What Am I Doing On Christmas Eve?

We don't celebrate Christmas in our house so I'm making cheesecakes for my friends' holiday celebrations. I've cleaned the living room, did dishes, swept floors and dusted. Then my ex-boyfriend messages me on facebook. He's in an emotional tornado and wants my help. Guess what I agree to. I have him coming over to talk. How stupid can I be. The only time we talk is when he is having problems. If I had a doctorate I'd be getting paid tons of money for this. Why do I always help him and a few others like him? Is it because I know I can or is it a deep seated wishing I had a boyfriend? I have learned from mistakes that I do NOT need a man to have a fulfilled life. My mom thought she needed to stay with an abusive man to be happy. It tore her heart out in the end. I knew then I would never need a man. I still ended up in a few relationships that were just for companionship.  Guess some of us have to learn from experience.

Well, my ex is coming over and I will talk with him. I'll remember all the reasons why we are no longer together and forbid myself to get attached again.

I'm going to spend the next week looking at my mistakes and triumphs to better understand myself. I need to lose weight, eat better and get a handle on my emotions before I fall apart. My resolution for 2015 will be:
Take meds every day(I do it now)
Exercise
Write
Read
Cook healthy meals
Not look out the window and wonder if the grass is greener on the other side
Talk to my kids rather than speak at them

These should help me with all my issues.

Look for excerpts after the new year. I promise you ate least one.

Happy Holidays!

A Long Day!

Today is another day where all I want to do is cuddle up with a blanket and a great sexy book. Well, I'm not going to get time for it. As a single parent I have to clean the house AGAIN, figure out what to fix for dinner and still find time to write.
Here's my schedule:
10am-clean living room
11am- write
12pm- eat something
1pm- clean kitchen/ do dishes (daughter made monkey bread and left a mess)
2pm- write
3pm- have after school snack ready
4pm- start dinner
5pm- dinner and clean up
6pm- watch House
7:30pm- clean bathroom
8pm- write
9pm- get ready for bed
9:30pm- bedtime!!!
Yes it's a busy day. I'm thinking of editing my very first attempt of a novel. 'Inevitable Destinyz' needs a lot of edits and possibly split it into 2 novels since it's so long.
Thinking of posting an excerpt later this week.

Only good news is that I'm loving tsu.co. Hop over and join in. It's a lot like facebook but you see all friends posts.
https://www.tsu.co/jessi47

Hope to hear from you soon.

Writing is Hard

As I write today I realise that it's not easy. I have 1 that needs editing like crazy and 3 that needs to be finished. Why can't I just stay focused on 1 of them. Yep, you guessed it, plot bunnies driving me in so many directions.
Excerpt from #WIP3

Tasmina didn’t know where she was going but she knew she had to get away from him. How could this be happening? Her life was just getting on track, school, being able to walk around without fear’ well much fear anyway.  It was a life she thought she’d never have after everything she’d went through as a pup. She had thought it was in the past, now he brought it to the front of her thoughts. Thoughts she didn’t want back. Once she slowed down she scented to see if anyone was following her, no she was alone. The only scent she found was that of the stream running through the land. Knowing the visiting wolves weren’t allowed there she sat down. Thoughts of Amos and the dungeon rushed back. Feeling as though she was in it she began to shake, sweat and fear was rolling off her. This was how it would be with Elijah. He was of old days, kept his pack in order with whippings. Another thing she was all too familiar with. Though the scars on her back had healed without the faintest line, her inner scars were there to stay. She can’t go through that again and she wouldn’t. If that went going anomic then so be it. She had left her tracking sense open to keep herself safe, now she scented a male within a few yards. One she wasn’t familiar with. Must be one of those looking for their true-mate, something she never thought of doing. Tracking his movement she sensed he moved in another direction, to a path that was further away from her. Wondering why others wanted to mate, she thought of how her parents had been. They were true-mates and died within six months of each other, she being only four. Memories of them were faint but she knew they loved each other with all they had. Pictures of them holding hands and smiling at each other when they thought no one was looking made her wolf stir.

(c) Jessica Markley 2014

See not my best work but it's the first draft so I'll go with it for now. Back to fingers flying over the keyboard. #WriteClub today. Hoping to hit 5k new words. More updates soon.

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. 

How I use Timelines

I thought since I showed y'all how I use Scrivener it was time to show you Aeon Timeline.

Aeon is by second best writing tool. Of course Scrivener is my bestest. Scribble Code has come up with an easy way to track events in your novel with Aeon Timeline. As we explore Aeon keep in mind this is the way I use it. Everyone will use it differently.

Many like the idea there are several options to time periods. As you can see here; you have the basics along with the ability to create your own. This helps in world building. I use the normal BC-AD for my novels. 

As you can see here is part of my time line for my serials. I have 2 arcs open with the characters below. Their ages are added when you add an event that includes them. At the top you have you dates and at the bottom you have a slider bar to move quickly over long periods of time. I use this the most since my WIP is over 1000s of years. 

The arcs are easy to flip back and forth to. You can have several open or just one. I usually have the MC I'm working on and the Birth/Death arc open. The Characters are always open in mine. All my arcs are color coded as are my characters by generation or who's book they are going to be in. (That's if the characters cooperate.)

Here is an event on my global arc. As you can see to the right is the open inspector. It contains everything about the event. Time, date, label (which is the MC for me), Arc it's in, and of course the title. As you can tell this is in Dalara's book and it's in the Global arc under Dalara's label. 

This is one of my favorite options; the ability to lock events so you don't accidentally move it. Once I have the date set I lock the event. And believe me I have deleted events or moved them years from where they should be.







Here is my character listing. You can see that there are a few different colors and their ages are visible. This is one feature I love since some of my characters are over 2000 years old.

Here is my Birth/Death arc. I record births in pink and deaths in black. This is scrolled in as to see as much of the time line births as we can. 

So, that's how I use Scrivener Timeline. It's simple and easy. Plus it's one of the few easy ones that won't break your bank. They sponsor NaNoWriMo and I bought mine at discount when I won last year. Check out their free trial. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

Scrivener: Why I Love It!

Scrivener has made my life much easier as I achieve to be a published author. Before, I was lost. I had note cards scattered throughout the house, notebooks (about 50) laying around the house and always screamed when I couldn't find the one I needed at the moment.
I am a free writer, as in I never do an outline per-say. I get my characters, some idea of what I want them to do and write. Usually my characters never do what I thought they would. Scrivener has changed all that ciaos of tracking my characters mind-changing events. Example: I had planned on two certain characters to get together but in the current WIP the girl is liking a different guy than I intended.

Reasons:

1.) Scrivener allows me to import research, photos,  MS Word docs. This helps with organizing it all in one place. You don't have to have 50 million screens open and bounce between them.

2.) Cork-board mode is my best friend. Here I can have my note cards and move them around. In Scrivener, every document is attached to a virtual index card onto which you can jot a synopsis; moving the cards on Scrivener’s corkboard rearranges their associated text in your draft. Mark common themes or content using labels, or stack cards, grouping related documents together. I have folders for each wolf pack with all their pack members. I can click on the folder and see everyone's photo I have suggested for them. You can also move you chapters and scenes around to re-order them in corkboard mode.  I can just drag the notes cards to re-order them. As mine are in order of rank at the moment. It would be easy and take less than a minute to change that to age. I have the definitions is alphabetical order but had them in order they appeared at first. It took me 3 minutes to move the note cards around.


3.) Ease of moving things around. As I said it's easy to move your notes, research, chapters, scenes and characters in cork-board mode. It is also easy to move them around in the binder. All you have to do is drag what you want moved and move it! It's that simple.

4.) Being able to have photos on your note-cards has me jumping every time I open the screen. Having them to jog my memory as to what someone or some place looks like is easier than opening up my pictures on my computer. They are right there. And the split-screen makes it quick work to look up a fact on a note-card.

5.) I love the fact that I can color code everything in my binders. As you can see below I have changed their look. It makes it easier the click the correct one without reading the names.  You can also code your note cards. The coloring can be all of it or just some of it, like I have. Or it can be just the outside border.

6.) It makes it easier for me to start another novel in my series by dragging the info from one project to a new one. I don't have to retype it all in. Everything is there with a click or 2.

7.) I love that it tracks my word counts for each session and the whole document. It keeps me on track with my daily word counts. Below is my current WIP. As you can see it allows you to set the whole document goal and the session goal. AS you progress the bars turn color. When you get really close to your goal it turns green!

8.) The name generator has been a big help. I can set it for regions of the world and click 'generate' and is comes up with a list of names. Settings can be male/female, first/last names, meanings, and you can import others.  I usually use this for last names rather than first of middle and I change the spelling if it's for a current character.

9.) The full screen makes it easier for me, personally, to edit. It blocks out all the distractions of windows I might have open.

10.) Compiling into e-pub for makes it easy for me to proof-read it anywhere. I have done it while waiting for the kids to get out of school or at the doctor's office. All I do is upload it to my NOOK.

There are many other things that can be done with the program but I haven't learned everything yet. Learning everything I can do may take years but as I go, I learn a little more and the more I love it. Windows version is a little behind Mac but they are working on it. I have been working on Binders but haven't had a need for them yet. Some use it to track all their blogging, not me; at least not yet. 

If you prefer a more traditional planning environment? View and edit the synopses and meta-data of your documents in Scrivener’s powerful outliner. Organize your ideas using as many or few levels as you want and drag and drop to restructure your work. Check word counts, see what’s left to do using the Status column. Scrivener’s outliner is easy on the eyes, too, making it ideal for reading and revising an overview of a section, chapter or even the whole draft.

Others I have talked with say,

' It's a must for me.  Keeps everything all in one place.'

' I adore Scrivener - it allows me to visually order scenes & keep everything open. Plus character & research tabs.'

' I have full versions for both PC & Mac! Still hoping for iOS.'


Get a free 30 day use version of Scrivener at http://www.literatureandlatte.com/index.php
If you're not sure watch the tutorials and get more of an idea of how it can help you with your writing.

*All screenshots are mine. The photos are from Literature&Latte's website.
**This blog is my opinion and mine alone. I am not paid for my views on the product. 

A Tiny Excerpt from Dalara

Here is a tiny excerpt of Dalara. The 1st in my un-named series. It's a paranormal love story; we have werewolves, love, struggle, life-changing events and a heroin that rises to the occasion!

"Dalara was in the living room trying to figure out what was going on with her and Sage. After years of being healthy, why had she begun to have the illness that plagued her four to five times a year, now? What would she have done if Sage hadn’t been with her? Someone would have called an ambulance and she would be stuck in the hospital for weeks being poked and prodded again. Then she wondered why Sage had been so attentive. He didn’t seem too worried about taking care of her last night or this morning. Shit! She thought, she remembered she had put him in a situation that he hadn’t felt comfortable with, removing her clothes. She had never been shy about being naked as most she knew growing up. It had always puzzled her to some point. She was going to have to apologize to Sage. She had no right to ask him to remove her clothes."

Hoping to have the editing done by July and ready for publication. It has been a long process and not enjoyable at times. Frustration of characters changing their minds, writer's-block, and home-life stress. Now things seem to be falling into place and life, writing and kids are back on track.

Since I started up GetWordies on Twitter and run wordsprints I have had an easier time at getting things to flow in place.

New Found Author 2!

Katie Reus

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.


As an Indie Author she inspires many of us aspiring authors to write and publish.







I became hooked with a multi-author collection 'Wicked Firsts'

Overview:
FIRST SURRENDER by Katie Reus

He’s dangerous, sexy, and everything she wants. And he’s about to make his claim…

Hayden, the dangerously sexy, tattooed ex-SEAL is one of the best friends Sierra has ever had—and the main star in her wildest fantasies. But he doesn’t see her that way. And she’d die of embarrassment if he found out she was still a virgin.

Hayden’s struggled to keep his attraction to the beautiful, dark haired casino chef a secret. But when an attacker targets Sierra, Hayden’s protective instincts go into overdrive. With the attraction between them burning out of control, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her and make her his.


Katie's Writings:
Red Stone Secret Series (8 books)
Deadly Ops Series (2 books)
The Serafina: Sin City Series (3 books)
Moon Shifter Series (6 books)
Darkness Series (2 books)
8 Paranormal Novellas
8 Single Title Works (non-series Romantic Suspense)
Multi-author collections (3 books)


Get her books at BnN and Amazon.

Find Katie on Website, Facebook, Twitter.

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

*In accordance with FTC guidelines/regulations for bloggers and endorsements, please note that all the books reviewed on this blog were either purchased by me or provided to me by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review and nothing else. I gain nothing in return for the review other than the book itself. My reviews are my honest opinion and remain uninfluenced despite the source(s) through which I obtained the book(s).

Camping 1st Week

I haven't gotten much accomplished on my WIP-Naleena this week. I do plan on busting my butt this weekend to get ahead of my word count because I will not be able to write 2 more days this month.

Excerpt from 'Naleena' my CampNaNoWriMo WIP.

Takoda ran his hands over his face; he had missed an important meeting and now regretted it. “My orders?” he finally asked.
“None. You have not shown you are ready. You shall continue to run the bar and be Beta. That means you must act as Beta not a low ranking pack member.” Drewdon stated in his formal tone.
Shame fell over Takoda and the Council could smell it. “In time Young One, you shall take your place in the changes. Sooner than you may think.”
Drewdon was always cryptic, as was all of Council. Zane was more blunt most of the time. “That means what?” he looked at them. “If I may inquire that is?”
“Time will show you.” Zane said and Council just walked out without another word. They were known for not saying good-byes or telling anyone the conversation was over. It frustrated everyone that wasn’t older than a hundred. How did the thousand years old deal with that kind of stuff when it was the way of life? Well that was one question that was never going to get answered. He packed up some papers and went home for a shower and food. 

 I am loving Camp and I'm meeting tons of new people with things in common. I'm keeping a 'camp' journal here online. As you can see I still have tons to do. I forgot to add finish making up the freezer meals. I still have about 5 to do.

If you noticed I need to get male MC (Takoda) to express his feelings and as all women know it's hard. At least I have figured out the flashback parts and have lots of notes on that. It will make the 2nd part fly out of my fingers fast.

One thing that has had me to procrastinate is my son has informed me he is taking a Creative Writing class that he will have to write a book next school year. He keeps coming to me asking all kinds of questions so I have written out several steps he needs to take before writing. Now he's working on characters... 'Mom, can he have white hair and be 26 years old?' I told him his characters can be and do anything he wants but they may have a mind of their own at times and not get pissy about that.

Now I am off to kick Takoda's butt and get him to do what I want him to.
Have a wonderful weekend full of reading and writing.