Lifestyle

How to Create a Morning Routine

My alarm sounds at 4 a.m. playing an instrumental version of Beyoncé’s “Yonce.” When my alarm goes off the message on my phone reads “Beyoncé would get up.” Sometimes I set my alarm message to read “Be writeous, babe,” a nod to my old blog. Other times the message simply says, “Write!” But when this alarm sounds I get out of bed and start my morning routine.

Because I teach full-time, write part time and run a blog and business people often ask me how I do all the things that I do. My morning routine is the answer. If you’re struggling to find time to build your blog, finish your book, or launch your freelance writing career, creating a morning routine may help you finally make time for your dreams. 

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Currently: Writer’s Edition

It’s time for another edition of Currently, a feature for which I share what I’m currently into in hopes that you’ll find something that inspires you. Usually, I share what I’m watching, reading, listening to, writing, feeling, planning, and loving, but I’ve decided to switch things up a bit and share things that pertain specifically to the writing life. So here’s what I’m currently writing, revising, pitching, and planning. And I’ll also share what I’m reading, loving and feeling just for fun.

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On Writing and Aging Gracefully

Check out my new column in Birmingham Magazine!

Award-winning poet Ashley Jones (who’s also a colleague and friend) once told me that she writes to better understand the world. I’m pretty sure I do the same. But I recently realized that I also write to better understand myself.

I’m happy to announce that in 2019 I’ll be writing a new column for Birmingham magazine. Also titled See Jane Write, this column will cover cultural issues that many women face. For my debut piece, I wrote a raw and real personal essay on my struggle to embrace the beauty of aging and in doing so started to understand why I’m suddenly so worried about getting older.

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Affirmations for Christian Women Who Write

On Wednesday, January 2 — the same day I published a blog post and an Instagram post on the importance of believing you can actually achieve your 2019 goals — I went to my church’s first Wednesday service and the preacher talked about the power of positive thinking. He discussed the power of positive speaking, too. We have to speak God’s Word over ourselves, over our lives, and over our situations, he said.

For me, this was confirmation that I needed to get serious once again about reciting (and sharing) daily affirmations, a practice I started last year but abandoned.

Related Reading: Affirmations for Women Who Blog

So I took some of my favorite Bible verses and used them to write 10 affirmations for Christian women who write.

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