I know that it a bit cryptic considering I am not going to go into to much detail. At least not yet. All I will say is that my life is about to change dramatically. I have a climb ahead of me and I am excited and scared, but it all for the best.
I wanted to just take this time to say thank you to all the people online who have been so supportive since I started this blog. Everyone has been overwhelmingly kind and I appreciate it more then you know. It is because of this support I have decided to make this change. Don’t worry, I am not going anywhere, just feeling the urge to show some love.
How’s that for a cliff hanger? On to the update . . .
The Healthy Writers Club
Shallee McArthur started The Healthy Writers Club; How to Push Your Writing (and Exercise) to the Next Level. I am sure my butt has expanded since I’ve been spending so much additional time sitting in front of a computer this year. And, given the option of writing early in the morning or exercising early in the morning, I have been picking sleep every time. (Yeah, you knew that was coming) I thought I was a great idea to record my workouts and find some like minded bloggers as well.
October 1 – 7, 2012:
Cardio: 3x – 60 min sessions
Strength Training: 2x – 20 min sessions
Stretching: 3x – 15 min sessions
Not a bad week.
Posts to View
Two weeks ago I wrote a post about using character profiles as a marketing tool. Dan O’Brien takes this concept a step further with his guest post on Armand Rosamilia’s site. He conducts an interview of his characters and the exchange between the author and the characters in this setting is fascinating. Now I can’t wait to read The Path of the Fallen.
I, along with 300,000 other people are in the midst of pre Nanowrimo anxiety and I hope everyone is preparing and ready to go on November 1st. I have been back and forth about whether or not I was going to do Nano. I love the concept, but not as happy with the quality of work I put out during these challenges. I will write more about this later, but it was one of my goals at the beginning of the year to participate in Junowrimo, August Campnano and Nanowrimio. So, I am going to do it because it has been a pretty awesome goal achieving year for me and I don’t want to stop now.
To assist my fellow writer, here are a few post that might help with your prep:
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?
Woody Allen Movies – They inspire me, so that is a good thing.
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.
A phone call from my mother or my cousin – I miss them.
A Stephen King Book – but, this inspires me,too. I have put off starting 11/22/63 until after June.
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?
I found myself perusing the Urban Dictionary (Webster’s is where squares go to find words) looking for a Z word and came across the word “zacker”.
Definition of “zacker” – a real bad ass. I love that.
“A real bad ass” is what I am feeling like right now because I finished the A to Z Challenge.
Zacker. Yep, that’s me. A real bad ass.
I finished and I am so proud of myself. I did it and I think I did it pretty good.
I tend to be one of those type of people who don’t all the time finish what I start. Or, I start something with enthusiasm and determination and then finish it at what I can only describe as “half assed”. *My blog isn’t typically filled with suck explicative. Sorry!
When I graduated from high school, I couldn’t wait to go away to college. I was super excited go to a school out-of-state that none of my other high school friends were going to. I was going to have the perfect college life. Life was full of promise and possibilities.
First semester, I had a 3.7 grade point average. Second semester, 1.7 and academic probation. I gave up and moved back home.
After my first year of law school I was in the top 1/3 of my class at Georgetown. I really wish someone had not told me that 3rd year students just need to show up for the exam to graduate. That is pretty much what I did. And, graduated in the bottom half. My rationalization: “Someone has to be in the bottom half.” I missed out on so much.
Let me pause here for clarification: I did go back to school. Florida States University – Go Noles! Georgetown doesn’t usually accept college drop outs.
I did have the opportunity to actually enjoyed the fact that I graduate and still no one has called me to ask for my diploma back. The celebration was short lived because then I had to get back in study mode for the bar exam. Need I remind you that I haven’t really been in a class all year. Long story short (to late – Clue Movie reference) I didn’t study like I should have and failed it. I haven’t try it again.
I have been writing all my life, but am reluctant to call myself a writer. All stories must have endings and I am too afraid to start writing my novel and not finish. It can’t be another thing that I give up on or don’t finish. I am not ready to fail at this yet.
But, finishing the A to Z Challenge has given me confidence, motivation and a little swagger as well. I am a bad ass. I can do this. I can finish something.
Hell, I am so bad ass I can finish anything I put my mind to.
In May, I will be outlining my novel and starting in June I will tackle another challenge. I have joined JuNoWriMo and have challenged myself to write 50,000 words in the month of June.
I am really excited to get this challenge underway and like the Zacker (not slacker) that I am, I have not doubt I will knock this challenge out the park.
Congratulation to all of you out there who finished the A to Z challenge. Thank so much to the organizers and for all those who stopped by and commented on my blog. I found some great blogs to follow during this challenge as well. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 