It’s been hot here in Kansas, and we have the air conditioning bill to prove it. I am not a person who enjoys the heat, and I need good ways to cut back on the bill – so if you have suggestions, please share them with me!

Since the last time I updated, I’ve been doing a lot of catch-up work to get current on all my projects. I did a massive “weekly review” that was more like a 2-month review when I got done with it, and I learned a new trick for my action items: sorting them into context and the time I estimate it will take to complete them. This has increased what I’ve been able to do by a lot.

Speaking of action items, I’m hoping to get a post up here sharing two tools I’ve been using that really have helped with my focus and productivity in the past several months.

That said, let’s get down to business. Here’s what I’ve been up to.

Consulting Work

For my consulting work, I’ve been continuing to provide blog posts on recovery issues for one client, respond to emails and create email templates for another client, and provide EVG with blog posts. I should have a post appearing on the EVG blog in the coming days, and I have another post I’m working on for them that will cover the importance of fact-checking content. I’m also waiting for my developmental editing client to get back to me with the next chapter of her book. Later today, I’ll be sending out a stack of letters of introduction to prospective clients.

Freelancing

I’m finishing up a list of questions for a plus size model I’m interviewing for an upcoming issue of Equanimity Magazine. I wrote an article on how you can use five minute intervals to boost your productivity muscles, and I’m finishing up editing another interview I put together for the magazine. I may have two more interviews coming up for the magazine. I need to nail them down and get dates for the interviews.

I have a few article pitches to put together for other magazines on my list. I’ll be working on those more next week.

Independent Scholar

I’m putting together a few abstracts for some independent scholar projects I want to get in on, if possible. I’m also talking with someone about contributing to an encyclopedia covering pop culture topics.

Nonprofit Work

As a board member of J.B. Dondolo, Inc., I’ve been working on a few projects. The most important of these two has been constructing a list of potential donors and putting together a proposal for a fundraising idea I had that would help us complete our goal of finishing the renovations at Igusi Hospital. We’re also working on planning our annual charity event in Dallas.

I recently learned that the ACLU has opened a field office in Wichita. I want to check in with them and a few other organizations to see what I can do to help them.

I’ve also officially put two ideas I’ve had for nonprofit foundations into my “someday/maybe” box in my projects tracking system.

Ronda B. Handmade

I have a pair of pants that will be going out to a customer soon, and be sure you check back soon. I’ve started signing up for blog tours again, and I’m hoping to get back to testing patterns for designers. More importantly, I will be stocking the Facebook group soon with fun products for purchase.

Fiction and Poetry

I heard back from one of the places I submitted a short story I wrote, and it was a “no” answer. I need to take a look at the short story, see if it needs any finessing, and send it out again. I’m still waiting to hear back from The Missouri Review about my poetry submission. I have more poems to send out into the world, and two more short stories to edit and start sending out.

Nonfiction Work

I just need to finish the cover design and formatting for the book on success and upload it. After that, it will be time to get the advance copy for final proofing before making it available to customers. I’m looking forward to making an announcement that it’s ready for purchase soon.

Blogging

After some setbacks, Just a Sec(ular) Homeschooler will launch in a couple of weeks. Activism My Way is still on hold, but I’m hoping to start to get back to it next week. Meanwhile, I’ve done a lot of book reviews for Wining Wife. I also reviewed a coffee box subscription. I have a list of wine reviews to get up onto the blog, and I’m really excited about some of the ideas I have for new content there.

Photography

I’m waiting to hear back about a submission of photographs I made to a literary and art journal. I’m also working on editing some of my photographs and offering canvases and posters of them for purchase.

I think that about covers it. I’ve been a busy bee in between homeschooling, toddler-tending, nursing, getting a teenager ready for college, and being married. I’m really looking for some tips on how to make my social media efforts more streamlined so I can focus more on the interesting projects I have going on.

What have you been working on lately?