Hi Ho Hi Ho- Back to Writing I Go

An update on my health....I am cancer free and can wait 1 year rather than 6 months for paps & mammograms. If you don't get regular check-ups and cancer screenings PLEASE do! They can save your life.

Writing is a distraction and coping tool for my bipolar and anxiety. Writing places in my world and it's less stressful there. Though it can be stressful if you are struggling with the plots, characters and many other things. Over the last week I have noticed a change in my behavior and moods. They have been better.
I have jumped back into my writing. I started 'Love of Nessa' (might change title) this last week. I have been writing every day and a few of them I wrote over 1500 words when my goal is 500.
I'm trying out Scapple, a mind mapping program. Never really plotted my stories and I doubt I'm using it the way I should. Instead of plotting the stories I'm plotting character bios and relationships. I tried plotting on it and I don't know if I like it yet. Maybe. Here are tow pictures of my mapping...

Character Mapping

Plot Mapping

Today, before I write with @FriNightWrites I am updating my Scrivener with the characters. It might take some time but I have a few hours. Here's a picture of it so far...

Scrivener for 'Love Of Nessa'

I now have to find character inspiration pictures on Pinterest and the web. That's my goal, to have all characters' picture done.

As you can see I'm doing better and writing is the key to keeping it that way. 

Here's a look at 'Love Of Nessa':

Nessa is a meek uneducated female wolf shifter. She is handed over to mate an Alpha and it scares her. Through the first few chapters she struggles with her new role and fights it some of the time. Her mate has his own struggles... An Alpha that shares a property line starts sabotaging the pack and will end up starting a war (something that hasn't happened in over three centuries).

That's all I got so far.

April 2015 CampNaNoWriMo Preparation

Camp is just 20 days away. 

Time to make preparations. Many things to do.

Even though my kids are teens and can fend for themselves mostly; I plan snacks for them. I cut up fresh fruit, veggies and make yogurt dip up weekly. Putting them in airtight containers for easy grabbing.
For simple easy meals; I pre-cut & pre-slice up everything for subs, sandwiches & tacos. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, and anything else they want.
As normal procedure I make up freezer crockpot meals & cook all hamburger I'll need at the first of the month. Usually doing the following:

• Chicken & Beef Fajitas (1 each)
• Sweet-N-Sour Meatballs (2)
• Mongolian Beef (2)
• Taco Meat (3)
• Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs (1)
• Hamburger with garlic & onion for Goulash & Spaghetti (4)
• Chunky Beef Stew (1)
• Pepper Steak (2)
• Pineapple Pork Roast (1)
• Teriyaki Pork Chops (1)
• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (1)
• Cheesey Broccoli Ham and Potatoes (1) 

You can find many of these recipes on my Pinterest. FOOD! & Freezer meals! Below is a sample of my menus. Most crockpot meals can be frozen so all you have to do is thaw and toss in.

Then for quick grab breakfasts I make up tons of pancakes, sausage links & bacon. Freeze them on cookie sheets then place pancakes and a meat in a freezer bag or foodsave them. Kids just grab slice open and heat for 1 minutes 30 seconds. I also bake muffins on Sundays.

As for writing snacks and other kid snacks I make up spinach/artichoke dip, marshmallow treats, dill oyster crackers, and of course cupcakes, cheesecake, and brownies. My girl will make cookies at least once a month so we have those as well.

Writing Preparation 

I do the following:

• Drag series template from last Scrivener project to a new project. Makes it so easy to be able to easily drag all character & place info and notes over.
• Plan plots and twists (until characters change it all up)
• Add an arc to Aeon Timeline for new novel in series (gives all series timeline in 1 place)
• Figure out a few new characters to toss in. Supportive one.
• Make up Writing Month Chore Chart for the kids. They are an extra help in April, July and November. I won't have to do much.
• Clean up all 3 of my writing spaces (my desk, kitchen table & my favorite chair).
• Read through the last in the series I was working on (so to remember small details)
• Chart possible emotions that will be displayed (I have a hard time with these)

After all that...

I write up a list of things I can manage in the writing sprints 10 minute breaks.

1. Start a load of laundry
2. Switch laundry
3. Fold a load of laundry
4. Soak dishes
5. Wash a load of dishes
6. Vacuum a room
7. Sweep floors
8. Clean toilet
9. Dust half a room
10. Scrub stove & counters

You get the idea. Quick chores that can done in minutes. Plus you get bathroom breaks and refill snacks & drinks time. 

Now is the time to prepare! How do you get ready for a month of writing? Post in comments.

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.

One Holiday Down!

With Thanksgiving done and over with I'm doing better than I thought. I wrote all day instead of being with family. Yes, I know holidays are to be spent with family, well you don't know my family, at least most of it. Plus I'm a bit antisocial and would rather be in my own little world with my characters. My kids had a good time with their other side of their families which I'm grateful for.

Those of you know me, I've started yet another #WIP (work in progress) since I finished and won #NAoNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) with just over 50k words. It's in the same series as the last 2 that aren't finished. #WIP1 is only 2 chapters away from being done and #WIP2 has a ways to go. The nasty plot bunnies decided I needed to jump to #WIP3. It's flowing nicely so I'm sticking with it for now. As those bunnies stop with #WIP3 I'll finish up the 1st once and hand it over to an editor. Then work on second. Hoping to finish by March plus have edits done to my YA (young Adult) #WIP that I started 5 years ago.
Remember that the excerpts I post here are ones unedited. There will be many changes in the future I think.

Here is an excerpt from current #WIP3
"She tossed and turned. The smell of woods and power lingered in her nose and mind. It was nothing she had ever really paid attention to. Scenting was the one thing she tried not to do. All she would scent was if it was male, female or human. When she finally fell asleep it wasn't a good sleep. Her dreams were full of fear, terror and pain."

Well, now it's time to tame those plot bunnies and get back to writing. Have a productive week.

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. 

What Are They Doing?

My characters are not cooperating with me. 

The last few days my MC (main character) and her bestie have decided they don't want to do what I want. This point in the novel is hard enough to write. Now with them ticking me off it just makes it harder. Dalara's bestie is having issues with not wanting to be in this part and I need her here. It's almost as if she wants to be the MC now and I can't have that. I have had this issue before but she is stubborn. I am hoping by Friday she will start cooperating. I need wordies. 

I am going to word sprint with my lovelies over at @TheSprintShack on Twitter today, or at least try. Friday will be an all day and night sprint fest with @FriNightWrites for #writeclub. For those who are unfamiliar with either one check out their blogs. The Sprint Shack and FriNightWrites. The sprints are hosted by fellow writers. We write for a set time and see how many wordies we can get out of our fingers. 

I want this novel done and ready for my beta readers before April 1st. Camp NaNoWriMo begins then and I want to start the next novel in the series. I was thinking it would be Dalara's pack-mate but it might have to be her bestie instead. Which that is all fine and dandy with me. I know part of her story already and have tons of notes and research done. 

Camp NaNoWriMo is like NaNoWriMo I did in November; 50k words in a month. I won in November and I want to in April and July for Camp NaNoWriMo too. That's where the sprinting comes in handy. On a good sprint I have forced out 900+ wordies in 30 minutes. I wouldn't be able to live without my lovelies on Twitter. They keep me going with encouragement and ideas when I get stuck like I am now. 

Don't forget Friday I will be posting about another favorite author of mine. 

1st Week of December!

As I sit here and wait for the 5th I am thinking back over what I accomplished in November. Though it is the hardest month of  the year for me, I wrote 3/4 of a novel hitting over 50k words. I won NaNoWriMo! I never thought I could do it, but with the support of @TheSprintShack, @WriteChain, @FriNightWrites and many others within them, it would take forever to list all that helped and are still helping me. Always pushing me to sprint and get those words out of my head and on the computer screen. You guys *ROCK*.
As I have not completed my NaNo novel, I have begun finishing up the PREQUEL to it.  It is a shorter process after doing 50k+ in 30days. I am so glad I took the challenge and if I hadn't won, it still would have been awesome.

With winning I get to purchase Scrivener from Literature and Latte at 50% off on the 5th. Along with AEON Timeline. Both helped me so much I would never had made it without their NaNo Trials. With Scrivener I had everything from places, character bios, and relationships all in one place. I didn't have to open another program. Aeon Timeline allowed me to track the timing of each event and I never forgot what day it was in my novel.

There are tons of tools for writers and these are the only ones I have tried and I don't think I will try anything else. This is it for me. Each writer has their own way of doing things and Scrivener and Aeon Timeline is what I need.

With all that said I will definitely be participating next year in NaNoWriMo! I only wish I could make a financial donation this year. If you wish to help out the non-profit organization of NaNoWriMo please do so on their website (Link is above). Thanks!