Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

My Weekly Update – Camp, Compliments and Candy

Published on August 5, 2012August 5, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Camp NaNoWriMo

Four days in and I have to say that it is a lot more challenging then the last writing challenge I did. Being on goal is about the only good thing I can say about the experience so far. But . . .

It is still early and I still love the story. I was happy to get some great advice about POV last week from my blog friends. My concerns about writing from the male point of view were reduced by an admission from AM Schultz.

amschultzcom says: We have had lots of fine interactions on the Twitter and on the blogs, so I am going to share a little secret with you, but you can’t tell anybody else:“But, my biggest concern is that I have never writing a story from a man’s POV. What if my big strong, sensitive guy starts sounding like a girl?”When nobody is around, and our machismo is not on public display, ALL men sound like girls.

For the rest of you doing Camp NaNoWriMo, how was your first few days?

Compliments

I received one of the best compliments the other day and all because I RT’ed a post.

I am not brining this up to brag (although it is official, I am awesome), but to bring attention to what doing so little can mean to other writers and bloggers.

I will continue to support the blogging community to make myself worthy of writing along side great bloggers such as Paul at All Groan Up.

Candy

I was in the Green Grocery yesterday and they had restocked. Let me back up a little and explain. I live at a resort 45 minutes away from a decent grocery story. But, there is a little convenience store on the resort campus, which stocks it shelves once every 6 months.

I was pleasantly surprised that yesterday was a restock day. That means, writing snacks for the week; Sour Skittles, Soda Water & Cheese Crackers.

What is your favorite writing snack?

New Followers

Sundavanjava

club fang

Keith Addison at Sleepless in New Castle

Jillian Heath at 72 Original in Mint Condition

Writer’s Block 55

Lily Ennis

Nicolette Reed

Next Weeks Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Wednesday – Sydney Aaliyah Quotes the Movies

Friday – The Dog Days of Summer Blogfest

Sunday – My Weekly Update

Special Shout Out to my big brother. It was his birthday yesterday. He put his life online years before I had the nerve to. Thanks so much for the inspiration.

Insecure about POV

Published on August 1, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle38 Comments

How appropriate that the August installment of Insecure Writer’s Support Group would fall on the first day of Campnano. In my case, there are going to be a lot of insecurities that will be exposed or resolved based on this months writing activity.

I have been reading and researching a lot on POV lately. My Campnano project is about two characters and I tell the story from both of their point of views; switching back and forth between the two through out the story. I have a good outline and a good game plan, but what is missing is why these two POV’s should be in the same story. I feel they shouldknown not sure how to show that in the story just yEt. And, I am a bit concerned about how to distinguish from one point of view to the other.

But, my biggest concern is that I have never writing a story from a man’s POV. What if my big strong, sensitive guy starts sounding like a girl? That can’t happen or it will throw the whole story off.

Even though I am a planner and I have a plan, this is probably one of the few times in my life that I know I won’t stick to the plan and it is a little scary and exciting at the same time.

I guess from my fellow support group members, all I need this month is a big rousing “You can do it.”

Then I am good until next month.

Anymore POV concerns I need to be aware of before I dive into this project head first?

Tattoo Tuesday – My New Tattoo

Published on July 31, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

This Tattoo Tuesday, I decided to share my most recent tattoo story. Recent as in two day ago.

So, let me take you though it. First I pick out an image.

I love lotus flowers and the meaning behind them. They have a fascinating life. The lotus flower begins as a seed buried deep into the mud and sediment of a lake or pond. It pushes its way through the dirt and muck reaching for the light. When passes through the murky water, it purifies it and makes the water clear. The messier its surroundings, the more beautiful the lotus becomes. It is inspiring to me to think that beauty can come from less then ideal situations.

Next, my tattoo artist takes my image and creates a stencil. I have a couple of tattoos where the artist drew the image free hand directly on my skin. This tattoo needed clean solid lines and was pretty specific, so the stencil was the way to go.

After she places the stencil, she gets to work on my tattoo.

At this point, just imagine a hot nail being dragged across your skin like a hot poker and then mix that with the sound of a tooth drill. It is so much fun.

But, if you can stand all that, you end up with something like this:

If you have a tattoo story to share, let me know.

My Weekly Update – Interview, Interesting and I’m Going to Camp

Published on July 29, 2012July 29, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

Interview

Last week, an interview that I conducted a couple of months ago was posted on My First Book. It was a really great interview and I am happy it is out there because the interview is so me. If that makes sense. And, it surprised me just how different things where just 2 month ago. Two months ago I had not finished my first draft of ‘I’m Coming Home’. Two months ago, I didn’t have an outline for another story and ready to tackle another challenge (Campnano starts in 3 days). And, 2 months ago, I didn’t really have a clue how writing would become so much a part of my life the way it has. I enjoy conducting interviews because I can learn so much from other, but I had no idea in doing an interview, I would learn so much about myself.

Thanks so much Misha.

Interesting

A couple of items I found interesting this week:

In the last two week, I had two days with huge numbers on my site. I like to think it was because of my brilliant content, but part of it is what I am calling the ‘Stumble Upon Effect’. I have a Stumble Upon tribe in Triberr and all we are required to do is Stumble each others post and I am happy to see that it has increased my site hits. And, the most popular page viewed on those two days – Tattoo Tuesday. If you want to gain some exposure, submit your tattoo stories. I would love to feature you on Tattoo Tuesday.

Another Triberr related item of interest, my blog friend Fel at The Peasant Revolt shared her thoughts on SEO. I admit I am clueless about why this is so important to grow your blog traffic and she clears it up a bit. She also shares a fun webinar by one of the Triberr creators Dino Dogan on the this topic. Great stuff.

Another great post I came across was over at Pensuasion called A Modern Make-Over: The Classics Retold. As someone who loves movies, old and new, I found it interesting her take on how well these modern make overs retold the classics we know and love.

I’m Going to Camp

That’s right people. I am going to camp. I have once again signed up for a 50,000 words in 31 days challenge and this time it is called CampNaNo. I am basically testing out my theory that I brought up last month about whether my first writing experience in JuNoWriMo ruined me. All things came together in June, which allowed me to write a good and complete first draft. So, the real test is, can I do it again.

I am on track with finishing my outline, character and scene sketches. The more I get into this story the excited I am to tell it. You can follow my progress with daily update under the Sydney Aaliyah Writes tab at the top. Wish me luck!

New Followers – thanks so much to my new followers, you guys and gals are awesome.

Karen from Charron’s Chatter

Julie from Word Flows

The Star Chasers

Susan Moffat from Writing Glimmers

Turkischland

Chris Stocking from Write to Perfect

Kelly from This is Helenora

Poetic Parfait

Carrie at dare I eat a peach?

Deena the Digital Diva from Digital eBook Building and Formatting

Next Weeks Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Wednesday – Insecure Writer’s Support Group & First day of Campnano

Friday – Blog Post – I am prepared this week

Sunday – My Weekly Update

I am in a Quandary

Published on July 27, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

I just love that word, but I don’t love this situation. Let me tell you about my quandary.

You see, in My Weekly Update, I promised you a blog post today. The issue is that I don’t have a post ready.

Now, this isn’t the usual, ‘I don’t have anything to say’ post. I have a lot to say. In fact, I have 6 pre-written post for exactly these type of situations. But, unfortunately, I don’t have access to them at all day. They are on another computer in another city.

I could probably remember a few words of some, but they are already perfect and I would hate to waste a post by giving it to you half assed.

I could talk about what is coming up next week, but then that would spoil My Weekly Update for this Sunday.

I could go into a dissertation about something in my writing that I need help with, but that is what Insecure Writer’s Support Group is for, which is coming up next Wednesday.

I could create a list or pose a question for all of us to debate, but I am not in the mood.

I could post some random photos from my trip to Tokyo two years ago, but that is actually a great idea for another post for another day. How cute is this lady on her wedding day?

I could not post anything and then apologize for it later, but that would bother me for years to come. Plus, I really don’t like those post that apologize for not posting. Truth is, I would rather you come back with a great post about something I can get behind instead of the ‘sorry, I haven’t posted in a while’ post.

I knew this was going to happen some time in my blogging career. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Neither did you, I bet. Your probably saying to yourself right now, “She was so young,” while shaking your head with bemused pity.

But, no worries. It did it once. But, I will never do it again. This month anyway.

Ok, talk amongst yourself.