Ready for a New Month?

The last post for the month of January. Not only the last post, but The Ultimate Blog Challenge completed, too. I started late, but ended today with 31 posts in total.

A Look Back

I started with the hope that I could get close to the end before I had to drop out for whatever reason. I wasn't dooming myself to fail based on the idea that I couldn't achieve it, but keeping myself open to the possibility that things happen. I might not finish through no fault of my own. I'd already started a week behind, too. Seemed slightly impossible, but I love personal challenges.

Treasure Chests Should be Rewards for Completing Real Life Challenges

This extra post will bring my January blog post count to 30.

The next one is where I'll talk about the challenges of finishing and do a summary of sorts. I can't think of any other time where I've been super excited about completing something that didn't have a tangible reward at the end of it.

I might have to reward myself with something like a cupcake or a pot of gold.

What?

I like treasure chests.

In a previous life, I'm pretty sure I was a pirate or a treasure hunter. I saw Indiana Jones at the drive-in at age ten or so. I was at an impressionable age!  

Rumpelstiltskin

I promised a flash fiction story this week. When you read it, squint really hard and don't focus on how rough it is!

The original contest is on Chuck Wendig's blog terribleminds. Here's the link for the challenge; Fairy Tales, Remixed. I haven't read any of the other stories because I didn't want them to influence mine.

My subgenre was Slasher Film. Be aware there's a bit of blood, but no gore. I kept it as PG as possible.

Silence it Forever

The last few days were a peek into my writing and editing life. I'm putting that on the list of topics I'll touch on again in the future. I don't feel qualified to give writing advice to other people, but I can talk about what works and doesn't work for me. I'll do that in the future, too.

Now on to the random funnies.

5 Online Editors for Writers and Bloggers

Not one checker on this list is perfect. The only way you'll get a perfect editor is to learn the rules of grammar, spelling and comma usage yourself.

All these editors miss something. I've taken a purposely misspelled piece with grammar and comma issues to test them. Every one of them missed a crucial problem. You'll have to decide your problem areas and use the editor that will help you the most.

Editing: Like a Flaming Football Flying at Your Head

Peeking in through my monitor, you'll see me banging my head on the desk. What would have me so frustrated that I'd give myself a headache and an ugly bump?

Editing.

A Peek Over My Shoulder

While editing a story, I have to be writing another. I dislike editing so much that I can't do it every single day. A break is required, or I might lose my mind... more than it's lost right now!

It's taken a few years for me to work myself up to writing novel-sized stories. For a long time, I wrote short stories exclusively. I didn't outline until the stories became more complicated. What came first, the outlining or the need for outlining? I'm not sure.

Variety is the Spice of Blogging

On the blog last week, I asked people what they'd like to see on the blog for week four's theme. It's the last week of the Ultimate Blogging Challenge. To comply with the contest requirements, I need to create three or four extra posts to finish the challenge, too.

There are three votes for peeking into my daily fiction writing, two votes for random funny stuff and one vote for flash fiction challenges. Since there are six days left for the challenge, that works perfectly.

Missy Kierstead's Day Off

When I began this week's theme, I fully expected to have a post every day dealing with my flights of distraction during work writing. Unfortunately, germs hit me last night. I woke up at 5 am with a dry, sore throat and a cough. I'm taking the day off from dry work. I can't have a dry throat with dry work. Too much dryness.

This is definitely not as fun as Ferris Beuller's day off.

Lottery Dreams

Writing an article on pool construction this morning, it reminded me of an article I'd done months ago on Celine Dion's pool. Apparently, her home is on the market in case any of you are interested. You only need 72 million dollars. Pocket change.

Quirky Characters: Weird or Funny?

From renting office spaces to the movie Office Space. That's where the trail of sparklies took me on this fine January morning where it's like 15 degrees outside and my toes are freezing because I don't have slippers. I used to have slippers, but a kid took them a while ago.

Dancing Goats

Day two of Useless Facts and Knowledge Theme. That sounds way more important than what it actually is. This is a week of random stuff that I learn every day while researching the articles I write for clients.

Today's article was a large one about online tutoring. Not something that normally interests me, but I can see how it would be to students or parents with a kid in high school. It might have helped me a few years ago when I finally finished school for a degree. (Accounting, if anyone is wondering. Totally useless to me.)

Socks on Cars?

Today was automotive day. I wrote about amateur car repairs and winter tires. Two separate articles. It happened to be the theme of the day, I guess. As I was writing about winter tires versus all season tires, I was reading about tire chains. I live in New England. We spend November to March driving in crappy weather. I don't see many people using chains on their vehicles, though. Blizzard conditions. That's the only time I might see a set of chains on a car tire.

A Brain Trip Packed with Useless Luggage

Week Three

Blank-Mange @Deviant Art

I'm almost caught up with the seven posts I missed when I started the blogging challenge late. More than half finished now.

Celebratory Close to Composition Challenge

Alliteration!

That was the prompt when I opened One-Minute Writer this morning. I blanked for a moment. Were they kidding me? It's as if they knew it was the last day and wanted me to go out with a flop! Okay. A little paranoid perhaps. After a few seconds of pity for myself, and being completely blank on what I would write, I hit the timer anyway. If I was going out on a flop, then so be it. I'd adhere to the spirit of the challenge I'd given myself.

Walking What?

The Walking Dead and Pranks

I love dystopian movies and tv shows. I'm not a die hard fan of zombies, but it fits in with my like for end-of-the-world scenarios. The Walking Dead has been a favorite for a long time. My interest in the Governor waned through the first half of this season, so when they killed him, I was very happy. They take a mid-season break, and I vowed to myself that if they didn't kill him, I wouldn't be watching with as much interest anymore. I'd still watch. Let's not be completely crazy. I love Darryl. I'd have to watch for him alone. Darryl is not my type normally, but he's so bad-ass, I can't help but love him.

I saw this tonight.

How fantastic was that? 

The video where he scared that woman in the store, and she was beating him with that wrapping paper tube. I still can't breathe. 

Day Whatever of the Writing Challenge

It feels like this challenge has been happening for weeks! Today's prompt was a tough one because I had three different story ideas warring in my head. This is the story that won the fight. It didn't win because it was stronger than the others but because it was a different type of story from the previous day's challenges.

Writing Challenge Day Four

I'd forgotten that Fridays are a little different on One Minute Writer. Friday fiction is entered into a contest. I can't handle a contest right now, so I'll continue with my own twist on the prompts.

Writing Challenge Trials on Day Three

This prompt made me cringe. Politics. It's not my favorite topic, but keeping with the promise I made to myself yesterday, it will be fiction anyway. I read the prompt clicked the button and let the words flow.

Cover Reveal

Recently, I announced the worst contest in the world. That might be giving it too much credit. It was an excerpt from my short novel and a request for people to contribute titles. There were some great choices, but I've decided on Brandi Parker Bosserman's title "Reframing Emma" for the title of my book. Thanks, Brandi! 

I promised that the chosen title's creator would be mentioned in my book, and I'll keep that promise, of course. I'll give Brandi a free copy of the book once it's published, too. 

Instead of creating my own cover, I chose to find a cover designer on Fiverr. If you've never heard of Fiverr, you should check it out. There are many talented people there who do some weird, wacky, and surprising things for five dollars. They'll write your website name on themselves, do voiceovers, edit, draw you as a cartoon character, and advertise for you on their Facebook accounts. I love skimming through the categories to see the creative craziness people will do for five bucks. 

This is the cover that I had made for five dollars. I'm pretty happy with it. 

What do you think? Not bad, right?

Day Two of the Writing Prompt Challenge

It feels like I've been doing this challenge for weeks. Today's challenge is to write about anyone that has tried to hurt you or been an enemy. I was fully prepared to not love all the challenge prompts, but on day 2? I didn't think it would happen so soon.

Writing Challenge Day 1

I had to write this morning based on yesterday's prompt since there wasn't one for today yet. I might change my normal morning posting to the afternoon anyway. I haven't had a full cup of coffee this morning!

Sixty Second Writing Challenge Or Breaking the Fear

I love stretching myself and trying new things even if it's scary. Or maybe I like to take a creative chance when it's fraught with risk and challenge. I'm not sure, but I found this blog called The One-Minute Writer. I said last week that one of my weekly themes would be flash fiction, but because I would have to write seven pieces, that theme would take place at the end of the blogging challenge.

As soon as I saw The One-Minute Writer, I knew this is what I would do instead. The rules are simple. Read the prompt, turn the timer on and write for one minute. I can only type at about 50-55 wpm. That doesn't meet the rules of The Ultimate Blogging Challenge. Each of my blog posts must be at least 100 words. To meet the rules of both, I'll write for one minute and submit that stunning masterpiece (Where's my sarcasm icon when I need it?) to the One-Minute Writer blog. I'll take the beginnings of what I've done for them and bring it to my blog to finish.

Another Chapter

I published chapter four of Marking Time on JukePop Serials for those that are following along. Here's a little excerpt for people who aren't following each chapter as it comes out.

My Budding Relationship With...

Myself

I had my girls when I was young. Being a teenage, single mother was tough. I wasn't in the best place financially or mentally. I hadn't planned on being alone with two children, but there I was. I counted the years until I could have my life back. It didn't belong to me. It was theirs. Every decision was filtered through that knowledge.

Random Interests and Funnies

Funnies That Caught My Eye

I have strange tastes and interests that jump all over the place. These things amuse me. I hope that none of these things frighten any of you.

Advice That has Helped Me

Advice that has helped me.

I've read more than a few writing books by famous writers. Stephen King's book On Writing resonated with me the most. It could be because I grew up with Stephen King. Well, Nancy Drew, The Girl with the Silver Eyes and Stephen King. That's what I remember from my childhood as far as books. Oh and the Giving Tree. That book made me cry, and it wasn't until I got a little older that I understood why.

"Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work." -Stephen King

Kickstarter

During my research today at work, I saw that they are making a Veronica Mars movie. I never watched the show, but I was intrigued by the fact that they asked the public for support. They are filming the movie with funds received from people on Kickstarter. That's amazing to me.

Their goal for the movie was two million, and they received five million. Five million dollars from regular people to fund this movie. I want some of my favorite shows to come back or become movies because I loved them so much. How about Endgame? Or Dead Like Me. I'm sure I can think of ten others that were canceled that should come back or be made into movies.

I think other shows should put themselves onto Kickstarter. I'd pay a dollar or two for my favorite shows to stay alive. Some pretty amazing shows get canceled all the time. If they were put on Kickstarter and we could vote with our dollars to keep them around, that would be something!

One Thing I do Every Day

via Deviant Art and LeaLion

Aside from the obvious like shower and brush my teeth, I drink coffee and I write. Usually these occur together so I'm counting them as one. If I'm working, it's usually writing while wishing I was doing something else. If I'm writing my fiction, I am in the moment and loving it.

Other times, I'm not working or writing fiction, but I'm writing a blog post, an instant message, or outlining a story. I try to write every single day in one form or another. My obsession with shiny objects and new ideas takes me in twenty-seven different directions, but as long as I'm writing, I cut myself some slack on the impulsive quest for the new and exciting.

Other than basic hygiene, cleaning or taking care of your families, name one thing you do every day. Is there something you wish you could do and can't because there isn't enough time in the day?

Why I Write

via Deviant Art by TeaPhotography

Why I write

This first week of blog posts will be about me and things that I like/love. If you're going to show up for an entire month of posts, you should know a bit about me. This first one will talk about why I write. Aside from the little gremlin in my head that demands words flow out of my fingertips, I like writing stories.

Ultimate Blog Challenge

I'm a little late joining in on the Ultimate Blog Challenge, but it sounded like fun. I love contests and challenges. They help inspire me. Plus, I'm secretly a little competitive. I'm not sure if I have to catch up with seven posts for the past week or not. I'm starting today. If I find out later that I need extras, well I'll toss them in at some point.

It's Monday Again: What Did I Think Was Going to Happen on a Monday?

It's Monday again.

I plan on getting better about blogging more often. Especially since I've joined a critique site online. It's taking forever but my novella is slowly being critted. Critted. That's new shorthand I learned for the word critiqued. Much easier to spell than having to find the Q button on my keyboard. I'm having chapter one and two critted. That will give me a starting point to do my own edits for the rest. I'll be publishing the novella soon! I'm giving myself a deadline of February for it. You all heard it here. February!

Chapter three is live on JukePop Serials. Thanks to everyone who voted so far! It made me giddy to get those votes. I didn't think I'd get any because I learned that people have to register with the site to vote on the stories. So thanks for taking the time to do that. 

I'm coming up with some theme days and learning about these things called linky parties.