Thursday, November 7, 2013

NaNoWriMo Day 7

Today is day 7 of National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. I am impressed by how well I am doing and the fact I am sticking to it. I hit 15k and am still going. Just look at the progress at the upper right side of this page. Many of my NaNoPals are pushing their little fingers to the keyboards as much as I am. Today I did  1k1hr, 1k words in 1 hour, with one and did over that. The sprints at #NaNoWordSprint is keeping me going... Here is a list of the sprints I partake in:
@TheSprintShack, @FriNightWrites, @NaNoWordSprints

What is a word sprint you ask?

Well, you get together on Twitter with buddies and challenge yourselves to improve your word count. There are many different places I do word sprints and it keeps us all on track. @FriNightWrites we sprint for 30 minutes and take a 10 minute break. There are writers from all over the world that join in.
Times:
UK: 7pm-7am
US EAST COAST: 2pm-2am
US WEST COAST: 11am-11pm
You can always jump in to any of them, whatever your schedule allows. I am there off and on during the day here in US Central and a lot at night. There we use the hashtag #writeclub and the #StatsGuy keeps track of how many words for each sprint. It is quite amazing to see the numbers pop up.
Want to learn more about FriNightWrites check it out, Write Club @FriNightWrites

Is there anything I couldn't live without during NaNoWriMo?

Yes, Scrivener. I love the software from Literature & Latte, it has made writing and keeping track of facts, characters, ages even. It's all in one place and easy to access. I downloaded the free trial version and loved it. Then when I signed up for NaNoWriMo I found they offer a special free trial to NaNoWriMo participants. It got even better, if I complete my 50k words I can buy Scrivener for 50% off.
I have just found out how helpful their split-screen is. I now can look at a character sheet and type at the same time without leaving either. There are tons of features I have not worked with and can't wait to buy it after NaNoWriMo and find all the wonderful things I can do with it. It has definitely made NaNoWriMo experience easier and less stressful. I think once November is over and less frantic I will use Scrivener for my blogs and all my books.

I also couldn't live without my kids running up and down the stairs when I am in the middle of a sprint and need a fresh soda or some snack. They are the best in helping me out and not fighting with each other. Being 16 and almost 12 it amazes me as I wait for a fight and I hear them talking with each other rather than at each other.

Now it's time to get back to my story but before I do here is another excerpt:

Tasmina started crying once Azri left. She didn't understand what she was doing. He had caused the challenge and could die. That would probably get her sent back to Johnathan’s pack and to her father. The Warrior had told her that Azri was a strong fighter and would do well, at least that’s what she got from the conversation they had. Why was Azri risking his life to protect her? Why does he care so much when no one else had. Her mother watched the abuse and did nothing while the other did as they pleased. If only she had someone she trusted to answer her questions about Azri, but there was no one.  Someone that knew about males in a way she didn't.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

NaNoWriMo Day 3

NaNoWriMo is going great. Especially with the help from my friends on Twitter, @TheSprintShack, @FriNightWrites, @NaNoWordSprints. They are doing an awesome job keeping us Wrimos going. 

Here is my synopsis...

Tasmina, a young one of 18, is shy and a bit introverted. Her life is going great, she started college and has a good job. Then the Council plans a gathering to allow mates to find on another and that's when her life falls apart. Her past is back and haunting her. Unknown to her she will have a knight in shining armor come to her rescue. After that she will experience the unknown.

Azri is a warrior and protector but doesn't have ant females looking to mate because he is always looking mean and scary. Like someone you'd warn your kids would come and punish them for misbehaving (the boogie man). Not looking to mate but the thought to mate after his first one died has crossed his mind a few times. He faces though choices and decisions when it comes to protecting.

And an Excerpt: 

The water burned as Azri had settled Tasmina into the tub. She had forgotten the pain and feelings after each bout with James or any of them. She had lived in fear all her life until she came to Sage’s pack. Now it began again. It would be worse if James got a hold of her. Escaping always made it worse. Tears fell as she wished Azri wouldn’t have found her. Tasmina jumped when she heard a knock on the bathroom door.

“Tasmina the doctor is on his way.” She heard Azri say through the door. 

Great, another male, just want she was afraid of. Martin was going to look over her entire body and would know what had happened. No way was there any way to hide now; Azri made sure of it. Slowly she climbed out of the tub and dries off; not bothering to put clothes on, just her robe. Martin would have he remove clothes and it was too painful to do. She avoided the mirror cause the pain was always worse when she looked in it and saw the wounds. The signs of it all would be gone in a few days. She healed as all wolves do, quick. Not wanting to go out into her room she sat down against the door and pulled her knees to her chest. Even that hurt.

“Tasmina, Martin is here. You need to come out.” She heard Azri. It amazed her that he hadn't tried to get her to come out before.

Opening the door she saw not only Martin and Azri but Sage, Takoda and Dalara. She turned and slammed the bathroom door shut. There was no way she could face all of them. It was bad enough Azri had seen her and Martin had to see her. As she sat against the door shaking and trying not to break down and cry again. Tasmina could here the others talking in her room but wasn’t paying much attention; though it was about her. The sound of her bedroom door closing got her attention.

“Tasmina sweets, they left, it’s just Martin and I here. Please come out. If you are healing too fast he may have to re-break something.” Azri told her through the door.

Again she opened the door and saw he was right; it was just the two males. She hobbled over to her queen size bed and sat at the edge wincing in pain. 

There were no gasps or comments about how she looked, which made her a bit more at ease.


So, what do you think?????

Saturday, October 26, 2013

NaNoWriMo Recipes!

For all the NaNoWriMo moms and wives here is a great way to cook but still have time to get those words written. Get it prepped and tossed in, turn it on and walk to your computer! Simple and makes life easy. I hope these help my fellow Wrimos. 

SLOW COOKER to the Rescue! 

"Easy, creamy chicken and dumplings made from refrigerator biscuits, slow cooked to comfort-food perfection."
Rated: rating
Submitted By: Janiece Mason
Photo By: mominml
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 6 Hours
Ready In: 6 Hours 10 Minutes
Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast
halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream
of chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated
biscuit dough, torn into pieces

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
2. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/26/2013
You can use homemade biscuits if you prefer, I do. You may have to cook them a bit longer.
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For more easy slow cooker recipe click here. 

More ideas for us Wrimos...snacks. Puppy Chow, many kinds of Chex Mix, small cookies, Dilled Oyster Crackers, Trail Mix , Caramel Corn Mix, Classic Snack, and homemade Snack Chips. All of these can be made before Nov. 1st. and put into baggies, air tight bowls, or my favorite trick-or-treating plastic buckets with the lids and keep them next to your work spaces!


*Recipes found on allrecipes.com 
*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this pictures. 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.