It's That Time Again

I finally finished Dalara a few weeks ago. My beta readers have it. I also completed the novella that come after it. Yes, I've been busy. The novella needs a few changes but will be off to the beta readers soon. You would not believe the feeling I got when I finished. I was excited and jumping up and down for a few minutes. Then I dove into the novella, Tasmina. The the anxiety hit, I really sent Dalara off to others. Someone is reading it and OMG! What if they hate it and I suck? So, I decided to get ready for CampNaNoWriMo, takes place in April. With CampNaNo, I can work on current projects or new ones, unlike NaNoWriMo in November. I have completed transferring over the information from Tasmina over to Naleena. I do this so I can keep track of character changes and places added. It's so simple with Scrivener. All I have to do is drag and drop from one project to another. Then I set up a new parent group on Aeon Timeline. For this all I had to do was a few clicks and some words. With Aeon I have all the projects of the series  there, as you can see here.

You can see that each story of assumed story is lined up in order of when I think they should happen. I will probably change them around or change who is involved with those after Naleena. Each event that I write about will get placed in as below shows for Dalara.

I have a few notes written out and ready to go but this is what my desktop looks like.

 

Now I just need words on the page. Remember to sign up for CampNaNo during March. I usually do it around the 7th.

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Middle of July

CampNaNoWriMo July edition is half over and I have already reached my goals. The sad thing is that it'll all get archived and forgotten, probably for years. It sucks, I hate it but at least I got words down. With that said I have come up with a novella series and I'm working on it. This series will out of my norm cause it's not about shifters but non-sparkly vampires. They will be fast paced and of course have naughty-naughty scenes. I might even self-publish these before I do anything else. Yes, I haven't published anything yet, truth be told only 1 person has read my works. Though it is understandable with my anxiety and OCD (obsessive compulsion disorder). I hyper-ventilate just thinking about someone reading my stuff.
So far the main characters are named; banana, orange and plum. I haven't found a name that fits their personality yet.

SO, with all that said, why do I write?

Well, I started out writing for my daughter and to keep me busy without a job or internet. Kiddo-2 read Twilight in kindergarten. By the time she was in 2nd grade there were almost no books she could read that didn't have sex in it. I wrote and wrote for over a year and ended up with over 180k words. Once I started reading more I found a new genre to write and with a lot of sex. I've gone back over my 1st work and it'll take tons of editing. Too many main characters and their situations. I just haven't found a way to split it up since it all happens at the same time and I love my characters.
My adult characters are keeping me fairly sane and it's the reason why I am still writing. Like I've said before writing is a thing therapists suggest for certain things. For  me, it helps. I have met others it doesn't work.

Update on Kids

Kiddo-2 is spending time with grandma and hasn't been too bad. She calls every day and we talk. We have agreed she has to  spend a weekend home this month and she chose the last one of course. I talked to her supposed-ex-boy-friend and jumped his shit for what he did while kiddo-2 was hiding. She is going to therapy and talking to the behavioral therapist as well. She really wants to come home and be the girl I knew before this last November.

Kiddo-1 has just begun to kiss my butt. After over a month he decides he needs his mommy. Yep, I knew it was coming. He has apologized for causing trouble and of course he needed help buying food. Yes, I've helped him a tiny bit but nowhere near as much as I did before everything happened.  I have split feelings about him being in my life. I love him, there is no question in that. I just don't know if I can trust him. I'll make an effort to keep him in my life as long as he continues on his current choice. He has admitted that his un-medicated bipolar played a part in the whole situation. This was something I already knew but for him to admit it was a huge step. He has set up an appointment for the end of the month to get back on meds. I'm not holding my breath that he'll take the pills but I can hope.

Disability- Money-Bills

My disability claim should be going to court in the next couple of months. I know I'll end up getting it but it is stressful. I check my e-mail several times a day hoping that my attorney has sent me a date for court. I wish it had already been approved since the system messed up my paperwork for state assistance for the 3rd time in the last 18 months. I usually get the money on the 1st of every month but for July I haven't received anything yet and won't until the 24th. Luckily my ex-MIL helped out with bills. I'll pay her back when I get the money. I'm hoping soon this crap will be done with and I won't have to worry about the paperwork every 3 months.

Neighbors

This apartment complex sucks ass. I have an anxiety attack every time I have to take out my trash or check the mail. I have been waiting until dark to do either. Though this last week I sat outside with 1 neighbor and her kids... well kiddo-1 was out there too. Staying inside cause of idiots isn't healthy but soon I'll be able to afford a different place. I try and go over to one neighbors once a week for a bit and have kept to it for 5 weeks.

I am not a doctor or therapist, seek a medical professional if you have thoughts of suicide, homicide, or any other health issues. My words should not replace a professional's advice.

Summer Writing& Update

It's a beautiful summer and what am I doing? Not much. I've kept the house clean and that's about it. No writing and almost no reading, just OCD watching Netflix. I hate when I get in this phase. All I can focus on is the next episode...

CampNaNo is a struggle but I've been trying to get words written. This WIP (work in progress) has a slow start. Not sure how the characters are going to react so planning is not happening. I have set up my Timeline and Scrivener project for it.
I am hoping to finish CampNaNo so I can get the discount to purchase Aeon Timeline 2. It looks great and easier to use.

Now for psyc update....
Due to the drama here at the apartment complex my shrink has me at maximum dosage of all medications. I really wish I could afford to move because I don't think I should have to medicate more than normal because people can't stop gossiping.
I have also been denied disability and I'm in the process of appealing it. More stress. It shouldn't take too long since I have more doctors reports to add and they all say 'You should NOT work. You don't know your rage triggers and may never.'

What reading I have done:
Red Stone Security by Katie Reus
It's not my normal paranormal romance I read but I am hooked. Katie Reus keeps the pace of the plot moving. Each character has a unique history that makes relationships hard.

Back At It Finally

It had been over a year since I have posted here. I feel like I've been gone for over a decade.

The last year has been hectic and then some.

My son graduated high school last spring. He moved in with his dad, did 1 year of college and now decided to just work full-time. He has already gotten a raise in only 2 weeks!!!As of now I'm dealing with the fallout of his father trying to disown him. Yeah for me!
This year my little girl graduated middle school. In the fall my baby girl will begin her chapter of High School. It makes me feel old.

After my son moved out I had to move from a 3 bedroom to a 2 bedroom. Yep, that's right. I live in low income housing and 1 adult and 1 kid only gets a 2 bedroom, which I understand. I had to move on one of the hottest days last August. It about killed me. Now I'm in an apartment 2/3 smaller. I had to downsize a lot. After almost a year, we have finally settled in and I'm somewhat organized.

When my son moved out, quickly, I hadn't had time to adjust the loss of child support so I lost my internet and had to fork over a huge deposit for the 2 bedroom.

This month I finally am caught up and have enough stashed to pay 6 months of bills. That means internet too!!! It has been a long road but I have made it this far and my stress level has lowered.  Well, after yesterday.
Monday, I was to have internet. Well, the UPS driver decided, himself, that I needed to sign for the modem and he had come while I was gone. This, even after I called Friday to verify I didn't need to be here. I called the second I got home, they sent a message to the driver and he was not in the area. That meant I had to pay the neighbor to take me to pick it up. The office is 32 miles from my apartment.

When I got home I had to wait until 8pm. At about 8:30pm I plugged the modem and all that crap in....
It didn't work!
I call the internet company, they would send a tech out in the morning. So after waiting a year and getting my hopes up, I had to wait. These events sent me into a rage episode. I threw a bunch of things and put a whole in the wall AGAIN!
Tuesday morning the tech was here 9 minutes after the 9am-noon arrival time. In 10 minutes he had my internet up and running.
Guess what the problem was...
When they remodeled my apartment they hooked up all the phone jacks up backwards! WTF!!!
Friday he came back and replaced the jack. Hmm... still dropping internet for about a minute ever hours. Internet is still dropping out for a minute every so often which means the tech will be back on Monday to check the outside line.
I am online and getting back into my routine. Yes, I can live without internet in my home but once I was up and running a weight lifted off me. Probably because now my daughter won't complain all the time about not having WiFi.

Another thing that has me ticked a bit. My AC (air conditioner) leaks in the apartment and has since I moved in here last August. They have to replace the wall box it sits in. They ordered it finally two weeks ago. Guess what, it's back-ordered. So, last year I had to deal with it leaking cause I wasn't going to deal with the dry heat when we had it. This year wasps decided to build a lovely nest, so no AC right now. Luckily one of my neighbors let me stay in her apartment even when she's gone.

Working on @GetWordies writathon for CampNaNoWriMo next month. I can't wait to start my project July 1st. It's another project that has been haunting me for months. I'll be post excepts from past WIP (work in progress), Jasper's Mate, soon on my page 'My Writings'.

Writer's Stuck?!?!?!

Behind is not where I wanted to be. I wanted over 35k words written for NaNoWriMo and I'm stuck at 21k. Though I am ahead of the 1667 words daily, it is frustrating. I know The storyline, my characters changed it a bit but nothing I can't handle.

So, why did I refuse to write for 3 days? I thought it was because my Main character decided to switch the man she would end up with. That had worked itself out the first night I didn't write. I wrote for 13 hours with #WriteClub at @FriNightWrites Thursday and then stopped.
Maybe an overload? I wrote so much in that time I might have fried some neurons.

Maybe my normal November depression is hitting? Yeah, i miss my mom but it's not as bad this year, at least I don't think it is. It's for her that I participate in NaNoWriMo. Her love for reading was more than anyone I know. She would have a book in her hands 24/7 if she could have. There was on in her purse, one in the car, one by her bed and of course one in her hand. SHe could read, watch TV and eat all at once. I've never mastered that nor do I think I will. SO, All in all I don't think it's depression.

With 20 days left I believe I can make it to 50k plus more, hopefully. I'm not very optimistic. Never have been never will be.

On a good note, I met an author that wants to read my dribble when it's done. Not going to hold my breath to hear it's good.. I know it sucks but I write it any way. Why, you ask. Hmm... good question.
I guess to leave the real world behind and hide within mine. I have total control over it (for the most part) and Nothing bad happens to me.

I guess that's all for now. I'm hoping to get back here before the end of the month.

Getting Myself Ready!

I haven't been writing much as of lately. This is not a good thing. I should be writing daily. So, with this I have zero links in my Write Chain Challenge. That makes me a bit discouraged. I had made it to link 58 and then broke it.

They may be cute but dangerous!

As I have just under 38.5 hours until NaNoWriMo starts, I am trying not the be anxious over it. I finished last year and I will this year. Though the plotbunnies are trying to get me started early. They have been running over the plots and the emotions of certain scenes. For those who don't know what plotbunnies are are cute but they are the ideas that keep sidetracking one from the plot or the things you talk to when you look like you're talking to yourself. Or a story idea that refuses to go away until its written. They are great at stressing you out and driving you insane at times. Outsiders (non-writers) tend to think you are schizophrenic; that is not the case though.

Scrivener all set up.

As preparing for NaNoWriMo, I have found that a character is not going to be easy to control in my writing. She is independant and mouthy. Why did I create her like that? Well, she is bound to make it very interesting. My Scrivener is up and ready for my NaNoWriMo WIP. My

Timeline all ready to go.

Aeon Timeline is ready to go and set for this novel. The time line was easier than Scrivener since all I did was make another arc. Yeah I know; the arcs are for the changes in a single story. I use them to separate the sequels in my series. I helps me more that using it normal.

With the 3 writathons going on between @GetWordies and @FriNightWrites I should be at 35k by the 15th. If not finished to 50k. 3 weekends of writing will definitely get me passed 30k.

Holiday plans:
If I hit 40k by the20th I will have Turkey day on the 30th. Otherwise it will be December 6th. My family is spares and not that into holidays other than Solstices and Samhain.

If you notice, I have completed my Reading Challenge ahead of schedule. 40 books this year. That will give me time to get all the writing done.

GOOD LUCK with NaNoWriMo folks. 

NaNoPrep Moving Along

With less than a week to go, I have most of my prep done for NaNoWriMo. Here's what's completed:

• Plots determined
• Twists (if characters let it happen that way)
• Characters 
• Character relationships (though they may change my mind)
• Places described and arranged  
• Title and title to the series (at least I think)
• Started writing 2000 word daily
• Aeon timeline set up
• Scrivener set up
• Calendar set and marked for all the writathons
• Word count meters setup 

This week has been good and hoping that this next week I need to get more done. I have most of my housework (Fall Cleaning) done. That is always a must before November and NaNoWriMo gives me that extra push.
SO, here is what has been done in my house:

• Scrubbed all floors on hands and knees
• Cleaned washer 
• Removed all lint from dryer vent
• Washed every dish in the house with soapy bleach water
• Wiped out cupboards
• Scrubbed & disinfected bathroom
• Vacuumed all carpet twice
• Washed rugs, curtains and bedding (I do bedding every other week though)
• Wiped all light switches and door knobs with Clorox wipes
• Dusted everything (picture frames included)
• Cleaned frig and freezer (inside & out)
• Cleaned microwave and oven
• Cleaned inside windows
• Re-arranged the living room for winter

There! See I have been very busy. Now on the 3rd I'll do my monthly grocery shopping and then prepare freezer meals for the month. Oh! And make NaNo snacks. @GetWordies has tons of meals, freezer meals and snackies on their blog and on Pinterest.  With 25 meals prepped and ready my kids can just toss them in the microwave, crockpot, or slap together a salad or sandmich. I think freezer meals were invented for NaNoWriMo. 

Kids will get their rooms done in the next few days so the whole house will be done before the 1st!

As for writing, I started what was to be an adult novella. It seems to be turning into a YA that will link with the series I'm working on. Don't know how that happened but it did. That one will be call 'Sara' I think. Maybe "Sara's Coming of Age". I guess I'll figure it out later.