Category: Nanowrimo

My Weekly Update – Nano, Next and New

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

The alliterations are back ladies and gentleman.

NaNoWriMoDaily Update – Best of the week

Today’s Date:  November 8, 2012
Word Count:  2,132
Observations:  Spent 2 – 4 in my new writing spot; Baker & Spice.  I believe carrot cake is my preferred writing fuel.  Coffee helps, too.  I was writing  a scene today where my female MC and her father who abandoned her when she was a baby get it all out in the open.  It was a powerful scene and I love the way it turned out.  Great mix of back story, but told in a way that the MC was asking specific questions about it so it flowed well.  Then at the end of the scene, my MC and her father kind of take over and I end up talking about another character in the present story that actually put all this in motion 20 something years ago. What? Wait a minute. That wasn’t in the outline.  Where the hell did that come from?  It pissed me off, but then I continued to write it and I couldn’t be mad because it turned out to be really good.  Good plot twist I think is what you would call it. But, some rewrites in an earlier scene are going to be necessary for it to make sense.  Everyone say it with me, “That is what editing is for.” ;-)
I am pleased with how 2,000 words a day is a great pace for me in real life.  I have been pretty busy with work and preparing for an event.  My hope is that I continue to write 2,000 per day most days until I run out of words to say when I am like 80. 
Quick Hits:  Wreck-It Ralph is playing in the theater in the mall under my place.  I see a NaNoWriMo break in my near future. It’s for character research, really it is. 

 

NaNoWriMo Need to Know

Next 4 Years – It’s hard to pay attention to politics in America living in China, so I have to rely on my blog friends to inform me of the reality of the political landscape in America.  *The views expressed are not necessary shared by Sydney Aaliyah, but on the other hand, they are damn funny.  I always support funny.

New Followers
Kristina at The Bitter Sweet – A Writer’s Journey
Roxanne Crouse at Crouse Photography
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – The Next Big Thing
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday 
Thursday – Guest Post by Sevastian Winters – Ten Things Every Aspiring Writer Should KNow about Writing as a Profession – Part #1
Saturday – Guest Post by Sevastian Winters – Ten Things Every Aspiring Writer Should Know about Writing as a Profession – Part #2  *It’s that good, I had to split it into two post.
Sunday – My Weekly Update

 

Everyone still on track for NaNoWriMo?   Do your characters every take you to places you didn’t intend to go? 

My Weekly Update – Best Day of NaNoWriMo

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

Best Day of NaNoWriMo – Every week I will share an entry from my NaNoWriMo Daily Updates.

Today’s Date:  November 3, 2012
Word Count:  4,681
Observations:  Let me share with you a series of tweets I did today and maybe you can get a good idea of how my day went.  
 
Needless to say it was a good day.  I had one of those moments that make writing so worth while and reminds me why I do this.  I was writing along; in the zone.  I finish a chapter and look up and 2 hours had past and 2,458 words had been written and I just felt a sense of calm.  I was having a bliss moment.  And that was the reward.  The foot massage was a bonus. 
I was also impressed with how creative I am still able to get with this story even though I have outlined it to death.  I was writing and added a new character that I never even though of before.  I also found a tool to further demonstrate the relationship between the two guys in the story.  I would share it with you, but then it would ruin the story.  Sorry. 
Any way, today will be a day to remember in the history books of Sydney Aaliyah’s writing career.  I guess it’s a good thing I’m writing it down.  
 
Quick hits:  My new favorite writing spot;Baker and Spice.  Apparently a lovely lunch of pumpkin soup, corn muffin, small latte and carrot cake were the perfect combination to fuel me through my “bliss” writing session today.  
 

Blog Tour Week at Sydney Aaliyah

Last week, three Blog Tours stopped by Sydney Aaliyah.  I really enjoyed turning my blog over to help promote other authors.  I felt so selfless, so generous.  Who am I kidding, I enjoyed letting someone else write the content for a change.  😉

Seriously, all three featured some great content.  Check them out:

The Treason Blog Tour – S.M. Boyce – insanely good and valuable information about Boyce’s  timeline from idea to publication.

OMAR by Craig Thompson Blog Tour

Prophecy of the Most Beautiful by Diantha Jones Blog Tour

If you are organizing a Blog Tour consider me as one of your stops.  I would be happy to have you, especially if you do all the work. 

More Nano Post

New Followers
Will at What if it All means Something – I also featured him in More Nano Post
Jennifer at Italian Brat’s Obsessions
Mr. Hipps
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – Tyler Wiechman
Thursday – Sydney Quotes the Movies – Anna Karenina
Friday – Romance in the Rain Blog Tour – I interview a Chef
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 

For those of you doing NaNoWriMo, let me know your word count in the comments below and keep up the good work.

My Weekly Update – November is going to be ________!

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments
Between Friends by Sandra Bell-Lundy

I will leave the end of this sentence blank in order to fill in the spectrum of adjectives that I will be using to describe the month of November.  I can foresee this month being amazing, creative, genius and frustrating, demanding and down right awful all at the same time.  But, isn’t that what makes life fun.

Hear is my month by the numbers:

      • 50,000 words to write for NaNoWriMo
      • 16 chapters to critique for my awesome CP’s
      • 8 chapters to edit for my awesome CP’s
      • 15 blog post to clean up and finalize – they have already been written 🙂
      • 2 Next Big Thing posts that I can’t put off any longer – Thanks Karen & Amanda
      • 1 Cool Writing Exercise Challenge – Thanks again, Karen
      • 2 NaNoWriMo Interviews – these are easy, I love talking about myself
      • 1 Guest post for Mischa at My First Book
      • 5 day business trip to conduct a 3 day golf show with 100,000 people
      • 2 day fun trip to Xi’an China – I am going to see 8,000 Terracotta Army Soldiers
      • 6 boxes to pack and ship to America from China – not as easy as it sounds

 Last Minute NaNoWriMo post – these are really different, so check them out.

 

Editing post – I am going to empty out my cache of editing post for you to enjoy and so I can stop thinking about this for November.  I still have some editing duties in November, but when I am writing I need to stay out of editing mode.   

 
New Followers
Audrey at A Place to Fall
Rita at New Partnership – The Wordy Photographer
Stacy Farr
Kirsten at A Scenic Route
Diamond Mike Watson
Terry Scott
Rebecca May
 
Next Week’s Schedule
Monday – Monstrous Monday
Tuesday – Prophecy of the Most Beautiful Blog Tour – Diantha Jones
Wednesday – OMAR Blog Tour – Craig Thompson
Thursday – 1st day of NaNoWriMo – See my Daily NaNoWriMo Updates here
Friday – The Grimoire Trilogy Blog Tour – S.M. Boyce
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 
 *Thank goodness for the scheduling feature on WordPress.  

My Weekly Update – The Secret to Winning NaNoWriMo

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle13 Comments

Yes, ladies and gentleman. This is the one and only Nanowrimo prep post I am going to pen for you this year.  Frankly, the only one you will need.  I have the secret to winning Nanowrimo.  Now, I haven’t actually participated in Nanowrimo.  But, I have won Junowrimo and Campnano in 2012.  So, that make me an expert on these month long writing challenges in 2012.

But first, the advice. Here it goes. All the advice you’re every going to need.  And, I do mean all.

Insane and Uncontrolled:  Surviving NanoWrimo
Nanowrimo – an insight for the first timers
My 10 Not So Secrets to Winning Nanowrimo
12 Thoughts about Nanowrimo
5 Ways to Silence Your Inner Editor
Nano What-O?
Nail NaNoWriMo – start now! 3 old hands share their tips
@WriMo is a Must Read for #NaNoWriMo
Who’s Doing #NaNoWriMo?  We Are!
Coincidence? Maybe, Maybe Not.  #NaNoWriMo
How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo:  Should You Outline Ahead of Time?
How to Plot for #NaNoWriMo (Pantser Style)
My Junowrimo Daily Journal – my blissful writing adventure
My Campnano Daily Journal – my challenging writing adventure
Scrivener NaNoWriMo 2012 Offer – really the best WP for writers
National Novel Writing Month – the official website
 

There are many more post, sites and books dedicated to helping you prepare for Nanowrimo.  Take a few hours, read through some, skim through others.

But, you came here for the secret, right?

Come November 1st, forget it all.  Just sit down and write. And write and write and write. 

If you want to follow my progress during Nanowrimo, come back and read My NaNoWriMo Daily Updates.

Good luck fellow NaNoWriMo writers!

New Followers – Thank you!
JK at Nice Weekend Books
Anna at In Between the Speakers
Susan Roebuck 
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – D. Savannah
Wednesday – Sydney Quotes the Movies – Dark Shadow
Friday – Spooktoberfest – Still trying to figure out how to do this without having nightmares for a week after.  Stay tuned!
Sunday – My Weekly Update – November Schedule  
 

Did I miss any good NaNoWriMo advice?  Share some of your favorites in the comments. 

Tattoo Tuesday – My Friend Convinced me to Get a Tattoo

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments
Marvin by Tom Armstrong – How cute does Marvin look with that bone on his back? haha

No one had to convince me to get a tattoo because, well, I have wanted one for as long as I can remember. But, over the years, I have convinced two friends to get tattoos.  So, I asked them recently, how did you let me talk you into getting a tattoo?

Friend #1 – The week I returned home after law school, I wanted to get a tattoo to commemorate the occasion. This was tattoo #2 and I had such a great experience with tattoo #1, I wanted to share this one with someone.  Cue my work friend that had turned into one of my closest friends.  It really didn’t take much convincing, but I recall before this occasion we had never had one conversation about tattoos prior to this day.  So, how did I convince her?  She said I was so excited about sharing the experience with her she didn’t have the heart to say no she didn’t want one.  Now, how is that for friendship. She ended up getting a connected female/male symbol on her lower stomach.  She didn’t regret it and we have this great memory to share.

Friend #2 – Tattoo #3 is my favorite and I got it from Gabe Shum at Ace Dragon Tattoo in Hong Kong. Brilliant tattoo artist by the way. If you want a dragon, he is the go to guy. My friend’s boyfriend and I were going to get tattoos.  He had one already and wanted to get a dragon on her upper arm. Now, my friend is the type of person I though would never get a tattoo. I realize now that you can’t assume that about anyone.  She sat and watch her boyfriend and I talk about and plan and schedule our tattoos for months.  (Gabe usually has a waiting list). She went with us to the tattoo shop.  Her boyfriend gets his tattoo and then I get mine.  The entire time, I am telling her to go ahead get one.  And telling her what a bad ass she would be if she had a tattoo. As we were wrapping my tattoo up, she decides to get one. A small dragon on her lower stomach.  Seems to be the place for spur of the moment tattoos. She said, she saw how excited we were about our tattoos, she wanted to experience it herself. Now, she wants to get an entire back piece.  We created a monster.

One of my favorite episodes of Friends is when Phoebe convinces Rachel to get a tattoo with her.  Phoebe decided to get a Lily, “For my mom because her name is Lily.” Later at the shop, Rachel get her heart shape tattoo on her hip.  Then, when Rachel asked to see Phoebe’s tattoo, she didn’t get it.  “The guy came in with needles and did you know they do this with needles.” and  then Rachel replies, “Really, you don’t say because mine was licked on by kittens.”

After getting her back in the chair, the artist touched Phoebe once and she jump out of the chair and left.  In sharing the story with the “friends” later, she says “For your information, this is exactly what I wanted. This is a tattoo of the earth as seen from a great great distance.  It’s the way my mother sees me from heaven.” Cue the aahh track.

Needless to say, you should get a tattoo for yourself, but getting a tattoo with friends can be a great  bonding experience.  But, please make sure you want one the tattoo in the first place. As you know, they are permanent.

I am still taking submissions for tattoo stories.  If you would like to be a part of Tattoo Tuesday, let me know in the comments.