Category: Writing Life

Updates November 01-15

Hello,

Thank you for the likes, follows and comments. I truly appreciate it.

This is the official announcement. I am participating in Nanowrimo. I have scrapped the 15,000 words of Star Crossed and will start again with Star Crossed II.  It is a romance between a celebrity changing careers in the entertainment industry and a former celebrity turned artist. Don’t feel bad for those 15,000 words they will show up in the story in another fashion one way or another. It was a difficult decision, but necessary so that I can complete this manuscript. During the days leading up to Nanowrimo, I listened to writing podcasts or watched writing courses on Skill Share. They have been helpful. I especially like Savannah Gilbo, blog post and article on the 6 obligatory scenes in a romance. She has written an obligatory scenes article for every genre. I have focused on the romance.

I have also watched preptober videos on YT by Sarra Canon. She has two channels, Heart Breathings and Sarra Canon. What I learned from her was time management. Sarra Canon has written about 25 YA books. She has a detailed preptober worksheets and suggested how to use them effectively. That can help the busy life-filled writer complete the goals they need to for a better life.

Following some of her suggestion will help me maintain this blog and continue with the goals that I am trying to achieve for the new year.

So that is where I am for the moment. I know in the past I have written about other stories. I might mention some of them in the future.

Reading news, I started to listen to the Forgotten Empires series by Jeffe Kennedy. I started to listen to her podcast First cup of Coffee, last year as a suggestion from L. Penelope. Jeffe Kennedy writes fantasy romance and romantic fantasy, they sound the same but there can be a slight difference. She is also the current president of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). She has a lot going on but still finds time to talk about craft and the publishing industry on her podcast. I have not found everything she talks about helpful for me, but I believe it can help other writers on various levels.   The Forgotten Empires series included the Orchid Throne, the Fiery Crown, and the Promised Queen. I think the series can go under the label of romantic fantasy because there is so much happening in that world, besides the female lead and male lead falling in love. The stakes are high in that series but is also has a bittersweet feel to it because so much as gone wrong before. I paused on listening because of Sabbath and to participate in the Nano – live streams over the weekend.

Everyone is getting giddy about November. I don’t feel that way. I am determined to win this year. I have dabbled with this idea for a long time. I want to be in another mode next year when it comes to this story. 

In fear of becoming redundant, I am closing here. I hope this entry finds you doing well.   Go! Writers! Go!

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Steps for Improvement

This is a place holder for Wednesdays. In the past, I have written that either a review or an essay would be posted today. I failed to incorporate this plan into a writing schedule and then found myself scrambling on Tuesday night. That became exhausting and I quit. Self-sabotage at its best. I haven’t written much about the plans because I find ways to mess myself up. The end results are supposed to be an improved JC Henry Universe for 2022.

Several years ago, I tried to customize a system to help me be achieve the goals, I set for myself. I called it the most original title, the 100-days project. It had a reasonable time limit but lacked accountability and consistent motivation. I treated the projects like a New Year’s resolution. I tried many times to fix the 100days projects. Making a blog for it and inviting people I knew to join me, no one did. I tried to keep up with the projects for about two years. But then it fizzled.

In August out of curiosity, I looked up how many days until the end of the year. It was a little over 100 days. I thought of the failed lifestyle system. I also realized that I haven’t written a book review in several months. I was irritated that I didn’t do the things I wrote in many posts. I know I wrote about productivity, creativity, inspiration etc. I did research on time management and still fell short of managing my time effectively. This is the point where I would type this great new method or idea. Full disclosure I don’t have one. I heard about and read good things about author Sarra Canon’s HB90 method. It is a course to help writers or any other creative make time to do the things they need to do for success. Ms. Canon is not the first author, who recommended chopping up the year into quarters, similar to what businesses do. She only one I heard of that has it specifically for writers. However I don’t have the money in my budget for the course, which is a shame because I believe it is reasonable, so I have to customize something for myself and it feels like the 100-days project in spirit. Those are the steps, the picture is a pun, for me to keep writing and improve the website. I apologize if this entry is confusing. The method is new and not a habit yet. The places holders are for me as well as you all. I will be working on my creative non-fiction and general fiction.

The takeaway from this rambling is that persistence can get you what you want. As long as it does not hurt anyone I encourage us all to be determined. Remember the ancient proverb, fall nine times, get up ten.

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