Tag: writers

Let’s Open it up to the Group

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle19 Comments

Hello Insecure Writer’s Support Group Members:

Last month I found myself writing a lot of short stories.  I guess I was warming up for JuNoWriMo, which I am 6 days in and happy to say on goal, so far.  Out of all this actual fiction writing, a few issues and questions have come up that I would love to have my fellow writers advice and input on. I mean, who better to tell you what you are doing wrong, then your friends.  We are friend, right?

Let’s Open it up to the Group: 

  1. Is there such thing as to much dialogue in an a story?  I am concerned my WIP is starting to look more like a screenplay instead of a novel? How do you determine the right balance between dialogue and description?
  2. How do you express someone laughing or crying or cringing without coming right out and saying that “Emilynn laughed”?  or Is it ok to say what type of physical reaction your character is having?
  3. Yesterday I found myself writing a scene in my WIP and when I went back to read what I wrote, I literally did not remember writing it.  It was really good though, so I didn’t panic to much.  What is your “in the zone” writing experience like?
  4. In the last month, I have written a few reality short stories, two scenes from a scary (not quite horror) stories, and my WIP which is an international/romantic/comedy/drama.  When my goal is to become a better writer, is it ok to write in all these different genres or am I spreading my creative mind to thin?  Should I just stick with getting good at one?
Thanks again to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this forum for me to share my insecurity’s in a calm and supportive environment.  I really look forward to hearing everyones feedback.  
New Lotus design. What do you think?

My Weekly Update – What do I expect from JuNoWriMo?

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

I am participating in JuNoWriMo this month.  With two days done, I am feeling pretty happy with myself for deciding to do this.  When you look at the task at hand, 50,000 words in 30 days, it seems a bit daunting. But, I am happy to report that after two days and over 6,000 words done. I can do this.

But, it is not just about getting in the word count.  I have additional expectations from JuNoWriMo that go far beyond just getting to 50,000 words.

1.  I expect to get a book out of it.  Not a book deal, I am not that naive or that optimistic, but I do hope that I will have completed the first steps in getting an actual book written. I don’t know why, but I image that saying I have written a book will make me all warm and fuzzy inside. And, I will have finished something.  The book may suck, but it is written.  I will worry about step two of the process in July.
2.  I expect to figure out my writing style. The book I am writing started out having several characters, taking place in several locations and dealing with several issues.  But, after 6,000 words, one character, one location and one issue it appears that it will take awhile to get this stuff sorted out and it is much more interesting to me to write from one persons perspective.  Now, just as long as I don’t run out of words to say about this one character, I should be good.
3.  I expect to determine my writing process.  I can already see how valuable the time I spent outlining last month has been.  It has allowed me to get in writing mode (or mood) easier every time I sit down to write.  And two day in, the words are still flowing and that pressure of figuring out what to write is eliminated.  What a relief.
4.  I expect to learn from others who are participating.  The JuNoWriMo isn’t just a challenge.  It has turned into a community.  Just in two day we have shared ideas, asked questions and motivated each.  It has already made me a better writer.
To continue with this theme of learning, four very talented writers and JuNoWriMo partipants have so generously accepted my invitation to be interviewed about their progress in JuNoWriMo. I will feature a new writer each Monday starting on June 10th.    
Week 1 – A.E Howard – one of our lovely and talented hosts.
Week 2 – EM Castellan
Week 3 – Juliana Haygert
Week 4 – Felicia Scotzig
In the mean time, check out their sites.
 
5.  I expect to take that “writer in training” description out of my profile.  One thing I have learned already is that writers are always learning, always growing, always getting better.  In that sense, we are always in training.  But, I just feel that I need to get this one project in the can and I will feel more comfortable calling myself a writer.  
Congratulations to all of you who have taken on this challenge.  I wish you all the best of luck and if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Writer Wednesday Blog Hop – I actually fit in a scene from my Junowrimo project, edited of course. 
Wednesday – Insecure Writers Blog Post – I have a few questions I would like to ask my fellow writers. 
Friday – General Blog Post
Sunday – My Weekly Update
*I will get back to Blog Love and recognizing my new followers later or in the general post on Friday.  
 

What do you expect from JuNoWriMo?  Day two done, how is it going so far? 

My Weekly Update – Writing, Written & Writers

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

Writing

It is 5 days until the beginning of JuNoWriMo.  For those of you living under a rock, JuNoWriMo is a month long writing challenge.  I will be writing 50,000 words in 30 days.  That is about 1,667 word per day.

If you are interested in seeing how I progress through this month long madness, I will document my progress after completing the daily writing goals.  I foresee a lot of 11:55 pm updates in my near future.  Check it out under the Sydney Aaliyah Writes Page on my site.  My To Do List is up now.  I have a busy few days coming up.

I also plan to keep my blog up to date, but JuNoWriMo is my first priority this month.  Bear with me.

Written

I wrote a short scary story for Writer Wednesday Blog Hop and received an  overwhelming amount of requests (6 people) for me to continue the story.  I am not one to disappoint my fans, so check in on Wednesday and see what happen when Sarah (I decided to give her a name) pushes #2.

I would like to thank the following for their comments:

“Wonderful imagery.”   – Cerece
“I want to know what happens next!”  – Selena
“Great story, your main character was really relatable.”  – Carrie Sorenson
 

You are all awesome.  Thanks so much for the feedback.

Writers who Support Writers (New Followers)

Thank you to my new followers.  I hope you are enjoying being inside my brain:

Blog Love

  1. JuNoWriMo.com
  2. Onpinestreet.com
  3. Confessions of a Popcorn Addict
  4. Wise, Ink
  5. Scribing the Journey
Check out the rest of the Blog Love list.  

This Weeks Schedule 

Monday – Wine Auction
Tuesday – Movie Quotes
Wednesday – Writer Wednesday Blog Hop
Friday – First day of JuNoWriMo
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 

Sign Me Up for The Next One

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle18 Comments
This is how I felt after completing the challenge.

I really enjoyed the A to Z Challenge.  It was the first writing challenge of any kind that I participated in and it taught me a lot about myself and how I write.

Top 5 things I learned from doing the challenge:

  1. I learned that I must have some sort of emotional reaction to what I am writing about in order to write it well.  I can love it or hate it.  Something. Anything.  When I take the emotion out of it, it just isn’t as good.  Probably why I hated writing term papers in school.  My theme was on Australia.  I adhered to this theme for the most part.  I had a couple of deviations because I wasn’t feeling the topic I previously picked and a couple that were a bit of a stretch from the theme, but for the most part, I adhered to the theme throughout.
  2. I learned how to use the features of WordPress better.  The schedule a post feature was a big help.  I was able to schedule a couple of posts ahead of time when I knew I would be busy or when I was traveling.
  3. I learned that there was I lot I could learn from other bloggers.  I visited about 500 different sites during the challenge and was able to see what I liked on others people’s blogs and what I didn’t like. From how a blog looked, to what the post looked like and how the photos were used, I paid attention on what blogs made me want to stay or come back and which ones made me click the next button.  I go a lot of great examples of what I liked and few examples of what I didn’t like.
  4. I learned that I enjoy being a part of the A to Z challenge group.  Writing can be a pretty isolating endeavor.  It is nice to be a part of like-minded individuals with a single goal in mind. Not like a cult, more like a play group.
  5. I learned that finishing the challenge was a motivation for me.  Finishing anything motivates me.  I have much more confidence about my writing now and I actually am pretty funny;)

I am excited about the next challenge and will definitely participate in the A to Z challenge again next time.

See my other A to Z Challenge posts, here.