I’m officially declaring war on writer’s block, distractions, and procrastination during the month of July. Maybe it’s just me, but the summer months always seem to drag. Well, at least, they do when I’m working. I feel sluggish and uninspired. I can barely force myself to do the work I have to do to pay the bills, let alone work on fun personal projects.

Image: sxc.hu

I blame the sun. During the summer, there’s nothing better than sitting outside by the pool and sipping Sangria or sweet tea. Hell, I can even stay motivated to work out during the summer because it means that I get to go outside and run.

I’m trying not to fall behind on bills and dip into savings this month, like I always seem to do during the summer…and I hope you’ll all join me in swatting away writer’s block and other distractions. Yes, the sun is shining, but if we help one another, we can have a productive, profitable summer. Here are some of the things I have planned for July:

• Writer Interviews: Writers from around the web have come to Bizzia to offer advice on beating writer’s block and finding inspiration among distractions. I’ll be posted a few every week. Yes, you can still participate! (click here)
• Motivation from Masters: What have famous writers and other personalities said about staying motivated? Learn tricks and tips from the masters.
• Inspiration Clinic: Places to find inspiration and inspiration-themed questions answered.
• Procrastination Posts: If you have to surf the ‘net, at least read about the art of writing. I’ll group together the best posts of the week to help you find awesome advice from great bloggers.

Let’s kick some writer’s block/procrastination tushie this summer!

I’ve lived in Europe for a decade, and visited it for much longer than that. My city, Rome, Florence and London were always packed with American tourists and in Britain, this lean year, foreign visitors spent about $7.5 billion in the first six months of the year, the British Tourist Authority said, but less Americans came.
In Italy, where the number of American visitors was down 11 percent this year in the art cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples, tourism employs about two million Italians and accounts for about one-twelfth (or much more if the black market is accounted for), of the economy. The slowdown in tourism could cost Italy about $2 billion in lost revenues, in part, because of Japan’s economic woes but also because there are fewer Americans visiting, The La Stampa newspaper reported.

I don’t hear so many Americans walking around my town of COMO and up on the lake near Laglio and Bellagio where they were always hunting for a picture of George Clooney’s villa. If Americans are taking staycations, then maybe, many here in Italy will too, although its hard to imagine them not having the regulation beach break in August. I guess that could be classed as a staycation.

What about you, are you staying home? Are you feeling the pinch?

Moneypenny