Welcome to my home on the web. You may have noted the mountains in the banner are the misty Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Did you know time traveling Highlanders live there? Read about them in the Highland Gardens series. Curious about the big cat? Florida panther~from the Crimson Storm paranormal novel, Sea Panther.

Friday, December 1, 2017

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

29 comments:

  1. Not an entry as I'm not US based. I love my planner, but I am experimenting with a little bullet journalling in my notebook.

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  2. looks nice

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  3. my favorite planner stop making them this year so i have been tumbling ideas over maybe this is the way to go
    meandi09@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi, Jennifer. Ouch! I hate when my favorite things are discontinued. Good luck finding something new. Perhaps a new adventure. :)

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  4. Thanks so much for joining us in the hop!! I just came across a journal with the dot grid last week for only $5 so I'm going to try and use that for 2018 as a bullet journal. I love how bullet journals allow for more creativity, but I've never used one so we'll see how it goes. haha I do have a regular planner though - I think the bullet journal will be more reading/creative related.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  5. I think I like my tried and true standard planner (leather is lovely though mine has a floral vine pattern in it so it won't be confused with a fae's leather trousers), but I also keep a journal with my more creative side for projects and anecdotes.

    Your fairy journal looks neat. Thanks for the opportunity.
    sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi, Sophia. I wish mine had a floral vine pattern. :) The more I think about it the more I think I'll go with both a standard and bullet. We'll see what 2018 brings.

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  6. I love planners and this looks like a very neat one. I use them for everything and really could not organize anything without one.

    Judy
    magnolias_1(at)msn(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Judy. I've felt overwhelmed without a planner. Here's to being better organized in 2018.

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  7. I'm not sure if my planner is traditional, but I love the idea of this planner. In fact, I'm buying it for my sister's Christmas present. I use stencils in my calendar, and attempt (ha) some art. Of course, my appointments are there, and personal notes, to-do lists, and lots of doodles.

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    1. Hi, Kathy. I hadn't thought of using stencils. That is a great idea!

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  8. oops my email is davisbk121(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. This is such a pretty journal! I always feel more inclined to write in my planner or journal when it's lovely like this one.

    (dedezoomsalot at yahoo dot com)

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    1. Hi, Dianna. I agree. Pretty flowers or faeries or whatever is your passion is much nicer than a boring page. :)

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  10. I've never used a planner before. I've always made lists, but I think it's time for me to start using a planner, so that all my lists will be more organized.
    turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Jana. I've found that regular lists get misplaced. Having everything in one place is a big help.

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  11. I use a traditional planner, but I am wanting to start using bullet journaling in the new year.

    brookeb811 at gmail.com

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    1. Hi Brooke. Here's to bullet journaling in the new year.

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  12. Hi. I use a traditional planner and I have never tried the bulletin journal, but I will do some research. I love new ideas for my planner.
    Thank you for the amazing giveaway and for the great tips.

    morebooksthanlivros@gmail.com

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    1. Hi, Isabelle. Yeah. Check it out. See what makes sense for you.

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  13. That is such a gorgeous journal!! I started bullet journaling earlier this year and I love it. :]! "Fairy" is one of my nicknames since it's kindasorta similar to my name, haha. Thanks so much for this giveaway!

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    1. Hi, Farrah. I love using colored pencils to color the faeries while I daydream and plan.

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  14. Wow...what a lovely journal! I don't have a planner yet....maybe I'll win one in one of these hop giveaways? Thanks and God Bless! ILuvTheEucharist @ aol dot com

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  15. Thank you, everyone for joining the hop. The winner of the Fairy Inspiration Coloring Journal is Judy. Congratulations!

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