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All About Vanessa Barneveld
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Connect with Vanessa
Vanessa's Fun Facts
Ruby Nickname:Girl from Oz Hometown: Sydney, Australia Age: 37 GH Year(s) 2009, 2010 Completed Manuscript(s) Four Genre(s): YA – light paranormal, contemporary romance Started Writing: Age 13 Day Job: Television captioning for the Deaf and audio description for the blind |
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The Ruby Slippered Sisterhood
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Blog Posts from Vanessa
MultitaskingPosted by Vanessa Barneveld Oct 21 2011, 12:01 am in writer's life They say the difference between men and women is that men can’t multitask. Well, if that’s the case, I must be a guy. This may come as a shock, but I am not Wonder Woman. I can’t multitask effectively. All right, that’s a bit of a porkie — I can multitask when necessary. I just don’t like to do it. Why? Lump me with any more than three urgent things at once and I’m bound to mess up somewhere down the line, forget an important detail, misunderstand information, or lose emails and my mind. Multitasking might seem like the best way to manage the twenty-four hours we’re all given each day. But is it really wise to constantly divide our attention like this? We may think we’re getting a lot done, but chances are we’re cutting corners. What I’ve found is that by focusing on one thing at a time, I actually do a better job and get it done faster. Funny, that! There are days when you have no choice but to multitask. Hands up those who have to help the kids with their homework, change nappies/diapers, field calls from the office, cook dinner, and take care of pets and spouses at the same time. That’s before you even get a word in edgewise on your WIP. If your multitasking efforts result in multi-disasters, what can you do, short of hiring an army of personal assistants? Combine the right tasks – As writers, we’re constantly trying to squeeze drops of time out of our day. Someone clever once said to me, “Any time you’re waiting is a good time to be writing.” Like, while you’re waiting for a root canal at the dentist’s, when you’re commuting on public transport, or waiting for The Call. Combining plotting with household chores is a popular choice for writers. There’s something about mundane tasks that instantly frees up brain space for me. No time to read? Download an audio book and listen to it while you’re sorting the laundry. So the pattern here is pairing a task that requires intense concentration with one that doesn’t. Just say no – Are you taking on too much? Trying to please others? Thinking the future of the world depends on how much you achieve in a day? Practice saying that magic word “no.” Don’t feel guilty about letting go of duties that drain you. Develop an appreciation for your own time and others will, too. Lighten your load – Ask for help. There’s no shame in that. Delegate, especially if the task isn’t something only you can do, like breastfeed. (Sorry, that was the best example I could think of…) Diarize and prioritize – Use the calendar on your computer or that pretty diary you received for your birthday. Write down what needs to be done, when, figure out what’s truly urgent, what you can postpone, and what you can shoot into a black hole and forget about. Sacrifice an hour of sleep occasionally and do your internet banking or writing, whatever you need to achieve, before the rest of the world wakes up and interrupts you. Are you Wonder Woman? How do you manage multitasking? Please share your multitasking triumphs and disasters. Nb. No other tasks were performed simultaneously during the construction of this blog post. Ruby Release Spotlight: The Marked Son by Shea BerkleyPosted by Vanessa Barneveld Aug 2 2011, 12:01 am in Ruby Release Day, Shea Berkley Mark my words, Ruby-Slippered Shea Berkley is going to win a legion of fans. And what’s not to love? Shea is a three-time Golden Heart® finalist, a writing mentor, and she can kickbox her way out of any kind of trouble. Between you and me, though, her kryptonite is Vegemite, that salty, yeasty Aussie sandwich [...] Nationals Recap: Day 1Posted by Vanessa Barneveld Jun 29 2011, 12:40 am in 2011 RWA conference, agents, conference photos, editors 10:00am My day began with a lie-in and a sumptuous breakfast of Cheetos and mixed nuts, followed by the application of a miraculous cosmetic that banished the luggage under my eyes. 11:45am Downstairs at a retreat for Golden Heart finalists past and present, sparks flew during a discussion on the impact of e-publishing. I don’t [...] Guest Author: Anna CampbellPosted by Vanessa Barneveld Apr 18 2011, 12:01 am in guest author, love scenes Does the thought of writing love scenes turn you frigid? You’re not alone! Slip into something more comfortable and say a husky hello to Anna Campbell. She was a two-time Golden Heart finalist in 2006 who went on to become a two-time RITA finalist for her passionate historical romances. I’ve sweet-talked her into slipping under [...] The Manuscript Under the BedPosted by Vanessa Barneveld Mar 17 2011, 12:01 am Be afraid, be very afraid! That beastly old manuscript you’ve got hiding under the bed? Drag it out by the legs and took a good long look at it. Now dust it off, give those silverfish the flick, and prepare to turn the beast into a beauty. Confession time. My first completed novel (or THE [...]
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When I was growing up in suburban Australia, at various times I wanted to be a test pilot, lawyer, actress, surgeon, veterinarian, acrobat, psychiatrist, fashion designer, architect, jockey or a make-up artist.
