Show notes
Today’s topic is fresh on my mind because I just turned in the second round of edits for the manuscript of my next book. It comes out in early 2023 and I’m so excited about it! In this episode, we “pull back the curtain” on publishing and share what I’ve learned about writing books, the mistakes I’ve made, and how I found time to write this book. Whether you have dreams of writing a book one day, are a published author, or need some inspiration to tackle a big project, I hope you find this episode helpful and encouraging. I share how I approach writing, why an outline is key, how I break the project down into bite-sized pieces, how I use Google calendar to keep me on track, the amount of time I spent on writing each day, and a number of tips that helped me to stay on task and be really thrilled with the (almost) finished product! The strategies I employed to make the time to write this book are ones you could implement with many different big projects — even if you never, ever plan to write a book or truly despise writing. In This Episode [0:35] – I announce that I just turned in the second draft of my new book! [1:16] – Today’s tips can be applied to any large project, not just a book. [2:39] – Our girls had prom last night! We share some of our favorite parts of the experience. [8:19] – I just finished reading Fostered by Tori Hope Petersen. [11:20] – I recently got a Milliard body pillow and totally understand why people love them! [14:40] – Today’s episode is sponsored by CodeSpark Academy. [16:44] – I dive into how I found time to write a book. [19:38] – How a book about time management came to be. [21:50] – One of my biggest time management secrets is streaming and simplifying. [23:54] – I was my own case study about time management while writing this book. [25:52] – How I use Google calendar to keep me on track. [27:34] – Reading the manuscript out loud is one strategy I’ve found to be so helpful. [29:27] – I describe the challenge of writing a book while pregnant. [30:57] – Jesse touches upon why it was easier for me to make changes to this book. [33:26] – I can’t write well for longer than 45 minutes. [35:45] – Jesse offers insight into why my time block method is better than a word count method. Links & Resources Links & ResourcesMilliard Body Pillow Books Love-Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine Fostered by Tori Hope Petersen Atomic Habits by James Clear 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List MoneySavingMom.com My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!) Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com Sponsor Spotlight: CodeSpark Academy Do you have kids who love science, technology, or STEM-related activities? If so, you might want to check out CodeSpark Academy — an online program that teaches kids ages 5-9 how to code and use critical thinking skills. CodeSpark is the #1 learn-to-code app, teaching kids the ABCs of coding and basic computer programming skills — all without having to know how to read! Based on research-backed curriculum from MIT and Princeton, this highly-rated educational app features hundreds of activities and games designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer science and introduce them to the world of STEM. In additional to learning how to code, this app also teaches basic problem-solving and logical thinking skills, encourages profound creativity, instills persistence and resilience, and boosts confidence in kids. Better yet, the games are so fun to play, most kids won’t even realize they’re learning while playing! When you sign up for your first FREE month of CodeSpark Academy, you get: Unlimited coding challenges New skills every week Hundreds of educational puzzles Unlimited access to their creativity suite Free CodeSpark Academy 30-Day Trial Right now CodeSpark Academy is offering our readers/listeners an exclusive deal to get a FREE 30-day trial! Typically, you only get a free 7-day trial, so this is a really great opportunity for your kids to try it out and see if they like it! Just go here and use coupon code MSM30 to get your free 30-day trial. Note: When you take advantage of this offer, you’re signing up for auto-renewal at the regular price of $9.99 per month. If you love the program after your free trial, you can continue. If you want to cancel after your free trial, just be sure to cancel the auto-renewal in your account to avoid getting charged. Our Sponsors:* Check out KiwiCo and use my code CRYSTAL for a great deal: https://kiwico.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands