schedule – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

My Weekly Update – It’s a New Day

Published on May 13, 2013May 12, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

I’ve been playing with my weekly line up and trying to create at schedule to include at least three weekly post consistently. May still need a few more weeks to get organized, but I have some fun stuff planned for the future.

Flash 500

Nicole Pyles and Carrie K. Sorensen created this anthology based on their Wednesday Writer’s Blog Hop. I took part in a few weeks and am happy to have four of my flash fiction pieces chosen for the anthology. The blog hop happens every Wednesday and is a great way to get in some creative writing practice. It also gave me a chance to try my hand at a few different genres. Click on the cover to download the book for free and you can find my stories in the following weeks:

Week of 5/9/2012
Week of 5/16/2012
Week of 5/23/2012
Week of 6/6/2012

Post to Ponder

How to Use Your Logline, Tagline and Pitch to Create a Stronger Story by Marcy Kennedy a guest post on Jenny Hansen’s blog – I meet Jenny at #DFWcon and she was awesome.

How Does the Editing Process Work? by Tristi Pinkston, Editor – Interesting to hear how its done by a professional.

Jennifer Represents – cool agent blog (cool blog written by an agent) with great information.

Query Tip: Do Your Research by Ava Jae –

How to Write a Killer Pitch by Marcy Kennedy – Can you guess where I am at in this writing process?

Coolest Things – My chance to share with you some things I thought are pretty cool this week.

Iron Man 3 is finally available for our viewing and quoting pleasure. I loved it. I mentioned before Tony Stark is my favorite movie character of all times and he doesn’t disappoint. More on Tuesday when Sydney Quotes the Movies – Iron Man 3

Tiger Woods won The Player’s Championship yesterday. His forth win this season. He’s back.

Next Week’s Schedule

Tuesday – Sydney Quotes the Movies – Iron Man 3 – see the many sides of Tony Stark

Wednesday – Progressive Book Club – How to Write Good

Friday – Best & Worst Remake Blogfest

My Weekly Update – Short

Published on March 23, 2013March 23, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

Dinner at NOLA in New Orleans – got to love Emeril Lagasse.

Spent the day at the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival.

I will update you all on the conference and my trip at a later date. It was an enlightening experience on so many levels.

Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – Alex Cavanaugh Guest Post
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday with Colette Saucier
Wednesday – Misha Gericke Guest Post
Thursday – Mark Means Guest Post
Friday – EM Castellan Guest Post

Happy Birthday to Tameri Etherton next Friday.
Happy Easter to everyone next Sunday.
I have guest posts scheduled for the rest of the week. Hope you enjoy and I will be back on April 1, 2013 for the start of the A to Z Challenge.

My Weekly Update – Daisies and Dinner

Published on September 23, 2012September 22, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

Daisy Award

One of my lovely critique partners, Kathleen, has bestowed on me an award. Thank you, thank you. I happily accept the Daisy Award. The rules:

Link to the person that nominated you. – done
List seven unusual things about yourself. – done
Nominate some worthy bloggers. – done

I watch Of Mice and Men the other day and got a blog post out of it. Stay tuned.
I watch The Hunger Games two nights ago and am not sure if I liked it or not. What did you think?
I watch The Rite this week and I don’t care for devil movies much, but this one was interesting. Although in Anthony Hopkin’s character, let me know if you saw Hannibal Lecter instead of Father Lucas at times.
One of the four English channels I have access to is the National Geographic Channel and have been utterly fascinated with shows like Locked up Abroad, Doomsday Preppers and Wicked Tuna. Is there something wrong with me?
I had tacos for dinner tonight. We made them ourselves and they were so good.
I finally wrote 1,000 words of original fiction today, the first time in about a week. It felt good.
I got to mark off an item on my restaurant Bucket List. Last night I went to Mr. & Mrs. Bund. Totally exceeded my expectations. My favorite was the Corn Vanilla Veloute w/cornflakes. Weird, but so so good.

Dinner

More photos from my dinner last night at Mr. & Mrs. Bund.

The last two photos are of a desert called Lemon & Lemon Tart. It’s a candied lemon skin filled with lemon sorbet and lemon curd and vanilla chantilly. Now I am not sure what all that is, but it was yummy.

Blog Love

My blog love this weeks goes to WordFalls Services and her editing tips. They have been super helpful to me during this month of editing. Check her out.

New Followers and my nominees for the Daisy Award.

Steve Vernon from Yours in Storytelling

The Eye of Faith

Shah Wharton

Next Weeks Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Wednesday – Sydney Quotes the Movies

Friday – Blog post

Sunday – My Weekly Update

What did you watch last week? What did you eat last week? What did you edit last week?

My Weekly Update – Junowrimo, Job and Just Freakin Cool

Published on June 17, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Junowrimo

Going into week three, I have a handle on JuNoWriMo. In fact, I am kicking junowrimo’s butt. And, I am pretty excited about it. I am over 40,000 words in 16 days. I have about 20,000 words to go before I finish my 1st draft of my 1st novel. That is my new goal for June.

It hasn’t been easy. Far from it, but what I am most please about it my preparation has paid off. Even when I though I would run out of story, taking a day to step back and review my outline revealed that the story wasn’t supposed to end where I originally thought. It just transformed the story even further and I love it even more.

Lessons learned, preparation is key, but being open to new ideas and adjusting you plan my reveal something better.

Favorite passage written last week was this toast that John makes in front of his best friend and Sydney’s brother about how they are going to maintain their relationship when Sydney goes back to China:

“7 days ago, I meet this girl and instantly knew that I had to get to know her. There was just something about her, that I am still trying to figure out.” Looking at Sydney, John continued. ” Now I don’t know whether it was God, the universe, karma, Budda or The Force, but something in this world has saw fit to bring us into each other lives and I think that force has earned our respect.” Sydney had no idea where John was going with this little speech or declaration, but she was all ears.

“I am not typically one to just let things happen and we all know Sydney has to know the answers to everything before the questions are even asked. But, baby you can’t research the outcome of this one. All we can do is trust that the force that brought us together will keep up together. Even when we are miles apart.” to Kevin and Dennis, “And, that the people who love us the most will remind us if we try and take control this love thing.”

“Cheers”

*Now this is unedited, but does it make sense? Let me know.

Job

There is one definition of the word job that says, “Anything a person is expected or obliged to do; a duty; a responsibility. That is how I have been think of my writing lately and I am happy to report that it has transformed not only my attitude, but the quality of my writing as well.

Now, no one wants to be obligated to do something, but if you think about it. There are obligations and responsibilities that we take on in our paying jobs every day. We do them because we want to get a pay check, we want to get a good review, we want to move up and be recognized for a job well done.

Well that is the same with my writing “job”. Although I don’t get a paycheck for it. I have an obligation and a responsibility to not waste this gift. I have a responsibility to myself to respect the time I have dedicated to this so far and to my blog readers and fellow writers who are so supportive and who have given me great advice.

So, writing is my job and finally, I have a job a love.

Just Freakin Cool New Followers

*If I missed someone, sorry and thank you.

This Weeks Schedule

Monday – Junowrimo Participant Interview – James Eggebeen – He has already hit 50,000 words.

Tuesday – Movie Quotes

Wednesday – Writer Wednesday Blog Hop – the photo this week is so cool.

Friday – Junowrimo Participant Interview – EM Castellan

Sunday – My Weekly Update

My Weekly Update – Just Write!

Published on June 10, 2012June 11, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

JuNoWriMo

It was really all about writing last week. I have been debating whether to release any excerpts from my WIP from Junowrimo. But, it just isn’t ready yet. Or, to be honest, I am not ready,yet. However, to avoid being labeled a big tease, I will give you a little insight into my first novel.

Tentative Title: I’m Coming Home

Main Character’s Loves and Hates:

Sydney Smith (I know, I really need to change her name. This isn’t an autobiography. May change it to Emilynn) – More on her description later.

Loves: writing, traveling, tattoos, mexican food and days where no one telling her what to do or asking her to do stuff for them.

Hates: Negative people and people who make statements about people that sound like a compliment, but are actual an insult. Ex: When Sydney ask her boss, Linda what she thinks for the new guy she meets, Linda said, “John is really friendly, he flirts with everyone.”

John Alexander Osha, IV – think of Bryan Greenberg’s character in Prime mixed with Jude Law charm (without the English accent)

Loves: computers, playing golf, watching basketball, hip hop and cute girls with tattoos

Hates: Girls who don’t realize how amazing they are and people who have an over exaggerated sense of themselves.

Linda Ryder – Picture a mix of Chris Everett Lloyd’s athleticism on Kim Zolciak from Real House Wives of Atlanta body. Fake hair included.

Loves: expensive stuff, young men, and being famous

Hates: Buying things on sale, procratination in others (has no issue doing it herself), and people who don’t give her credit.

Trina Watson – Picture your best friend who always tells you the truth.

Loves: her cousin, telling the truth and alcohol which she can’t have because she is 5 months pregnant.

Hates: Sydney’s boss, Linda

Alex James Ryder – good looking guy who doesn’t think he is (don’t you hate those types). A voice of reason; clean cut golf pro type. Addias golf shirt and pants by day. T-shirts and cargo shorts by night.

Likes: teaching golf, playing golf, talking about golf, watching golf, his friends and the F – word

Hates: people who are dishonest and people who take life too seriously

Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana – specifically at a golf course and in several locations in the French Quarter

Genre: I have no idea. I do know it is not science fiction or horror. Two people fall in love in the midsts of some funny situations and someone doesn’t want them to be together. You tell me?

Ok, that is all that I am authorized to reveal at this time. Maybe more next week.

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop

I decided to base a short story on my novel for Writer Wednesday Blog Hop that I may or may not incorporate into the story. I received some great comments in regards to that story that I want to share.

Nicole had this to say – “Great post!!! And God I could relate. To the feeling she had about wanting to feel special to the early morning walk. I loved it!!

Anna said, “Your story gives me such a good feeling, almost like something beautiful is about to happen. And of course, something does… I think I would love to read your novel if this is just an excerpt from it:)”

*I told Anna, she gets the first copy.

Check out Carrie and Anna‘s take on the same photo prompt.

Thanks so much for the great feed back.

New Followers

I wanted to say thank you to my new followers as well. Go check out their sites, there is some great stuff out there in the blogesphere – the first time I have used that word.

Chrissy50