
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“Where are we, Mom?” The building we were in was large and spacious, but unlike anything I’d seen before. And everything about it was wrong.

“A shopping mall, honey.” 

“No, it can’t be. We won a shopping spree at a new mall. I showed you the e-message. We get fifteen minutes to grab whatever we want. But look at this place! No holograms! And look at that! People are everywhere, walking into stores. And the stores aren’t projections! This is ridiculous! I would never bring your granddaughter here. Mom, let’s go. I don’t know how we’re going to shop in a place like this.”

“This place–” Mom glanced at me with the mischievous excitement of a child. “This is what shopping malls looked like when I was a teenager! Look over there, at the food court! That’s where I’d hang out with my friends—”

“At the mall?” I almost gasped. I would never let my daughter Keeva hang out at a mall. I wanted to give my opinion about “hanging out” at such a place but Mom had grabbed my arm and was pulling us into this archaic shopping mall.

“–this was before we had cellphones and… what do you call it now? Dash-calls? We actually hung out in person, face to face. We would ride our bikes here or take the bus. We bought hamburgers and shakes. Hot dogs. Then we went window shopping. I mean literal window shopping, not like what you do these days where your house phone generates an image and you just stare at holographics and buy stuff. Even when you were growing up, it was already getting bad with social media. Whatever happened to talking to real people?”

Mom picked up a sweater from a rack at a store entrance. “Such a beautiful sweater!” she said, handing it to me.

I was shocked at how heavy it was. I mean, it was a real sweater and I was touching it before buying it. This felt criminal.

“I miss this,” said Mom. “Holographic shopping is not the same.” She smiled at another shopper entering the store. “Hello!” she said.

I glanced down in embarrassment. Ugh. She was talking to a complete stranger. I picked up the tag to check the material. “Fifty dollars! I exclaimed. “This must be a secondhand sweater for that low price!”

“Three hundred dollars is too much for a sweater.” Mom sighed. “How do people afford anything these days?” She draped the sweater over her arm.

“We should get a wall TV before our fifteen minutes are up.” I pointed at the tech store. “Keeva is crazy about those. They drape on your wall like a poster, and you can peel them off and put them on a different wall.”

But once we were outside the tech store, I stood with my mouth open, my mind searching through dusty memories for the correct word. “Mom, they’re… they’re flatscreen TVs. You’ve got to… to mount them on something. I haven’t seen one of these since I was a kid!”

“I want a hamburger,” said Mom, starting toward the food court without waiting for me. 

I hung back, unsure what to do as I took in the sight of all the food vendors. The most shocking part was each stall was staffed by what looked like real people. I was horrified. Was I supposed to tell someone what I wanted to order? What happened to pressing buttons on a menu? 

“Two hamburgers and two shakes, please,” said Mom with a smile. “We’re on a shopping spree so that should be on the house.” She took the tray, scanned the tables, found an empty one, and sat down. She seemed perfectly at home here.

I turned my watch to take a photo to send to Keeva via dash-call. My watch beeped. Our fifteen minutes were up, and we had only gotten food and a sweater. Keeva had expected me to return home with something spectacular. 

“You young people spend too much time with your tech,” said Mom, offering me a burger. Put away that app and let’s talk—just like in the old days. Enjoy life like it was when you could touch and smell everything. Honey, there are some things money cannot buy.”

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What’s more important: Time or Money?

In life, there are two important currencies: time and money. Sadly, we can’t have both, although ideally, we would want both. How do we prioritize which one is more important? One is a finite resource while the other is not. Which would you choose to have in unlimited quantities: time or money?

Daily writing prompt
What do you wish you could do more every day?
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Each day, we wake up with the same twenty-four hours. How we spend it is up to us. We have routine activities, like eating, brushing our teeth, and showering. We have mandatory activities like going to work and paying our bills (and eating). And we have enjoyable activities, like spending time with people we care about, working on hobbies, or visiting places.

Some of us have to prioritize money in our twenty-four hours. We need it to live. Without it, we can’t buy food or pay for shelter. This can mean working at a job we hate or working two jobs just to exist. It might not be the life we want.

Some of us can equally enjoy money and time. We work the hours we need to pay our expenses, and then we spend weekends relaxing or going out. We can afford to spend money and time on experiences by exploring our hometown or going on trips. In our lifetime, this is what we remember: experiences, if we have the time for them.

If we prioritize time, we find ways to enjoy life, like fixing up our backyard so it is a great place to invite friends over for a barbecue. We can set up a home theatre. Our income is spent on experiences. We can stay home and spend time cooking healthy meals in our kitchen. Buy new tech so we can enjoy the latest computer games.

For those who have money in abundance, time is also in abundance. We can pay someone to do the things we dislike, such as chores and housework. The time we gain from not having to do the mundane aspects of daily living is now available for relaxing and enjoying life.

Money is something we can lose and gain back. We spend it, we work again, and get it back.

Time is finite. We only get to experience a particular day once, and when the sun sets on that day, we never see that day again. We have only one chance to experience that day in our lifetime and there is no rewind button.

So what do you wish you could do more of every day? I think it depends on where you are in life. You may want to work more so you can afford what you want. You may want to spend more time with friends and family. Or you might want more time to spend on that vacation you’ve always dreamed about.

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How to Set Solid Goals that Will Succeed

Setting goals is a powerful way to give your life focus and direction. Effective goal setting can be the difference between wishful thinking and tangible success. To reach that level of success, you need to do more than jot down aspirations—you need thoughtful planning and execution. You also need to decide when to say “no.” Here are five solid tips to help you set goals and succeed at them:

Daily writing prompt
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?
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1 Be specific and clear about what you want to achieve

Vague goals are like leaving your house with no idea where you’re headed. It will be a surprise where you end up. 

When setting your goals, be as specific and clear as possible. Instead of saying, “I want to finish my first novel,” specify, “I will write a chapter every two weeks and complete two chapters a month.” Clarity in your goals makes it easier for you to track your progress. 

If something does not align with your goals, avoid “shiny object syndrome” and say no to distractions. You might have an idea for another story, but stick to the current one until it is finished.

2 Set realistic and attainable goals

When you set goals that are too far out of reach, you are more likely to set yourself up for disappointment and frustration. Know your current abilities and resources, and set goals that are challenging yet achievable. If you’ve never written a book before, don’t expect to finish writing your first book in one month. 

Rather, break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps to prevent overwhelm and maintain your motivation. For example, start with a story outline. Then sketch out the first scene in your story before you start to write that scene.

3 Establish a timeline to reach your goal  

Without a deadline or milestones, it will be easy to work on a goal until infinity. Establishing a timeline helps you prioritize your actions. Set specific dates for achieving milestones along the way and hold yourself accountable to these deadlines. 

This means saying “no” to distractions, such as a weekend of social activities if you haven’t reached your goal. However, you still need to make room for adjustments, such as a special celebration with family, or a setback, such as becoming exhausted from work.

4 Write down your goals

Writing down your goals is like creating a contract with yourself. You’ve committed yourself to accomplishing something by a specific time. Writing your goals on your calendar places your goals where you can see them. You have a reminder that you committed yourself to finishing the first chapter of your book by the following Saturday, for example. 

5 Create an action plan

Writing down your goals without creating an action plan is like deciding on a trip to another country without planning how you’ll get there. It won’t happen. 

You need to break down your goal into actionable steps. How will you be able to finish writing one chapter by the end of the week? You may have a specific word count to complete each day. Or one day might be set aside for planning the outline of a scene. 

You should identify potential obstacles and brainstorm strategies for overcoming them. What if you’re invited to go somewhere one night before you reach your milestone? Do you say “no” or  create a new set of daily milestones to make sure you still finish your chapter if you take a day off? Review and adjust your action plan as needed to stay on track and adapt to changing circumstances.

Key Takeaways

By following these five tips and setting realistic goals that you can achieve with an action plan—you can set yourself up for success. Remember, achieving your goals requires commitment and perseverance. With dedication and strategic planning, you can turn your goals into reality.

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How to Listen Better: Effective Communication

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Effective communication is an important skill at the workplace. Our ability to advance in our careers, build a business, or develop relationships depends on how we articulate words.

Here are some amazing insights into our listening skills. Take a moment to think about what these insights mean to you and how they impact your life.

  • How much are you truly listening to the words that you hear? We hear about 20,000 to 30,000 words a day and listen at a rate of 125 to 250 words a minute. However, we think at a speed of 1,000 to 3,000 words a minute. That means we are filling in the gaps if we don’t hear all the information we expect the speaker to convey. What could that mean about our potential for misunderstandings or jumping to conclusions?
  • Do we remember everything that we hear? Most tests conclude that we only remember about 25% of what we hear. The majority of the time we are listening, we are distracted. Immediately after listening to someone speak, we remember 50% of what that person said, but we will remember only around 25% two days later.
  • What is active listening? Active listening involves more than just nodding while you listen to the other person speak. When we listen actively, we give the speaker our full attention and ask for clarification if needed or more details. Also, we restate what the other person said to show we were listening. 
  • What is a tip for being a great listener? Great listeners know how to follow up on conversations by recalling facts and starting a conversation with openers such as “How is X doing?” or “I remember that you said you were….” They are open-minded about what they will hear and will not have preconceived ideas about what the speaker is about to say.
  • How does positioning affect the conversation? Getting the right conversation environment changes the conversation dynamic. For example, a dialogue with one person behind a desk and the other person standing up will have a different tone than two people sitting next to each other. Similarly, one person speaking while the other is looking down periodically at their phone will also have a different dynamic than two people talking face to face with appropriate eye contact.
  • Importance of listening at work: People with effective listening skills build strong relationships at the workplace. They can build rapport with customers by developing relationships and showing an interest in their needs. Workers who are good listeners understand their work assignments and create trust with their team. Managers improve morale and productivity by listening to their employees and building trust.
  • How do you develop listening skills? Focus on being curious when you listen. Don’t just listen to respond. Use proper eye contact and body language and listen to learn something new.

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Self-Editing Resources for First-Time or New Writers

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Ask anyone who writes professionally or personally, and they’ll say that it’s hard – really hard – to find their own writing mistakes. When you are your own editor, it’s tough to remain objective and read your work with fresh eyes.

Difficult is not the same as impossible, however. You can self-edit if you know what to look for, and you develop a process. If you’re a first-time author or new to writing professionally, you may have many questions about how to edit, what to edit, and when (what stages in your writing) to edit.

We’ve got the answers you need with resources recommended by professional book editors.

Here are some fabulous self-editing resources to invest your time in. If you want a break from the written word, this list includes podcasts to check out as well.

Self-Editing: The Writing Process

Self-editing for Self-publishers: Incorporating: A Style Guide for Fiction by Richard Bradburn

Indie authors looking to self-publish will find this resource particularly useful. It describes a three-stage editing process similar to the traditionally published one, from structural to sentence level to proofreading.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition by Renni Brown and Dave King

Two professional editors have written this book which teaches you editing techniques on exposition, point of view, and dialogue. They provide many examples taken from manuscripts that they have edited.

Understanding Show, Don’t Tell And Really Getting It by Janice Hardy  

This award-winning author uses examples to demonstrate the difference between showing, not telling, when writing a story. She helps authors understand the balance between backstory, description, and narrative. 

Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft: A Step-by-step Guide to Revising Your Novel by Janice Hardy  

This book tackles the big-picture problems that can go wrong with a novel. It shows how to review character and point of view issues, plot structure problems, and setting problems. You will learn to write stronger prose and build better character arcs and compelling plots.

Cover to Cover What First-Time Authors Need to Know about Editing by Sandra Wendel

After writing your first book, read this book to learn what to do next, before you work with an editor and prepare the book for production and publication. This is an important resource if you know little to nothing about the publication process.

Troubleshooting Your Novel Essential Techniques for Identifying and Solving Manuscript Problems by Steven James  

This hands-on guide takes you through the steps that will increase your chances of selling your manuscript to a publisher or gathering an audience for your book. Topics covered include story progression, character development, narrative techniques, and troubleshooting common issues. 

Write Great Fiction – Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell 

If you struggle with creating a plot that engages your readers, this is a resource to add to your library. The book tackles common plot problems, developing story structure, and how to create strong beginnings, middles, and ends to your story.

Keys to Great Writing Revised and Expanded Mastering the Elements of Composition and Revision by Stephen Wilbers and Faith Sullivan 

The writing process can be daunting. This book provides helpful techniques for the entire writing process, from prewriting to proofreading. It also has exercises to strengthen your writing skills from the sentence to the paragraph level.

The Magic of Fiction Crafting Words Into Story: The Writer’s Guide to Writing & Editing by Beth Hill 

This handbook for the writing and editing process is a valuable resource on all aspects of writing and editing. It covers writing and self-editing your own stories, whether you are a first-time or experienced author. 

Self-Editing at a Sentence Level

The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande 

Whether you write for an online, print, academic, or business audience, this quick reference guide covers your questions about punctuation for all styles, including AP (Associated Press), MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago Manual of Style.

Editing Fiction at Sentence Level by Louise Harnby 

This book teaches you how to self-edit your manuscript at the sentence level, from narrative to dialogue. Examples are also provided to demonstrate the lessons.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss 

This resource covers grammar and punctuation insights using humor and history. It is clear from this book that a simple comma or apostrophe can completely alter the meaning of a sentence – sometimes in a hilarious way.  

Artful Sentences Syntax as Style by Virginia Tufte  

This book breaks down standard sentence patterns and forms to show how they convey meaning. New writers and those who love language will find this book fascinating.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk and Elwyn Brooks White 

Among writing manuals, this book is considered a classic. It even has its own Wikipedia entry! This guide covers good writing and composition principles, lists commonly misused words and expressions, and lists often misspelled words.

Self-Editing Resources: Podcasts

The Midnight Quill Podcast hosted by writers T. C. Emerys, M. J. Glenn and Maisy Osbon

Listen to discussions about writing techniques, worldbuilding and self-publishing, with new episodes every week.

The Editing Podcast hosted by Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle

Explore practical tips and insights for editors and proofreaders. This podcast is available in 60 countries. 

Key Takeaways 

New writers published authors will find value in self-editing resources. These books cover important topics in the editing and writing process. 

Experienced writers will benefit from the review and the checklists, and new writers finishing their first manuscript will benefit from the insight and tips. 

For some of the latest advice on editing, writers and editors can stream podcasts from multiple sources, such as YouTube and apps.

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