June 2012 – Page 3 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

I Hope It’s Worth the Wait

Published on June 13, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle17 Comments

2792689962_5f2c4a740e — Manners Pen Chameleon Birthday Thermometer

“I hope it’s worth the wait.” Emilynn said to John before he boarded the plane. “It will be. Trust me.” John gave her a kiss. It was a ‘I am going out for milk’ kiss, not a ‘I will be in Africa for 6 months’ kiss. This was all new for us.

When he first told her about his plan, she was supportive. She had to be. It was the first time he had actually had the courage to do what he wanted.

Emilynn and John had grown up together. They were elementary school sweethearts. As long as she had know John, he had always been concerned with what others thought.

His friends used to tease him because he was the first one to get serious about a girl. So, he would down play their relationship in front of them. But, Emilynn knew the truth. John loved her since the second grade.

His mother thought he was to young to be so serious about a girl, so their plan to get married after high school were postponed. “What was the hurry anyway, right?” John said. “We will be together forever.”

His dad wanted him be able to take care of himself before taking on a wife, so he enlisted in the army and the wedding was put off again.

It pained Emilynn to watch John change his own thoughts and beliefs much like a chameleon changed his colors to blend in with his environment. John just wanted to please everyone. He didn’t want to stand out. He didn’t want the people he cared most about to be disappointed in him.

That was why this news was such a shock to everyone. When he told his mom she went and got a thermometer to make sure he wasn’t sick.

The pressure from his family and friends and probably a little from Emilynn had been building up for a while. The pressure finally forced John to take some time to decide what he really wanted for himself. Why that had to happen all the way in Africa, Emilynn wasn’t quite sure. But, it was what John needed to do.

John had told Emilynn on her birthday. He was so excited. Emilynn couldn’t help but be happy for him.

He had given her a pen. “What is this for?” Emilynn asked.

“Write me.” He said. He thought he was being clever. They both loved the movie Say Anything, but John never did quite get the significance of why Diane gave Lloyd the pen.

She couldn’t fault him, though. It would have been bad manners on her part. He was trying. And, she knew he needed this. So, she was going to be supportive and wait. Wait for him to come back as the man she knew he wanted to be and not the man that everyone expected him to be.

Emilynn had been waiting all her life for John. She was banking on the real him being worth the wait.

JuNoWriMo Participant Interview A.E. Howard

Published on June 11, 2012June 29, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

Every week I will interview a fellow JuNoWriMo participant to get their take on the challenge while in the trenches.

Week One, I choose one of our talent Host – A. E. Howard (Anna)

Tell me a little about what you are writing for JuNoWriMo.

I’m writing the second book in a young adult fantasy series. The first one, called Flight of Blue is nearly finished and coming out in July. For a synopsis and excerpt of Flight of Blue you can visit my site: http://aehowardwrites.com/books.

This new book is called The Guardians.

Kai Williams has discovered all the Guardians including his parents have been lured inside time bubbles where minutes tick by so slowly, they don’t realize they are trapped. While trying to find a way to free them, Kai is stalked by a mysterious figure called the Dream Walker who attacks Kai while he’s sleeping and is bent on getting an object–a small skeleton key–away from him. Keeping the Dream Walker at bay, Kai goes to his friends for help. Together they find pieces that lead them on a quest for the secret cabinet of the ancient sorceress Belladonna and the powerful object she hid away before her disappearance, an object that will break the time bubbles and release the Guardians. Pursued by Name Monsters who have teamed up to fight them, will Kai and his friends be able to outwit the forces arrayed against them and free the Guardians? And will Kai be victorious in the war being waged for his mind while he dreams?

Is this your first time doing this type of challenge?

No, I’ve done NaNoWriMo the last two years.

What did you learn from the last challenge that is helping you with Junowrimo?

I learned that you have to write every day. Even if you don’t make word count, you just have to keep writing even when it feels like you’re writing drivel and pulling teeth to do it. Re-reading prose from these competitions I’ve realized two things: 1) it’s probably not as bad as you thought it was when you wrote it. And 2) even if it is, no one’s going to see it, and you can start re-writing it after the month is over. I think you often have to write a lot of bad prose to get to the good stuff.

What was your writing schedule like this past week; time of day, # of words per day?

I’ve been writing between 9pm and 12am (or so!). I have a 13-month-old son and he goes to bed at 9. It’s hard to get much writing done when he’s awake. I did take Sunday off because it was my wedding anniversary 😉 I’ve been aiming for 3k the nights I sprint lead (Tues, Thurs, Sat), and 500-1k on the days I’m not leading. It keeps my averages up, and lets me finish editing Flight of Blue on the off days.

Did you do any planning for Junowrimo?

I don’t plan. I create worlds and characters, and then I have some sort of starting scene in my head, and sometimes an ending one as well. I start with what I’ve got, and as I follow the character through the scene, I find out more of what happens. On Tues night, just before I crossed the 8k mark, Kai had a confrontation with the Dream Walker and suddenly started to put together some pieces of what he needed to do next. And I got to find out where the story was going. Now I have the major scenes lightly sketched, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

What is your word count as of June 7th?

9806

After one week, it looks like Anna is off to a great start. Good luck with the rest of the challenge, Anna!

For more information about A.E. Howard, visit her blog and follow her on Twitter.
Blog – http://aehowardwrites.com

Twitter – http://twitter.com/aehowardwrites

Make sure to pick up Flight of Blue, coming out in July.

My Weekly Update – Just Write!

Published on June 10, 2012June 11, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

JuNoWriMo

It was really all about writing last week. I have been debating whether to release any excerpts from my WIP from Junowrimo. But, it just isn’t ready yet. Or, to be honest, I am not ready,yet. However, to avoid being labeled a big tease, I will give you a little insight into my first novel.

Tentative Title: I’m Coming Home

Main Character’s Loves and Hates:

Sydney Smith (I know, I really need to change her name. This isn’t an autobiography. May change it to Emilynn) – More on her description later.

Loves: writing, traveling, tattoos, mexican food and days where no one telling her what to do or asking her to do stuff for them.

Hates: Negative people and people who make statements about people that sound like a compliment, but are actual an insult. Ex: When Sydney ask her boss, Linda what she thinks for the new guy she meets, Linda said, “John is really friendly, he flirts with everyone.”

John Alexander Osha, IV – think of Bryan Greenberg’s character in Prime mixed with Jude Law charm (without the English accent)

Loves: computers, playing golf, watching basketball, hip hop and cute girls with tattoos

Hates: Girls who don’t realize how amazing they are and people who have an over exaggerated sense of themselves.

Linda Ryder – Picture a mix of Chris Everett Lloyd’s athleticism on Kim Zolciak from Real House Wives of Atlanta body. Fake hair included.

Loves: expensive stuff, young men, and being famous

Hates: Buying things on sale, procratination in others (has no issue doing it herself), and people who don’t give her credit.

Trina Watson – Picture your best friend who always tells you the truth.

Loves: her cousin, telling the truth and alcohol which she can’t have because she is 5 months pregnant.

Hates: Sydney’s boss, Linda

Alex James Ryder – good looking guy who doesn’t think he is (don’t you hate those types). A voice of reason; clean cut golf pro type. Addias golf shirt and pants by day. T-shirts and cargo shorts by night.

Likes: teaching golf, playing golf, talking about golf, watching golf, his friends and the F – word

Hates: people who are dishonest and people who take life too seriously

Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana – specifically at a golf course and in several locations in the French Quarter

Genre: I have no idea. I do know it is not science fiction or horror. Two people fall in love in the midsts of some funny situations and someone doesn’t want them to be together. You tell me?

Ok, that is all that I am authorized to reveal at this time. Maybe more next week.

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop

I decided to base a short story on my novel for Writer Wednesday Blog Hop that I may or may not incorporate into the story. I received some great comments in regards to that story that I want to share.

Nicole had this to say – “Great post!!! And God I could relate. To the feeling she had about wanting to feel special to the early morning walk. I loved it!!

Anna said, “Your story gives me such a good feeling, almost like something beautiful is about to happen. And of course, something does… I think I would love to read your novel if this is just an excerpt from it:)”

*I told Anna, she gets the first copy.

Check out Carrie and Anna‘s take on the same photo prompt.

Thanks so much for the great feed back.

New Followers

I wanted to say thank you to my new followers as well. Go check out their sites, there is some great stuff out there in the blogesphere – the first time I have used that word.

Chrissy50

This Week’s Schedule

Monday – My Interview with JuNoWriMo host and participant – Anna Howard

Tuesday – Movie Quotes

Wednesday – Writer Wednesday Blog Hop

Friday – General Blog Post

Sunday – My Weekly Update

*And be sure click the Sydney Aaliyah Writes page for daily updates on my JuNoWriMo progress.

Let Me Tell You Why I’m Exhausted

Published on June 8, 2012June 11, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Top 5 Reasons why after the week I had, I am Exhausted:

I am exhausted because for the first time in my life I wrote over 20,000 words of pure unadulterated creative fiction from my mind in 7 days.
I am exhausted because instead of going to sleep at a decent hour, every night this week, I stayed up late to write.
I am exhausted because in order to keep up with my peeps and tweeps, I have to communicate on “social media” at some ungodly hours.
I am exhausted because my mind is constantly racing about what I am going to write about for the next 20,000 words of pure unadulterated creative fiction in the next 7 days.
But, really, I am exhausted because one of my collegues took me to a jazz club last night And even though I was exhausted, I stayed for all 4 sets. Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Babyface songs with a jazz twist, I had no choice. I had to stay.

And, to be perfectly honest with you, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about this week. If being exhausted is the price I pay for doing what I love, then YAWN and bring it on.

Quick Shout out to my new followers from a week ago:

1 EarthUnited
EM Castellan
Empty Coffee Cups
Anabel Mikolay
Sisi’s Blog
Hanna Pot
Elisabeth Crisp
Champagne Whisky Cigar
Life Coach Marie
Beradadisini
Wonderful Cinema
Fu Only Knew

I will gladly continue to be exhausted for your reading pleasure.

FYI, by the time you read this, I will be asleep. Talk to you tomorrow. I really am exhausted.

Let’s Open it up to the Group

Published on June 6, 2012June 11, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle19 Comments

Hello Insecure Writer’s Support Group Members:

Last month I found myself writing a lot of short stories. I guess I was warming up for JuNoWriMo, which I am 6 days in and happy to say on goal, so far. Out of all this actual fiction writing, a few issues and questions have come up that I would love to have my fellow writers advice and input on. I mean, who better to tell you what you are doing wrong, then your friends. We are friend, right?

Let’s Open it up to the Group:

Is there such thing as to much dialogue in an a story? I am concerned my WIP is starting to look more like a screenplay instead of a novel? How do you determine the right balance between dialogue and description?
How do you express someone laughing or crying or cringing without coming right out and saying that “Emilynn laughed”? or Is it ok to say what type of physical reaction your character is having?
Yesterday I found myself writing a scene in my WIP and when I went back to read what I wrote, I literally did not remember writing it. It was really good though, so I didn’t panic to much. What is your “in the zone” writing experience like?
In the last month, I have written a few reality short stories, two scenes from a scary (not quite horror) stories, and my WIP which is an international/romantic/comedy/drama. When my goal is to become a better writer, is it ok to write in all these different genres or am I spreading my creative mind to thin? Should I just stick with getting good at one?

Thanks again to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this forum for me to share my insecurity’s in a calm and supportive environment. I really look forward to hearing everyones feedback.