A new adventure and finding new inspiration

Gracious stars and garters has it been quite a stressful time, but things are looking up as I have embarked on an awesome new adventure. One that excites me as an author and reader.

Astor County Library with branch manager Jonathan Dolce 

Many of you know I am a strong supporter of public libraries. Our local libraries are our favorite hangouts. Now I have a new way to support my local library, the Astor County Library. I've started working there as a Library Page! Yes, they really let me behind the circulation desk :)

I've been there about 3 weeks now and I LOVE IT! We might be tiny but we are a huge part of this community. Being behind the big desk you can see all the hard work that goes into making sure this area has all the resources it needs.

I can't wait to learn more and work on some programs of my own for our folks. As a matter of fact I just got the go ahead to hold a Camp NaNo program this April for our patrons. The program is open to all but we're going to focus on our kids that come and hang out on Tuesday nights. Who knows we might just inspire the next Hemmingway or Jane Austin.

Being surrounded by books and talking with patrons about their favorite stories has inspired me to be

Proof! They let me behind the big desk! :) 

more diligent in my own writing. I have several manuscripts saying finish me, finish me! It's time to get to it and get another book out on the shelves. That means making some goals. So...

GOALS THIS WEEK
1. Finish the next chapter in Outlaw Born
2. Start putting together some ideas for Camp NaNo
3. Start putting ideas together for Blogging from A to Z Challenge  

Now that I've landed a dream job how about you? What is your dream job or what in your job inspires your stories?

Goggles, Steam and Superstitions A to Z Theme and more!

I’m excited about this year’s Blogging from A to Z Challenge. It’s going to be a blast, but also challenging. I’m doing a theme this year, Goggles, Steam and Superstitions A to Z.

Each day I’m hoping to write a flash fiction about a superstition in the steampunk or dieselpunk genre. There might even be a touch of atompunk tossed in we’ll just have to see. J

It’s going to be a challenge to keep with the theme, but I have always loved superstition stories. They can be creepy, scary or just good food for thought. So I’ve got a lot of research to do on different superstitions.

To add to the daily chaos of story writing I’ve also signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. Yes, I am crazy but Camp NaNo is a NaNoWriMo lite. You can choose your word count from 10k to 1 million words. You can choose to do short stories, novel revision, poetry or even a script!

this will work rather well.

 

An extra awesome feature this year is the ability to create a private cabin so your writing circle can be added to that one cabin instead of randomly assigned to a cabin.

Challenges like Blogging from A to Z and  NaNo can really push your limits but they also make a writer accountable and help us build or rebuild our daily writing habits. They keep us encouraged and even if we’re behind on counts or letters they make us want to keep going.

Other challenges like Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) does the same but in a different way. We’re accountable for our weekly goals. Reporting in makes us take a look and focus on what’s important to our writing lives. Sometimes real life goals added in.

The write life isn’t always an easy one, we’re struggling artists in our craft and sometimes we just need that kick in the arse to keep us motivated. Challenges and blog hops help us do that in a fun way where we get to cheer on fellow writers in the fray.

ROW 80 Goals

Last week’s goals:

Write 1k daily  Check, on various things, was able to write 1k daily

Get 3 teacup hats completed I was able to complete half of one. lol It just wasn’t a week to be crafty I guess J

Get blog back on track with at least 3 posts per week   Check! Had 3 posts last week yay!

Start working on Blogging from A to Z Challenge posts  Nope but there’s a legit reason for that one. NaNo rules state that you can’t start on projects until 12am April 1^st. So I will be slinging out that first post for A to Z as soon as the clock strikes 12.

This week’s goals:

1. Write 2k daily to keep up the short story pace *gulp I think I can I think I can I think I can!

2. Three posts on blog this week.

3. Get those 3 dang hats done!

Teacup Hat! 

Are you taking one of the above challenges? What do you do to make yourself accountable to your goals? 

Want to visit more blogs revealing their A to Z theme (Most will be up on the 23rd I'm a day early :) click HERE or check out the awesome goal making wizards of ROW80? Click HERE Have fun reading and maybe finding an awesome challenge for yourself! 

WeWriWa & Camp NaNo

This is the first week of Camp NaNoWrimo! For those who don't know what that is, NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month, participants race to write a 50,000 word first draft in 30 days.  The main NaNo event takes place in the month of November but Camp NaNo takes place in April and July. It's kind of a NaNo Light, you can choose your word count starting at 10,000 words.

Yes, it's probably a little nuts to try and write 50k words in just 30 days. Yet it is also exhilarating, inspiring, and just plain fun! It forces your brain to shut off that inner editor and inner voice that says that might not be good enough, that sentence doesn't sound right, and lets you just fill the page with your story.

This week for Weekend Writing Warriors I'm going to share 8 sentences from my Camp NaNo WIP, Worth. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this new thriller.

Blurb:

Dean Cross waited impatiently for his estranged wife to step off her flight. He has hope that after three years of separation they can put their marriage back together again. The last passenger disembarked, no Lucinda. Had she missed the flight, changed her mind?

Kidnapping isn’t just a crime; it’s a multimillion dollar business. Most believe only rich kids or missionaries in a foreign country are held for ransom. The Cross’ find out anyone can be taken, it only matters what you're worth.

8 Sentence Excerpt

The stranger stepped over to the sink next to Lucinda. She glanced over with a friendly grin. “Anxious about flying?”

Lucinda gave her back a slight grin back in an attempt to be polite. “No, anxious about the destination.” She pulled a couple of towels from the machine, the crinkle of the rough paper echoed in the empty bathroom she rubbed her hands dry.

Lucinda turned from the woman to drop the towels in the trash, when a cloth covered her nose and mouth. She tried to move away, but was trapped by the woman's body and the sinks. Lucinda struggled to pull the hand from her face, but that only made her feel more woozy.

Lucinda tried to scream, but the deep breath she took to belt one out made the room spin. The next second the room turned grayish and hazy as she felt her body go limp in the stranger’s arms.

To read other great Weekend Writing Warrior excerpts go HERE

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WeWriWa 8 sentences from Outlaw Born

Welcome to my second post as a Weekend Writing Warrior. *swings nunchucks. Goes well until, smack... rubs nose as she tosses nunchucks over her shoulder* Maybe I should stick to the pen as my weapon of choice. 

Anywhoo... My focus was totally blown this week and didn't get much writing done on WIPs, but it was still a good week. Finished bullet points for my Camp NaNo project and while rereading the first part of this WIP I fell in love with Ben Mason all over again. I remembered how strong, fearless and sometimes utterly ruthless he could be and how much fun he is to write. I hope you enjoy the next snippet of Outlaw Born.

Blurb:

Orphaned young and raised by a preacher's family Benjamin Mason became a good man. He wanted to forget and erase his real father's legacy of blood and violence from their name for his own son.

Then tragedy struck. The law wouldn’t give him justice, so he would take it. After all, wasn’t he born to be this kind of man, an outlaw filled with hell and vengeance in his blood? Ben Mason is outlaw born.

8 Sentence Excerpt: 

The twelve-pound Napoleon cannons would settle the odds in favor of the blue. The Federals were out of range for the Rebs artillery, one fact of the day Ben was more than thankful.

The enemy still approached, but no volley had begun. Ben looked back toward the large artillery. The two cannons were unmanned. His heart fell. He knew this battle would be over quickly if they couldn’t thin out that line.

Ben turned to the trenches as Confederate fire began to rain down. “Charlie, Dawson with me.”

To read other great Weekend Writing Warrior excerpts go HERE

Stalk me on the web and find my other published novels here... 

Amazon  

Official Site 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Goodreads 

G+ 

Pinterest 

Smashwords 

Instagram 

LinkedIn 

3 Tips for Goal Success

July 1^st has arrived with promises of adventure and achievement over the next 80 days. Round 3 of Round

of Words has begun and the goals for the quarter have been set.

Round 3 Goals

 1. July 1^st is also the first day of Camp NaNoWrimo! 30 days of novling around the campfire. A new perk for campers this year is the ability to set your own word count. So my first goal is to meet my set camp goal of 25k.

2. Complete camp novel and start Edits

3. Finish out my Hospitality Management degree.

The plan for successfully meeting these goals for now is to simply take it one day at a time.  Far too often goals and stresses can overwhelm. We have a tendency to expect more and pressure ourselves more than anyone else.

Here are 3 tips for keeping the forward momentum through it all.

1. Break down your goal into daily bites. Daily goals allow for a realistic approach and the flexibility to make adjustments for the large scale. Plus those daily successes can build confidence and make you feel good about yourself.

2.  Don’t sweat the big stuff. Stress and pressure are the two biggest goal killers. Stress can make you physically sick if it’s prolonged. LIFE will always show up and it will be unexpected. The key to keeping the momentum moving forward instead of stress slamming the breaks is to not sweat it.

Have a moment or two of holy cow that suck monkey nuts. Then get over it. Let it go and look at the big picture a head. Honestly what does stressing over something do? Many times it can keep you from finding a solution and make things even more stressful. 

As the saying goes this too shall pass. Look at your goals and make some adjustments then put the gloves back on and get in the ring for the next match.

3. Celebrate. Celebrate even the smallest successes. Those happy dances can get you over those moments that LIFE throws at you. Celebrating helps you remember that you can make it on those days when achievement seems impossible. Making a big deal out of the small stuff can even take the sting out of the failures. Giving you the momentum to keep going and not give up.

Now ring the bell my gloves are on and I’m ready to step into the ring of Round 3 for the knock out.

How about you? 

Want to know more about Round of Words in 80 Days just click on the button to the left :) 

April Altitudes

Flying High

I’m still on a high after participating in such an awesome author event, Authors in the Park: Spring into Art. There were eleven other authors in the event held in the Renaissance Building in Mt. Dora, Florida. I was able to get acquainted with some wonderful authors as well as introduce new readers to my books.

A big highlight was a local book reviewer offered to review my books. Just check out the video below for all the wordtastic fun we had. If you’re a Central Florida author you should definitely look into Authors in the Park sponsored by JLB Creatives and MillerWords.com you can find them on Facebook at Authors in the Park.

Reaching High

April 1^st is the begging of Round 2 for A Roundof Words in 80 Days. This round has some lofty goals considering I signed up for both Camp NaNo and The Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Both these events start today as well and If you’re interested sign ups are still open on all three! I’ve also been diving back into my studies for a degree in Hospitality Management.

I’m going to reach high with all of these goals and other projects dropped in along the way, but I’m not going to be ridged when things get shaky. With that many clouds in the sky turbulence is to be expected and course adjustments made along the way. With that in mind here are my goal lists.

Round 2 Goals

1. Finish the Blogging from A to Z challenge (Made it so close last year!)

2. Make my 25k word count set for Camp NaNo (awesome feature setting your own word count goals this year.) That should give this novel a good kick-start.

3. Complete the above mentioned novel rough draft by the end of Round 

4. Complete 2 classes in school

5. Clean out my bedroom closet. (Goodwill is gonna love me :)

Goals for Round 2 Week 1

1. Post daily for A to Z

2. Make daily word count of 834 words for Camp NaNo

3. Take next exam this week for studies.

4. Work 20 minutes at least 3 days this week on the dark pit closet.

I hope I don’t pull an Icarus and fly too close to the sun with everything I’ve packed into April. Regardless, I’m heading for high altitudes thinking about how satisfying it will be crossing bits of this list off. I did pack my parachute just in case though. :)

What have you packed into your April? How do you handle lofty goals?

Summer Camps for Writers

Camp NaNoWriMo

June is right around the corner, which means summer, fun and… camp! Campfires with ghost stories, smores, hot dogs on sticks and writing lots and lots of writing.

Camp NaNoWriMo starts on June 1^st.  Just like it’s big brother NaNoWriMo that takes place in November writers gather to make the mad dash of 50,000 words in 30 days.

At Camp NaNo you have a profile, novel page, a place to log your word count as often as you wish to update it. Instead of forums, writers get a cabin with four other campers to chat with and share all the adventures.

This is a great way to give that novel a summer push. If one month of Camp NaNo is this much fun, how about two months?  There is a second session of camp that takes place in August. Writers can chose to do June, August or both. Despite the pressure to make that 17667 daily word count, the atmosphere of camp is more relaxed.

Marketing for Romance Writers Summer Camp

If you’re looking for a little less pressure July 14^th -15^th Marketing for Romance Writers is holding a free summer conference of their own.

A workshop called Opportunity knocks. MFRW’s motto is Seek, teach, learn, share succeed. The conference will cover many aspects of marketing for writers. The group is mostly romance writers but this conference will provide tools and information that all genres can put to use.

Author Dahlia DeWinters will be stopping by the Ludis June 1^st to tell you more about the event and group. So be sure to drop back by.

This summer there are many great opportunities for learning, writing and fun. So grab your backpack and bear repellent and let’s go to camp!