Sign Me Up for The Next One

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle18 Comments
This is how I felt after completing the challenge.

I really enjoyed the A to Z Challenge.  It was the first writing challenge of any kind that I participated in and it taught me a lot about myself and how I write.

Top 5 things I learned from doing the challenge:

  1. I learned that I must have some sort of emotional reaction to what I am writing about in order to write it well.  I can love it or hate it.  Something. Anything.  When I take the emotion out of it, it just isn’t as good.  Probably why I hated writing term papers in school.  My theme was on Australia.  I adhered to this theme for the most part.  I had a couple of deviations because I wasn’t feeling the topic I previously picked and a couple that were a bit of a stretch from the theme, but for the most part, I adhered to the theme throughout.
  2. I learned how to use the features of WordPress better.  The schedule a post feature was a big help.  I was able to schedule a couple of posts ahead of time when I knew I would be busy or when I was traveling.
  3. I learned that there was I lot I could learn from other bloggers.  I visited about 500 different sites during the challenge and was able to see what I liked on others people’s blogs and what I didn’t like. From how a blog looked, to what the post looked like and how the photos were used, I paid attention on what blogs made me want to stay or come back and which ones made me click the next button.  I go a lot of great examples of what I liked and few examples of what I didn’t like.
  4. I learned that I enjoy being a part of the A to Z challenge group.  Writing can be a pretty isolating endeavor.  It is nice to be a part of like-minded individuals with a single goal in mind. Not like a cult, more like a play group.
  5. I learned that finishing the challenge was a motivation for me.  Finishing anything motivates me.  I have much more confidence about my writing now and I actually am pretty funny;)

I am excited about the next challenge and will definitely participate in the A to Z challenge again next time.

See my other A to Z Challenge posts, here.

My Weekly Update – Schedules, Snakes & Star Wars

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

One week off the A to Z Challenge and I found myself with no more structure and to many ideas in my head.  I thought I would give you my quick hits for the week and then start fresh next week with my new blogging  – – – –

Schedule

Monday – Main Blog post

Tuesday – Movie Quotes

Wednesday – Book Quotes

Friday – Main Blog Post

Sunday – Weekly Wrap up

* I will try this schedule for the rest of May.  With JuNoWriMo starting next month, it is bound to change.  Bear with me, I am still new to the blogging/writing life.

Snakes

At the Academy, we had a snake in the bathroom.  I am not messing with you.  We really had a snake in the bathroom.  A king cobra.  Really.  I’m not lying.  We had a kind cobra snake in the bathroom.  How’s that for a friendly work environment?

They are doing a lot of construction near our building.  All the little critters are looking for new homes and Mr. King Cobra thought the men’s bathroom at the Academy would be a perfect summer home.

But, I learned something this week.  How the Chinese get rid of snakes? According to my staff, there are several options:

  1. Drive the snake away by putting sulfur in the toilet and around the building.  Apparently, you can pick up sulfur at your local grocery store.
  2. Poison the snake by putting your normal household cleaning products in the toilet.  Again, apparently you can pick this up at your local grocery store.
  3. I am not sure what this does, but grab the snake by the tail and swing it around your head really fast.  This is from the military guy on our staff.   Apparently, this is how the Chinese military deal with their snake problems.

A couple days after the first and second snake sighting, one of our clients was leaving the Academy and saw the snake on the cart path behind the building.  Now, everyone has declared the snake gone. What? Apparently, they are assured that it is the same one.

Still not using the bathroom in this place. 

Star Wars

Yesterday was “Star Wars Day”.  I have been a huge fan for years and never knew there was a “Star Wars Day”.  “May the 4th be with you!” Get it. How did I celebrate?  I watch Episode IV. I typically share any and all Star Wars references I see.  So, every day could be “Star Wars Day” in my world.

Blog Love

Finally, I wanted start sharing blogs that I love and subscribe to.  I can’t wait for their posts to hit my in box every day.  I hope you enjoy them, too.

  1. Cowbell – Jenny Hansen is funny.
  2. The Masquerade Crew – each crew member contributes great stuff.
  3. My Gypsy Soul – Ana Riley has things to say.
  4. the. ego. tripper. – Good travel and photos with great sense of humor and a huge ego.
  5. Geektroverted – Andii is helping me accept my inner geek.

I have started a list on twitter as well, please subscribe.

Distracted, Again

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle28 Comments
I bet this guy never gets distracted.

I was excited to get home from work today to write a post for the Insecure Writers Support Group and it happened.  I got distracted.

I have been pretty focused lately.  I survived the A to Z challenge with confidence and the accomplishment really motived me to get going this week on outlining my novel.  It is May 2 and I got distracted.

I only have a few hours per day to write.  If I enjoy sleeping, which I do, I can get in about 2-4  hour per day. Maybe another 1 or 2 at work if my boss is away from the office (don’t tell her).

I get home and I am all set to write a quick post and then tackle my outline.  I turn on the t.v. for background noise. And, there is a Woody Allen Movie.  Manhattan Murder Mystery.  Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Alan Alda and Manhattan.

NYC can distract me, too!

I love this movie.  In fact, I love all Woody Allen movies.  Especially the ones that take place in Manhattan. Something about the way he shoots Manhattan.

Then, it got me thinking.  What excuses, if any, are good excuses to interrupt the pursuit of my dream.

Sure there are the easy ones; death and injury – to myself or a loved one.  Work obligation – But, not really.  I run a golf Academy.  Not to many golf instruction emergencies that I can think of.

I have compiled a list of things that I will allow to distract me from my scheduled writing for the day?

  1. Woody Allen Movies – They inspire me, so that is a good thing.
  2. The opportunity to have a great steak with cream corn, broccoli au gratin, and a green salad with red onions and homemade ranch dressing – I am specific about my food.
  3. A phone call from my mother or my cousin – I miss them.
  4. A Stephen King Book – but, this inspires me,too.  I have put off starting 11/22/63 until after June.
  5. A quick read of my favorite blogs – again, that inspiration thing.

And, with that, I think I better close down this list because it could go on forever.  If I stick to this list, then I should have plenty of time left over to get my writing done.

So, my fellow writer out there, how do you handle distractions?  What do you do to stay on schedule?

And, what would you put on your good excuse list?