Author: Jackie Layton

Heather Weidner has been kind enough to share writing tips with us this week. Thanks, Heather!

As a writer, I have way more ideas for stories and characters than I can use
at any one time. I used to jot them down on paper or sticky notes. I’d clip
articles out of newspapers and magazines, so I had folders of ideas. But it
became unruly quickly. Here’s how I keep it all organized and usable.

Electronic Links and
Pictures: If it’s a picture, web page, or blog post, I have
Pinterest boards to organize ideas. For example, I was researching vintage
trailers and tiny houses for a WIP, so I built a Pinterest board to keep my information
in one place.

Single Spreadsheet: I finally created a single spreadsheet for all of the hundreds of sticky notes that were cluttering up my life. I created a column to tag each idea (e.g.
character name, dialogue sample, story idea, etc.). That allows me to sort by
the category when I’m looking for something specific. I also add notes if I’ve
used the idea. I may still jot things on sticky notes or paper, but they now
get transferred to the spreadsheet.

Web Favorites: If you mark favorites in your browser for websites, you may want to export it from time to time to ensure that you have a backup in case of a crash or device
failure. (In Internet Explorer, locate your “Add to Favorites” button. Click
the down arrow and select Import and Export. Follow the
screens to export your favorites to a file.)

Character and Place Name
Table: I also build a Word table for each series I write. Each
book gets a column. I put basic information about each character and location.
I track which books these appear in. When I’m done, I sort my list
alphabetically, so I can make sure that I’m not reusing names or naming
characters with similar names. This helps me keep the character details
consistent in each book.

Heather is a fabulous author and an even better friend! Here are some links to get to know her better. She’s the author of Heather is a fabulous author and an even better friend! Here are some links to get to know her better. She’s the author of the Jules Keene Glamping
series, Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries and the Delanie Fitzgerald
Mysteries.

https://www.heatherweidner.com/https://bookshop.org/shop/heatherweidner

I’m so excited to share the cover of Clutter Free. August 29 is the official release date, and it’s up for preorder on Amazon. https://amzn.to/45vXrLj

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Emma Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Emma’s police chief brother of having an affair, Emma’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Emma visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Emma and her business partner.

Emma has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Emma’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

I’ll keep you updated and share more about Clutter Free in the days ahead. In the meantime, take care and stay hydrated!

Today is the first day of the Great Escape Book Tour. I so much appreciate all the wonderful people who have made this possible.

Here’s where you can find me the next few days. Please join the fun!

August 9 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT http://www.brookeblogs.com/

August 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/

August 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW  https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/

August 11 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT https://baronessbooktrove.com/

August 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST  https://christyscozycorners.com/

August 12 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW 

August 12 – Jane Reads -CHARACTER GUEST POST  https://janereads2.blogspot.com/

August 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW  https://www.storeybookreviews.com/

August 13 – ebook addicts – AUTHOR GUEST POST  https://ebookaddicts.net/

August 14 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  https://www.literaryau.com/

August 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/

August 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW  http://myreadingjourneys.blogspot.com/

August 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT http://fuonlyknew.com/

August 15 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

https://debbiedelouise.com/

August 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST  http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/

August 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

August 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT https://www.instagram.com/maureentimerman/

August 17 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – CHARACTER GUEST POST  https://mysterythrillerssuspense.com/

August 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT  http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY

August 18 – Novels Alive – REVIEW http://novelsalive.com/

August 18 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW  https://readingismysuperpower.org/

Again, I hope to see you on the tour. Thanks!

I want to share some of the flowers I spotted in July in Waco.

These were taken at Magnolia. There were a lot of pretty flowers. It was hot, but it’s July in Texas, so it wasn’t surprising. Still, I admire all the people working on the flowers.

Homestead Heritage is the home to these wildflowers. One of my granddaughters braved the heat to explore with me. Then we headed into the coffee shop for icy cold drinks.

Emma Justice in Weeding Out Lies is a flower farmer who sells her flowers at the local farmers market. She grows some of the same flowers as I saw in Waco.

Here are some way to order Weeding Out Lies.

B&N https://bit.ly/3Of5GnR

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OkkUbg

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3QmgC62

Google: https://bit.ly/47g0atS

Apple: https://apple.co/45e0BTX

Thanks for sharing your time with me. I’d love to hear what your favorite flowers are. Or do you enjoy going to botanical gardens? Where do you get your flower fix?

We all probably have “that” closet or drawer.

A junk drawer.

Cluttered bathroom counter.

The closet where we toss everything when preparing for company.

I have a new series coming out later this year, featuring a professional organizer. So, when somebody mentions an organizing project, my ears perk up.

Sherrinda Ketchersid told me last week that she and some other friends were going to clean up and organize their church closet. The Spirit of Unity is near Dallas, Texas. And we all know how hot it’s been in Texas this summer. The ladies assured me sweating was involved.

When there’s a community closet, lots of well-meaning people can stuff items into the closet. Using cabinets and shelves are a good way to organize spaces.

Goals for projects like this are DECLUTTER and ORGANIZE.

Remove all the items in the closet or storage unit. Clean the shelves then sort through the items you took out. Are they in good condition? Are they necessary? If not, throw or give them away.

Collect storage bins in appropriate sizes for your project.

Labeling clear containers helps the person who is putting items away, and it’s helpful to the person looking for an item.

Create a binder to list the items you’re storing.

Some items you may need for your church storage closet are:

Candles and supplies

First aid kit

Coffee and hospitality supplies

Sunday school supplies, name tags, and markers

An assortment of batteries, because we always need batteries

I feel like most churches with kitchens have food and cooking supplies in the kitchen.

Thanks to Sherrinda Ketchersid and her friends for sharing their experience of decluttering and organizing.

Great job Sherrinda, Beverly and Ann!

Sherrinda Ketchersid can be found on her website… https://sherrinda.com/

She’s the author of clean, fun medieval romances. Lord of her Heart, His to Keep, and Hers to Love can be found at some of your favorite online bookstores.

Sherrinda also creates journals, phone cases and much more. https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Journal-Minimalist-Tracker-Readers/dp/B0BVTFSV39/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=QyYJ5&content-id=amzn1.sym.ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_p=ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_r=139-6512320-7616855&pd_rd_wg=VpMng&pd_rd_r=bd5c6add-fe30-42b9-b507-db87af87d8f8&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Creating makes Sherrinda happy, and you’ll want to check out her shops on Amazon and Etsy.

Thanks for stopping by, and I’m always interested to hear your organizing tips and projects.