WIP – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Sydney Edits

Published on July 24, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

I wanted to give you all a heads up on what I’ve been up to for the last few months. I seem to be keeping up with a one post per week type schedule. Not on purpose, but it’s worked out that way for July. I don’t see it changing much until mid August.

I promise, I’m not sitting by the pool sipping margarita.

Even though it is National Tequila Day, here is what I’ve been up to.

EDITS EDITS EDITS . . .

This is a portion of the 52 items on my to edit list for my latest WIP. I’ve been trying hard to find a ~~painless process that doesn’t suck to holly hell~~ fun way to edit. I figured, I’m a list kind of girl, so why not stick with what I know and make a list. I’ve put a deadline on myself to finish these 52 items of edits in two weeks.

Wish me luck and I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

Happy Tequila Day!

Have a shot with me.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderferret/1102020735/

Anyone use the list method of editing? Anyone use the tequila shot method of editing? Finish an item on the list and take a shot.

My Weekly Update – JuNoWriMo

Published on June 3, 2013June 3, 2013 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

The Whip It Good Blogfest

Published on May 30, 2013 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.

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.

U – Uncle Julio’s

Published on April 24, 2013April 23, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

When you come to visit Dallas, you have to have dinner at a locals approved Tex-Mex restaurant. There are only a few on the list, but Uncle Julio’s is one of the best.

When ever I came home from overseas to visit, after a 16 hour plane ride, I stopped to have Mexican food first. It is that good.

I love the food so much, I have write about it often. Here is a scene from one of my novel length projects:

I’m Coming Home – All you need to fall in love is great food, margaritas and easy conversation.

They both ordered fajitas. Chicken for Sierra and steak for John. The good food and margaritas made the conversation flow easy.

“Where did you go to school after Loyola in New Orleans?” John asked.

“Florida State.” Sierra said.

“Party school.”

“I was all partied out before I even got there,” Sierra said.

“I couldn’t image going to school in New Orleans.”

“Then I went to Georgetown Law.”

“I don’t quite understand,” John took a bit of his fajita, paused to savior it and lost his train of thought.

“What don’t you understand?”

“Oh, yeah, this is so good.” he wiped his mouth with a napkin and appeared be contemplate his next sentence. Sierra knew what he was going to ask.

“Ivy League law school and you work as a manager of a golf academy.”

“Is that a question?” Sydney tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“I don’t mean anything by it, I am just curious how you got there?”

“I run a golf Academy in a foreign country. I generated over a million dollars in revenue. I am American who obtained a business license in China.” Sierra hoped she sounded confident.

“You trying to impress me?” John asked.

“Maybe. I don’t mean to sound defensive,” Sierra placed her hands in her lap, “It just I’m not as impressed with my credentials as I probably should be.”

“Why?”

“Because, it’s not what I want to do anymore.” It’s the first time Sierra had said that out loud.

“What do you want to be doing?” John asked.

“Dream job?”

“Yeah.”

“A writer.” Sydney said.

“Really,” John said. “What do you write?”

“Contemporary romance. Romantic comedies.”

“Let me read something?” John asked.

“Not a chance.” Sierra said and continued to make her fajita. Placing the chicken, cheese, sour cream, beans and guacamole on the flour tortilla in the correct order.

“Come on.” John said. “I enjoy a good romantic comedy.”

“Do you love your job?” Sydney asked.

“Changing the subject, I see. Yeah, I get to solve problems all day that only 1% of the world can even comprehend.” John said.

“What do you do exactly?” Sydney said. “I know you are ‘revamping the whole social media platform’ but was does that mean?”

“That is actually about 1/4 of what I do, but Bob likes to think he a social media pioneer.” John explained. “I create the internet presence for Zurich.”

“That’s cool.”

“And, I am in charge of keeping it all safe.” John said.

“You trying to impress me?” Sydney asked.

“Is it working?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Who has actually had Tex-Mex food? I don’t have to tell you there is a difference between, Mexican Food, Spanish Food and Tex-Mex Food.