This morning's discovery: I love lists.

Yes, I have succumbed to this digital age.

I still love to hold the newspaper — well a brilliant, quality newspaper when I can find one — in my hands. I relish in the scent of the library, the energy of being surrounded by thousands upon thousands of books. I prefer a hardcover to an e-file most any day.

But in my heart-of-hearts, I find I can not function exclusively that way any more and keep up.

As part of my Happiness Project checklist (http://happinessprojecttoolbox.com/) I promised myself I would spend about 15 minutes each day scanning the news, my Twitter (www.twitter.com/myarichards) and my Google reader, which is full of valuable professional resources I'd do well to peek at once in a while. (The writing community is such a richly wonderful place.)

A lofty set of goals wrapped into one. Most days I can manage this for several key reasons.

1. The goal is time restricted. It's only 15 minutes of my day. Granted I don't have but 15 seconds to spare most days between teens, a toddler and a writing life, but 15 minutes is definitely doable. (And you'll all note I excluded Facebook from my goal, because in all honesty, I'm going to check in with my friends there every other day or so regardless.)

2. I use technology to my advantage. My favorite app? By leaps and bounds, Pulse news reader. I recorded my goals on the Happiness Toolbox website. I read other writers' blogs via RSS on Google reader. I scan Twitter to see what other people are reading and discussing.

3. When I do choose to read something in longer form, 99 percent of the time I choose something written in list format. It goes a little something like this: topic intro/backstory, list of key points, sign off. I can easily scroll down to the list to find out if I really want to read the whole thing or to skip the backstory if I'm at a frantic loss for time.

The take away? As a reader I am drawn to lists. Maybe other readers are too? It's obviously not the only way to go, but for now, I'm a fan. Writing like this will likely open up your readership.

Have tips for organizing and managing your reading/writing? Please share!

Best in writing and everything,

Mya

The transition from fall to winter is on of my favorites — though I do tend to be more fond of transition as I age.

Living in Middle Tennessee, it takes a little longer to reach the fireplace days, but we do get to enjoy the sunny fall months mostly at their best temps.

Tonight the chill is settling in and the weather forecast is calling for sleet, and maybe even snow. I'm enjoying it — though when the ice settles tomorrow, I may regret that.

I took the time to light up the gas fireplace and write with laptop on the couch in the quiet of my living room.

I left the blinds open even though night had settled in and enjoyed the propitious change of seasons. As I age I've noticed I enjoy transition more than did when younger.

Hopefully I'll be able to capture the same spirit in my writing.

Best in progression,
Mya

Creativity has an elusive, undefinable quality about it.

You know when you see it, but sometimes it's hard to explain with words.

Creativity is even more difficult to inspire and share — but that's exactly what the instructors at the 2011 Clarksville Writers' Conference managed to do.

The conference, in its seventh year, was a product of the Clarksville Arts & Heritage Development Council and Austin Peay State University's Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts — along with a long list of additional community sponsors, including The Leaf-Chronicle — brought workshop leaders and writers from diverse fields together to hone craft, address the practical aspects of a writing career and simply enjoy each other's company.

I decided to attend after a bit of prodding from my dear friend Maria.

Her arguments in favor of my attendance were sound. "It looks like they will have a lot of things you are interested in. It's right here at Austin Peay. I can babysit Mei."

Later that day I found the conference registration packet in my unattended stack of mail at my desk. I checked the website, http://www.artsandheritage.us/writers/index.html, and found she was correct. The conference offerings looked interesting. And I was just early enough to qualify for the discounted registration fee, rather than the later registration fee.

I, of course, felt the need to prepare for the conference, which turned out to be a good thing rather than a bad thing because it gave me the structure and motivation to reinstate my writing routine — fairly disrupted by family life with two teens and a toddler.

In truth, no preparation was needed save the addition of my journal to my tote bag. (And I should have already been carrying the journal with me.) The workshops supplied everything participants needed — from writing exercises, to handouts, to fantastic readings, to the basics, including snacks, coffee, water and lunch.

A few of my favorite sessions — there are too many to mention them all — included readings by author Amy Greene (http://www.amygreeneauthor.com/) and poet Stephanie Pruitt (http://www.stephaniepruitt.com/), workshops and readings with author and APSU assistant professor Blas Falconer (http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/Books/bid1792.htm) and Zone 3 Press nonfiction editor and author Amy Wright (http://apostrophebooks.org/books-designs/there-are-no-new-ways-to-kill-a-man/).

It was indeed a joy to attend — and the best part is that I will carry that joy, inspiration and motivation forward in the coming year in my writing and beyond.

I hope to see our readers who are also aspiring writers and literary buffs there June 7-8, 2012.

And a sincere "Thank you" to the staff and workshop leaders for the invaluable gift of illumination!

Writing conferences are good for many things and chosen two favorites I try to attend each year — plus I'm always looking for a third, wild card conference to add in the mix.

It's fun to leave the solitary world of writerdom and head to the office, so to speak.

I enjoy meeting new people and reconnecting with others, as well as working on craft.

But most of all, for me, writing conferences are motivational. As they approach, they inspire me to create well-thought-out to-do lists and knock those tasks out.

Tomorrow I'm excited to head to Austin Peay State University for the Clarksville Writers' Conference. I've highlighted my first-choice workshops, printed my parking pass and am working on sending my synopsis, read by my editor and my critique group, to my best friend and editor, Maria, for one last look.

— Mya