Category: Nanowrimo

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 – I’m Back

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

Did you miss me? I know, I was only gone a week and you barely noticed I was gone. That’s ok.  I wasn’t completely gone.  I had an interview posted and a guest post on a couple of great sites.  Check them out and let me know what you think.

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: Sydney Aaliyah & Australia Interview – thanks Alex and the rest of the A to Z Crew
Is My Blog a Success? Guest post at My First Book – thanks so much Misha
 

NaNoWriMo Thank You I was thinking about doing a NaNo debriefing, but everyone is doing that. I am just going to send out a few thank you’s and leave it at that.

Felicia Scotzig, Amanda Fanger, Vikki, AM Schultz, Sevastian Winters, Donna McNicols, Shah Wharton, Audrey Austin, Jami Gold, Mark Ethridge, Anna Howard, Rebecca H. Campbell, Andrew F. Butters, Jennifer Gracen, Angela Goff, Sarah Thayer, Jeff Tsuruoka, Tia Siverthorne Bach, Meg McNulty, Miranda Gammella, Sarah Nicholson, Ruth Long, Cara Michaels, Bethany Miller, Candy Sparks, Molly Ahola, Alberta Ross, Artemis Leaena, Shan Jeniah Burton, David Swensen, all my tweeple, all my FB friends, all my blog followers, my WanaTribe and my Tribe Mates.

I could do this without you, but it wouldn’t be near as much fun.

And, if I forgot anyone, if you have ever writing anything, anywhere, anytime, in any form what so ever, thank you, too.

Congrats to all the NaNoWriMo Winners!

The last of the great NaNoWriMo Posts

New Followers
From Page to Screen
Gabriel Lucatero
Through Crystal Clear Waters
Fabulous Realms
Hristina H. Vasileva
Matthew Blake
Michael at Vive la Rock n Roll
Ahamin
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – And You Are Blog Hop
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – Amsterdam Tattoo Museum Needs our Help
Wednesday – A Good Kind of Knowing Blog Tour – My Road to Publication by Kathy Lynn Harris
Friday – The Fitzroy – An Update
Sunday – My Weekly Update 
 
 
And You Are?
 

Sydney Quotes the Movies – Anna Karenina

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments
Alexei Karenin
Anna Karenina
Alexei Vronsky

 

 

 

 

 

 

My current WIP and NaNoWriMo project is about a love triangle.  And, so I get to write off my movie ticket for Anna Karenina as research.

I love period movies about society and scandal.  The way the people dressed and passed letter back and forth is romantic and mysterious, to me.

I also love the names:

  • Anna Kerenina
  • Count Alexei Vronsky
  • Baron Alexei Karenin
  • Countess Lydia
  • Princess Myagkaya
  • Countess Vronskaya (Vronsky’s mother – see how they did that)

What happen to those good old fashion counts and princesses?

And, I especially love the way they talk:

“I was eighteen when I got married, but it was not love.” – Anna

“Anna isn’t a criminal, but she broke the rules!” – on why Anna was shunned by society.

“Sensual desire indulged for its own sake is the misuse of something sacred.” – How romantic. Seriously.

“Your husband is a saint and we must all cherish him for Russia’s sake.” – Feeling guilty Anna?

“We are bound together by god and this can only be broken by a crime against god!” – Alexei trying to hold on to his wife.

“You may, by indiscretion, give the word occasion to talk about you.” – Alexei knew his beautiful wife might be prone to give into temptation.  He was trying to protect her.

“My wife is beyond reproach. After all, she is my wife.” – Alexei still protecting his wife.

“The man who can’t govern his wife, has gone as far as he can go in government.” – remember, this movie took place in 19th century Russia.

“There can be no peace for us, only misery, and the greatest happiness.” – isn’t that what love is all about.

“Romantic love will be the last delusion of the old order.” – So sad.

I enjoyed the movie and the innovative way Joe Wright filmed the movie as if it was a stage play.  Very clever and put a new spin on movie making that lately seems to be consumed with robots, CGI action and the military.

What did you think of Anna Karenina?  Do you enjoy movies like this and The Age of Innocence (in my top 5 and another good love triangle)? What are some of your favorite love triangle stories?

And, from this day forward, please refer to me as Countess Sydney Aaliyah.

Related post:
The 10 Best Love Triangles of all Time
How to do a Love Triangle Right

My Weekly Update – NaNoWriMo Won, but Far From Done

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

I wanted to start this update with my favorite post of the week.  I just love Tameri and if you haven’t visited her blog, here is your chance.

Be Amazing with a Little Swagger – I read a quote recently that said “You control the way the world perceives you.” (It was Dr. Phil, but a good quote nonetheless), which is how I am going to approach returning to America in 17 days, 21 hours and 36 minutes, but’s whose counting.  Not that I plan to create some persona that’s not me, but what I have learned most from my adventures in Asia is not be afraid to show people how cool, weird, happy, strange, passionate, funny, different and gorgeous (haha) I am.  This article speaks to that and so much more.

NaNoWriMo Daily Updates – The best of the week

This was a no brainer.

NaNo Notes

The Point of NaNo by Amanda Fanger
10 Tips to Help You Finish YourNovel and/or ‘Win’ NaNoWriMo by Jenny Hansen
When the Going Got Tough, I kept Going. And it Worked! by Misha at My First Book – I am so proud of Misha. If you remember her post from last week: NaNo Doubts, it is so great to see her back on track.
Must. Stop. The Voices. Nanowrimo Internal Dialog by Suddenly Jamie
I was featured in not one, but two NaNoWriMo related interviews, check them out at  Change the World with Words and Donna McNicol’s My Write Spot.
New Followers
Holly Elizabeth Music
Jaimie at Be the Spark
Ravena Guron
Sergio Bastante
And Then There Was One
Iniriba’s Blog
Kirsty at The Last Word From Me
Tracy Constantine
Thomas at OnTopic Reviews
C.T. Westing
Sage Doyle
Lleighh at Hello World!
The Living Notebook
Sean Sandulak
Ink and Page
 
Next Weeks Schedule – extended version
Monday, November 19th – The Fitzroy – come check it out with me. 
Tuesday, November 20th – Tattoo Tuesday – Ava Esterby
November 21st – 28th – Blog Break
Thursday – November 29th – SQM (Sydney Quotes the Movies) – Anna Karenina and my celebration of the Love Triangle
Friday – November 31th – Guest Post on My First Book
Sunday – December 2nd – My Weekly Update – December is going to be fun. 
 
*I may do some random post if time permits, but my goal is to finish my NaNoWriMo (20,000 words) novel, finish my Camp NaNo novel (15,000 words) and then prepare for my big move.

I would love to hear how everyone else is doing on NaNoWriMo. I want everyone to win.  So, keep writing. I will be, too.  

The Next Big Thing

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle15 Comments

Next Big Thing – I have to thank Felcia Scotzig, Karen Einsel, Amanda Fanger & Emily Anne Shaffer for making me feel like my new project is buzzing.  I’m not quite trending on twitter, but I couldn’t be happier these 4 talent ladies are curious about what I am up to.

What is the title of your Work in Progress?
I wanted a title that conveys a relationship or interconnection between three people in a positive way so I thought of trinity – with the lower case t. This is the first time I thought about the title in relation to a potential book cover.  It’s a sign.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The initial idea came from the movie Oliver Stone Movie Savage.
What genre does your book fall under?
Adult contemporary Fiction – with a hint of romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Can I refer you to my Pinerest board titled trinity?
There is a photo of what Alex looks like – no one famous, I would have to find this girl.  This is my Alexanda.
Lance – Matt Damon, but taller
Chay – Orlando Bloom
What is a one-sentence synopsis of the book?
Alexanda has spent her life learning to be ok with being alone and just when she thinks she has a handle on it, she meets her father for the first time and is pulled into his world were she has to trust others in order to stay sane and stay alive.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I will go the traditional route first, but this one I really want to see published.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
This is my NaNoWriMo project and I am ahead of schedule right now, so I hope it will take me 30 days.
What other books would you compare this story to in your genre?
It is a bit like James Patterson’s old stuff, but a little more in-depth character wise.   Sidney Sheldon, but contemporary.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
It is different then what I have written before and I wanted to see if I could do it.  Plus, this isn’t a piece of fluff, it’s got some serious issues and a bit more research then I have done before.  I know everything there is to know about the Marine, Special Forces and photography.  Really, ask me anything.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
There are a lot of elements to this book: romance, relationships, sex, drugs, military, death, regret.  As well as Happiness, Passion, Love and Faith.
5 Nominations:  I decided to nominate some of my fellow NaNoWriMo participants: