Tag Archives | Alena Tauriainen

Next Step: Using Technology to maximize your writing time!

By on October 17, 2012 in 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, 6. Search by Series:, 7. Search by Author:, Alena Tauriainen, Encourage Me!, Next Step on the Writing Journey, Writing Life

Alena here, working on my Next Step in my writing journey. I’m still trying to maximize my writing time. For most moms, the kids are back at school but along with that come all kinds of sports and extra-curricular activities. So most of the writing time I get these days are either weekends or late at night, with time throughout the day. I’m still doing the usual; working on my manuscript at lunchtime, break time, between picking up and waiting for kids. A quiet house and uninterrupted writing time is such a rare thing for me. I recently re-discovered my iPod the other day. Now, while it is an automatic tool I take along with me when I’m jogging, it’s not on my list of tools when I think of […]

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Reading to Learn

By on September 12, 2012 in 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, Alena Tauriainen, Nurturing the Soul

Hi, Everyone! Las­­­­­­­­­t month, I gave up. Seriously. The kids were rambunctious, work was calling and I put the dogs in the garage hoping they wouldn’t find anything there to bark about. On this day I wasn’t conquering writing in the midst of all of the noise and happenings of a family. All the teenagers, their friends, several nieces and nephews and the family friends were at my house.  Unplanned.  They brought all the fun, noise and interruptions that go along with so many kids in one place.  When I did an actual count there were twelve kids at my house. So I was in a quandary.  What could I accomplish today? Aha!  I could read to learn. Through the years I’ve found I can read and block out distractions! So […]

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Attending a writers conference: the hidden costs

By on September 11, 2012 in 3. Publish your Story, 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, 7. Search by Author:, Alena Tauriainen, Encourage Me!, Special Teams, Writing Conferences

A note from Susie May: Alena Tauriainen is one of my favorite aspiring authors – she’s a hard worker, creative and has a heart to press on in this journey. She is also the MBT Retreats Hostess and writes a series for the MBT Blog called, “The Next Step,” about the small steps an aspiring author makes every day that add up to a finished novel. I asked her to blog today on her perspective on attending a writers conferences when you’re early in the journey. Thank you, Alena! ***** Many of my writing friends told me attending a writing conference was the next step on my writing journey. I shrugged them off. After all, I was learning to schedule time in to write, reading blogs and other various articles […]

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Finding Time

By on August 8, 2012 in Alena Tauriainen, Life Coaching, Writing Life

Finding Time My husband was recently talking to someone about me, and I was in the vicinity. No, I wasn’t eavesdropping!  It’s not considered eavesdropping if you’re in the same room talking to other guest, is it? He talked about what a “planner” I was.  And it is true. I love to plan and to organize.  Just ask my kids or close friends. Want a list?  Alena has one. One for groceries One for cleaning the house, daily, weekly and quarterly. One for closet organization. A chore list by child, by day, by week. You name it, bet I’ve got it! Consequently when I want to set aside writing time I plan all morning or all afternoon.   But often, life would intrude and I’d end up frustrated. So here are some […]

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