Tag: writer

Tattoo Tuesday – D. Savannah

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

D. Savannah is such a creative soul.  And, when she shared with me her tattoo story, I had to share it with you.  Ironically, today is the anniversary of her marriage to her now ex-husband.  Read on and experience the irony.

Thanks for sharing D. Savannah.

My Tattoo

By D. Savannah George

1.  How old were you when you got your first tattoo? 
29 ½.
2.  What made you want to get your first tattoo?
My (now ex-) husband had always wanted to get a tattoo, but his mother had been firmly against it. She even burst into tears at the sight of a fake, temporary tattoo he’d put on his arm or something.  So, when he turned 30, he decided it was high time he got a tattoo, because, after all, 30 is practically grown-up, right?
I had never had any interest in getting ink. I got my first while he got his first. His took 3o minutes. Mine took two and a half hours.
3.  How many tattoos do you have?
I have seven (in order of getting them): wolf howling at the moon, Native American design, right stomach; Japanese Kanji for courage, left shoulder; turtle with the universe in its belly, right lower back; infinity symbol with a turtle, left hip; tree of life, right shoulder; feather with quill and birds, left shoulder (around kanji); “Open a vein”, right wrist.
4.  What is your tattoo story? If you have more then one tattoo, tell me your most recent or your favorite tattoo. 
I got my second tattoo when I got divorced. I got my third when I moved to the ocean. I got the fourth when I remarried. The last three have to do with my art and writing. If I start at the first one, and go on to the 7th in order, they circle my body, like invisible rings. They are all, except for the first two, original. (My idea, someone else’s actual drawing.)
My tattoos are the story of my life. I like that people wouldn’t know I have tattoos unless I show them – they are all (except the one on my wrist) easily hidden with clothes. But I also like that I can show off the three on my shoulders if I want to. (I have to drop trou to show the other three.) (Which I’ll gladly do, if you ask nicely enough.)
My favorite has got to be #6. My artist (who also did #5) free-handed it on my back, and it surrounds #2. It also feels the most “me” (whatever that means).
I had no idea tattoos were so addicting! But I promised my (current) husband I’d stop at seven, so I guess I will.
5.  Tattoos on a significant other, like or dislike?  Why?  
Like, obviously. Ironically, my ex-husband’s current wife has none, and my husband has none, and I’m pretty sure he just tolerates them on me. Also, my ex-husband only has three tattoos, while I have seven.
BIO
D. Savannah George has a tendency to be verbose, so writing short blog posts is good exercise for her brain. She is a multi-disciplinary artist – she writes, paints, crochets, takes photographs, and makes beaded jewelry, bookmarks, and notecards. She has published several short stories and a number of poems, as well as numerous articles in various newspapers and magazines, and has won several awards for her writing. Her first book, A Spicy Secret, #22 in the Annie’s Attic Mystery Series, will be released in January 2013. She also serves as a book editor for authors and several small publishers.
 
If you want to find out more about D. Savannah George, visit her at:
www.dsavannah.com
www.dsavannah.com/blog/
twitter: @dSavannahcreate

The feather quill with the birds is absolutely beautiful.  Thanks again D. for participating in Tattoo Tuesday.  

If you want to share your tattoo story.  Let me know in the comments. 

 

My Weekly Update – Blog Hop’s a Plenty

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

I am participating in some fun blog hops over the next two weeks.  Join me!

October 15, 2012 – The Nineties Blogfest!

Dave invites us to post about our favorites things from the nineties.  Choose a favorite song, show, episode, movies, dance, etc for each year. I’ve been working on this post already and have some surprises.

October 17, 2012 – Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest

The Ninja and Knight have joined forced to host this great blogfest to support/promote other writers. I will be posting about a book I noticed recently.  I don’t do book reviews, so I am going to tell you about what happen to me when I read this book.  Can’t wait to share it with you.

October 26 – 29, 2012 – Spooktoberfest

 

Jackie and Dani have prompted me to write a 300 word Flash Fiction piece using the following words:  cobweb(s), cauldron(s),  jack-o-lantern(s), ghost(s), razor(s).  The story can be scary, comical, romantic, whatever I choose. Just be creative!  They will pick a winner on October 31, 2012.

October 29, 2012 – Monstrous Monday Bloghop

What kind of Monster?  Tim invites us to write about a monster we like/love/hate.  Well, I am going to tell you about a monster I hate.  And, this is going to be tricky because I am going to attempt to post a clip of this monster without me actually having to look at it myself because he/it creeps me out.

*Click on the badges for more information and to sign up. 

Post to Ponder
If It Makes You Happy – This post was so imaginative and I am happy I am not the only one who talks to her characters.
Scott Morrow’s Boost Blog Traffic Blog posted a great post by Chris Lappin 12 Blogging Mistakes That Make You Look Like a World Class Idiot. 
Kevin Hanrahan wrote How do our Troops Live Deployed? It got me into doing research on my new WIP.  A few of my characters are Marines.
New Followers
The Better Man Project – I linked his about page because it is pretty cool.  You need to check it out. 
Elicia M. Seawell
 
Next Week’s Schedule
Monday – Blogfest
Wednesday – Blogfest
Friday – Write Practice
Sunday – My Weekly Update

Sydney Quotes the Movies – Limitless

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?

Good tag line = Good movie. Great actor (Bradley Cooper is totally underrated), Great visuals (I love time lapse photography used in a movie) and Great use of light (on the drug; bright and clear, off the drug; dark and dull) = Great movie.

Limitless was visually an awesome movie.  And the lines, oh the lines. Such great lines. Here we go . .

“You see that guy? That was me not so long ago. What kind of guy without a drug or alcohol problems looks this way? Only a writer.” Opening line of the movies. Bradley Cooper plays a guy name Eddie who is a struggling writer. He has a book deal already, which is annoying, but turns out the book was in his head, he just needed help getting it out. As a writer, I can related.

“Time someone shook up the free world and got things done.” Eddie is offered a drug to help him tap into the full capacity of his brain. He sees what he wants and puts a plan together to achieve it. We can all take a lesson from that — you know, minus the drugs.

“I don’t have delusions of grandeur, I have an actual recipe for grandeur.” Eddie is trying to get in on the financial world, after writing his book in four days (hate him). He has to talk his way into his new career. It works.

“My capacity for self sabotage wasn’t boundless after all.” Eddie was trying to get his girl back. She dumped him because he was such a loser. Self deprecating charm worked, they got back together.

“Don’t wear the same coat and suit. This isn’t The Matrix.” Eddie finds himself in danger and hires a couple of bodyguards. In his directions to them, he references one of my favorite movies. It was a funny line in the circumstance.

“You should really be glad about this, because you know me working for you, you’d end up being my bitch.” DeNiro’s character was the experienced business man who had paid his dues and got to the top and although he didn’t want to give in to this brass new young hot shot, he had no choice. He wanted the deal. Turns out he still tries to keep the upper hand over Eddie, but once again, our Eddie proves to be “50 moves ahead.”

Another star of this movie was the city of New York itself. Really makes me miss NYC.
Good suspense filled action movie with a gorgeous star, acting royalty veteran, shot in the greatest city in the world. You can’t go wrong.

A Letter to My Pre – JuNoWriMo Self

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle14 Comments
In the tradition of “A Letter to my Younger Self”, I decided to writer a letter to my pre-JuNoWriMo self.  
Dear Writer in Training,
Congratulation. You did it.  You completed the first draft of your first novel.  I am so very proud of you.
Now I realize that when this month started you were all worried about if you would even be able to write a single page.  And, your brain was focused on getting 50,000 words no matter what, but I am happy to say you learned so many more lessons this month then you even thought possible.    The most important lesson will be that you are going to fall in love with writing.  So, be ready for it and enjoy the process.   
At the beginning, I don’t think you understood how the process of writing was going to make you feel both mentally and physically. It is not going to be easy and it will not be automatic, but over the course of the month you are going to get an idea of what being a writer is all about.  
You will have goals and deadlines and people depending on you and if you are open to that, you writing life is going to be very fulfilling.  
You will get an education in understanding the difference between the craft of writing and the business of writing.  Pay attention, it will be important someday.   
You will dare to put your writing out there for the world to see and you will get some feedback.  Just take in any and all criticism because you can always learn something.  Even if the criticism sounds harsh, suck it up.  It will only make you better.   
In addition, understand that your writing process is very much like your personality.  You are an organized and focused person, but you like to know the answers before the questions are even asked.  It is the lawyer in you.  But, be open for the surprise twist and turns that your characters are going to take.  It is a blast when your MC does something you didn’t expect them to do.  
And, while you may have thought writing was a lonely pursuit, you will be pleasantly surprised that over the course of the month, you will make some great writer friends who are supportive and want you to succeed.  Don’t take that for granted. 
I am really excited about the month you are going to have.  Although you need to get more rest and exercise, in the end your will achieve your goals and most important you will have finished what you have started.  
Enjoy the journey,
New Writer

If you knew then, what you know now, what would you have done different? 

My deepest and heart felt thanks to:

A.E. Howard, Becca J. Campbell, James Eggebeen, EM Castellan, Morgan Hyde, A.M. Schultz, Amanda Fanger, Charlotte Stevens, Juliana Haygert, Felicia Wetzig,  Wendy Lu, Angi Black,  and the other JuNoWriMo participants.  You are all awesome.

JuNoWriMo Host, Participant and Winner Interview – Becca J. Campbell

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

For the final interview in my JuNoWriMo Interview Series, please welcome Becca J. Campbell.  She, along with A.E. Howard, created JuNoWriMo.

Tell me a little about what you are writing for Junowrimo.
I’m writing a New Adult Urban Fantasy novel. Here’s the synopsis:
Eva has the curse of randomly disappearing, unable to be heard, seen, or felt in any way during her absences. During those episodes she can only watch the rest of the world pass her by. The worst was a period that lasted nearly ten years.
Now, indefinitely back to being visible, her ten year high school reunion is upon her, and though she isn’t looking forward to it, she has to go. It’s the only way to find the answer to her burning question, the one eating her up during those ten long years. But to find the answer she has to face the pain buried deep in her past. She has to face Kade.
Is this your first time doing this type of challenge?
Nope! I’ve won NaNoWriMo two years in a row, which is what spurred the whole idea of JuNoWriMo. J
What did you learn from the last challenge that is helping you with Junowrimo? 
From my previous NaNoWriMo experiences I’ve learned that I am a hard-and-fast planner. I require a full synopsis in outline form that directs me scene by scene through my novel. So I did as much prewriting as possible this time through. It really helped, too. I didn’t get stuck at all this year. I only skipped one scene that I was unsure of, and beyond that, I made it to my final chapter when I ended the month.
What is your typical weekly writing schedule like; time of day, # of words per day.
I usually write in the evening, sometimes also in the afternoons when my kids are having quiet time. I aimed to get ahead early on, approximately 3,000 words per day. I didn’t achieve that every day, but I was ahead of my quota the entire month. I met the 50K on day 23.
What was your final word count for the Challenge? 
Unfortunately, I got sick the last week of this month and haven’t been able to write, otherwise I would have finished my whole novel. I stopped at 54,624 words, though, and I’m happy with that. At least I won JuNoWriMo. I’ve got to accept what’s reasonable and what isn’t and though writing 75K in a calm month might be possible for me, this month was incredibly busy. Plus, I can’t write when I’m sick.
How did you and Anna decide to host JuNoWriMo?
I decided sometime around February or March that I wanted to write a novel NaNo-style in June because the timing worked out really well for me. But I thrive on the energy from other writers and I knew if I could get more people to do it with me I’d have a much better chance at success. So I tweeted about the idea, jokingly saying I was going to do “JuNoWriMo.” What I got was a handful of other excited writers saying they would do it with me. One of those was Anna, a creative lady who happened to know a ton about web design and have a lot of helpful ideas. So we partnered together for this creative adventure. It was a match made in heaven—our differences complement each other quite well.
What is the future of JuNoWriMo?
This month has been amazing! I’ve been astounded by the numbers of participants we rounded up in just a few short months. I can already feel a strong sense of community here and I absolutely love it. Because of all that (and because my June totally rocked—except for the getting sick part), we’re doing this thing again next year. Anna and I are on board, hoping this will be an annual deal you can count on to get you through your summer novel. We’re even scheduling the release of our future books around it so we are set to handle everything. In the meantime, tell your friends and neighbors, and spread the word. Next year it’s going to be even bigger and better! And if you really want to share the love, donate a buck or two. (http://junowrimo.com/about-us/donate/) We’ve donated many hours of our time and a ton of effort birthing this thing and helping you get that novel written. Thanks for joining us for the ride and I hope to see you next year!

Make sure to visit and connect with Becca.

Blog:  beccajcambell.com

Twitter:  @beccajcampbell

Click here to visit Becca’s Author Page on Facebook and Goodreads.