Hello,

I am so pleased to have your subscription to A-Muse Letter! I hope you are enjoying receiving it.

As you know, each month I offer coaching tips, ideas and inspiration to support you in your writing, creativity and personal growth. Please send your comments and questions and I'll write back personally or respond in a future edition of A-Muse Letter.

MAP YOUR PLANS FOR SUCCESS

It’s that time of year when you may be getting ready for your summer vacation or even a few days off from your regular routine. While a spontaneous day at the beach may not require a great deal of planning, there are many activities, projects and events that could benefit from a little more planning.

Inspired by both our Mind Mapping teleseminar earlier this month and my own renewed personal commitment to better planning, our focus this month is on de-mystifying planning and some tricks to better map your success.

MAPPING A STRATEGY


Let’s say you begin to take yourself a bit more seriously and actually schedule time to work on your summer projects. Maybe you really want to have your garage or basement cleaned out by the end of the summer. You think about how great it would feel to drive into your garage with everything in place or go into your basement and actually find what you’re looking for.

But you are reluctant to make the commitment to write down specific times to do the necessary tasks. You are even reluctant to write down a list of the tasks. “I’ll do it later," you tell yourself. But later never comes because there is always something more interesting to do.

But what if you committed to 30 minutes or an hour to clear off one shelf or go through one box. What if you wrote down that commitment in your planner? What if you kept that commitment to yourself, no matter what?

STRUCTURE YOU CAN LIVE WITH


Now let’s say you commit to the 30-minute to one hour task every week or even two times a week. Is that a structure you can live with?

What would happen if you committed to your mapped out strategy and time frame?

Imagine what you might accomplish. You might even be so pleased with your progress, you get the project done even sooner than you had planned!

RESISTANCE AND REWARD


You may find yourself thinking, “But if I plan and map out a structure, I will lose my spontaneity.” Or, “But planning is so boring!"

First of all, you are unlikely to lose your spontaneity. You will actually feel better and have more energy when you start to see what you are accomplishing.

Secondly, planning does not have to be boring. Use Mind Maps, QuickLists and visualizing your outcome to give your planning energy.

You know change is challenging. You are likely to go back to your old way of doing things unless you have mapped out your plan with dates and times to accomplish specific tasks.

Finally, reward yourself each time you are successful in changing an old habit. Reward yourself each time you follow through.

Let mapping out your plan help move you increasingly toward success!

If you find yourself needing help in mapping out your plans, contact me and request a GRATIS SESSION via phone or in person. Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

Take good care,

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS:

TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2008 - COMPLIMENTARY MONTHLY TELESEMINAR

Join us the second Tuesday of each month for live teleseminars on support and tips for writing and creativity. Calls are at 12:00 noon, Pacific (1:00 pm Mountain, 2:00 pm Central and 3:00 pm Eastern).

TOPIC: FIVE SUREFIRE WAYS TO BREAKTHROUGH WRITER’S BLOCK

Can't make a class? No worries. Sign-up anyway and we'll send you a free recording after the call.

Never been on a teleseminar? A teleseminar is a virtual classroom. Accessible by telephone, you simply sign-up beforehand then dial in at the appointed time. No travel, no hassle. Listen or be part of a seminar from anywhere in the world!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT, NOW!

FRIDAY – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH & 11TH - Second Annual “Wellness & Writing Connection Conference in Atlanta, GA. Susan will present a workshop entitled: “Me, Myself & I: The Healing Power of Dialogue."

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH 2008 - PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR NEW AND BEGINNING WRITERS Full-day workshop: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, De Anza College, Cupertino, California.

If you want to start writing and don't know how to begin, your writing has stalled, you are feeling out-of-focus or you simply want to bring more writing into your life, this is the seminar for you. Although publishing may be your eventual goal, emphasis will be on the process of writing. All genres and skill levels (including absolute beginners) welcome.

Included:

• Tips and tricks to get started writing and keep going
• Get moving again when your writing has stalled
• Get your writing organized!
• Keep track of your ideas
• Silence your inner critic
• Manage your resistance
• Break through writer's block
• Deal with rejection
  

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Susan Borkin, M.A. is a licensed psychotherapist, coach and writer. She is the founder of Write Now! a professional practice specializing in the use of writing for personal and professional growth. Susan specializes in helping people overcome creative blocks and achieve deep personal transformation through the use of writing. A personal growth writing teacher for more than twenty-five years, she is the author of When Your Heart Speaks, Take Good Notes: The Healing Power of Writing and Writing From the Inside Out: Using a Journal for Personal Growth & Transformation.

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BOOKS TO STIMULATE YOUR WRITING AND CREATIVITY By Susan Borkin

Writing From the Inside Out: Using a Journal for Personal Growth and Transformation When Your Heart Speaks, Take Good Notes: The Healing Power of Writing

Both books are available for previewing and ordering at www.susanborkin.com. Sample chapters are only available to preview.

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GRATIS CORNER

• Sign up for complimentary monthly teleseminars!

• If you find yourself needing some help in mapping out your plans, or have questions about your writing and creativity practice, contact me and request a GRATIS SESSION via phone or in person.

• Need some journaling tips? Send for your GRATIS BONUS ARTICLE, 'JUMPSTART YOUR JOURNALING'. Send an e-mail requesting the article by name.

• Have a question about writing or creativity? E-mail your question to Susan. She may use your questions in future issues of ' WRITE NOW! A-Muse Letter by Susan Borkin '.

Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to Susan at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

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