Category: My Weekly Update

My Weekly Update – NaNoWriMo +One Day

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

NaNoWriMo

2013-Winner-Vertical-Banner

I won with 50,000 words on November 24th, 2013, but what I am most proud of, I finish the first draft of my novel in 30 days +1.  70,140 words in 31 days and the story shifted a bit from my outline, but it’s pretty cool and I am looking forward to letting it rest for a few months and getting back to it sometime next year.

If you want to read about my NaNo writing journey, check out my journal under the Sydney Writes tab or by clicking the winner badge to the left.

A special thank you to the Texas Rough Writers for their support and encouragement. This was the first WriMo where I was able to meet other writers face to face.

Another special shout out to the 2013 NaNoWriMo Support Group on Facebook. Great group of writers and there was always someone around to sprint with.

Now it’s time to get back to an old project.

Goals for December 

  • Implement beta readers suggestions into Another New Life.
  • Decide what project to work on during Editpalooza. I am leaning towards Inked (Camp Nano 2012) or I’m Coming Home (JuNoWriMo 2012).
  • Create an outline for second book to my NaNoWriMo 2013 novel while the characters are still fresh in my mind.

December 2013 Blog Schedule – Sydney Aaliyah.com

Wednesday, December 4, 2013 – Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Thursday to Sunday, December 5-8, 2013 – Dream Destination Bloghop
Friday, December 6, 2013 – Guest Post from Tara Tyler
Monday, December 9, 2013 – CheerFest 2.0 – Our Honree – Mr. Arlee Bird
Wednesday, December 18, 2013 – Beautiful Rose Guest Post
Monday, December 23, 2013 – 50 States of Prayer
Tuesday, December 31, 2013 – Goals (Review 2013’s and Set for 2014)
 

December 2013 Blog Schedule – The Peasant Revolt

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 – What is New Adult Post
Monday, December 16, 2013 – On Solid Ground Review
 

Important Note

Pitch Wars hosted by Brenda Drake – submissions are due on Monday, December 2, 2013. I won’t be participating, but it’s a great opportunity to get your pitch read by some great agents and editors.  Good luck!

PitchWars-14-23

Anyone every participated in Editpalooza? What bloghops are you participating in  this month? Are you submitting for Pitch Wars?

My Weekly Update – It’s Back

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

All I want for NaNo Bloghop

nanobloghop

J.A Bennett and her friends created this anthology with all proceeds going to NaNoWriMo. The Spirit of Christmas is now available for purchase. Make sure you get your copy here!

To celebrate, me and my co-authors Jessica Salyer, David Powers King, Kelley Lynn, andCassie Mae are doing a bloghop.

My NaNo wish? All I want for NaNo is a few “in the zone” writing sessions and a completed first draft. That’s not to much to ask.

NYC Midnight – 2013 Flash Fiction Challenge

This has been a really cool contest. I placed fifth in my group in the first round. I was given the prompts of wrote a humorous story, located in a rain forest and had to mention a water balloons. Kind of random, right, but I wrote a strange, but amusing story about a robot and his crazy master. I will post it once I receive the feedback. They combine the scores for round #1 and #2 and round #2’s prompts – Horror, Tattoo Parlour and a pair of high heels.  My mind is already racing.

#NaNoWriMo 2013

In case you haven’t heard (haha), NaNoWriMo has official begun. This is year number two for me and I had a great first three days. I also had the opportunity to do a write in. Something I missed from my previous WriMo. It’s fun to hang out with other writers, and share this crazy experience. Here is one of my #NaNoWriMo Daily Journal from last week.

Date: November 2, 2013
Word Count:  1737
Observations:  I missed out on a write in at a local Irish pub, it’s to early in nano for life to get in the way.  Still, I was able to meet the Nano daily goal. A little less then my personal goal, but I also finished my outline and had to write my short story for the Flash Fiction Challenge Round #2. All in all, a productive day of writing. Working on the outline, the story went in a slightly different direction then I had intended. The absolute best reason why outlines are the way to go. The story didn’t quite work the other way, but now it’s more interesting and I created more tension. The scene I wrote today included the moment when the guy sees the girl for the first time. I’ve never written first person guys POV. It’s  a challenge. What does a guy say to himself when he sees a beautiful women for the first time? Is it all about sex. Would a guy describe how her smile warms his heart? I have no idea. Might need to do some male research. I also talked about how her perfect ass made him want to grab it. Maybe a mix of both will work. It helps that my guy has mommy and daddy issues. Allows me some leeway in the emotional department. 
 

Sports Updates

Congrats to the Boston Red Sox – 2013 World Series Champions.

NHL season started a couple of week. Go Stars!!!

NBA season started this week. Go Mavs!!!

I have denounced my citizenship to Cowboy Nation, but my sweet Peyton is having an amazing years, so I am officially a Broncos fan. I lived there for two years, so I’m allowed.

What do you want from NaNo? Do you ever join these type of contests? Have you ever won? What is your current word count? Have you ever given up on your favorite team? 

My Weekly Update – 2013 #JuNoWriMo is Done

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

And, I won!

Screen Shot 2013-06-30 at 5.58.22 PMGreat month of writing. Here are my numbers in this cool word tracker created by Svenja Liv and edited for JuNo by our own Fel.

I not only wrote over 62,000 words for my new NA Romance novel, I spent the month hosting sprints on Twitter and once again, JuNoWriMo was every bit the writing experience I remember from last year and more.

Quick shout out to our talented, generous and fearless leaders, A.E. Howard and Becca J. Campbell.

A special shout out to the other sprint host and the whole JuNoWriMo team: Felicia Wetzig, Angi Black, Vicki Trask, Margaret McNellis, Eden Mabee, Angie Richmond, Alicia Wallace, Kate Tagai, Julie Jordan Scott.

Congrats to all the participants and happy dance for all those who won.  How many day’s until JuNoWriMo 2014?

Did you participate in JuNoWriMo? If so, how did you do? 

Coolest Things

UnknownSaw White House Down last weekend. I loved it!!!!! Jamie Foxx was great as always and I am finally a Channing Tatum fan.

SQM White House Down Edition

“Get your hands off my Jordan’s.”

“Can you not hit me in the head with a rocket while I’m trying to drive?”

“You Lost. How you lose a rocket launcher?”

“What the hell you gettin in the back for?” “Sorry, force of habit.”

Have you seen it? 

#JuNoWriMo Post to Ponder
Megan Eccles:  #JuNoWriMo Interview
Kate Sparkes: #JuNoWriMo Interview
Jeremy Aldana:  #JuNoWriMo Interview
Brain Drain? Take a Hike by Rayne Hall

 

Post to Ponder

bannerClick on the badge for all the great Addicted to New Adult post from last week.

Do You have Lazy Commentor’s Syndrome by Nicole Ayers on Tossing it Out by Arlee Bird – Love Nicole. Read this before you read another blog post.
It’s OK to Obsess by Sarah Foster at The Faux Fountain Pen – If I’m obsessing, then I’m in the writing zone and it’s going to be good. 
 
 
Next Week’s Schedule
Wednesday – Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Friday – The 2nd Obstructions Blogathon
 
Reminder – #PitchMas in July starts July 5th. 

My Weekly Update – Happy Father’s Day

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

Happy Father’s Day to my father and all the other men who play the role of father in anyone’s life.

Coolest Things

One of my favorite golfers Justin Rose won the U.S. Open.

My top five favorite golfers; (5) Ricky Fowler, (4) Adam Scott, (3) Justin Leonard, (2) Luke Donald and (1) Tiger Woods.

During the NBA playoffs, I saw the Magna Carta commercial and had to share it with you.

Jay Z, Timberland, Rick Rubin, Swizz Beats and Pharrell.  So much brilliance on one album; I’m trippin. Can’t wait for July 4th.

Post to Ponder

Do You Need an Antagonist? by Sarah Foster of The Faux Fountain Pen – Antagonist doesn’t have to be an actual character.

5 Tips for Busy Writers by Jemi Fraser – #2 Eliminate Quirks. There is no real reason I have to have an empty inbox in order to start writing.

Is Not Reading Any Novels While Writing Your Own Novel a Good Idea or a Bad Idea? by Gus Sanchez – I tend to read in my genre, but most importantly in my POV when I write. It helps keep my mind focused on POV.  Now I am writing and reading in 1st person.  I admit, I can’t read anything to deep when I’m first drafting it.

JuNoWriMo Post to Ponder

Margaret McNellis: #JuNoWriMo Interview by Fel Scotzig of The Peasants Revolt – I love lime seltzer, too.

Surviving the First Draft by Stina Lindenblatt – What stops your first draft progress?

Vicki Trask: #JuNoWriMo Interview by Fel Scotzig of The Peasants Revolt – I love serial killers. That’s sounds bad.

New Followers
Natasha Harmer of Films and Things
RA Odum
Crystal Collier
Tanya Keen Reimer
Constance
Sania Heba
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Wednesday – Interview on The Peasant Revolt
Friday – SQM
*Check out my Daily #JuNoWriMo Updates

Today is Movie Day, I’ll let you know which one’s I check out next week. 

 

My Weekly Update – JuNoWriMo

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

JuNoWriMo

It is that time of year, again; JuNoWriMo. This writing challenge is very special to me because it was this time last year that I wrote my first full length novel. I also meet some great blogging writers who are actually active in all stages of this writing process and are great resources for any writer. Special shout out to the creators of JuNoWriMo, A.E. Howard and Becca J. Campbell.

And, this year, I was asked to be one of the sprint leader for JuNoWriMo and I am honored because the sprint leaders from last year made all the difference in the world in me not only writing 50,000 words, but writing an additional 25,000 to finish the novel.

We are just on day three, it’s not to late to sign up and join me every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 pm for some writing sprints. #junowrimo #wordsprints

Post to Ponder

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop – Flash Fiction – The Space Stations – Just a short piece I wrote. Hope you like it.

So, You Want to Write a Book? Let Go of the Guilt by Angi Black – Life is always there to get in the way, but no need to feel guilt when your doing what you love.

June is for New Goals & JuNoWriMo by Felicia Scotzig – More JuNoWriMo motivation.

Writing is Best When we Get out of our own Way by Kristen Lamb – Kristen say writing fast helps keep us out of our own way.  Another yea for WriMo.

The Art of Milking a Critique by Jodi Thompson – Great tips if your ready to join a critique group.

Coolest Things

I participated in the coolest blogfest last week, The Whip It Good Blogfest where we shared our WIP.  Here are the ones I would purchase.

  • Nick Wilford – Sci Fi – Man has neurosurgery to increase his confidence.
  • Tina at Life is Good – Worlds Colliding – Space Opera meets Tom Clancy
  • Hunter – Blue Popcorn – Psychological Thriller – nationality and generational clashes.
  • Silver Lining – YA Romance – it was this line in her synopsis that got me, “She buys fries from the McDonald’s on Dover Street; he can buy the McDonald’s on Dover Street.”
  • Kate Larkindale – Stumped – YA Contemporary -It’s American Pie meets The Sessions as a 16-year-old double amputee struggles to dump the burden of his virginity.
  • PK Hrezo – Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. – New Adult light Sci Fi romance – Anxious to attend that relative’s wedding you missed a few years ago? Or curious to see how your children invest their inheritance after you’re gone?
  • JE Fritz – Collapse – YA Dystopian/apocalyptic – Bullies used to be a problem for her. Now she’sslightly more worried about being gunned down by people she once called “neighbor”

Check them out and tell me which one look good to you.

Next Week’s Schedule
Wednesday – The Casual Vacancy Cast of Characters Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Thursday – Heroes & Villans Blogfest
Friday – SQM – Wreck it Ralph

HvsVblogfest