writing – Page 5 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Published on March 5, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

My blog schedule this week has been turned upside down. I can’t believe I almost forgot about IWSG.

As always, we have Alex J. Cavanaugh to thank for gathering like minded writers together to vent and support. This month, we also need to thank Misha Gericke and Joylene Nowell Butler. Even a Ninja Captain needs some help every once in awhile.

My goal this month with IWSG is to stave off some future insecurities. As I mentioned before, I’m attending a few writer’s conferences this year. The first one is March 22-25, the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival. There is this great session about using the city of New Orleans as the setting in your novel. Since, my first novel is set in New Orleans, I can’t wait.

Here’s were I need help. I’ve been thinking about how to introduce myself. I was thinking something like, “Hi, my name is Sydney, I write romantic comedies are you a writer/agent/publisher/editor/reader/blogger?” Then depending on their answer, the conversation will continue accordingly?

I am joking. I want to leave an impression somewhere between “let’s give her a 100,000.00 advance today” and “Did you hear about that girl Sydney? Stay away from her.”

What is the best way to introduce yourself at these event?

Btw, check out my new business cards. Suggestions welcomed. I haven’t gone to print, yet.

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My Weekly Update – Writing Assignments Accumulate

Published on February 24, 2013February 24, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Writing Assignments

In my quests for finding employment, I applied to a writing network and was accepted. My first assignment is due on Friday. So, hyped about this. In addition, I have a guest post to complete by Friday and two chapters of edits due on Monday.

And, to top it all off, I sign up for a Short Story Contest, which is due on Friday. This is where I need your help. The contest sets heats and everyone in my heat for this first round has to write in the same genre and use the same character. I thought is would be a great challenge until I saw the genre. I have to write a fantasy story. I don’t have anything against fantasy, I just don’t read it and don’t know much about the genre. It’s not the same as science fiction, right?

Huge favor – share with me your favorite Fantasy writers? I need a point of reference.

Do you have Ten Minutes?

Harry Widdifield, formerly know as Sevestian Winters (check out his guest post on my blog a couple of months ago, brilliant) has penned a new blog and a new journey in life as the Teller of Ten Minute Tales. His goal is to write a short story a day. He currently has two volumes for sale. I suggest you pick them up. Great stuff and you can read a story in 10 minutes. Who doesn’t have 10 minutes.

Have you read Harry’s short stories? What do you think?

Post to Ponder

PBC’s Successful Launch by M.L. Swift – I am so proud of my book club.

How to Push Past the Bullshit and Write that G-ddamn Novel: A Very Simple No-F–kery Writing Plan to Get Shit Down by Chuck Wendig – Sometimes you just need some one to break it down for you.

You are Uncomaparable by MarcyKate Connolly – This goes along with my favorite quote from Bird by Bird, “Jealousy is the business of comparing my insides to other people’s outsides.” It’s not worth it, so stop doing it.

What Came First: The Scene or The Word? by Mike Reverb – I struggle with this as well. I see the scene in my head like a movie, but can’t seem to capture the same visuals and drama when I put it down on paper.

Things Every Writer Should Have by Nicole Pyles – another message about not comparing ourselves to other along with other great tips.

New Followers

Martha

Super Dull Boy

Next Week’s Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Wednesday – His Allue, Her Passion Blog Tour

Thursday – Back to the Future Bloghop

Friday – Stardust Summer Blog Tour

Progressive Book Club – Bird by Bird Top 10 List

Published on February 19, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle19 Comments

Level Up! Blogfest post is below.

Welcome to the first discussion post of the Progressive Book Club, hosted by M.L. Swift. This month’s selection, Bird by Bird written by Anne Lamott.I really enjoyed the book. It was funny and entertaining. I forgot it was supposed to be educational.

What I took away from this book was a deeper understanding of why I love to write. It reminded me, although being a writer can be frustrating and isolating and at times boring, there is nothing like the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual feeling you get from writing.

Here are the top 10 lessons I learned from Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott:

Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life. – It gave me a life.
Do it every day for a while. – I struggle with this the most.
The actual act of writing turns out to be the best part. – If I could remember how it feels all the time, I would no longer have a problem with #2.
When my writer friends are working, they feel better and more alive than they do at any other time. – Again, that physical, emotional, mental & spiritual things I talked about before.
You get your confidence and intuition back by trusting yourself, by being militantly on your own side. – Writing taught me who I am and who I am, is ok.
Write an incredibly shitty, self-indulgent, whinny, mewling first draft. Then take out as many of the excesses as you can. – Turning off and the edit button is hard and even harder to turn it back on.
Characters: it takes time for you to know them, you need to find out as much as possible about the interior life of the people you are working with, you are going to hate some of your characters, you are probably going to have to let bad things happen to some of the characters you love, plot grows out of character, the better you know them the more you’ll see things from their point of view, you have to get things quiet in your head so you can hear them and let them guide your story. – My favorite section of the book. I love the purposeful task of creating a good character.
The development of relationships creates plot. – You create some much for the reader if you focus on the relationships in your WIP.
Dialogue: listening, observing, storing things away, making your isolation pay off, each one must sound different, gives us the sense that we are eavesdropping, is the way to nail character. – Eavesdropping is the key.
Jealousy is the business of comparing my insides to other people’s outsides. – I put this one on my inspiration board. It is so true. Not a fair comparison, so stop doing it.

Which piece of advice do you identify with most?

The Level Up! Blogfest

Published on February 17, 2013February 19, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle18 Comments

I know I’m a day early, but I have a busy week ahead. I couldn’t miss out on this Blogfest hosted by Mithril Wisdom and Geek Banter.

No one would mistake me for a gamer. You may find me occasionally playing a game of Spider Solitaire while standing in line. I have been know to giggle with glee at destroying pig shaped storm troopers on the Star Wars version of Angry Birds (blame that on on my 12 year old nephew).

But, the last time I was obsessed with a game was back in elementary school. We had an Atari 2600 game system and I spent ours becoming a Kaboom! master. Now, I have seen this game recreated as an app, but nothing compares to playing this game on an the Atari with these special controls.

All you had to do was prevent the bombs dropped by the bandit from hitting the ground. The more you caught, the quicker the bandit dropped them.

At a certain level, the bombs would drop so fast, you went insane (literally, not virtually) trying to catch them all. For some reason, I was really good at this game. Check out my favorite game, Kaboom!

What is your favorite game?

My Weekly Update – Breathless

Published on February 9, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

You know how the anticipation of something is sometimes better then then actual thing. Well, let me tell you, when you are shown something unexpectedly and it is amazing, that trumps it all.

I saw the The Silver Lining Playbook (Great Movie. Bradley Cooper was amazing) and caught the trailer for The Great Gatsby.

I wept. I moaned. I grinned, laughed and groaned. It took my breath away!

This is another book on my list I have to read before I see. Are you looking forward to seeing The Great Gatsby?

Grammy Night

Although I haven’t seen the Grammy’s in over 5 years. From the hype, its going to be a great show, more performance based. And, they are creating these amazing collaborations. This year pairs Rihanna with Bruno Mars and Sting & Alicia Keys with Maroon 5.

But, I can’t wait to see Justin Timberlake return to do what he was born to do. He and JayZ (love him) are performing their new single Suit & Tie. I am breathless just thinking about it.

Are you watching the Grammy’s? What performance are you looking forward to?

Post to Review

Get Writing Fit by Ellie Garratt – Guest Post on My First Book – I am focusing on #2 & #3 this year.

Free Writer’s Weekend in Hawaii by Mark Koopmans – I really want to go. Let me see how I can work it out. Plus, its my birthday.

Things I’ve learned from Star Trek #348 by Ali Cross – She even has a Star Trek video.

Writing Tips: Join Contest by Shannon A Thompson – One of my goals for the year. Great advice.

New Followers

Promote Your Book Blog

Out Where the Bus Don’t Run by Gus Sanchez

Alina

Write With Warnimont

Royal Manaball