Tag: writing

Let Me Tell You Why I’m Exhausted

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Top 5 Reasons why after the week I had, I am Exhausted:  

  1. I am exhausted because for the first time in my life I wrote over 20,000 words of pure unadulterated creative fiction from my mind in 7 days.
  2. I am exhausted because instead of going to sleep at a decent hour, every night this week, I stayed up late to write.
  3. I am exhausted because in order to keep up with my peeps and tweeps, I have to communicate on “social media” at some ungodly hours.
  4. I am exhausted because my mind is constantly racing about what I am going to write about for the next 20,000 words of pure unadulterated creative fiction in the next 7 days.
  5. But, really, I am exhausted because one of my collegues took me to a jazz club last night And even though I was exhausted, I stayed for all 4 sets.  Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Babyface songs with a jazz twist, I had no choice.  I had to stay.
CJW – Cigar, Jazz & Wine

And, to be perfectly honest with you, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about this week. If being exhausted is the price I pay for doing what I love, then YAWN and bring it on.    

Quick Shout out to my new followers from a week ago:

1 EarthUnited
EM Castellan
Empty Coffee Cups
Anabel Mikolay
Sisi’s Blog
Hanna Pot
Elisabeth Crisp
Champagne Whisky Cigar
Life Coach Marie
Beradadisini
Wonderful Cinema
Fu Only Knew

I will gladly continue to be exhausted for your reading pleasure.

FYI, by the time you read this, I will be asleep.  Talk to you tomorrow. I really am exhausted.

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?

At the Golf Course

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments
FILE CHAIR NEST PIRATE WINNER

Sydney always loved coming to the golf course early in the morning.  Everything was all fresh and new.  The sun hadn’t quite come up, yet and the dew on the ground and low hanging fog made the course look scary and serene at the same time. In the distance, Sydney could here the maintenance crew cutting the fairway and sprinklers where watering the green to add the finishing touches to make the course ready for competition.

At this time of the day, you never know what could happen at the golf course.

Sydney started setting up the tent for the days lessons.  Chair, table, flowers, books;  she repeated this set up 6 times. She took pride in creating a warm and calming atmosphere at the Academy for the executives.  Because once they stepped on the driving range, the frustrations and stress of trying to learn this game, set in.

The golf swing is such a beautiful motion, unfortunately, most of these guys look like pirates wielding  swords.  All tight and tension, no rhythm and flow.  Not like the professionals.

Sydney looked through a file on her computer and printed out the appointment sheet for the day.  His name caught her eye and she was smiling before she could stop herself.

2:00 – 2:30: John Osha.

She was really looking forward to seeing him.  Even though they only had one conversation yesterday and a series of flirty texts last night, Sydney couldn’t help but admit that she  really like him.  And, she hadn’t felt this way about someone in a long time.

She couldn’t quite figure out what it was about him, though.  He was a winner and people gravitated towards him.  That trait made him confident, but not  cocky.  The way he looked at her and asked the right questions made Sydney feel special.  She wanted to feel that again.  If even for a minute.

Sydney started to move tables and chairs around, again.  She was anxious. She felt like a mother bird tending to her nest.  She just couldn’t sit still.

To calm herself down, Sydney took a walk out of the tent on to the driving range.  The sun was fully up now and it was warm.  No one was on the main driving range so she could walk out as far as she wanted.  It was so peaceful out here.

She closed her eyes and just felt the warmth of the sun on her face.  She took a deep breath and calmed herself down.  She turned around and opened her eyes.

And, there he was, standing in the entrance of the tent smiling at her.

Early mornings at the golf course are just the best.  Everything is fresh and new and you never know what can happen at the golf course.

Thanks so much to Carrie for picking this picture.  It allowed me to particpate in Writer Wednesday Blog Hop even though I am neck deep in JuNoWriMo. I am currently working on my first novel and this is an excerpt from my novel where part of it actually does take place a at a golf club during a tournament.

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? 

In a Room

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle14 Comments
STARS ENVELOPE WAVE NAIL DESERT

Sarah woke feeling disoriented and her body ached all over.  Where ever she was, it was hot and dry.  Like desert heat.  But, her clothes were wet and she smelled like she had been wearing them for several days.

“How long I have I been here?”  She thought to herself.

She couldn’t really move, either.  She tried to life her arms, but it felt like they were nailed down.

The last thing she remembered; the stairs and her boyfriend David.  He was dragging her up the stairs. And, she vaguely remember the pain and the computer.

Sarah also remember making a choice.  Obviously it was the wrong choice.

“I need to open my eyes.” But, still they wouldn’t budge. She tried to stretch out.  Both Sarah’s arms and legs hit the walls on each side of her.  The room was smaller then she expected.  And there was warmth coming from somewhere.

Feeling a bit stronger Sarah sat up, but a wave of nauseous over took her.  She had to lay back down.

“Where am I?  Why did I push #2?” These thoughts ran through her head.  What she didn’t think about was how was she going to get out of here?

Sarah tried to sit up again.  This time the nausea wasn’t as bad.    She rubbed her eyes and the light was starting to seep in.

Her eyes began to adjust to the light, but she was still seeing stars.  Sarah looked up to see a strange man staring at her through a window.

“I think she’s awake.” Sarah could hear his voice, but couldn’t see who he was talking to.  “She is moving and stuff.”

“Sh, I don’t want her to know I am here,” said another man’s voice.  Even though he was farther away, his voice sounded familiar to Sarah.

“Oh shoot, she can’t see us,” the strange man said.  It was his sunken eyes and stringy wet hair that really creeped Sarah out.  He looked like he had been standing out in the rain for awhile.

“Really, come look. I’m telling you, she is about to get up,” the strange man said.  “I think she is going to try and get out.”

“Shut up,” the man said, “Just watch her.  Let’s see if she will do it.”

What is this, some kind of joke? Sarah though to herself.  Sarah looked at the man in the window and yelled, “Get me out of here!”

He started laughing.  Sarah couldn’t believe it.  He just keep laughing.  She had heard that laugh before.

Sarah couldn’t take it anymore.  She was going mad.  She curled up in a ball and started crying.

“See, I knew she wouldn’t do anything.” Sarah looked up.  It took her a minute to register what she was seeing, but there was David, staring at her through the window.

The creepy man handed David an envelope.

“It is a pleasure doing business with you.”  And, with that, David turned and walked away.