My Weekly Update – Page 7 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

My Weekly Update – Books and Beginnings

Published on September 9, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Books

I read a book last week. I know what you saying. “Sydney, you are a writer, your supposed to be reading books.” Let me clarify. I read a real book, last week. No. That’s not the right word. I read a physical book last week.

It had paper, a soft cover on the front and the back and I never had to recharge it. I read it in bed and didn’t have to worry about breaking my nose. Am I the only one this has happened to? (Imagine lying in bed holding your iPad/Kindle over your head and you loose your grip and from that distance it landing smack dab on your face) I can’t be the only one and it hurts. I read in the tub and didn’t have to worry about dropping my life in the bathtub and loosing all my information. And, I read on the train and didn’t have to worry about the shady guy eyeing my most prized possession and think, that could easily belong to me. (Just kidding, there are no shady people on the Hong Kong train).

Regardless, it was quite a thrill. I didn’t tap it, flick it or swipe it and accidentally turn to many pages. I read a page and manually turned to the next page. I used an old receipt as a bookmark and there was no question whether I was in the right place. I spilled some coffee on it and still kept on ready. It was so much fun.

I haven’t read a real book in about 6 months. Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPad with it’s iBook and Kindle app. But, really there is nothing like reading a real book.

What do you prefer? Your Kindle or the real deal.

Beginnings

Spring is considered the season of new beginnings, but it appears the end of summer is inspiring me and others to begin new stuff as well.

I began to edit my June novel and at this point it is a lot of work. But, I found these articles very helpful in getting my head organized to tackle this new writing task.

How to Use Brainstorming to Edit from Ava at Writability

What is It Like to Read a First Draft? from Becca at Inspiration for Creation

Roxie’s Blog is beginning a series on effective editing on September 14th. She will feature a weekly post on her editing process. I can’t wait. Her post are informative and always funny.

Sevestian Winters began a new blog: The Homeless Gazillionaire. It you haven’t read it, I would suggest you do. It is fascinating and sad and inspiring and heartbreaking and life altering all at the same time.

AM has returned to My Weekly Update. I am sure he is thrilled. But, this is legitimate. His site had a new beginning last week; a new look and a new focus and I think it is pretty cool. I also wanted to help him introduce a new feature; Wired Writers Wednesday, for all those coffee drinking writers out there. I was inspired to take this lovely photo:

New Follower – they began following me this week (it works).

Baz McAlister

Tyson Carter at Head in a Vice – Movie Review Site

Meghan Elisabeth at Book Nerd

Patrick Latter at Canadian Hiking Photography

Miranda Hardy – Future New York Times Bestseller! – I love that.

Next Weeks Schedule

Monday – What’s Your Chocolate Bloghop

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Friday – Sydney Quotes the Movies – The Bourne Legacy

Sunday – My Weekly Update

My Weekly Update – Reflections on Campnano

Published on September 2, 2012September 2, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

Well another writing challenge done and another win. Yea me. Not an enthusiastic win, but a win, nonetheless. It was not as easy or as successful content wise as June. But, again, I won. I have to keep reminding myself there are more words on the page today then there was 30 days ago.

I learned a few things about myself as a writer during this challenge. I learned I can write even when I’m not 100% certain whether the story will work, not 100% certain that the story even makes sense and not 100% certain there is enough content to even be a story. Those concerns were rolling around in my head all month and still I won.

I missed not having the daily connection and support from other challenge participants during the process. I just felt more connected to other writers during Junowrimo. You could always go online and find a sprint to participate in. It wasn’t as easy to nail down writing groups this month. I also enjoyed getting to know the other participants during June. My cabin mates were not the most talkative people. I guess they were busying writing.

But, I now except the fact my mind seems to like deadlines. And, the 50K in one month challenge is still the best opportunity to get a novel written in one month for me. Now I am looking forward to finishing this story in September and on to the next one in November.

I have to admit, after November, I hope no one creates another monthly writing challenge. I think I will need a break until Junowrimo starts next summer.

Here is a small excerpt from my 2nd novel. Enjoy, because that’s all you are going to get:

“Be careful getting up.” When the blood rushed back to the rest of my body and I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to pass out I walked over to the mirror. I couldn’t speak. And, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It was beautiful. I looked beautiful.

“I look fucking hot.” The shop started howling. I turned to Thomas. “What do you think?”

“Wait, what the hell are you asking him for?” Sebastian said. He looked defeated, like I kissed his best friend.

“You don’t like girls with tattoos.” Bass scrunched up his face and shook his head.

Two of the shop guys high fived, laughed and pointed at me. “She’s got you down, Bass.”

“Shut up,” Bass said and walked over to me. “Who told you I don’t like girls with tattoos?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” I was enjoying myself. “Ok, what do you think?”

Bass was standing to close behind me. To close for someone who I just meet and I realized I was standing in the middle of shop with no shirt on and my bikini top tapped on. “This tattoo was made for you. You look beautiful.” We held each others stare in the mirror to long for two people who really didn’t know each other. But, I wasn’t going to look away first.

Post to Watch

Ironic because two posts that caught my attention this week were on people watching. It is one of my favorite past times. When I move to a new city, I always scope out the best locations to people watch. It gives me such insight into characters, dialogue and even the nonverbal way people interact with each other. Plus, I am a nosey person by nature. You can learn a lot about people just by watching them.

Snotting Black is one of the first blogs I started to follow and last week she posted an interesting letter to the guy whose date she observed from a distance. Check out Notes I Took While Watching Your Date.

Carol Kilgore wrote an interesting guest post on My First Book blog about people watching, event watching and names that as a writer I found helpful.

My New Followers

I hit over 4,000 followers on twitter last week. How cool is that? Thank you to my tweeps and to my new followers; The Inner Wild Kat & E.K. Espinoza.

Next Weeks Schedule

Monday – Summer: Fact or Fiction – Post #1

Wednesday – Summer: Fact or Fiction – Post #2 & Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Friday – Summer: Fact or Fiction – Reveal Post

Sunday – My Weekly Update

*Tattoo Tuesday will return next week.

My Weekly Update – September is Almost Here

Published on August 26, 2012August 26, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle18 Comments

September means a break for the hot temperatures in China. Even though the weather is perfect to be outside exploring Shanghai, I have a busy month in front of the computer as well. Here are a few items that are on my to do list for September:

Finish the first draft on my second novel. Campnano will only get me about two-thirds done. I will have another 25,000 – 30,000 words to go before it is completed. Happy dance will have to wait a few more weeks.
Start edits on, I’m Coming Home, my first novel. Can anyone recommend a good book on editing? I am a ‘step by step’ kind of person, so I am looking for something that gives good instructions to follow on the editing process.
Edit my short story for the Burrst Writing Contest. The only prompt given was ‘Blue’.
Pick one out of the three ideas I have for Nanowrimo. I want to start outlining in October.
Find more Tattoo Tuesday stories. If I have to crawl over mountains and wade through lakes, I will find them. Highest views of the week for me for those looking for exposure (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
Participate in a few Blogfest. Click on the badges for more information and to join me.

Blog Love

I love this poem by The Invitation By Oriah Mountain Dreamer posted on Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaso. It is what my MC is looking for. To be honest, so am I.

Paul Dorset did a guest post at Karen’s Different Corner that was brilliant. What do Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll have to do with being an Indie Author. You can’t go wrong with a title like that and I assure you the post doesn’t disappoint.

New Followers

Things to Bitch About

Cowboy Cowden

Debbie at Moon in Gemini

Roomaomao – my new source for shanghai

*Thanks also to all the comments, likes, RT’s, clicks, views, stumbled upon and favorites I received last week. I appreciate the love more then you know.

Next Weeks Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Thursday – Sydney Quotes the Movies

Saturday – Blog Post

Sunday – My Weekly Update

My Weekly Update – What the Heck is it?

Published on August 19, 2012August 19, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle13 Comments

What the Heck is it?

I have lived in China for over 5 years and, I have eaten my share of weird stuff. Coagulated pigs blood, anyone. But, this ‘what ever the heck it is’ was a first for me. So, I decided to use it to spur on a little competition. Can you guess what this is and/or what’s in it?

If so, I would be happy to beta read, edit or critique a short story or one chapter of your WIP.

I beta read a story for one of my blog friends and really enjoyed it and learned a lot. And, I am testing out my edit and critique chops, so we all win here.

I will keep this contest open for a week. And, if no one can guess what it is, I will take the most creative answer. Have fun.

The Posts

Ava Jae wrote a great post on How to Read Your Writing Objectively. Great read for me as I will tackle the art of editing my first novel in September.

Jeff Goins posted My Morning Routine in 10 Simple Steps this week. My biggest struggle is getting going in the morning. I need a routine. The post includes several links to other writer’s morning routines. The one thing they all have in common, waking up early. Why can’t a morning routine start at 11:00 am? It’s still morning.

A general shout out to Wise, Ink. An indie Author’s Best Kept Secret ( I hope it is ok to tell). They are a great resource for any and all things writerly and recently posted two articles to help us Authorpreneurs.

New Followers

Elana Millman at Man on Top

Jeni at Joy and Woe

Vergielyn Cubol

JB Rowley

Ronald DeStefano

Donnie Dark O Girl

Give More Get More

Next Weeks Schedule – I seemed to have moved Friday post to early Saturday morning. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – A proud mother shares her son’s art work

Thursday – Sydney Quotes the Movies –

Friday/Saturday – Blog Post

Sunday – My Weekly Update – Look at goals for September and I need to have put a dent into my Campnano WiP or I am toast.

My Weekly Update – Future, Present and Return to the Past

Published on August 12, 2012August 12, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle15 Comments

Future

A wise friend once told me not to make promises I can’t keep, not even to myself. I made some goals for myself at the beginning of the summer. And, I did pretty good until August hit and then my life seemed to get caught in a tail spin. Nothing tragic or anything, just out of my control. I think I need to change my tactics. So, here are my goals until my trip home on December 6th.

Write for 2 hours per day. Win Campnano.
Sweat for 1 hour per day. Exercise in any form.
Post on my blog 4 times per week. Quality post, no fluff.
Stop buying books until I read the ones I have.
Pay off my credit card (3,012.05 down from 10,000.00 at the beginning of the year). Which means stop spending money. Which means, when I am bored, see 1-4. (READ, WRITE or SWEAT).

What do you do when you feel your life is going off track?

Present

The move to Shanghai is under way and I figured if I was going to be living in a new city, I should learn a little about it. Five facts about my new home town:

There are 23 million people in Shanghai. That’s a lot of people.
20,000 jews fled to Shanghai to escape the Nazis. I didn’t not know that.
Parents still gather at the Shanghai Market with the resume of their unwed children in the hope of finding them a spouse. I need to tell my mother.
KFC showed up in Shanghai 5 years before McDonalds. I wonder if it’s real chicken.
There are 2.5 female toilets for every 1 male toilet and about 80% of public toilets are ‘squatters’. If you have never had to squat to pee, count yourself lucky.

Bonus: I think I mentioned it before, but it’s worth repeating. My new home is a high rise apartment on top of a mall with a movie theater. Sydney Quotes the Movies will get a boost in frequency.

Return to the Past – Blog Love Returns

Daddyknowsless.org – The adventures of a single father and his 8 year old son and other really funny/amusing/sad/sexy stuff.

torcivia.com – Author Phil Torcivia – “I’m one relationship disaster away from my third cat.” Another male blogger who writes about relationships and life and calls people on their stuff. Really good writing.

Sevastian Winters – “Blue Print for Building a Better me” – Great lessons in this post.

Mikereverb.wordpress.com – “F-ck It” or A Treastise on Procrastination – I can procrastinate with the best of them, so Mike told me I needed to get to that point where I say “F-ck it” and get to writing.

Michaeljholley.com – Great post on “Why a Daily Routine is so important.”

Amschultz.com – I know you are probably thinking by now “Why does AM seem to have a mention every Sunday”, but what I can say, he writes quality. I am all about quality. ‘Wired Writers: Why do Writers Drink so much Coffee?’ – No need to wonder any longer. AM breaks it down.

Look at the guys representing.

New Followers

Next Week’s Schedule

Monday – Guest Post on Tossing it Out – super excited about this.

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Friday – Blog Post

Sunday – My Weekly Update