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Jean Marie Bauhaus

Multipassionate Freelance Writer and Speculative Fiction Author

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April 17, 2008 by Jean Marie Bauhaus

Feeling stuck?

Maybe this will help: Thirteen Writing Prompts, courtesy of McSweeney’s.

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~Take Swift Action~ . At some point a couple of weeks ago, this phrase popped into my head, and has become something of a mantra that has been helping me actually do things instead of overthinking, overanalyzing and talking myself out of following through on new ideas. . I used to be a lot more impulsive when it came to implementing my creative ideas. Sometimes that got me into trouble, but it also led to some pretty amazing things. . But then that impulsive streak got me into some big trouble that led to a lot of pain and fallout, and I've been a lot more careful ever since. Instead of doing the things, I've become someone who journals about the things, prays about the things, thinks about all the ways a thing could go wrong, begs God for a sign telling me He wants me to do the thing, and talking myself out of doing anything. . But I know that's not how it's supposed to work, and I miss that old, impulsively creative version of myself. One of my hopes for this year is to get back some of that impulsivity, albeit balanced with discernment -- after all, if I try to do ALL the things I'll just make myself crazy. . But this little phrase, take swift action, is helping me get past the endless thinking loops to the actual doing. It doesn't necessarily mean I drop everything to do the thing, whatever it is -- sometimes the "swift action" just involves making a note in my bullet journal, or adding it to my to do list, or telling someone my intentions. . But those little actions take the thing out of the realm of theoretical possibility to actual goal, at which point I'm far more likely to follow through than if I hem and haw and ask God for permission first to even explore the idea further. . Continued in comments! 👇👇👇

Before you get caught up in what the world values, always take a step back and remember that in God’s kingdom, everything is upside down and contrary. And in the Kingdom, even the smallest, most mundane and mediocre of tasks can produce gold, silver and precious stones (and the most impressive jobs can produce nothing but wood, hay and straw if not carried out with the right heart). Heck, even something as small and mundane as brushing your teeth can reap eternal reward if you’re doing it faithfully as unto the Lord! . How many people in the Bible were just living their ordinary, mediocre lives when God chose them to do big things? God selected them BECAUSE of their ordinariness, because that’s what the world least expected. But they weren’t out there getting after it, trying to make big things happen. . Joseph wasn’t looking to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. He was just trying to encourage his fellow prisoners. . Moses wasn’t looking for a burning bush. He was just looking after his father-in-law’s sheep. . David wasn’t trying to become a king. He was just trying to be a good shepherd. . Peter and John weren’t looking to found a worldwide religious movement to bring salvation to the gentiles. They were just trying to catch some fish. . All of them were just going about their daily business, doing their jobs, helping their families, fishing, tending sheep -- ordinary, everyday business. But the thing is, there was nothing ordinary about their hearts. They loved God and they were faithful in their small, ordinary, day-to-day assignments, doing it all as unto Him, treating it all like it was vastly important. Because it was. . It is. . Read more on Substack at the first link in my profile (you don't have to subscribe if you don't want to, just scroll down and click Next to get to the post).

I've got a lot of things to say about the denigration of ordinary and the pressure to do BIG! AMAZING! THINGS! that comes from both the world and church culture, and the Biblicality (or lack thereof) of that message. I'll be sharing those thoughts in the inaugural issues of my new monthly newsletter, A Quiet Life. It's heading to inboxes on Wednesday, so sign up at the link in my profile if you haven't already! . I also put together a set of self-coaching worksheets to help you live a values-driven life aligned with what actually matters to you. It's yours FREE when you sign up for A Quiet Life! . . . #aquietlife #valuesdrivenlife #valuesalignment #simplify #simplelife #simpleliving #slowandsimple #slowingdown #antihustle #letsallcalmdown #wellwateredwomen #saynotobusy #makingmargin #makingroom #essentialism #dowhatmatters

I'm what's called a hybrid author. If you don't know that term, it means I'm both self-published and traditionally published. But I was self-published first -- in fact, the first novel I published under a traditional publishing contract was originally my first self-published novel, and it's the book that eventually landed me that 4 book publishing contract. . Why am I telling you this? . Because I see so many of you who long to be authors, who have writing skills and a message you want to get out into the world, who think it has to be done the old way. Who are discouraged and despairing because you don't have a large platform and you know an agent wouldn't look at you twice because of it. Who think your choices are to get to work becoming a social media influencer and growing your following or else never achieving your author dreams. . This morning I listened to an interview with Nir Eyal, author of the best selling non-fiction book Indistractible. That book was originally self-published, too. Eyal had no platform and didn't even bother with a book proposal or agent search. He published it himself, and after it sold well and got a lot of good reviews, a publisher picked it up and it became a bestseller. . There is another path, and it's not just for fiction authors. . If you think you'd like to explore that alternative path but you think you can't afford it or don't know how to get started, you're the reason I wrote Self-Publishing for the Broke Author. It takes you step-by-step through the self-publishing process and outlines all of your options, whether you want to go a completely DIY route, hire help, or something in between. It covers ebooks, hard copies and audiobooks, and which options will give you the best chance of getting bookstores to stock your book. It even covers marketing so that you can actually sell your book and get people to read it. . Find it at the link in my profile. But whether you check my book out or not, don't despair over the size of your following or platform, and please don't let a small following be an obstacle to your publishing dreams.

Consistency is my biggest goal for this year. I've managed to develop a certain amount of self-discipline, but I'm not always good at applying it consistently. I want to be someone who consistently does what she says she'll do, who can be relied on to finish what she starts, who always keeps her promises - including the ones I make to myself. Who takes her small assignments as seriously as her big ones. . So far, during the first full week of the year, I've managed to pull it off, consistently showing up each day to those tasks I so easily procrastinate or talk myself out of. And while I've still got a ways to go before this becomes a habit that gets grafted onto my character, God's already been teaching me a few things about consistency. . I'm learning that a big part of being consistent isn't necessarily doing the things, but simply showing up with a willing heart. . That's more than half the battle. Whether it's showing up at my writing desk, or my yoga mat, or to my open Bible, or to a sink full of dirty dishes, nothing can happen at any of those places if I don't first make the decision to show up. . And when I show up? Usually, something happens, and things get done. Strike usually. Always. Something always happens, even if it just reinforces that I'm the type of person who shows up reliably with a willing heart. . And even if just a little bit of something happens when I'm faithful to show up, those little bits add up over time to become big things. God can use my small, everyday acts of faithful obedience to accomplish big things, both in my life and the lives of those I serve. . The biggest, hardest thing I have to be consistent about is simply choosing to show up. After that, the rest comes easily, and the best part is, I don't have to worry about the results. Those are all up to Him. . What do you need to decide to show up to this week?

She waited all afternoon for me to shut down the laptop and make room for her.

Three days in a row is an official streak, right? #amwriting #dontbreakthechain

In this culture that prizes ambition and pushes us to hustle non-stop for material rewards, I’m choosing to follow the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Thessalonian church to “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.” . A life of faith and obedience over hustling and striving. . A life fully aligned with my values and beliefs. . A life that moves at a slower pace, making room for what matters most. . If that’s the sort of life you’re after, this newsletter is for you. . Every month, I’ll get a little vulnerable, sharing the things I struggle with, and also sharing what I’ve figured out so far. Part personal blog and part practical advice to help you shape the life you want, my hope is that this newsletter will inspire you to find ways to live a more peaceful and fulfilling life, or at the very least, to slow down and get some rest. . Sign up at the link in my profile. When you do, I'll send you a free gift - a set of worksheets that will help you design a life more fully aligned with your values.

Back in the saddle this morning. #amwriting

10 journal prompts that help me get grounded and set my intentions for the day: 🔅 1. What's on my mind today? 2. What do I need to let go of from yesterday? 3. Yesterday's wins: 4. Today's intentions: 5. What can I do or focus on today that will have lasting impact? 6. What needs to get done today? 7. What's one thing I WANT to do today? 8. How do I want to feel today? 9. How do I want today to go? 10. What's something from today I'm thankful for? 🔅 I usually go through each of the first nine in the morning, and save the last one for the evening before I turn in. Feel free to use, keep, adapt, discard, etc. as you see fit to make it work for you. . (BTW, those are constellations, not zodiac signs, just in case anyone was hung up on that. 🤗)

Look at that sleeping baby. 😍🐢

Did you know I've got a monthly newsletter for fans of my fiction? If you sign up you'll get all the nitty-gritty about stuff I'm working on, as well as the stuff that's filling my creative well. Plus launch announcements, cover reveals, sneak peeks and all that usual author newsletter stuff. . The first issue of 2020 is going out later today. Sign up at the link in my profile!

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