Tag: junowrimo

My Weekly Update – JuNoWriMo

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

JuNoWriMo

It is that time of year, again; JuNoWriMo. This writing challenge is very special to me because it was this time last year that I wrote my first full length novel. I also meet some great blogging writers who are actually active in all stages of this writing process and are great resources for any writer. Special shout out to the creators of JuNoWriMo, A.E. Howard and Becca J. Campbell.

And, this year, I was asked to be one of the sprint leader for JuNoWriMo and I am honored because the sprint leaders from last year made all the difference in the world in me not only writing 50,000 words, but writing an additional 25,000 to finish the novel.

We are just on day three, it’s not to late to sign up and join me every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 pm for some writing sprints. #junowrimo #wordsprints

Post to Ponder

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop – Flash Fiction – The Space Stations – Just a short piece I wrote. Hope you like it.

So, You Want to Write a Book? Let Go of the Guilt by Angi Black – Life is always there to get in the way, but no need to feel guilt when your doing what you love.

June is for New Goals & JuNoWriMo by Felicia Scotzig – More JuNoWriMo motivation.

Writing is Best When we Get out of our own Way by Kristen Lamb – Kristen say writing fast helps keep us out of our own way.  Another yea for WriMo.

The Art of Milking a Critique by Jodi Thompson – Great tips if your ready to join a critique group.

Coolest Things

I participated in the coolest blogfest last week, The Whip It Good Blogfest where we shared our WIP.  Here are the ones I would purchase.

  • Nick Wilford – Sci Fi – Man has neurosurgery to increase his confidence.
  • Tina at Life is Good – Worlds Colliding – Space Opera meets Tom Clancy
  • Hunter – Blue Popcorn – Psychological Thriller – nationality and generational clashes.
  • Silver Lining – YA Romance – it was this line in her synopsis that got me, “She buys fries from the McDonald’s on Dover Street; he can buy the McDonald’s on Dover Street.”
  • Kate Larkindale – Stumped – YA Contemporary -It’s American Pie meets The Sessions as a 16-year-old double amputee struggles to dump the burden of his virginity.
  • PK Hrezo – Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. – New Adult light Sci Fi romance – Anxious to attend that relative’s wedding you missed a few years ago? Or curious to see how your children invest their inheritance after you’re gone?
  • JE Fritz – Collapse – YA Dystopian/apocalyptic – Bullies used to be a problem for her. Now she’sslightly more worried about being gunned down by people she once called “neighbor”

Check them out and tell me which one look good to you.

Next Week’s Schedule
Wednesday – The Casual Vacancy Cast of Characters Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Thursday – Heroes & Villans Blogfest
Friday – SQM – Wreck it Ralph

HvsVblogfest

The Whip It Good Blogfest

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle34 Comments

I loved the idea behind this blogfest and thanks so much to DL Hammons and Elise Fallson for creating this opportunity for us to share and connect.

The wip it good blogfest

WIP Title: Another New Life

Word Count (projected): 70,000

Genre:  New Adult Romance

How long have you been working on it?:  Mentally, I have been working on it for 2 years, I finally put a scene list  together two weeks ago and have been tweaking it daily in preparation for JuNoWriMo (June 1).

Elevator Pitch (if you came across an agent in an elevator ride, what couple of lines would you use to summarize your book):  Can a girl separate the good from the bad parts of her traumatic childhood, especially 8 years later when the good shows up on her college campus?

Brief Synopsis (250 words or less):  A traumatic event from Miranda’s childhood causes her parents to move to a new town in hopes that their daughter can start a new life. The move meant that Miranda would never get to see Troy, her best friends since preschool.  He is the only positive memory she has from that time in her life, but her parents refused to let her communicate with him.

In high school, those negative memories caused Miranda to make self destructive choices especially when it came to dealing with the opposite sex.

As Miranda prepares for college, she has made a promise to herself to not let her past dictate her future, anymore. She goes to a college where no one knows her, to start another new life.  This time on her own terms and her plan works great . . . until the first day of class when Troy, looking gorgeous and all grown up, walks into her calculus class and sits down next to her.

Miranda and Troy picked up where they left off and their relationship quickly turns into more then just friends.  Miranda is happier then she’s ever been, but its only a matter of time before the truth about her childhood comes out and causes Troy to leave her and ruins her life, again.

Are you looking for a Critique Partner?: Yes, I would love to find a CP who writes, New Adult, Women’s Fiction or Chick Lit.

Are you looking for a Beta Reader?:  Not at this time, but I am open to read other people’s work.  I read everything, but fantasy and paranormal.

Visit the other participants of the Whip It Blogfest and see the talented and creative stories you may see on your Kindle in the future. 

EM, Why Do You Blog?

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

Back in June of 2012, I found EM’s blog and we met during JuNoWriMo.  I interviewed her back in June and found out she is from England (my favorite country) and lives in a castle (so cool) and a few months later, she asked me to read one of her short stories (talented writer).  She is amazing. 

So, EM, why do you blog? 

Thank you Sydney for inviting me to guest post on your blog!

Sydney and I both started blogging on March 1st, 2012, and I’m thrilled to be part of her first blogiversary celebrations!

Today’s topic is “Why do you blog?”

I’m a writer. I have been writing Fantasy stories for 15 years, and I’ve been thinking about getting one of them published for about 3 years. When I researched how to do this, it was clear from the start Internet was an invaluable information tool. So at first I just used the writing resources I found online to improve my writing and to research the publishing process, without having an online presence myself.

Then I came across – and followed – a couple of writers’ blogs. If you want to check them out, here they are: Elizabeth May, Susan Dennard and Claire Legrand. Month after month, these ladies documented the writing journey that took them from unknown YA writers polishing a manuscript to successful traditionally published authors. About 18 months ago, I wrote them an email, telling them how I found their blogs inspiring.

And they replied. And they wished me good luck with my own writing journey.

That was when I realised I was missing out on something there. I had always thought I wouldn’t need an online presence before getting published (because honestly, who on earth would want to read a blog written by me?!). Then I read Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer by the amazing Kristen Lamb. In her book, Kristen explains how having a blog, when you’re a writer, is as necessary as writing your book itself. Because in this day and age, getting a book published, then read, implies networking with readers, publishers, agents, editors and other writers. And the best way to do this is via Internet.

So I launched my blog. I started a Facebook page. I got on Twitter. At first, I was shy, and obsessed with the quality of my blog content. And in many ways, I still am. But I have also built an amazing network of writerly friends, who have all contributed to making me a better writer, closer to publication than I could ever hope.

I always say my blog is a way of “paying it forward”. I’m still not published, so I have nothing to sell. But I’m hoping all the people who stop by my blog, read my posts and comment on them, follow my blog or my Twitter feed, find something useful there. I relay news from the publishing industry, recommend books I like, share my writing tips and interact with whoever is kind enough to follow me. I cheer other writers on. I promote their books. I discuss trends with book bloggers. I give away books I love.

So why do I blog? Because writing is a solitary business. Sometimes you have to remember there are awesome book lovers out there. And Internet is the best place to find them. 

http://www.elizabethmaywrites.com/

http://susandennard.com/blog-2/

http://claire-legrand.com/blog/

http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ (Kristen Lamb’s blog)

http://emcastellan.com/

http://twitter.com/EMCastellan

http://www.facebook.com/EMCastellan

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.  

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?