Now how beautiful is that?
Post your favourite summer vacation pics so far here! The winner will be announced in the end of August!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Summer vacation pics! Post your favourite pics here and win a downloadable copy of "Gate Deadlock".
Now how beautiful is that?
Post your favourite summer vacation pics so far here! The winner will be announced in the end of August!
Tips for writers: Do you schedule the work?(or, how not to procrastinate)
Between finishing my book and writing my dissertation, I have come to look for ways to fight my worst enemy: time.
In other words, I try to manage time as effectively as possible.
So how about this: if we come to consider time as the occurrence of events in a sequence (as Einstein defined it) making effective use of time means managing those sequenced events effectively i.e. in a way that will give us the desirable results; for instance, a whole chapter, the completion of a scene, or finishing the whole story. And this would constitute our goal: what we want to accomplish and when.
Now, if you too are generally in bad terms with time you may have come to wonder whether it would help if you scheduled your work. Spend a moment asking yourselves: why the timelines, the special software?
Could it be another form of “covert” avoidance? Don’t expect me to deny this! Why else would I be so interested in ways to commit myself on my writing tasks?
If we believe what experts have said, planning is supposed to help you avoid future problems; the most common being (based on my experience) frustration.
Scheduling may have a liberating effect. However, it’s not an easy procedure.
According to my precious handbook (Dissertations and Theses From Start to Finish: Psychology and Related Fields,, Cone & Foster, 1993) on which the suggestions in this article are based, the following steps might be of use:
• It helps if you enter the steps you need to make in your calendar and then proceed in the same way you would eat an elephant: one bite at a time. In other words, make a plan and stick to it.
Do you try to convince yourself you need large chunks of time? Do you expect summer holidays to work harder? According to the same handbook, this is a very creative excuse for doing little work until maybe, next summer?
The secret here is to set a realistic timetable, even if it means that you can dedicate such short periods of time as three hours per week. It can be sufficient, provided you handle it as sacred time in the meaning that it cannot be cancelled. This is what happens with my teaching time at school, for instance. It has to be “sacred”. No matter the excuse I find to stay in the library with my notebook and a cup of coffee, I cannot do it because I have to go back to the classroom.
Start with one page at a time. Soon you will be amazed by how much writing you’ve done during your “sacred” writing time.
Do you feel that your project is not ready, that you don’t have the whole story yet? Nothing but starting to write it down will help you more to figure out how it evolves. It’s amazing how the characters speak for themselves!
Do you need deadlines to settle down to serious writing? It is only my opinion but writing under duress will not bring out the best of you. The process of writing, revising, editing is a long-term one and involves many steps so if you need to have deadlines, set your own meaningful deadlines imposed upon you by yourself. For example, use your calendar or that special software to decide when the draft for the next chapter should be finished, or when to finish revising/editing it…
My handbook suggests reducing procrastination by breaking the deadline habit altogether if you pursue a professional career.
How? Use a reward system for each time you accomplish a goal: e.g. finish that chapter and then do something you really want (I sometimes eat a bowl of chocholate-chip ice-cream!) This “work first, play second” rule should become part of your life-style and will take you more painlessly to the end of tour project.
If you can involve others in this rewarding system of yours they will probably keep supporting you, why not your family? (Chocolate-chip ice-cream for everyone!)
Try to be involved with people who share the same problem. For instance, why not make a group of “authors with a tendency to procrastinate” where we let others know about our progress so that they encourage us to keep on? It can also work the other way: express our frustration when we’re stuck so that other members offer support and encouragement. If you like the idea, we can start by using the space for comments for this post or start a page on Facebook!
So, what do you say to that?
Any chance you don’t follow what the following image shows?
I look forward to your comments.
Rania
In other words, I try to manage time as effectively as possible.
So how about this: if we come to consider time as the occurrence of events in a sequence (as Einstein defined it) making effective use of time means managing those sequenced events effectively i.e. in a way that will give us the desirable results; for instance, a whole chapter, the completion of a scene, or finishing the whole story. And this would constitute our goal: what we want to accomplish and when.
Now, if you too are generally in bad terms with time you may have come to wonder whether it would help if you scheduled your work. Spend a moment asking yourselves: why the timelines, the special software?
Could it be another form of “covert” avoidance? Don’t expect me to deny this! Why else would I be so interested in ways to commit myself on my writing tasks?
If we believe what experts have said, planning is supposed to help you avoid future problems; the most common being (based on my experience) frustration.
Scheduling may have a liberating effect. However, it’s not an easy procedure.
According to my precious handbook (Dissertations and Theses From Start to Finish: Psychology and Related Fields,, Cone & Foster, 1993) on which the suggestions in this article are based, the following steps might be of use:
• It helps if you enter the steps you need to make in your calendar and then proceed in the same way you would eat an elephant: one bite at a time. In other words, make a plan and stick to it.
- If you find yourself procrastinating, try to identify the reasons. For instance,
Do you try to convince yourself you need large chunks of time? Do you expect summer holidays to work harder? According to the same handbook, this is a very creative excuse for doing little work until maybe, next summer?
The secret here is to set a realistic timetable, even if it means that you can dedicate such short periods of time as three hours per week. It can be sufficient, provided you handle it as sacred time in the meaning that it cannot be cancelled. This is what happens with my teaching time at school, for instance. It has to be “sacred”. No matter the excuse I find to stay in the library with my notebook and a cup of coffee, I cannot do it because I have to go back to the classroom.
Start with one page at a time. Soon you will be amazed by how much writing you’ve done during your “sacred” writing time.
Do you feel that your project is not ready, that you don’t have the whole story yet? Nothing but starting to write it down will help you more to figure out how it evolves. It’s amazing how the characters speak for themselves!
Do you need deadlines to settle down to serious writing? It is only my opinion but writing under duress will not bring out the best of you. The process of writing, revising, editing is a long-term one and involves many steps so if you need to have deadlines, set your own meaningful deadlines imposed upon you by yourself. For example, use your calendar or that special software to decide when the draft for the next chapter should be finished, or when to finish revising/editing it…
My handbook suggests reducing procrastination by breaking the deadline habit altogether if you pursue a professional career.
How? Use a reward system for each time you accomplish a goal: e.g. finish that chapter and then do something you really want (I sometimes eat a bowl of chocholate-chip ice-cream!) This “work first, play second” rule should become part of your life-style and will take you more painlessly to the end of tour project.
If you can involve others in this rewarding system of yours they will probably keep supporting you, why not your family? (Chocolate-chip ice-cream for everyone!)
So, what do you say to that?
Any chance you don’t follow what the following image shows?
I look forward to your comments.
Rania
Friday, June 24, 2011
"Gate Deadlock" on Kindle Store
Soooo happy I decided to do this! “Gate Deadlock” is now available on Kindle!
Find it on the link http://www.amazon.com/Gate-Deadlock-ebook/dp/B0057JPEA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1308901854&sr=1-1
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http://www.amazon.com/Gate-Deadlock-ebook/dp/B0057JPEA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1308901854&sr=1-1
Find it on the link http://www.amazon.com/Gate-Deadlock-ebook/dp/B0057JPEA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1308901854&sr=1-1
Friday, June 17, 2011
What is going on in Greece?
My new friend Stacey from the USA has asked for more details on my last post about the Greeks being fully awake.
So I’ll give you the picture from a middle-class working mum’s point of view.
For the economy details check out this link http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-a-crisis-in-athens-and-a-looming-disaster-for-europe-2298564.html
or http://www.greekcrisis.net/
After Iceland ,Ireland ,Portugal and Spain now Greece is facing bankruptcy as a result of deficient policies within the European Union in combination with corruption in previous Greek governments. The euro zone may be collapsing, Greece being the first frontier in this battle. There have been unprecedented austerity measures, unemployment has risen up to 15%, salaries have been reduced to 500 Euros per month, numerous taxes have been added to our income, pensions have been reduced, in many cases to 200p/month, young people emigrate like Greeks did after the 2nd World War.
For many months Greeks have been patient, waiting for some positive results after so many months of sacrifices. However, the deficit is only increasing and bankruptcy is on our doorstep. After the movement of The Indignados in Spain started (where there was a slogan: Quiet! We don’t want to wake up the Greeks!) then spreading to more European countries, people in Greece made their own Indignants’ movement communicating through Facebook and Twitter. Hence, they gather in the main squares of big cities every night forming a public congress and trying to work out the situation having faith in the only thing that changes the route of a State throughout history:
THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE
"The paranoia is in bloom, the PR
Transmissions will resume, they'll try to
Push drugs, keep us all dumb down and hope that
We will never see the truth around, so come on
Another promise, another scene, another
Package not to keep us trapped in greed with all the
Green belts wrapped around our minds and endless
Red tape to keep the truth confined, so come on
They will not force us
And they will stop degrading us
And they will not control us
We will be victorious, so come on"
The Muse, Uprising
http://www.blogger.com/goog_189959818
So I’ll give you the picture from a middle-class working mum’s point of view.
For the economy details check out this link http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-a-crisis-in-athens-and-a-looming-disaster-for-europe-2298564.html
or http://www.greekcrisis.net/
After Iceland ,Ireland ,Portugal and Spain now Greece is facing bankruptcy as a result of deficient policies within the European Union in combination with corruption in previous Greek governments. The euro zone may be collapsing, Greece being the first frontier in this battle. There have been unprecedented austerity measures, unemployment has risen up to 15%, salaries have been reduced to 500 Euros per month, numerous taxes have been added to our income, pensions have been reduced, in many cases to 200p/month, young people emigrate like Greeks did after the 2nd World War.
For many months Greeks have been patient, waiting for some positive results after so many months of sacrifices. However, the deficit is only increasing and bankruptcy is on our doorstep. After the movement of The Indignados in Spain started (where there was a slogan: Quiet! We don’t want to wake up the Greeks!) then spreading to more European countries, people in Greece made their own Indignants’ movement communicating through Facebook and Twitter. Hence, they gather in the main squares of big cities every night forming a public congress and trying to work out the situation having faith in the only thing that changes the route of a State throughout history:
THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE
"The paranoia is in bloom, the PR
Transmissions will resume, they'll try to
Push drugs, keep us all dumb down and hope that
We will never see the truth around, so come on
Another promise, another scene, another
Package not to keep us trapped in greed with all the
Green belts wrapped around our minds and endless
Red tape to keep the truth confined, so come on
They will not force us
And they will stop degrading us
And they will not control us
We will be victorious, so come on"
The Muse, Uprising
http://www.blogger.com/goog_189959818
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Greeks are fully awake!
When you are away, you distance yourself from the problems but you also run the risk of either exaggerating or undervaluing them.
I used to wonder how much longer the people in Greece were going to put up with the depreciation of their self-dignity along with the decline of the level of their welfare. I used to, because I don’t have to wonder anymore. Watching all those who gather at the Constitution Square every night, thousands of “indignant” Greeks, I feel proud.
Eventually we have decided to demonstrate that Greece is not represented by the politicians, by the people who feathered their own nests and fled.
The core of the Greek spirit can be found there, in the squares of the Greek cities, the towns and villages where the public assembly (the teenagers and the elderly, the immigrants and the natives, the poor and the poorer) looks for radical changes. Feeling the strong need to join them, I use this blog to let them know
I too am an indignant Greek.
I want them to know that I’m fed up with all the accusations fired at me, the Greek citizen, by our “European friends” that I’m lazy and overpaid or I spend too much time on holidays.
How can I let them know that I am one of the thousands of hard-working state school teachers who receive the absurd salary of 1200 Euros after 19 years of service, with a totally self-funded Msc completed a few years ago, when I was raising my two children. What if I still work hard trying to be a better teacher and hope to finish a PhD in the following years? (self-funded too, although I’m not sure I will be able to afford it in the years to come). How hopeless does this sound today? What difference is this going to make to my life when all those young people who are looking forward to start their careers with postgraduate degrees and impressive qualifications are working for just 500 Euros per month?
I know I’m not alone. We are too many. And you know what? We didn’t protest so so far because we struggled for the best. Because we were looking for a better future for our children. Now we need to explain to them why we’re taking that future away from them; why they will have to put up with the degrading comments and accusations coming from our so called “friends”; why they will have to migrate to find a job.
Or should I just tell them that we, “the indignant”, are
powerful?
“Dignity consists not in possessing honours, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.”
Aristotle
Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
WINNERS!
Here are the names of the lucky readers:
Jessica Smith
Panagiotis Bellos
Alexia Paphiti.
For all the February-March readers : I will send you an e-mail asking your postal address.There is a surprise gift for everyone! Thank you for celebrating with me and sharing my enthusiasm about my first book.
Keep in touch!
The sequel is on the way!
Friday, April 1, 2011
End of "Gate Deadlock" contest!
A big "Thank you" to all of you who have bought my book and entered the contest. I really hope you have enjoyed my story. I'll be announcing the winners' names in the following days, so stay in touch!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Gate Deadlock contest ending...
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
My favourite place in the world...
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tips for writers: How to set a routine (manage your writing space to manage your writing behaviour)
Writing a dissertation for the Phd is not very different from writing a book. Personally, I enjoy writing books more than writing my dissertation but I have found that when it comes to writing the procedure is more or less the same. So I'll be posting some ideas that I have found really useful to those who have difficulty in organising their work and setting a routine (if you're like that then we have a lot in common). All these ideas come from my readings and have all been tested.
So, let's say that the moment has come when inspiration overwhelms you and you feel the intense need to write. Where do you do this? I mean, what is the "environmental support" that works for you? It'd better not be the kitchen table! You don't need salt and pepper around you or the kids coming and going, the fridge opening every now and then and, worst of all, the distracting temptation of sweets and biscuits (I admit I have done the same, don't worry).
It's a good idea to choose your writing space carefully. And by space we mean a quiet place where you will be able to enjoy uninterrupted privacy for as long as you need it. A special room in your house, one that nobody else uses, can be turned into your writing space. I wouldn't go as far as rent an office ( if you can afford it, why not?) but you need a place to use exclusively for writing that masterpiece. If there is no spare room in your house, use a desk (worked for me).Your laptop, your notes and everything you need must be there for you and you only.
And that must be the only reason you sit there: to write. This is how you can focus; under "narrowly defined stimulus conditions". Experts have stressed how stimulus control is closely related to self control. The idea is to write under stimulus control of a particular location and , if possible, on a particular time of day. You may find it useful to set a period of time during the day that you confine yourself in that "writing space", let's say from 5p.m. to 7p.m.
But try to be consistent. Consistency is the key word here. You will soon find how this will narrow all outside distractions and you will become focused on your project.
One thing you should not underestimate is the support of family nd friends. Avoid unannounced visitors by letting your friends know your writing routine. State simply that you can't be reached during the period of time you dedicate to writing. Those who really care will understand your need for privacy. Of course you will have to arrange the occasion when you can be with them exclusively.
Friends Comments
Special arrangements must be done with children. If they know that you have committed specific time to them (and of course you keep your commitments) they are less likely to interrupt your work.
Parents Sons Comments
A warning: Be realistic. Set realistic goals and be prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes plans fail and routines change. But that's all right. Besides, you should know that writing is a lonely job.
So, let's say that the moment has come when inspiration overwhelms you and you feel the intense need to write. Where do you do this? I mean, what is the "environmental support" that works for you? It'd better not be the kitchen table! You don't need salt and pepper around you or the kids coming and going, the fridge opening every now and then and, worst of all, the distracting temptation of sweets and biscuits (I admit I have done the same, don't worry).It's a good idea to choose your writing space carefully. And by space we mean a quiet place where you will be able to enjoy uninterrupted privacy for as long as you need it. A special room in your house, one that nobody else uses, can be turned into your writing space. I wouldn't go as far as rent an office ( if you can afford it, why not?) but you need a place to use exclusively for writing that masterpiece. If there is no spare room in your house, use a desk (worked for me).Your laptop, your notes and everything you need must be there for you and you only.And that must be the only reason you sit there: to write. This is how you can focus; under "narrowly defined stimulus conditions". Experts have stressed how stimulus control is closely related to self control. The idea is to write under stimulus control of a particular location and , if possible, on a particular time of day. You may find it useful to set a period of time during the day that you confine yourself in that "writing space", let's say from 5p.m. to 7p.m.But try to be consistent. Consistency is the key word here. You will soon find how this will narrow all outside distractions and you will become focused on your project.
One thing you should not underestimate is the support of family nd friends. Avoid unannounced visitors by letting your friends know your writing routine. State simply that you can't be reached during the period of time you dedicate to writing. Those who really care will understand your need for privacy. Of course you will have to arrange the occasion when you can be with them exclusively.
Friends Comments
Special arrangements must be done with children. If they know that you have committed specific time to them (and of course you keep your commitments) they are less likely to interrupt your work.
Parents Sons Comments
A warning: Be realistic. Set realistic goals and be prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes plans fail and routines change. But that's all right. Besides, you should know that writing is a lonely job.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Inspire them with a photo.
Trying to get back on track after a while spent on my Phd tasks, I find it really hard to set a writing routine. I used to be an early bird, waking up before dawn to spend about two hours writing with a cup of strong coffee next to me when everyone was still asleep... Those were great moments...
Now I wake up before dawn to get ready for school! School in Cyprus starts at 7.30. The kids and I set off at 07.00 every day.
I surely miss home...
How do you manage your writing time?
Anyway, this is what made my day at school this morning;
One of my students discovers my book! She's so excited, she mentions she even does a little writing herself. She asks the question every writer should be ready to answer: What inspires you Mrs Rania?
I tell her "Music".
She's not satisfied, expects something more. She wants to write something for me but she doesn't know how to start.
I say "Look what happens around you. Listen to people talking. Guess...Where they come from...Where they're going..."
She looks disappointed. She says "Reality is harsh".
I can't argue that. She lives a few kilometres from the green line, the Buffer zone that divides her country in two.
I use my lap top to find some photos that will take her to a world of fantasy. She picks three, says she's gonna write a story on frienship.
She smiles. A very promising smile. She's inspired...
I realise I am smiling too... This was the only good thing that happened to me today.
I have to go. Have some writing to do myself.
PS. Reminder: Join the "Gate Deadlock" birthday party! Order the book in February or May and get the chance to win one of the gifts, the bracelet or the broken heart necklaces...See the previous post on this blog. Good luck!
Now I wake up before dawn to get ready for school! School in Cyprus starts at 7.30. The kids and I set off at 07.00 every day.
I surely miss home...
How do you manage your writing time?
Anyway, this is what made my day at school this morning;
One of my students discovers my book! She's so excited, she mentions she even does a little writing herself. She asks the question every writer should be ready to answer: What inspires you Mrs Rania?
I tell her "Music".
She's not satisfied, expects something more. She wants to write something for me but she doesn't know how to start.
I say "Look what happens around you. Listen to people talking. Guess...Where they come from...Where they're going..."
She looks disappointed. She says "Reality is harsh".
I can't argue that. She lives a few kilometres from the green line, the Buffer zone that divides her country in two.
I use my lap top to find some photos that will take her to a world of fantasy. She picks three, says she's gonna write a story on frienship.
I realise I am smiling too... This was the only good thing that happened to me today.
I have to go. Have some writing to do myself.
PS. Reminder: Join the "Gate Deadlock" birthday party! Order the book in February or May and get the chance to win one of the gifts, the bracelet or the broken heart necklaces...See the previous post on this blog. Good luck!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Celebrate with ‘Gate Deadlock’! Get the book, win a gift!
‘Gate Deadlock’ is celebrating one year since its publication!
All of you who will place your order in February and March have the chance to win one of the following handmade pieces of jewelry by Eliza Christopoulou! Two broken hearts and a goth bracelet are waiting for the lucky readers!
How?
Order here from Amazon or here for Lulu and send me your order receipt on my e-mail address raniasarri68@gmail.com
There will be more surprises for everyone who joins the party! Keep in touch to find out more.
All of you who will place your order in February and March have the chance to win one of the following handmade pieces of jewelry by Eliza Christopoulou! Two broken hearts and a goth bracelet are waiting for the lucky readers!
How?
Order here from Amazon or here for Lulu and send me your order receipt on my e-mail address raniasarri68@gmail.com
There will be more surprises for everyone who joins the party! Keep in touch to find out more.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Rania reads and reviews: "My heart, his soul" by Loraine Lotter
Review“My heart, his soul”
By Loraine Lotter
“My heart, his soul” is a very unique story in the genre of fantasy and romance. The heroine, a typical, rebellious teenager who goes through the phase of contradicting her parents and looking up to her friends instead, depicts every girl’s anxieties as she evolves into becoming a woman. What better way is there to mature her but love? A love with the supernatural, the perfect inner element in a human being; the soul of a man.
Lorainne addresses not only teenagers who will definitely empathize with Abi as she struggles to find her way in life, but also those who are keen on romance at the innocent age of the first heartbeats. Above all, this story meets, if not exceeds the expectations of the lovers of the fantasy and supernatural genres, with its innovative subject and a plot that makes the book a page-turner.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Jon Bon Jovi in Athens!
Almost too good to be true! This time I'll be there. I missed U2, I can't miss Jon too!
Here's "Always" a song that has inspired me more than once. Dedicated to those who are always in love!
Here's "Always" a song that has inspired me more than once. Dedicated to those who are always in love!
Monday, September 13, 2010
This week's song! Breathe in me.
W.A.S.P Breathe Lyrics:
You don¹t have to hear my heart beat
All you need is to look into my eyes
All tell me, I¹m the one your heart needs
I¹m the only one you run to in the night
Oh- let me, burn the words forever mine
Across your heart, across your mind
Take your hands and feel my heart beat
Come and let me feel it in your eyes
All you have to do is touch me
Oh - And lay your flame across my fire
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/TMhU ]
Oh - Let me spread your wings and come inside
And take your heart and make you mine
Come and lay down your heart on me
All that I wanna feel is
Breathe in me
Lay down your heart on me
Feel you inside of me
Breathe on me
Come and take me on, take me down
Oh, take me all, all the way
There¹s only one way
Only one thing I need, all I need
Take me way down
Come and lay down on me
Lyrics: Breathe, W.A.S.P
I miss you all!
Moving out is not a decision to take lightly. Here I am, in a new country, new house, new job but my mind is still on my friends, my family, my students, my collegues and especially my dogs Lack and Lulu.
I miss you all!
I Miss You Comments
I miss you all!
I Miss You Comments
Friday, September 10, 2010
Rania's Interview and contest on "Romancing the book"!
Don't miss the "Gate Deadlock" contest on 'Romancing the book'.
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2010/09/interview-with-rania-sarri.html Just read my interview to Jen and Jessica and see if you know the name I'm asking for.
Good luck!
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2010/09/interview-with-rania-sarri.html Just read my interview to Jen and Jessica and see if you know the name I'm asking for.
Good luck!
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