Planner Hop and Fairy Inspired Bullet Coloring Journal Giveaway

Hi! I haven't participated in a blog hop in ages and this one is somewhat different from the book related hops and giveaways I've joined in the past. This blog hop is all about using planners to help manage your time, tasks, and appointments whether it be a traditional day/week/month planner, a bullet journal, or some other such planning system.

During a lengthy corporate career I was addicted to using a Franklin Planner.

Love the *feel* of leather.

Wait! Get your mind off the image of the hot Fae warrior with the butt-hugging leather pants, muscled thighs gripping the saddle of a magnificent black steed. That's a character from my next book. Although that sexy image increases my heart rate in the best of ways, I'm referring to the leather binder protecting my planner pages.

This binder and its contents traveled across the US, to Europe, and to Asia, helping me juggle the details of my professional and personal life. My life was in that binder! Heaven forbid it had ever been stolen. Although, that was probably less likely to have happened than having your deets stolen from the internet.

Always keep your planner/journal secure.

I used the monthly calendar tabs for an overview of my schedule and the daily planner to manage tasks and record notes.

Image from franklinplanner.fcorgp.com
 

Notes from meetings, conversations, inspiration.

Each morning began with a few moments to prioritize tasks for the day and review notes from the previous day. In the evening, I reviewed accomplishments and posted forward incomplete tasks.

 

 

I also maintained a projects section. Each tab for a different project containing notes specific to that project. In the back of the binder, I kept a business card holder and a contacts' phone/email list for easy access. With a grueling travel schedule, the planner kept both my corporate and personal life organized.

 

Now, some planners use all sorts of extras (stickers, washi tape, etc.) to personalize their planners. Other than using either the seasonal or botanical pages, I didn't have time for embellishment, or so I believed... 

Fast forward.

In 2013, I released my first Indie published romance novel, Just Beyond the Garden Gate, the first in a time travel series rife with fae creatures. I've been managing things using a regular calendar and a composition notebook. Things like blog tours, appearances, giveaways, etc. Unfortunately my work space has also become cluttered with lists and sticky notes.

Although this method has seemed to work over the last several years, juggling details has become more difficult with the continually changing nature of the industry.

I've recently tried something new to me and more creative. A bullet journal. As a bonus, the one I found incorporates the joy of coloring (some believe coloring reduces stress) and the inspiration of faeries into the management of thoughts and ideas and time management.

The Fairy Inspiration Coloring Journal designed by fantasy artist Selina Fenech.

With the dot grid,  the pages can be designed as needed...

For example a grid to track the progress of my next book. Or the dots can be used to create a monthly calendar, write task lists and other lists, and make notes.

To learn more about bullet journaling, do an internet search. There is a lot of information out there on the internet.

In the end, I may go back to using the Franklin Planner for the business end of my writing career and the bullet journal for the creative side of writing a book. Only time will tell.

Giveaway (US Addresses Only):

**Giveaway is closed to entries.**

Thank you for stopping by the blog and checking out my post. If you would like a chance to win a paperback version of the Fairy Inspired bullet style coloring journal designed by fantasy artist Selina Fenech, leave a comment below along with an email address. Winner must have a US address due to the cost of shipping out of country. If you are uncomfortable leaving an email address here on the blog, email your comment(s) to author@DawnMarieHamilton.com. Giveaway runs from December 1st through December 15th. Winner will be announced on or around December 19th.

What are your thoughts on traditional planners and bullet journals? Do you use one or the other? How do you use them?

Thank you to Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup and Lauren at Shooting Stars Mag for hosting this blog hop.  Be sure to visit their blogs, and check out the links below for other planner posts offering inspiration and more giveaways.


Hop along to see other bloggers' posts:





~Dawn Marie