July- End of Month Review

 That’s July – another month ticked off on the writing calendar. I read an inspirational letter recently from a freelance writer who embarked on her journey of success this year as well. She is successfully writing a column.

 

WOW – makes me feel like I haven’t been trying hard enough for the last 2 months. I haven’t even finished a writing schedule since May – July’s was barely started. I will forgive myself and promise to get committed to the writing plan again, at least I have NOT GIVEN UP or STOPPED WRITING!

So whatever you are writing KEEP GOING! Don’t put that pen down before you have explored all avenues and opportunities.

July Writing –

I was mainly involved in writing 2 short stories for Camp NaNoWriMo – a vampire story (1st attempt at this genre) and a Romance. (Also 1st attempt but am widely read in this genre.)

I have managed to nearly complete the Vampire story which could even begin to be classified as a Novella – I need to tighten it up and edit!

The Romance story is barely written but I have started it!

There is a market for a polished version of the Vamp Short and I will finish writing the Romance this summer if I can.

I also went to a regional Write In for NaNo this month in the city – which was fun!

I worked on rewriting the children’s picture book manuscript this month too and attended my 1st Critique Group in the city – where I learnt that I have a lot more work to do before even thinking of submitting – also a first attempt.

I have researched and read articles on writing – and looked for summer opportunities.

I also found out about an amazing weekend workshop – Link to follow – which has inspired me to create a writing event this autumn.

Half way through the month I started my Online Writing Course – Stunt Writing too. I have submitted the 1st two assignments for that. And am currently posting a DAILY GRATITUDE as part of my stunt – *use the category tool and ‘Daily Gratitude’ to read them all.

Maybe start your own!

I have managed to participate in blog writing challenges and am finally back ONLINE after being offline for 10 days or so over the moving period.

 

I have moved house, started to declutter, unpack and finished working. It has been a really busy month all round, regardless of the writing schedule. And the weather has been awesome – time in garden and allotment too.

The End of My 2nd Camp

So July draws to a close and there are a lot of happy writers around the world who have WON their epic writing camp word count! What an achievement!
Personally my 1st camp (in April) I had more time to write and get involved, I posted on the forums, joined regional NaNoWriMo groups and wrote over 54K words!
However, with everything happening in July – including nice sunny, let’s be outside weather, the end of my job, moving house, hosting a friend, unpacking etc. I didn’t have the time to get involved.

• I checked the forums just twice.
• I did have a much more ACTIVE cabin – not sure how many cabin mates are WINNERS now though – we all seemed to struggle a little.
• I decided to LOWER my 35000 word count in the final week as I knew I had 1000’s of words to write but wouldn’t have time for 15000 in a few days!
• I changed it to 20,000 and slam dunked with 21110! Hurrah!
• I managed to attend one live write in event in the city with NaNo Regional members!

FINAL STATS

Average Words Per Day 646

Your Average Per Day 681Words

Written Today 0

Target Word Count 20,000

Total Words Written 21,113

Words Remaining 0

Current Day

Days Remaining

Event Finished

At This Rate You Will Finish On August  2, 2013 – not sure about this as I WON on the 31/7

Words Per Day To Finish On Time

Gratitude Stunt Writing Journal – Day #10

Gratitude 10 #

I am grateful for the unconditional love of my mother.

The Cost of Peace and Wellbeing

I have nearly completed my Nano mission – so as with all writers when we are working on ‘overload’ and steps away from achieving our goal – I venture onto Social Media – just for a quick glance at everybody else’s lives today!
I came across a couple of links which inspired this article.

I am a fan of Iyanla Vanzant   her visions, methods and books! I have a few and have read many others. During the depth of my illness last year her book on Empowerment really helped me survive.

I found out about the ‘Wonder Woman Weekend’ –  in Washington DC at the end of October. My interest was peeked and I went to check it out at the website – the workshops and ideas for the weekend look fantastic and if I lived anywhere near I would probably find a way between now and the autumn to raise the funds. However, I would have to factor in a flight as well.

I am tempted. But it raised this question of expense. The only comments on the Social Media link so far have been from women begging her to bring the cost down.

Now I bet it will be worth every cent – but it is a little on the ‘Oh My – How Much?!’ side of things. Anyway whether I go or not I have bookmarked the website. This year we aren’t having a holiday because we have just bought the house, moved etc. and this is more than I would budget for a week’s holiday for us.

However, I can’t help but be inspired and she has inspired me to run an event for writer’s and followers of this blog! So SPREAD THE WORD – more information coming soon.

Some quotes from the great lady herself;

“So many of us invest a fortune making ourselves look good to the world, yet inside we are falling apart. It’s time to invest on the inside.”
― Iyanla Vanzant     

“When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else.”
― Iyanla Vanzant

“ choice is a divine teacher, for when we choose we learn that nothing is ever put in our path without a reason.”
― Iyanla Vanzant

“Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.”
― Iyanla Vanzant

2460 Words to Go – Over in Camp NaNoWriMo

 

Average Words Per Day 646
Your Average Per Day 565
Words Written Today 2,640
Target Word Count 20,000
Total Words Written17,540Words
Remaining 2,460
Current Day 31
Days Remaining 1
At This Rate You Will Finish On August 5, 2013
Words Per Day To Finish On Time 2,460

Here are my latest stats, I know what I need to do today! I entered the word count today but that is the grand total of the last few days in between unpacking and living! And must finish in time to validate – it has been a battle due to my hectic schedule and not because of the writing. It means I have some unfinished work by the end of camp. I have also found out about some writing opportunities with a close deadline so will turn my energy straight onto them as soon as I have managed this end word count! And then maybe I will prioritise and get the flat on the market!

Off to Camp for the 1st session of the day- with marathon writer head on!

Slice of Life SOLC – Where did July go?

SLICE OF LIFE CHALLENGE

The End of July

This month seems to have passed me by in a flash, I can’t believe it is almost the end of July and my 2nd Camp NaNoWriMo already!

I am mainly unpacking boxes – today’s mission was to get the kitchen and lounge straight – I think if I keep going until midnight I may manage it!

My friend is on her way back from Europe today after a week away and is using our pad as her base for the next week of her travels around the island. Be good to see her again. This really has been the week for reunions!

I went to a Critique night with the writers from the children’s picture books course on Wednesday, followed by an adventure across town to see my friends who had come up from the South-East – last seen 2 yrs ago at their wedding! Great to see them again!

The first day of my holiday (last Thursday) was supposed to be dedicated to getting the house unpacked. I did some in the kitchen and then ran some errands before Jen and Alon (friends from South-East seen briefly the night before) came to see our new place. Then no sooner were they going when another friend popped in. we shared some drinks in the sun in the garden with Mr G when he got home and then I went out to the village pub to see people (friends) that I haven’t seen for months! (Mainly teachers so holiday is the only catching up time we have) it was a lovely night and I got home around midnight for the 2nd night in a row!

Friday I was really tired from all the late nights but Mr G had taken the day off to do the house and he wasn’t letting me sleep through it! We had a lovely breakfast in the garden and then started on the front garden and the hedge! We also started building my nightmare double wardrobes – which take up the whole floor when down on the ground and really aren’t a flat pack item  – once they are built – they are built. Unfortunately I wasn’t much help and even though a friend helped move them into position on Saturday, they are still incomplete – as I realised the sides are on the wrong way around!

Mr G is waiting for help – as it is a 2 man job that I am just not strong enough or tall enough to help with!

This means the bed is still not built – we need the room for the wardrobe construction 1st. We had one night camping back in the lounge and the rest on the mattress on the floor.

Saturday we planned to carry on with what we ran out of time to do Friday – kitchen & wardrobes/ bed. A friend came over instead and we spent the day in the sun in the garden, I ran a few errands and supermarket pick ups apart from that I didn’t do much other than sort clothes out ready to go in the wardrobe and some laundry.

Watched a film and SLEPT!

Sunday again we planned to work on the house – best laid plans – by the time we had had a leisurely start – breakfast in the garden and I’d got up we had a little time to work on things. I was going out to a college reunion – theatre students – been in the planning process for best part of 12 months!

It was fab – really felt like we had never left each other – it is 2 decades since we met and at least 17 years since we have seen each other. Wonderful experience, I was on such a high when I got home.

Mr G (Bless him) had rearranged furniture and got rooms well on the go ready for me to get in and sort. Which I did a lil’ before bed!

Monday I planned an entire day on the house whilst Mr G was at work. I got up at 8:30 and started – had no energy – was asleep by 10! Woke up at 2:30 pm – was asleep again 7pm – 11pm – and finally went to bed after falling asleep on, sofa close to 2AM!

Body on TOTAL shut down. So tired!

Fortunately today I have been up since 8 and have cleared unpacked and sorted lots on the kitchen and lounge! Hope to get most of it done before bed!

Gratitude Stunt Writing Journal #Day 9

Gratitude #9
Today I am grateful for the energy to pack boxes.

Always forgive yourself, particularly if you suffer from illnesses that force energy levels to be low. Hope that there is another day and hit the TO DO LIST then, allow your body and mind time to rest and recoup. When your body forces a shut down, you know you have overdone it! Forgive yourself. Allow nature to take command.

Camp NaNoWriMo – Just a few DAYS to go!

Just DAYS to go!

I am still ploughing on with the latest short story, I have found some places I can submit this writing too once it is edited! This is enough to spur me onto the finish. I managed to finish the April Camp just one day before deadline, this time I think I will be writing on the 31st July too!

Unfortunately I have so many other projects I need to finish (flat – getting a job -sorting bills –  things that are costing me money and that really should take priority!) that I need to get these jobs done tomorrow before I can finish the writing.

With this (and my sanity in mind) I am hoping to manage the 2500+ words I need a day in a few sittings…

WHAT I HAVE LEARNT:

I will have to clear my schedule if I am planning on completing the official NaNoWriMo in November!

 

My latest STATS:

Average Words Per Day 646

Your Average Per Day 496

Words Written Today 3,000

Target Word Count 20,000

Total Words Written 14,900

Words Remaining 5,100

Current Day 30

Days Remaining 2

At This Rate You Will Finish On August 10, 2013

Words Per Day To Finish On Time 2,550

Gratitude Stunt Writing Journal #Day 8

Gratitude #8

I am grateful for true friends.

 

True friendship sets no time limits or expiry. You can have months apart, years apart or even decades and pick up right from where you left off. How? Because you never left each other’s hearts, not even for one second!

Picture It & Write – A Poem About Eve

by Corrie White

 

At one with the universe

the entity appears

born from liquid

shaped by elements of the earth.

Wind twists the molten force

until Eve appears.

Full.

Womb consumed by temptation

Carries a bundle of sin.

Her roots stand firm

in the tides of time.

At one

with the universe.

 

 

This is my contribution to Picture and Write It for this week – follow the button.