Planning to be Creative! #timemanagement

Hi There!

I read this article the other day: "The Pace of Productivity and How to Master your Creative Routine" (thanks to a friend of mine who shared it!). It was interesting and inspiring, and it gave me a big enough nudge to evaluate my daily habits.

I waste SO much time.

I don't really mean to waste time. I have come to the point where I only blog about stuff I truly feel is important, versus blogging because it's "Blogging Monday". I'm pretty good at not constantly nitpicking about housework, because even when the house is clean, there is still something to be done. I don't turn the television on during the day. I don't go out drinking for hours. I do well at only going on Facebook in between customers as I wait on tables, or while I shove cereal down my throat before work, or while in the car (but not driving, of course!). And I hardly ever play silly games on my smart phone. (If you're wondering, yes, I still have time for fun...)

My biggest problem?

The After-Work Time Suck.

That's what I'm naming it, now that I can easily recognize the monster that it is. Being a waitress most nights and a creative person most days, by the end of the day both my body and brains are tired and sore, and I just need to zone out. So my husband and I plop down on the couch and then it goes all down hill from there.

The worst part is that half of the time we aren't even watching our pre-recorded shows. We're mindlessly staring at whatever garbage happens to be on, even re-runs and stuff we don't care about. We're just too tired to go to bed. Go figure!

Normally this sort of thing wouldn't matter, since I am pretty useless at being creative or even receptive to new information at that time of day, but the late nights turn into even later mornings, where I am hitting the snooze button about fifteen times. And THAT is a waste of precious creative time!

Plus, I really do miss being able to sit and read a book for a bit just because I want to.

So I compiled some notes and put together a little schedule for myself. It's strict only during those important morning hours, and then after 11:00 am I am welcome to do whatever my little heart desires. Like chores. (Ha!) But it gives me those few extra morning hours of creative fun, a solid seven hours of sleep, and an enforced bed time... all of which I am in dire need.

Here is what it looks like:

Of course, this can all change at the drop of a hat when the schedule gets all messed up or someone goes on vacation or calls out sick. But this can be useful for the majority of my days. And, here, take one for yourself! Print it up and fill it out, and give this Creative Planning a shot!

I don't know if I will fail or succeed, but I'm certainly going to give it a try to see if these new habits stick! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you schedule your creative time, and how well does it work for you?

As always, thanks for reading! :)
~Melanie

~*UPDATES*~
6/7/13
So far, it has been over a week, and EPIC FAIL.
But I will conquer this.
I will.
I will do it!!!
I will try again, fresh, starting tomorrow, June 8th.
Yes.
YES!
(Plus, I have begun to read "Manage Your Day-to-Day" and it is spurring me on!)

Operation Work Office/Studio Space!

Hello!

Two weeks ago, I talked about making some new goals for organizing my life. One of those goals includes organizing my life when I'm at work, off the clock, but working on other stuff. AKA "Work Studio Time."

Normally, I hide in the smallest dining room in our little restaurant, ear buds full of music, and work on Little Raindrop... whether it be editing, drawing, or researching. But a lot of the time, regular customers will come in and ask for me, or family or friends will stop by, or even co-workers who should know better, and I'm constantly getting interrupted!

Not that I'm being ungrateful for the company, but really... I'm trying to work!

Many ask, "Why are you even THERE at your job when you should be at home in your studio?!" Because, most importantly, I prefer to be sure that Hubs gets to and from work in one piece. When he's really tired, he'll fall asleep at the wheel. The forty five minute drive from home to work is one straight line with a few lights, and at night there are hardly any streetlamps and there are tons of deer and other wildlife that we are constantly swerving around. It's better to have four eyes than two, and we both know this from experience. How many times have one of us not seen the animal, but the other one did, and just in time? Too many.

My other reason is this: when no one bothers me, I actually get a TON of work done! I'm not distracted by laundry or television or napping. The only other thing to do there is more work...but of a different kind. And I'm sure as heck not going to go wait on tables when I could be making a book.

So I got an idea last week. There was a private party coming in, and they were going to use the small room where I usually work, so I needed a quiet spot for myself. I went snooping around and found a cozy spot in the storage room behind the bar...

This room needs some organization!
Follow the chair...

...to my new spot!

Not a lot of working space, and the view's pretty rotten,
but it's SO quiet back here!

It worked like a charm, being in that cozy storage space. Much like a Cupboard Under the Stairs, I could live in my own little bubble, get what I needed done, then step out into the real world and I'm out of my working zone!

Then I realized how dysfunctional my working space was. I needed more space, more boundaries from the alcohol, and holy heck was this room a mess. So I took it upon myself to tidy up, and make my space a nice little nest!

Behind that wall of soda cans is my cardboard barrier...

I covered the splintery shelves with cardboard...
and now there's a cozy little nook!

Just add some books... and...
VOILA!

Close up shop with a cardboard flap!

Now I know it's rough around the edges, but it works for me! And Hubs is going to be making it so I have access to a plug, and some lighting! And little by little, I'll make it feel more at home. :)

I've already worked in here for a few hours, so the space is fully functional for my needs! Finally, a way to check "out" of the real world so I can dive into Little Raindrop's world!

A Healthy Artist is a Happy Artist!

Hello!

Today I'm going to talk about something extremely important for artists, writers, and all other beings with bodies: OUR HEALTH.

YUM!

I'm not usually the one to be super healthy. Rather, I'm the type that will eat breakfast for dinner or pie for breakfast. And I know of some artists who live off chocolate and caffeinated beverages all day long in order to get their work done. Heck, I've done it too! But I have become more health conscious over the years as I... ahem... age. (Yeah, I know I'm young now, but that won't always be the case!) I've obtained a few health annoyances: back and shoulder pain, weird sinus headache things, some form of heartburn/GERD/tummy troubles, a big bottom from sitting and painting and writing... and I am afraid there will be more to come if I don't change some things.

I've often asked myself, Why books? Why art? What is it that keeps me doing it or why I need to do it? And I've come to the conclusion that it's because, firstly, I HAVE to do it. And secondly, I won't live forever. In order to live a happy life, I know I have to create art, otherwise I become stressed and miserable. Art just makes me happy. And I know that long after I have gone, if I'm lucky, some of my work might endure the ages. (At least I know it will passed down in the family, anyway.) Art makes me immortal, in some ways. It is proof that I have lived on this earth, and maybe even made a difference to somebody.

My goal in life as an artist is to create and make as much work as I can, simply because I love doing it, and I want to do more of it! I love continually improving on my talents, polishing stories until they shine, and learning new techniques that keep creating fun!

But if my health starts failing, and I'm in too much pain, or too tired, or too round to physically get up and move, then there is a problem! It's hard enough trying to manage freelancing hours in between an already busy life. Throw in (future) poor health into the mix and I'll never get anything done!

So, recently, my husband and I decided we need to take control of our lives and be healthier. It was the result of a little chain of events that started with buying a new juicer, which led to the discovery of this documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," and has led us to aim to eating a plant-based diet. It's only been a week and I'm already feeling different, more alive... and I like where it is taking me.

I'm not going to get into further details about my diet here on my blog- this blog is about art and books, and will forever be- but I am going to share with you all the stuff that's helped me change the way I think about my health. I know most of my readers are artists and/or writers, and I want our community to be a strong and healthy one! I want my friends and my readers to last as long as I do! You will find the links below, and you shall do what you will with the information. If these links help even just ONE person, it will make me super happy! 

*lifts glass of juice* To your health! :D

~Melanie

On the stuff that goes into your body:
"Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" the documentary that started it all
"Forks Over Knives," another great documentary
"Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease," a good book to read
"The China Study," another book to read
"Food Matters," a documentary I'd like to see
John, from DiscountJuicers.com, shares his juicing secrets!
Raw Rebecca's account of how this changed her life.

On how sitting is bad, and how to keep that body moving, (even though our job consists of a lot of sitting!)
How Sitting Can Kill You (click on the tall, red picture)
Death by Desk Job, and how to fight it!
Sit At Your Peril!
Workout at Work
Free Fitness Workout Apps for the Office!

Set Up Your Standing Desk:
http://chrisoatley.com/is-your-workspace-ergonomic/
How to Determine Proper Desk Heights

(When I finally manage to create my Standing Studio, I will post it on my blog, and link to this post as well!)

"Best Day Ever!" My First Class Visit

Hi there!

As I mentioned in my blog post last week, I got to finally meet Mr. H, author of Little Raindrop, and his classroom of third graders! The day before the actual visit, Mr. H gave me a tour of the school, introduced me to the school's turtles, and showed me the hallway walls decorated with turtles for Turtle Week! I even visited the Art Room and breathed in that old familiar smell of tempera paint.

On the day of the visit, Mr. H's wife and my husband both joined in on the fun, and they were kind enough to take pictures and video, too! When I first walked into the classroom, everyone was outside for Recess, and I was greeted with these on the wall:

A mural of Little Raindrops and they let me KEEP it too!

Aww!

 I set up my things and waited for the kids to come in. I was just a little bit nervous because I hadn't spoken in front of a group of kids before, but when they all timidly walked into the classroom I realized I wasn't the only one feeling shy! Once I got warmed up, things ran pretty smoothly.

Miss Melanie, Teacher for the Day!

hi Gabe!

The girl in pink put my bookmark
in her Harry Potter (GOF) book!

Mr. Cool

I must have been saying something important here!

Looks like Mr. H has an agenda...

Do you know the answer?

I showed the kids how I go about doing the design and layout of the book, how I get ideas from sketching from nature, and how I draw in blue pencil to keep things clean. I showed them the original painting I did of the River Habitat. We passed around my sketchbook and I gave out bookmarks and buttons, and we even had a little birthday celebration for Megan, complete with delicious Oreo cupcakes! It was a real blast!

There's Sharon, taking pictures!

We're getting absolutely SILLY!

This dude is using my sketch for reference for HIS sketch!

Checking out my Red Panda sketches!

Great questions were asked!

The final piece of art! Great job, I'm super proud of you, Dillon!

 The coolest thing about the visit was getting to meet the people who had been sending me postcards and letters all year long. They are all sweet and talented kids, and each one special in their own way. They read me some of their letters they had written that morning, and asked a lot of great questions. It was really touching to hear how excited they were to meet me and how happy it made them! One of the boys came up to me to thank me for visiting, and another told me that "today is the BEST DAY EVER!" and I truly have to agree with him.

They even asked me to sign their yearbooks!

At the end of the visit, when school was out and everyone left, there was a certain little girl (with pink in her hair) who lingered a few minutes to give me a hug. She's a super talented artist and it TOTALLY made my day!

The kids may have learned something, but I was surprised to learn a few things myself. One, that my biggest challenge that day would be to keep my cool! The kids were so sweet and caring, and loveing and innocent, that there were a few times where I thought I was going to actually cry. And two, it really made me think of the responsibilities we have as writers and illustrators to our young readers, and the huge rewards (like hugs!) we receive for all our hard work. And that I am SO thankful that Mr. H chose me, of all the other artists out there, to illustrate his story.

Hey! You wore the same thing as me!

If I ever doubted in the past that this career path was meant for me, I truly will not doubt it ever again. Seeing those little faces light up because of something I did? There is no money in the world worth trading that feeling. I will never forget it!

And the awesome thing is, neither will they. :)

Hold up your cool Little Raindrop stuff!

Now do something silly!

Now pose like a raindrop!

As my Auntie Jean would say: SO stinkin' cute! :D

Derailed... and Getting Back on the Track

Late again! my mind screams at me. You missed your blog post and you can't draw?! You're better than this! You're supposed to stay on track, keep your eye on the prize, keep your head in the game!


It's hard to do that when you've been derailed!

Recently I've been dealing with a little personal matter. It's a problem that made my anxiety level skyrocket, my nails 'magically' disappear and my stomach curl into knots. I tried drawing through it, tried my Zen music and green tea combo, played a few games on the tablet to get my mind off things... even tried sleeping more (if I could find the time for it.) But the problem was still there, much as I tried to get over it.

The Problem became a Bigger Problem, when I tried to sit down and draw and didn't have the heart to do it. I just didn't feel like drawing. Or painting. Or  doodling, even.

But when there are deadlines and books to be illustrated, this is an even bigger Bigger Problem!

How was I going to get back on track? To get my head in the game? To stop biting my nails down to bloody stumps? I had to remember that anything worth having is worth working for. I had to address the original Problem. Of course, this takes time away from my art and blogging, and my usual work pattern. But the Problem needed work so I could get some actual work done. Otherwise, I was just wasting my own precious time. My Preciousssss!


So instead of trying to drive around the Problem, my little train drove right through and attacked it! I did everything I could in my own power to make amends and right things. I did it honestly, and without trickery or cutting corners (honesty has always been my policy.) And I felt so much better when I was done! Even though the Problem was one of those Out of My Own Control sorts of things, I changed what I could control to the best of my ability. And though things didn't turn out hunky-dory, or the way I had hoped, at least I know I did my best to try and fix it. I can accept the things I cannot change, or at least learn to.

Then I winded down a bit and needed some inspiration... a little comfort. So I picked up a book, told myself not to feel bad about this guilty pleasure when my schedule doesn't usually allow for this tomfoolery, and I read for the fun of it. For the fun of it!

So I'm filling up the train with some fresh coal right now. And I'll start chugging along and speeding ahead at my usual speed. And I'm learning sometimes it's best to sit back and watch the landscape go by for a while, to enjoy the ride a little bit more, so I don't burn out. And to address problems right away when they come up, so I don't fly off the tracks.

And I think I'm going to go paint, in a little bit. :)

Organization is Key... to Creativity!

Every once in a while, I get too antsy to do anything creative. 

There are too many things on my To-Do list that I can't concentrate even on one of them. I find myself flitting from project to project, opening one book as I remember I should be looking up something in another, starting one blog post while I think about the next blog post idea. 

This is a sure sign that I just need to sit and organize. Or stand and clean. 

So that's what I'm doing today. 

I'm cleaning and organizing my studio, so that when I'm ready to work I'll know where everything is. And yes, I'm nerdy enough to label it all. (I love you, P-Touch label maker!)

The piles on my desk, table, and floor (of papers, clippings and ideas) are being sorted through, tossed and filed. 

There has been a wall of junk clogging up my studio doorway and hallway. So I'm cleaning that up, too. I want creative energy to flow right in! (And it truly is hard for myself to get in right now, much less the creative energy.)

I'm sitting down with my master To-Do List and Goal sheets that I re-write every few months. (When I FIND them.) I keep them in a handy folder, and write them by hand and highlight important things in pretty colors. It is something I find calming, because once that is organized I know I won't forget anything. 

I've also got a lot of cleaning up to do on Chapter One of Little Raindrop. Yes, it's still in the sketchy stage, and I haven't done any final art. But I want to make sure it's clean and neat and ready for the book dummy that will need a good thorough critique prior to finishing. 

Organization is important, because when you're me and you get less than 24 hours a week to work on your current project, you need to streamline your work time. Organization keeps forgetful people like me in line and punctual. And when I know all of these things are being accomplished, that time is not being wasted, and that I'm not forgetting anything, organization makes something magical happen...

...I can sit, relax and create! *sigh*

Also, I get a great excuse to find nifty things at the Container Store online! Alas, if only they would open a shop here in Rhode Island. I LOVE that place. Love it. Looooove. 

Have fun organizing!
~Melanie

Little Raindrop: FAN MAIL!!! oh, and #ValentinesDay

Hi there!

I'm very overdue for this post, but here it goes:
A few months ago, around the holidays, I opened my mailbox to find this:

Oh! A surprise!

Inside were twenty hand written and hand drawn giant postcards from the kids in Mr. H's third grade class! (Mr. H is the author and creator of Little Raindrop, and teacher to an awesome group of kids.)

I was in SHOCK. (Actually, I nearly burst into tears. But my husband was right next to me and I would never hear the end of it if he caught me crying over mail.)

Mr. H had asked all the kids to check out my sketches of Little Raindrop and decide which style they liked best, and then to write me all about it. They even drew their own versions of Little Raindrop!

They love me! Awwww! *tears*

Awesome character art!

Little Raindrop, you look ravishing!

Loving the colors!

Is he wearing his UNDERPANTS in the city?!?!

LOVE the teenie mousie! So cute!

Favorite habitats, and excellent handling of the medium!

His caption cracks me up! I love drawing things like this myself!

Who do you think will win?

I love maps!!!

Seasons!

Keeping it simple... it reminds me of "Starry Night"! Nice intense colors!

I like to call this "Dog Holding a Person Balloon." It make me think- awesome!

A two part piece... and the image is sideways. Silly technology.

Abstract art can be so soothing to create... and look at!

I am baffled as to why I can't rotate these.

So pretty!

Notice the protective barrier, keeping the raindrops safe!

Zoomed-in. These are great!

The left side reminds me of a Monet, and the right is full of emotion!
This kid draws with their soul!

Feeling warm, Little Raindrop?

"I'm so hot I'm COOL."

The Evil Cloud Hotel.

There's Little Raindrop!

You can't have a habitat without a front door! Awesome eagle!

How amazing is that? I responded with my own letter, answering their many questions, and I included a calendar of my art for the kids to hang in the classroom. But that wasn't enough! Little Raindrop made the kids some Valentines! I gave him some post cards to decorate with stickers, and he made a giant Valentine for the whole class:

The bunny sticker is just so cute!

I sent them (and a bag of Sweet Tarts Hearts) to Mr. H last week, and he will be giving them to the kids tomorrow! I can't wait to hear all about it! This is one of the best parts about working on stuff for kids- you get to interact with them! (Can you tell I'm not yet a mom? I'll be 30 this year- I've still got time.)

I hope you all have an enjoyable Valentine's Day! And don't be pouting because you're single... romance shmomance. It's about giving love to others and showing that you care!

I love you all, my readers... my kid fans... my friends... and my family! Happy Valentine's Day!
~Melanie