I'm not sure about the rest of you, but for me, the new year is the start of a new cycle: a time to refresh, take stock of what's ahead, and change anything that wasn't quite working for the best.  This year, I'm not only applying that strategy to my home life (I spent the weekend rearranging my living room, to great success), but to my life as an author - if you haven't yet, please have a look around at the changes I've made to my website!  It's now even easier to order both of my novels in the format you prefer.  

Since change moves in ripples, and things elsewhere in my life are shifting, my writing schedule has changed, as well.  Here's where you'll be able to find me during any given week:

Mondays: I post the theme for #2bitTues on Twitter, and do rounds of my other social media: Patreon, LinkedIn, Google+, Goodreads, Facebook, etc.  (Links to follow me can be found on the home page!)
Tuesdays: It's #2bitTues, which means I encourage fellow independent authors to share lines from their current work-in-progress (WIP) on Twitter!  I'll also do most of my catching up with other folks there.
Wednesdays: Updates to this blog will still happen on Wednesdays.  It's also a writing day!
Thursdays: I participate in another Twitter game, #Thurds, do some writing, and kick back with a fellow indie author's book.
Fridays: Writing day again!  The biggest change is that my newsletter, Friday at Charlie's, will only be going out on the last Friday of every month.   This way, I can provide more content and take up less space in the mailboxes of my Friends of Aviario.
Weekends are for writing, and much-needed time off.  I have loved ones to spend time with and a world to enjoy and be inspired by, after all!
  
That's all for now, friends!  Until next week, I hope you all find reasons to smile!

Wondering when to expect certain content from me, or what #2bitTues is?  You're in the right place!

Monday: I post the week's #2bitTues theme on Twitter for participants who like to choose & schedule their tweets in advance.  This is also the day I do most of my promotional legwork for my debut novel, From the Desk of Buster Heywood.
Tuesday: I spend most of Tuesday on Twitter because it's 2-Bit Tuesday!  This is a sharing exercise similar to #1lineWed with one big difference: the weekly theme is completely optional.   Writers are encouraged to share lines from their WIP (work-in-progress), as long as there are no promotional links in their tweets.  I started this weekly tradition six months ago, and it's grown into a community of supportive authors that I'm proud to be part of.  Come and join us: even if you aren't an author, you might discover a new favorite!
Wednesday: Mornings are for Welcome Wednesday, when I greet my new followers on Twitter.
Thursday: I update this here blog and share links to Twitter and Facebook.
Friday: I send out my weekly newsletter, Friday's At Charlie's Bar, to all my Friends of Aviario!  You can sign up for it here: I share little tidbits and news that you won't see on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter.  

Of course, there will be links and other amusements on my Facebook page on any given day of the week... please be sure you're following me there, too, so you don't miss anything!

It's already beginning.  As I sit here, this blog post is being fueled by a mixed bowl of Cocoa Puffs and Fruit Loops.  I am still in my pajamas.  My fiancee, the Super Ferret, is on a mad dash to the store to buy Doritos, Mountain Dew, and quick frozen food that we can eat on our already-existing stockpile of paper plates and other "fine china" so that we might exist on minimal food preparation.    My sister calls this NoNutNo (No Nutrition November), and aside from setting the lofty goal of one home-cooked meal a day, I may have to admit, she's on to something.

Welcome to National Novel Writing Month.  Only the words matter.  I should be noveling right now, but there may or may not be posts for Between The Lines.  There will likely not be any Friends of Aviario emails.   #2bitTues will be happening with a vengeance.   

I'll see you all on the other side.  With most of a novel.  

Now that  you all have that lovely little earworm in your minds, hello, readers!  I hope you've all enjoyed your last few weeks as much as I have.  From The Desk of Buster Heywood is officially a week old, tomorrow, and I have to say, I'm very proud of our protagonist.  I had said previously on Facebook and in my newsletter that the novel would be available in print by tomorrow, but I have a few tweaks that I want to make before I submit the file to Lulu.com.  I'm hoping that you'll be able to buy it in ink-and-paper and enjoy that lovely new book smell sometime next week.

This week, however, I would like to talk to you about desks, since that's a word you've been seeing a lot...

so that I could work on the novel wherever I happened to be.  Handwriting became my preferred method, and having to work without a desk turned out to give me a brand new, far more effective system of writing and editing.  You can be sure, though, that as soon as we moved into our current apartment, the desk was returned to its former glory.  I'm sitting at it as I type this, surrounded by books which inspire me, pictures of loved ones to encourage me, and a few of my other creations to remind me why I'm here.  (Look closely: there's a clay maquette of Buster perched on the right side of the second shelf.  He needs paint, but he's paying attention and making sure I look out for typos.)

As far as what's in my desk, per Cameron's theory?  Inside its drawers, you'll find a copious amount of office supplies and organizing doodads ... because Staples and I have a very co-dependent relationship.  My fiancee may stage an intervention if it gets any worse.   There are also scrapbooking supplies, a few photo albums, sketchbooks both full and blank, and of course, a few small items that are too precious to keep anywhere else.   My desk holds one, long love letter to creativity, with just enough organization and discipline to keep it all from exploding into chaos.  If you ask me, that sounds just about right for a writer.

What's your creative space like?  Or, if you can't have one right now, what would the perfect one be?

Hi, everyone!  I apologize for the lack of post this past Thursday ... not only has life been hectic, but I am trying to push and get 30 Days of Aviario ready, so that I can build my mailing list.  I am behind in my short story deadlines, but that's something I can work with ... I am still hoping to have From the Desk of Buster Heywood published on Smashwords by September 18th.  In order to get things moving, however, I am going to have to put this blog on a hiatus until the book is out.  

In the meantime, I encourage you to still follow me on Twitter, where I will be continuing to help #2bitTuesday grow: this week's optional theme is "Temperature".  To keep myself sane, I've been taking short breaks by indulging in the following things.  Feel free to check them out, if any strike your fancy!

• Your Local Library: I spent a good six hours both in and out of mine, yesterday.  It's amazing what getting away from the distractions of home can do ... and there are so many great things that you can uncover.  
• Headspace.com: Guided meditations to help you take some time out from your busy mind.  The first 10 short sessions are free!
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: This was recommended to my by a close friend who's never steered me wrong where good fiction is concerned.  Fantasy fans should give it a shot: so far, I'm impressed by the characters and the world-building.
• Pocket Posh puzzle books: No matter what kind of exercise your brain likes, these are great for small doses of something fun that still keeps your mind going!  (I'm fond of anagrams, personally.)
• The 7th Guest: This is my favorite game, and has been for 20 years.  I have a blog post about it planned for Halloween, as a matter of fact.  It's making a comeback, and a 3rd installation made by fans was just backed on Kickstarter.  If you like some puzzles with your horror, this is perfect.