Category: Blogfest/Bloghops

My Weekly Update – New Stuff

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

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.

2013 Goals – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle19 Comments

Happy New Year

READING

2013EbookChallengeA couple of months ago, I read a great post with a great title, The Best Ever Top 50 List in the World Ever by Michael J. Holley.  How could resist a great title like that?

Anyway, in the post, Michael includes the list of the top 50 most popular books and the top 50 most popular films.    I have a full length post planned for this topic, but needless to say, I need to read more.  So, in 2013, that is what I am going to do. I have signed up for the 2013 Ebook Challenge.  My plan is the read the following books over the course of 2013:

  1. The Hobbit
  2. A Tale of Two Cities
  3. Kane & Abel
  4. To Kill a Mockingbird
  5. The Lord of the Rings
  6. Anna Karenina
  7. The Great Gatsby
  8. The Sportswriter
  9. Tropic of Cancer
  10. Wuthering Heights
  11. To the Lighthouse
  12. The Eagle has Landed

I will be keeping track of my reads on the 2013 Reading Challenge tab. And you can see the current book I am reading in the side bar.  I figure once I finish my book each month, then I can return to reading my chick lit, horror and crime thrillers.

Have you read any of these books? Let me know, which one you enjoyed the most?  

WRITING

Blog – The blog schedule will change to 3 times a week at least. Now, this coming week, I will be posting 5 days a weeks, hence the, at least.

Sunday Post – My Weekly Update – Review of my week, Posts to Share, Recognition of New Followers and Special Features coming up such has blog hops or book tours for the following week.
Tuesday Post/Wednesday Post – I will alternate Tattoo Tuesday and Sydney Quotes the Movies (SQM) every other week.
Friday Post – Random Blog Post

Short Stories – I love a good, well written short story and have read many last year. Sevastian Winters has some amazing stories for sale on his site and they inspired me to give it a try.  I am committing to writing a short story a month. And, to add an extra incentive, I have joined, 2 short story contest. I figured why not.  They offer feedback whether you win or not. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?

WriMo – I will participate in JuNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo this year for the novel length fans in my life.  The ideas keep coming and it worked for me in the past. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Editing – I really enjoyed my WriMo Diaries (how is that for a great title, Uhmmm). My goal is to create a Editing Diary to correspond with the editing process of my three novels.  I will begin editing in  January and will continue, I guess, until . . . who knows. But, that’s ok.

Publishing – WriMo Diaries, Editing Diaries, Short Story Anthology, Novel #1, #2, #3 – I would be pleased with anyone of these happening this year. But, definitely, all three and more in my life time.

What are your writing goals this year? Do yo have a word count goal, books written goal or a just a goal to get published this year? 

ARITHMETIC

Ok, had the finish the saying with Arithmetic. This might be a stretch, but I need a goal relating to numbers.  Maybe I could work on sticking to my Amazon/iBook monthly budget.  Kind of disregarded that more times then I should in the past. Well, if my blog idols would stop publishing, I wouldn’t buy so many book; Emily, A.E., Becca, D.C., Karen,      Donna, and Chris. Yes, I’m talking to you.

I could focus on increasing my Social Media presence, but I my pleased with those numbers growing as they are.

There is always the views/clicks stats, but you can’t really control that, can you?

Ok, I have a good one, I will meet/connect/friend/read/follow/support more people on the web this year.

Also, a million dollar advance check would be nice. It could happen.

What numbers will you be focusing on this year? 

I wish everyone a Happy and Productive New Year. 

Related Post:

 

 

My Weekly Update – Merry Every Day and Happy Last Year

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

Blog of the Year

Blog of the Year Award 1 star jpeg Blog of the Year Award 2 star jpeg

Thanks to Vikki at The View Outside and Kitt at Inner Wild Kat for nominating me for Blog of the Year.  From what I understand I need to collect six stars, but I am thrilled with just the two.

The Blog of the Year rules, you can find here.

My Nominations are: 
Innerwildkat
Michael J. Holley
The Peasants Revolt
Amanda Fanger
Chris Stocking
 

#TBSU – The Blog Scratchers Union

I am honored to be a member. Thanks so much to Seumas Gallacher. Seumas is a bloggers blogger. A great supporter to the every day blogger and I am happy to have meet him.  Please visit Seumas and other members of the Union. You won’t be sorry.

Other Cool Awards

20121204-112624

liebaward

Big thanks to Vikki and Karen by best blog buddies on the world wide web.

You both have been amazing to me and I appreciate all the support and encouragement and the quality content you both create on your blogs.  Great example for any new writer.

Answers to a few of their questions:

  1.  Bucket List #1 – Publish a Novel
  2. Favorite Sport to watch – Football; Favorite Sport to play – Golf
  3. Dancing or Bowling – Dancing
  4. Favorite Holiday – Christmas
  5. Eye color – Brown
  6. TV Time – 3 hours per day, but I am on the computer through 2 of those hours
  7. Wear to bed – tank top and shorts (not too sexy, right)
  8. First things I do when I wake up – read emails on my phone, then twitter, then blog post, then I am late.
  9. Pet peeves – dishonesty for no reason, inconsistency and people who smack when they eat
  10. Pairs of shoes – to many to count
Post to Review
Why Becoming an Author is not for the Faint of Heart! by Author Kimberly T. Matthews
What Romance?  Get Your Beat Sheet Here! by Jami Gold
Blog Tour Ideas:  Getting into Character by Felicia Scotzig
New Year’s Resolution for All Writers – The Patient Edit by Author Donya Lynne
Why You MUST Keep Your Eye on the Prize by Shelli Johnson
5 Keys to Starting Over with Style at All Groan Up
Kiss it Off by Angi Black
 
New Followers
Stephanie Hurt
The Vagabond Filmaker
Daniel Abram
The Mind of RD Revilo
L.Leander Books
Jumeira James at iNation
Radaronelson at Seasons of Insanity 
Stephanie Hurt
The Vagabond Filmmaker 
Daniel Abram
The Mind of RD Revilo
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Merry Christmas – SQM – The Christmas Story
Thursday – SQM – It’s a Wonderful Life
Sunday – My Weekly Update – 2013 Goals

Cheers, Cavanaugh Blogfest

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle17 Comments

11.19 Cavanaugh Blogfest LIVE December 10

Hosted by Mark Koopmans, Morgan Shamy, David Powers King and Stephen Tremp.

The 4 talented writers above have introduced an unprecedented idea to get together to thank a blogger who has touched all of our online lives. This is only a sample of what he’s created and this is just since I’ve known him:

InsecureWritersSupportGroup

Genre Favorites Blogfest

firstlove2

He’s a published author of two books and a third is one is way. With all this going on, he still has time to comment on my little old blog especially when I feature a Sydney Quotes the Movies post. Did I mention he loves movies?

Alex is a quality person and he associates himself with quality. And, I can’t think of another person on the Internet that deserves to have a whole Blogfest dedicated to them more then Alex.

Four questions:

What does Alex look like? Alex is an attractive man (much respect to Mrs. Alex). Brown hair, greying at the temples, nice teeth, but a crooked smile.

Who could play Alex in a documentary? When I think of Alex, I picture Sean Connery circa 1987 in the Untouchables, but without the English accent.

Who does Alex remind me of? Alex reminds me an older brother and a younger friend, a wise owl and a impetuous ferret.

Flash Fiction – Dueling Ninjas

“IWSG” I punched in the letters on the keypad singing as I did. I was relaxed.

I had entered the office undetected like a ninja. The Cosbalt brand safe was exactly where my contact said it would be. Just as long as I beat my nemesis, this would be a great score.

I opened the safe inch by inch. A guitar pick and a piece of paper sat at the bottom. On the paper was ineligible writing, almost ineligible.

I crinkled the paper in my fist and slammed the safe shut. “Cavanaugh.” I yelled.

The note simple said, “Played again.”

Are you in love, in utter admiration, in complete adoration (again, no disrespect Mrs. Alex) of Alex, the Ninja Captain, then let me know in the comments below?

And be sure to visit all the others who are dedicating their blogs to Alex, today. And, if you don’t know Alex go by his blog and see for yourself.

My Weekly Update – I Love New York

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

I have been in New York for 4 days, now. Thanks to Ava J. Easterby.  Her post Location, Location, Location (For your Novel) got my mind thinking, I need to visit some of the spots in my last few projects to make sure I have the locations correct. This is also my first time in the US in 2 years.

I love food. I love shopping with my mom. I love walking the streets with a latte in my hand in the cool crisp air. I love winter and I love New York.  Some things never change.

I will warn you right now, I see several New York/New Jersey related post in the future.

But, I will tease you with this for starters.

IMG_0015

Blog Award

inspiring-bloggerThank you so much EM Castellan for this beautiful award.  I am a rebel award winner, I am going to refer to my And You Are? Bloghop post in lieu of sharing another 7 things about myself.

I would like to nominate the people in the Posts to Read below. They all inspire me to no end.

Flashback Blog Hop – The Peasant Revolt

909406_83318260-2-1-300x213The Peasants and Felicia Scotzig are celebrating her first blogoversary! To join in on the fun, the rules are simple:

  • Sign up at Flashback Blog Hop.
  • Look back at your work from January 2012–blog posts, stories, poetry, etc.–and find something you’d like to share. Whether you wonder, “What was I thinking?” or find something that you’re still proud of and want to share with a larger audience, I’d like everyone to share a piece of their work or a short reflection.
  • Hop around to the other blogs and meet all of the great folks participating.
  • At the end of the week, everyone who participates will be eligible to enter a giveaway for a $20 Amazon gift card.
  • You can also earn additional entries, by answering questions about some of the sponsoring blogs (questions will be released here on January 4, 2012).
 
Posts to Read
Update on the Plan from Angi Black – Haters need to lay off Angi, she is doing her thing. 
Go Deep! Deeper! YES! Deep POV Rules in Fiction from Donya Lynne – great lessons on writing
Adding Humour in our Stories from Rachna – if you want to be funny
Fake It ‘Til You Make It from R.C. Lewis – i had to do this, too.
What Type of Writer are You from Philip Overby – i am a combo of all of these
Write Romance?  Get Your Beat Sheet Here! from Jami Gold – for the organized romance writer
 
Post Inspired by our Great Writers
Vonnegut on Creating Characters
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Top 10 Tips for Writers
 
New Followers
The Fitzroy
Muags
Beyond the Hill 45
Rhonda Albom
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – Book Club Blog Hop
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – Jennifer 
Wednesday -Jennifer George Guest Post
Friday – E – Book Challenge
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 
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