When Inspiration Doesn't Strike

This past week I have learned that you can't force inspiration.

No matter how many times I turned on an inspiring playlist or got comfortable with a pen and paper, I always found myself staring at a blank page or an empty screen.

I had no idea how to continue.

I didn't even know how to start.

When inspiration is lacking, I have learned that change is often the answer. Go out of your element. Seek out a new environment. Try a bustling coffee shop or a picnic table at your nearby park. Listen to the sounds around you and observe your surroundings. Don't worry about writing or checking another item off of your to-do list.

Spend some time with yourself. Turn off your phone and spend at least a half hour sitting, standing or walking in a peaceful place.

Take a break from the familiar.

Inspiration will come. It may come slowly or it may come all at once, but it will eventually come. And when inspiration does strike? When you get a new idea or figure out exactly what you've been trying to say? You'll know. You'll feel it in your soul and in your bones.

This weekend, take a few hours to slow down and listen to what life is telling you. 

You have what you need. 

Now go be awesome.

Write Better: E-Mails

What's in it for me?

You have to know why you are writing the e-mail in the first place. What are you offering? How is your e-mail going to help this other person? What are you trying to get out of it and, in return, what are you willing to give to them? Every e-mail must have a purpose. Take a little time to think about what you want and how your e-mail is going to further that goal.

Look over here!

The subject of an e-mail is everything. Don't use anything generic. Instead, think of it as a book or blog title. You want something eye-catching. You want your reader to immediately click on your e-mail - you want them to read more. Avoid subject lines that sound like spam. If I don't know the person, and the subject e-mail sounds weird, there is a good chance I'll delete the e-mail without opening it.

I'm not reading that.

There is nothing worse than a long e-mail. I know many people who delete long e-mails that show up in their inbox without even reading them. Know what you're going to say, and keep it simple. Get to the point!

Did you spell that right?

Spelling or grammar mistakes in an e-mail can make you look unprofessional. Make sure you read over your e-mail before you send it. There is nothing worse than sending a mass e-mail out to your coworkers before realizing you spelled someone's name wrong. Not good.

What's your number?

Is an e-mail really the best way to get your point across? Sometimes it helps to talk to that person face to face, especially if it's a personal issue. Other times a quick phone call can answer your question instead of sending another e-mail to an already-full inbox. If you're saying thank you after an interview or after receiving a gift, consider handwriting a thank you note instead.


Are you good at sending e-mails? What are some things you need more help with? What are some things you're good at? Let me know in the comments below!

Need some more writing tips? Check out this post.

I'm Writing a Book

You heard me.

Right now I am sitting in a library, snuggled up inside one of the study rooms. Computer in front of me, notebook and pen to my right, music playing through my earphones.

This month I am participating in Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month. I will be writing 50,000 words in the month of November.

Am I insane? Possibly.
Am I excited? Definitely.

I've stuck with one idea and now I get to see it come to life. I love seeing my characters jump off the page.

I'm keeping my idea under wraps for now, but just know that it's a little bit of science fiction, a little bit of romance and a little bit of rebellion.

It's not too late to participate in Nanowrimo! Check out the website if you're interested, and look up 'Jacklyn Lee' if you want to be writing buddies or check out my progress.

Happy writing, everyone!

10 Movies to Watch this Halloween Weekend

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. In fact, my plan for this weekend consists of me cuddling up in bed with some candy and a scary movie instead of dressing up and going out. Watching a good movie always puts me in the mood for Halloween, so I decided to share a list of some of my favorites. Check out the list, and share some of your own favorites in the comments below!

The Silence of the Lambs

This movie is definitely creepy enough to give you goosebumps on a dark Halloween night. No matter how many times I watch this, Anthony Hopkins and Ted Levine's characters always make me want to hide under my bed. A classic.

Pan's Labyrinth

An absolutely beautiful movie by Guillermo del Toro. One of my favorites. If you don't think this movie is worthy of your Halloween night, you are definitely mistaken. The Pale Man scene alone is enough to fuel your nightmares for the next week.

Donnie Darko

I have a love-hate relationship with this movie, but I think it's perfect for Halloween. It's just weird enough to be a great movie to watch this weekend. The only downside to this movie is that it doesn't leave you with a 'happy ever after' feeling, so if that's what you're looking for, this movie may not be for you. (Plus, Frank is horrifying. No thanks.)

Saw

You can't go through Halloween without watching at least one Saw movie. Incredibly violent and a little crazy, the Saw movies are fun to watch on their own or in one long Saw marathon. There are seven movies, though, so if you do marathon them...godspeed.

Paranormal Activity

In my experience, people either hate this movie and don't think it's scary at all or they can't watch it because they think it's horrifying. I belong to the second group. I still can't watch this movie by myself because it freaks me out. I mean, getting dragged out of bed by a demon? No thanks, I'll keep my feet under the covers from now on.

The Possession

One of my favorite horror movies. It's a lesser known movie that is based on the story of the dybbuk box. The acting, especially from the possessed girl, is amazing and it has just enough jump scares to keep you entertained.

The Conjuring

This may be my all time favorite horror movie. This movie has the right combination of a good plot, jump scares, and 'slow burn' scares to make it incredible. I highly recommend picking this one up this weekend. Pick up some popcorn too, because you will be stress-eating the whole time.

Insidious

Another movie I watched in the dark with friends. I later had to leave the room because I was terrified. Insidious isn't your typical horror movie. It dips its toes into science fiction a little bit, but it works. The scene where you hear a voice coming from the baby monitor? Crazy. Scary.

Cabin in the Woods

A crazy weird movie by Joss Whedon. It plays off of the typical horror movie tropes, and although a lot of the movie is supposed to be ironic, some of the scenes come off as just plain scary. Another amazing movie by Whedon. Plus, it has Chris Hemsworth in it. Not the scariest movie on the list, but it's so good that I just had to add it.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger is classic, but I always found him to be more funny than scary. Jackie Earle Haley plays a Krueger that definitely doesn't bring any laughs. The 2010 remake is one of my absolute favorite horror movies, and will probably be my go-to this Halloween weekend.








What are some of your favorite horror movies? Recommend some below in the comments! 

Wednesday Whimsy

Happy National Cat Day!

Do you spend the majority of your day working at a desk? Ember and March has some awesome tips for keeping your productivity up when you're stationary for most of your day. This is for you work at home kids, too!

Although turtlenecks aren't usually my jam, I am in love with idea of layering a flannel shirt under a neutral-colored sweater. Caitlin definitely rocks this look. Perfect for fall and winter, if I do say so myself. Also, can I please raid her closet? This is my official request...

Spice up your blog with an interview, timeline or essay! Awesome ways to diversify your blog content.

My kitten Dolly and my sister's cat Oliver are seriously adorable. They constantly cuddle with each other and give each other baths. It's pretty gross. The amount of PDA that goes on in my house between these two is disgusting.

Ask for what you want. Trust yourself. Levo League tells you how to feel more powerful on a daily basis.

I am a huge fan of handwritten notes, whether they be thank-you notes or notes just to say 'hey.' Learn how to get in the habit of writing more notes.

"Be hungry without being entitled. Nothing is going to get handed to you; you have to go after what you want. Very few editors are going to beg you to write a five-page feature. You have to approach them and say, “I want to do this and I think I’ll do a great job.” Carving your own way is key, but you also need to know the fine line between being persistent and pesky." - Caitlin Hacker

Share some of your own whimsy in the comments below!

The Benefits of Taking a Break

For those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you are used to seeing a minimum of ten posts a week advertising my blog. I post every story on social media and usually a reminder or two throughout the week/weekend. My schedule is to post three times a week, and I love it. It works with my work schedule and gives me time to plan and write.

The last week or two have been strangely quiet around the blog.

Why?

Because life happens.

I did not have the energy - physically or emotionally - to keep up with my posts. I had a lot of other things going on with my family, friends, and work. So I decided to take some time off.

And I don't feel guilty.

I have learned the importance of giving yourself time off when you really need it. The importance of taking a breath and listening to your mind and body. What is it telling you? Last week it was telling me to throw myself into my work instead of my blog. The other week it was telling me to focus on my mental health. I even took a half day off of work to recuperate.

Listen to yourself and know that taking a break is not a bad thing. You come first.

When is the last time you listened to yourself and decided to take day off? Let me know in the comments below.

Start with Reflection

After you finish an assignment or project, it is always good to look back on the work you've done and ask yourself what you've done right and what you could have done better. This can help you move on to your next project with a clearer vision of what you want your outcome to be.

Over the past few years, however, I have realized how important it is to start and end with reflection. Although it is usually saved for the end of a project, starting with reflection can help you to get an idea of where you are and where you want to be.

Before you start a new project, ask yourself:

Why am I doing this?

How does this reflect my brand?

What do I hope to get out of this project?

What do I want my audience to get out of this project?

Asking yourself these questions can help you to lay the foundation of what you're working on, whether it be a project, product, organization or website.

Observing your own intentions is something you need to do before starting something new.

Reflecting on what you want out of your life is crucial to getting what you want and being the person you were meant to be.

Are you starting a new project soon? Let me know about it in the comments below. I would love to learn more about what you're working on.