My Weekly Update – Info Dump in a Good Way

I felt the need for a cleanse.

Awards

I received the Reality Blog Award from Mark Means.  Thanks so much.

reality-blog-award1-e1357511854615

Post to Ponder
Recipe for a Successful Synopsis by Jami Gold
The Best Creative Writing Software by Girl None – I am a believer. 
How (Not) to Win a Twitter Pitch Fest by Ava Jae – There’s a twitter pitch contest tomorrow. #Pitmad
All About Pitches by Rachna Chhabria
7 Deadly Sins of Self-Editing from Writer’s Digest 
7 Types of Narrative Conflict by Mark Nichol – I seem to lean towards Person vs. Self. 
The Last Minute Editing Process Made Easy with Scrivener by Michael J. Holley
Ready to Publish? by Rebecca Hoffman
 

A to Z Challenge

Get to know our Host and show them some love.

The A to Z Sign Up List – visit it often.

New Followers
Ryan Brooks
Costa Rica Travel Blog
The Pen Men World Project.
Rose Andrea
Mindy Sue
Kate Worthen
Colette Saucier
Russell Deasley of The Very Best Top 10
Gillian Hefer of A Daft Scots Lass
B Debnath of Booted Tales
Jasmine of Flux and Flow
Guerrilla Graffiti Magazine
LuAnn Braley of Kentucky Gal 50
Al Diaz of Father Dragon Writes
World of Beauty Tips
Ida Chiavaro of Reflex Reactions
Constant Writer JL
 

Good luck to everyone participating in the A to Z Challenge. Have a great April everyone!!!!!

The Very Inspiring Blog Award

inspiring-bloggerI haven’t done one of these properly in a while. Since the big move, a lot more has changed then just my geographic location. I thought it was a good opportunity to update you on what is happening in the world of Sydney Aaliyah Michelle, the person, the writer and the blog. Thanks so much to Fel Scotzig at The Peasant Revolt for the opportunity.

The Rules!!

  1. Display the award logo on your blog.
  2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
  3. State 7 things about yourself.
  4. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link to them.
  5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.

7 Thing About Me:

  1. I have discovered a love for reading science fiction. I love the movies, but never really gave it a chance as reading material. When it comes to world building/scene setting, you can’t beat a good sci fi novel. – Thanks Steve Umstead and his Gabriel series for showing me the way.
  2. I am a huge football fan and didn’t realize how much I missed the drama of it while living overseas.  Just catching the playoffs of the 2012 – 2013 season showed me so many highs and lows, fights and injuries, band substance accusations, fake girlfriends and bizarre love triangles.  And you thought it all happened on the field.  SMH
  3. Unemployment doesn’t quite suit me. I figured I would use all this free time to get my blog in order and editing done on WIP #1. But, it’s back firing on me. I am much more productive with a lot less free hours in the day.  I’ll use the rest of this free time to examine why this is.
  4. Even though I am unemployed, I still spend a good part of the day planning what I am going to buy once I am employed. And, moving home from China, I basically get to start all over. That means buying a car, getting an apartment, finding a church, and a gym.  I get to develop a whole new routine.  That includes my annual vacation this year and next year. So far, I’ve planned a trip to London (I miss my favorite city), Hawaii (Mark Koopman’s writing retreat) and DC (Beyonce Concert).
  5. Sydney Aaliyah is a pen name. It has parts of my real name and I have started to add more of my real name, Michelle, which creates a new pen name. So, if you start seeing Sydney Aaliyah Michelle around the blogosphere, that’s me, too.  But, please feel free to still call my Sydney, Syd or Sam (that’s what my parents call me).
  6. I did find my writing spot. It was a recommendation from Kate O Lynch.  The Coffee House Cafe.  The food is so good. They have a cool patio with a fire place that is nice for reading.  Most important, it is quiet from 2-5.  Perfect writing time while I am still unemployed.
  7. In case you didn’t get it, I’m looking for a job.  If you or someone you know is looking for a writer, event director, project manager, editor, proofreader, golf club consultant, book recommender, and/or hand holder while you get your first or fifteenth tattoo, I’m your girl.  That last one, I would actually do for free.  😉

15  Nominations: 

  1. Donya Lynne
  2. Ellie Garratt
  3. Mark Koopmans
  4. Ali Cross
  5. Shannon A Thompson
  6. Spearman 101
  7. Gus Sanchez
  8. Misha Gericke
  9. Marcy Kennedy
  10. Raewyn Hewitt
  11. Annalisa Crawford
  12. Kyra Lennon
  13. Elise Fallson
  14. Tasha Seegmiller
  15. M.L. Swift

Congrats to the winners and check out their blogs.

Who inspires you? 

My Weekly Update – Better Late Than Never

Twenty Seven days into 2013 and I now I am starting to understand.  Well, Better Late Than Never, right?

  1. I understand that my lackadaisical, laid back, ‘oh, I’ll get to it’ attitude about blogging is not for me.  I need a schedule. I am going back to announcing my schedule for the week – better late than never, right? 
  2. I understand that while I can’t spend all my time on social media and be a productive writer, I can’t ignore days of social media and expect to be on top of things.  Playing catch up all the time doesn’t work for me – better late than never, right? 
  3. I understood that I needed some time after my last job to relax and recharge.  But, 6 weeks out of work and I am bored and unproductive in every part of my life.  Far be it from me (What a great saying, I feel like my grandma) to use all this extra time to practice writing habitually, reading cognitively and editing effectively.  But, I am starting now – better late than never, right? 
  4. I am realizing that with so many opportunities out there for pitching/querying/submitting to agents/publishers on blogs/twitter/facebook/writer’s conferences. My three first drafts aren’t ever going to be ready, sitting on my desk unedited – better late than never, right?

Have you had any Better Late Than Never lessons learned this year?  

Awards

one-lovely-blog-award

Thanks so much to EM Castellan for the The Lovely Blog Award.

Also, a quick thanks and shot out to Karens Different Corners for awarding me the Liebster Award, although I am not sure I should except because I have more then 200 followers, I appreciate the recognition regardless. And, she is close to 200 herself, so follow her and prepare to gain knowledge and be entertained.

Post to Report On

Hey, Y’all: Dialect and Slang From the Write AngleAs someone from Texas, I have to practice not making all my characters sound like Texans.  What do y’all think about dialects and slang? 
Character Study by Left and Write – How much character development do you do before and during writing and editing? 
6 Things You Didn’t Know About Becoming and Published Author: a guest post by RaeBeth McGee-Buda on Amanda Fanger – #2 – Editing is Tough – I knew it. 
The First Draft Run Through Blues by Raewynn Hewitt – Makes me want to cry. 
Editing is Writing Too by Raewynn Hewitt – The push I needed to get off my butt and put my butt in the chair and edit. 
New Followers
Tim The Film Guy
William Stadler
Special thanks to my email followers as well.  
 

Next Week’s Schedule

Monday – Re-Introduce Myself Blog Hop
Wednesday – The Word Master Challenge
Friday – Imaginary Friend Blog Hop
Sunday – My Weekly Update

And, don’t forget to sign up for Blogging from A to Z Challenge on Wednesday, January 30, 2012.  Click the badge below for rules and Tips on Blogging from A to Z.

 

And, congratulation to Aldrea Alien for knowing her Bilbo/Gollum Riddles. Here are the answers:

1. Mountain.
2. Teeth.
3. Wind.
4. Sun in the sky shining upon daises on a hill.
5. Darkness.
6. Egg
7. A Fish.
8. A fish lay on a table. A man sat on a stool. And the cat got the bones.
9. Time!

My Weekly Update – New Stuff

New Memories

My favorite thing about the holiday season is creating new memories with my family. I haven’t had the chance to do that for a couple of years, so this year was extra special.  I met some of the new additions to the extended family. I reconnected with some old friends and bonded with my nephews over, japenese anime, Jake the Pirate and Angry Bird Star Wars Edition Board Game.

Coolest Game Ever and no electricity or batteries needed.
Coolest Game Ever and no electricity or batteries needed.

I hope you had a great holiday full of new beginnings.

Awards

Blog of the Year Award 3 star jpeg

Thanks to Amanda for another star.  I appreciate it so much.  I know we are done with 2012, but it’s nice to still be recognized.

New Post to Praise

The 5 Big Pop Culture Moments I Can’t Wait for in 2013 by Andrew at SparklyPretty Briiiight. Thought you might want to see what to look forward to in 2013.  Personally, I can’t wait to see Pink in concert.  

12 Tips for Recovering from Writing Burnout by Jami Gold.  Jami provided some great tips in order to get back to productive writing.  

Words and Phrases that Must be Banned by C.T. Westing. Well C.T., spoiler alert, passion is trending this year in my life.  YOLO.  😉

Regrets, Resolutions and Revolutions by A.M. Schultz.  A.M. hasn’t posted much lately, but when he does, he has something to say. Most importantly, he has no regrets. 

New Followers
Charles Henry Editing Blog
W.J. Rodriguez: writer-at-large
Christopher Profeta
CJ Blue
Simone Marrise
Too Full to Write
Finazzo380
Susan at Women Making Strides – love that title. 
Dream 1 Dancer

Next Week’s Schedule

909406_83318260-2-1-300x213The Peasant’s Revolt Flashback Blog Hop begins today. There is still time to sign up. Click on the link below to sign up and come back on Friday for my Flashback Post. Congrat’s again to the 1 year anniversary of www.scotzig.com.


fall in love

Fall in love with The Sullivans Blog Tour beginnings today.  They are still looking for host, if you want to participate, click on the badge for more information.

My Weekly Update – Daisies and Dinner

Daisy Award

One of my lovely critique partners, Kathleen,  has bestowed on me an award. Thank you, thank you. I happily accept the Daisy Award.  The rules:

  • Link to the person that nominated you. – done
  • List seven unusual things about yourself. – done
  • Nominate some worthy bloggers. – done
  1. I watch Of Mice and Men the other day and got a blog post out of it. Stay tuned.
  2. I watch The Hunger Games two nights ago and am not sure if I liked it or not. What did you think?
  3. I watch The Rite this week and I don’t care for devil movies much, but this one was interesting. Although in Anthony Hopkin’s character, let me know if  you saw Hannibal Lecter instead of Father Lucas at times.  
  4. One of the four English channels I have access to is the National Geographic Channel and have been utterly fascinated with shows like Locked up Abroad, Doomsday Preppers and Wicked Tuna. Is there something wrong with me? 
  5. I had tacos for dinner tonight.  We made them ourselves and they were so good.
  6. I finally wrote 1,000 words of original fiction today, the first time in about a week. It felt good. 
  7. I got to mark off an item on my restaurant Bucket List. Last night I went to Mr. & Mrs. Bund. Totally exceeded my expectations.  My favorite was the Corn Vanilla Veloute w/cornflakes.  Weird, but so so good. 
Dinner

More photos from my dinner last night at Mr. & Mrs. Bund.

The last two photos are of a desert called Lemon & Lemon Tart.  It’s a candied lemon skin filled with lemon sorbet and lemon curd and vanilla chantilly.  Now I am not sure what all that is, but it was yummy.
Blog Love
My blog love this weeks goes to WordFalls Services and her editing tips.  They have been super helpful to me during this month of editing. Check her out. 
 
New Followers and my nominees for the Daisy Award.
Steve Vernon from Yours in Storytelling
The Eye of Faith
Shah Wharton
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday
Wednesday – Sydney Quotes the Movies
Friday – Blog post
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 

What did you watch last week? What did you eat last week?  What did you edit last week?