NANOWRIMO - Week 1 Wrap -Up

Good morning, friends.

Thought I'd pop in and give you a Week 1 progress. 

Last year, I couldn't have done this. I just couldn't get into Nano or into the story I needed to be writing.

This year is different. I finally have the desire to actually write this story.

NOTE: As I type this, it's Day 6 and I've not written yet today or on Day 7 But I wanted to get this up.

I talked about Double Down Day and the amazing word count I had for that day. 3445. Seriously?!

The important thing is that I've written EVERY SINGLE DAY. Word count has been better some days better than others. I'm going to show you what I've done and I'll try my best to come in to update the daily word counts here.

DAY 1 - 1842

DAY 2- 915

DAY 3- 150

DAY 4- 3448

DAY 5- 322

DAY 6-

DAY 7 -

Week 1 Total: 

Aside from setting up the Preptober Planner, I also got another tip from Sarra. Like her, I like to get out of the house one day a week for a ME day. I go to my favorite coffee shop and work on my planners... or in the case of NANOWRIMO, I work on my story.

She uses one of those 4x6 pocket brag books to tuck her index cards in to... making her story board more portable than on the key ring she also uses. 

So I pulled out my story board and slid my index Chapter/ Scene cards into a brag book I had here at home. Keep in mind, you can pick them up for $1.25 at $Tree or sometimes $.99 at WM. 

 I can use the story board here at home or if I'm going on a retreat weekend and want the larger showcase of the chapters but for short trips, this brag book style is a game changer for keeping my index cards/ chapter prompts at my finger tips. 

Are you participating in Nano? How are you doing?  Need some encouragement? Just buddy up with me - RainLyte on the Nano forum. 

All my best!

~Angela

NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH - Week 1

National Novel Writing Month is here again! I almost look as forward to Nano as I do any holiday of the year - except for maybe Halloween. 

I really put my best foot forward this year. As crazy as September and October was for me, I was determined that November would be about writing. 

I started by taking days in October to really go through the Preptober Planner by Sarra Cannon. I printed out all 95 pages, made notes on the book, decorated the tracking pages and got in the mind set that I would be writing in November.

While the planner is primarily for NanoWriMo, there is a lot of 'plan of attack' tips in the booklet as well. You can get your free download by subscribing to her mailing list. With that you have access to all of her other great writing tools. She will update the Camp Nano Planner in March of 2024.

Here is the video for her Preptober Planner 2023. Links to her website so you can get yours is in her description box.

Book 2 of the Planned to Perfection series is coming along, finally. I figured out my problem.

I was putting all of my attention into the crafting for the etsy shop and not immersing myself in things writing. 

So, while I'm still crafting, I'm also back to watching the writing videos and sprinting with folks on YouTube again.... every day! Even if I only get 200-300 words, it's more than I've written in a long time.  I took part in Double Down Day on Saturday and wrote over 3400 words!!! My goal was 3400.

If you aren't familiar, Double Down Day is the first Saturday of each month where you try to double your best word count for the week in a single day. I was tired by 8 p.m. but proud for having done what I sat out to do. I didn't give up. That's why I thought yesterday's Thoughtful Monday was so appropriate.

Are you doing, Nano? If so, share your goal/ progress below. And if you'd like to buddy up - you'll find me as Rainlyte on the nano boards.

All my best!

~ Angela

 

AUTHOR TUBE RE-LAUNCH & Camp NanoWrimo Prep!

 Good morning, everyone!

I really loved the quote yesterday by Mark Twain. A simpler version of that quote that has come through over the years is 'If you can Believe it, You can Achieve it.'

However you phrase those words, the meaning is still the same. 

For me, I Believe I can be a 6-figure author. Is that going to happen overnight? No. But I do BELIEVE if I take the proper steps, I will get there!

I'm determined to finish Book 2 of the Planned to Perfection Series. I took four days to soak up Eureka Springs energy and get the scene cards in order. I figured out I had lost my 'voice'... something we'll talk about in a later post.  Now that I've found my 'voice' again, this book should just about write itself... in a manner of speaking. LOL

Camp NanoWrimo is going to play a big part in that. I'm focused on accomplishing my goals. As of April 1, we'll move into the second quarter of the year... and my Q2 planning in the HB90 planner... created by author Sarra Cannon. Sarra is my mentor. I think she finally realized her impact on her community last year when she spoke at a conference in Houston and so many people came up to her... knowing who she was. At first, she was caught off guard and her anxiety kicked in but as the conference progressed she realized how truly blessed she is!  You can here her story HERE.

In honor of Camp NanoWrimo, I've re-launched my YouTube channel.  

For the next two weeks we'll be prepping for CampNano. With some tips from Sarra, as well as things I've learned along the way, we'll set ourselves up for a successful April Camp. Keep in mind, success is different for everyone so think about what you want to accomplish during Nano, check out this video and I'll be back tomorrow with Part 2.

All my best

~ Angela

MONDAY MOTIVATION

 Good morning, everyone!

This is the last motivational post with a NanoWriMo undercurrent. National Novel Month ends tomorrow! How've you done? I'd love to hear how your month went.

As we approach the new year; a time when everyone sets new goals, here is something to keep in mind:

A line from Pretty Woman reminds us to think about...

'What's your dream?'

All my best

~Angela

MONDAY MOTIVATION

 Good morning, everyone!

Growing up, my (step) mom told me (repeatedlly) that I could do anything I set my mind to. 

Dare I say she was right? Maybe because she was not my biological mom, but the one mom I loved beyond a doubt, I took her words to heart.

When you feel yourself faltering, repeat these 3 simple words... let them become a mantra. You got this!

All my best

~Angela

MONDAY MOTIVATION

Good morning, everyone!

Welcome to a new week. I feel this quote is especially important this week.

As we hit the mid-point of NanoWriMo today, you may find yourself faltering. That 'middle' is always the hardest part. You knew where you wanted to go when you started as well as the potential ending of the story. What bogs us down is that dreaded middle. This is where a lot of participants stop writing. They feel as if everything they've written is crap, the story isn't going as planned, yadda yadda yadda.

Remember today's words. If you don't write your story, who will? Even if someone else tells a similar story, your magic will not be a part of the book. Their book will be theirs and where will yours be?

All my best

~Angela

WEDNESDAY REVIEW & UPDATE

 Good morning, everyone!

I have officially completed my Nano Prep and uploaded weekly videos about the prep with some tips that I hope, if you've not started already, will help get you on your path to a successful National Novel Writing Month.  

Here's the link to my YouTube Channel

Now that NanoWriMo is officially underway, I can say I'm really focused to not just win Nano this year but to complete the first draft of An Ozarks Homecoming, Book 2 in the Planned to Perfection series. While at conference, a lot of people asked why I didn't have a table and when Book 2 would be available. Participating in NanoWriMo should prevent those questions from coming up again in 2022.

My GOAL is to finish the rough draft of An Ozarks Homecoming then let it rest over the holidays. I'll bust out edits/ Beta Readers/ publishing after the new year. Then I plan to write Book 3 during the first Camp Nano in April.  

I wasn't able to schedule a Writer's Nest for October but I do have one ready for this month. I'm taking December off to enjoy the holidays, catch up on Hallmark movies and start the planning for 2022.

Are you participating in Nano aka National Novel Writing Month 2022? If so, did you do any prep work?  If you're still needing a nudge, check out my video link above as well as the great inspiration from the Nano Headquarters HERE.

All my best

~Angela

WRITER'S TIP THURSDAY

 Good morning, friends!

We are three days away from NanoWrimo2021.  Where has this year gone?!

Today, I want to share a very special lady with you. Sarra Cannon has been my mentor for several years. I aspire to have her dedication. I keep saying if Sarra can do it, so can I! 

Sarra and her family are living a vagabond life at the moment. Through circumstances with their previous lease, then builders canceling contracts left and right - including on what she thought was her dream home - Sarra has stayed up beat, positive, and encouraging to herself and others. Their family are testing various areas of the US to see if there's someplace they are supposed to be.  I have four words...

SARRA CANNON IS AMAZING!

Today's video talks about her Preptober workbook. I encourage you to watch the video as well as subscribe to her channel and click to get notifications. We're all hoping, in her vagabond status, she'll have time to update our Nano tracker for 2021. But we'll make it work if she can't. We get it!

This is just the tip of the writer's ice block Sarra offers for FREE on her website.

All my best

~Angela

WRITER'S TIP THURSDAY -

 Good morning, friends!

I'm sharing NanoWrimo Writing tips for the Beginners. But let's face it... every year is a new beginning. We're supposed to start fresh... unless, as The Patchwork Nerd talks about in today's videos, you can play with something that you just need to finish! 

I know, in my case, I don't have enough of Book 2 to count. What I've been doing hasn't been working so I'm going to be starting from scratch... almost.

I like this young lady's point of Self-Care.  We 'll talk a bit about this in my YouTube video tomorrow. I hope you'll join me.

For now, let's see what The Patchwork Nerd shared from 2018. Note: she hasn't posted in a year but we can still learn from past content.

All my best

~Angela

WRITER'S TIP THURSDAY

Good morning, friends!

Can you believe that tomorrow is October 1st!  We are thirty-one days from the beginning of #NanoWrimo2021.

I've been scouring YouTube for videos I hope will inspire you to make the most of #Preptober and be ready for NanoWrimo this year. We'll talk more about National Novel Writing Month next week. For now, here's Danyal Fryer with his Top 10 tips from last year's video:

All my best

~Angela

TOP 3 - October 26

 Good morning, friends!

After a very productive week last week, I'm hoping to build on that momentum and really prep for NanoWrimo this week. 

When National Novel Writing Month changed their format last year I was totally lost. For me, the site just is not user-friendly any longer. I ran The Cauldron Cave thread over there for eleven years. Last year, I just could not get into it.  So this year, I've decided to do things a bit different. The biggest change is I will no longer be running the cafe there. Someone else is welcome to do so. 

NOTE: That thread on the NanoWrimo sight is NOT connected to this blog in anyway.

I'm launching my AuthorTube Channel on YouTube as well as putting my own word count bar of some type on the blog. I'm looking at one of these from Tracy Lucas.

That's it for me this week. I'm off to do a serious house clean!

All my best

~Angela

CURRENT PROJECT UPDATE - NanoWrimo

Week 1 is done and I am far short of where I wanted to be. The crazy thing is I can not seem to get a handle on this story. I know what the internal issues are for both of my characters but something just hasn't gelled yet. I know I'll get there. I usually do. And when the story clicks, the words pour.  

Normally I am a :

While I do not plan everything down to the minute detail I do have an idea of what is going to happen when in each chapter. My problem, is I've not taken time to do that this year. I'm afraid if I do take the time to plan, I will lose valuable writing time. 

So for now, I am a:

This form of writing drives me insane and is probably why I'm struggling with my word count so far.

There is one badge NanoWrimo does not provide... the Quilter:

While I am a planner, I do not usually write in chronological order. I write scenes as they grab me then piece everything together in the end.

How do you write? Planner? Pantser? A little bit of both? Or do you have your own style? What works for you?

Creative Blessings!

Angela

A NEW FOCUS - Gearing up for Nano 2015

Seems like just a few weeks ago I had returned from an extended trip through Texas. Non-fiction was more on the forefront of my brain. Even a few days at RT could not entice me to get back to working on my novels.

NanoWriMo and my recent trip to the Ozark Creative Writers conference has flipped the proverbial switch. Yay!

While in Eureka Springs meeting up with friends who were attending the conference (I was just there to soak up the charm Eureka Springs has to offer), I spent a good amount of time working on rewriting A Christmas To Remember. Arthritis flared up and I did not get very far, but at least I was doing something in the fiction vein again. And the process felt wonderful!

I also met Tiffany Schofield from Five Star Publishing. I think she might be a good fit for my Jayson's Range series. But I warned Tiffany that the book, while having placed in competitions, was no where near pitchable - yet. She asked that we keep in touch and that I reach out to her when I am ready. Absolutely!

But first... I have fleshing out to do of the first book in the Branson Series. Additional word count needs turned into the JANO bean counter by the end of November. And Book 2 of the Branson series - How Do You Like Me Now? - is my Nano 2015 project. And once that is out of the way, then I plan to write Book 3 for JANO 2016.

I'm also teaming up with the ever so awesome Pam Labud as my crit partner. Neither of us have been able to find someone that fit or had the time, yet both need someone in our corner to point out our boo boos. We learned at RT  we are good roomies. I figure if you can room with someone (and their husband) without wanting to strangle them, you've got a good match LOL

The cauldron is bubbling and I'm anxious to start word-spilling.

I'm not going to focus much else on this blog except writer updates for the rest of the year, what with Nano then Christmas. But come January, I hope to get back to author interviews and some book reviews. So stay tuned!

Best!
~Angela

CURRENT PROJECT - October 13- 19

Although this is a morgue file pic, you could just as easily be looking at my morning routine. However, today my desk location is the oversized lapboard with the built in mouse pad. I'm comfy on the couch with my feet up on the hassock and toes tucked into the fleece Pooh Bear blankie for warmth. But the laptop and the coffee mug are a matched set. Especially when I am behind on work as I am today. I doubt I'll catch up until hubby has gone back to work a week from today. I have two routines - one for when Bob is home and one for the twenty-one days he is gone.

Aside from him being home the past two weeks, I have been gone both of those weekends. The first for a ORA writer's meeting in Springfield then the OCW conference last weekend. This weekend Bob and I will scoot away for a couple days to celebrate our birthdays. He was gone for mine in September and will be gone for his next week.

After Bob leaves on Tuesday morning, my life will become 10-hr work days subsidized by 2-hr fiction shifts. At least until Nov. 1st. Then I strive to do a 6 and 6 shift on Fridays and full Nano days on the weekend.

While I had hoped for 1K per day, I fell horribly short. Between the travel schedule and a story that refused to move forward like a stubborn mule I just could not get a handle on four pages a day. There is hope for a fresh start on Nov. 1.

Are you Nanoing? Don't have any clue what I'm talking about? Check out NanoWriMo for a full 30 days of abandonment. A community where you are given license to spew a story that may or may not make sense. The point is to get the story out of your head and into a format that can be edited into a publishable story - like Somewhere Down the Line. Or L.A. Cinderella by Amanda Berry.

How is your week shaping up?

THE WEEK AHEAD - Nano Week 1

And We're Off!

Well, some more than others. Off to a good start, I mean. Not in an 'off' way, though maybe those of us who take on this crazy challenge are a bit 'off'. But knowing we are not alone is what makes the journey so much FUN!

I don't have much of a word count yet but I knew I would be slow out of the gate. Spending time with my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters (Adrian and Abigail) is so much more important to me. I know they will not always live close enough for me to visit whenever I need those precious hugs so I take all the opportunities I can now.

Amid the chaos of Abigail (2) pretending to be a puppy (something she learned from her big sister) and Adrian (6) playing Candy Land at the other end of the table with Grandpa (they are quite competitive LOL), I did manage almost 900 words.

Now we are home. This is Day 4. I've been getting some business stuff caught up while the washing machine gets a workout. But I'm almost through with the 'have to' projects for the day and ready to open up the manuscript. I left Cassie gathering up the band's personal items from the concert hall dressing room, making sure everything is back on the bus before they pull out to the next town on the tour. Soon Cassie's phone will ring with sad news and then the fun begins.

How's your Nano projecting going?

CONTESTS & CONFERENCES - Just checking in

As we approach the holidays, the contests and conferences have dropped off. I am positive the flood gates will open again about February. I'll be on the look out for new opportunities to share with you in 2014.

The only CONTEST is NanoWriMo. And while nano really isn't a contest, it is a challenge for us to push our boundaries. Like contests, Nano is an opportunity for us to try something new. Maybe you've had a story idea that is not in your usual genre parameters. NanoWriMo is the perfect opportunity to PLAY!

And who knows, you might just come away with something contest or submission worthy in the new year!

Enjoy your holidays!

THE WEEK AHEAD - Nano Looms!

Happy Monday, Everyone!

There's a nip in the air, the leaves are changing colors, the birds are feasting heavily at my feeders. Those are all sure signs of.....

NANOWRIMO!

You thought I was going to say fall, didn't you? Until ten years ago, I would have. But then I got bit by the Nano bug and my autumn's have never been the same.

Have no clue what I'm talking about? The greatest writing challenge EVER!
National Novel Writing Month  aka NanoWriMo challenges you to write 50,000 words of a NEW novel in 30 days. To sit down and write that book you've always said you wanted to write but never made time to do. November IS THE TIME!

Yeah, November is crazy with holiday preparations, mid-terms looming... blah blah blah But when else are you going to find so many like minds in one place to cheer you on - or commiserate with? Okay, there are other times (I'll be telling you about those as they become available) but nothing like NANO!

I've made some amazing friends through NanoWriMo and my novella under contract with Boroughs Publishing Grp, Somewhere Down the Line, was written during the 2012 challenge.

This week I'll take time to put together my SMASH book for my Nano2013 Project, Heart on the Line. I do better with more than an idea to play with. I need to know who my characters are, what they want and what's going to get in their way. That's all I started with last year and I wrote the rough in 18 days! I have no notion of doing that this year, but I do plan to get the rough written.

So come on! Join the FUN!

NANOing Along

I took the plunge again this year to play in NanoLand. Have you been there? If not, you really should check out the place. There's still time to at least acquaint yourself with the community and maybe you'll join me next year.  www.nanowrimo.org

As you know I've been really focused on my freelance writing lately. I live and breath Texas music as well as some classics out of Nashville. So when I got the idea for this year's Nano Novel, I knew that whether it ever sees the light of day or not, wasn't important to me. I just wanted to tell a story. As added incentive, it puts my characters in the heart of the Texas music scene... between Austin and Galveston

Now there's a concept!

Do you remember crushing on an entertainer and wondering what it would be like to have him reciprocate those feelings? Have you ever wondered what would happen if that really happened?

My characters are finding out in Unchained Hearts

It seems back in the late 1980s Alana Cozins, at the age of 19, was in a safe marriage. Meaning she had married a someone she knew would rescue her from her current life. Anything had to be better than a dad walking out on you, a step-father abusing you and a brother whose life seemed to parallel both those characteristics.

Don Cozins is a good man. He's building his insurance company while letting Alana find out who she is in a safe environment. She loves to write and enjoys Top 40 country music. So she begins following the circuit and doing interviews. What she doesn't count on is crushing on Pieces of Eight lead singer, Trey Morison. He is one fine looking cowboy. And as she attends more and more of their shows, she feels as if Trey might feel the same way. It's the old Barbara Mandrell song, Married But Not to Each Other. 

About the time Alana discovers she is pregnant, Pieces of Eight disbands and the two lose touch.
But don't despair...
Fate will bring them back together. And this time, they are both free to explore the chemistry that has simmered for 25 years.

As I become one of those 'older readers', I find that although I enjoy reading about the twenty-something heroine, I'm not her and in today's world she's not easily relate able to me.  And I know I'm not the only one caught in this time continuum place.  So I wanted to write a story I would enjoy reading. And if somewhere down the line (yep, words from one of my favorite songs and the inspiration behind this story) it sees publication, that's just a bonus.

For now, after a passionate reunion between Alana and Trey, I have a shower scene to write.
Happy Nanoing!
~Angela

Where am I?

Wow... other than guests popping in on occasion, I've really left this place in the dark. I've been writing, but not much fiction. Right now my passion is in resurrecting an old love... music. Specifically, working in the entertainment field. I've been doing interviews, reviewing albums and books. Most of who I work with on a daily basis are Texas entertainers, though every once in awhile a Nashville guest walks through the door.
If you'd like to check out this side of me, you'll find me almost daily at KellysCountry

The other area keeping me busy is freelance for Polymer Cafe magazine. I began working with their editor about three years ago with the occasional "The Last Word' column - more of an editorial style. It was a nice foot in the door for what is becoming more steady work with this editor. I love working with Polymer Cafe and this editor. I'm hoping to step through other doors under the Scott Publishing umbrella next year.

I have done some short fiction pieces for competitions and little things are pulling me back to the longer items I want to finish.

And then there is always NanoWriMo and JANO on the horizon.

I'll pop in here more regular over the closing of the year. 2013 will find me writing full-time and sharing it all with you.

What are you working on?
Best
~Angela

Weekly Goals

Good morning everyone!
It feels good to not only be writing, but posting on a regular basis. Before I delve into what's on my plate for the week, I hope you'll stop by my friend Annie Bancroft's blog. I am her guest blogger and I'd love to see you over there! You'll find out 8 things you may or may not know about me, including which two authors I'd most love to chat at length with.

Bob comes home on Wednesday so I'm trying to get a jump on posts for the week. I've discovered the auto-post feature on blogger so I can write my posts the night before and set them to run the next morning while I enjoy coffee on the deck with my real-life hero.

Last week I was able to finish one of the contest entries for OCW. They're due the end of August. I also mapped out and researched for a second entry and know where I'm going with a third. My goal is to get the roughs of the contest entries out of the way so I can focus on the novel again for NanoCamp in August. Any of you participating?

Traditionally for Nano events you are supposed to write 50,000 words of a NEW piece. Well, for August I'm going rogue and hopefully finish the rough of my HonkyTonk Hearts target novel. I can't start something new right now. If I can get it finished then I'll reward myself with a whole new concept in November for the official NaNoWriMo2012.

Here's to another fabulous week on the writing journey.
Angela