Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge: A Writing Buddy

Yesterday’s challenge was Oops and todays challenge is a writing buddy.

This applies to any time in life. When we have an oops, there is relief and encouragement to get over it, when the oops is shared with a writing buddy or friend.

The writing community are an incredibly supportive bunch. Avid readers abound and there’s always a need for a new good book to read.

I’ve found my writing buddies in Jessie’s Coffee Shop (International Writing Group), The Eastside Writers, Romance Writers of New Zealand (Christchurch – my local chapter), and in Gillian St Kevern’s YouTube writing sprint’s community.

Quote for Today
“Happiness is having a co-worker who becomes a friend.” – unknown

Writing Today
Sunday is my day of rest. Even if you’re not a Christian, you need a day of rest. Choose one that works for you and your family.

Todays background photo is the sunrise over Oamaru.

Did I mention Nanowrimo offers discount on amazing writing tools and courses to writers who participate and clock a win?

#amwriting #writersnetwork #christianauthors #christianauthor #christianwriter #nanowrimo #christianwomenwriter #authorsoninstagram #authorofinstagram #bookstagram #eidlewise #travelnzopenspaces #kiwigreynomads #greynomads #womenontheroad #romancereaders #christianromance #grief #smile #happiness #InstaWrimoChallenge #writingbuddy

Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge Show Don’t Tell

Princess Honour threw off her mules and ran along the beach. Stopping every ten steps, crouching, she scrunched her hands into the sand six times. Her face beamed like a flower kissed by the sun.

The princess turned around and looked at her handiwork, “Dinosaur prints.”

Yesterday we visited New Brighton Beach on a perfect spring day. A light breeze held the temperature in the early twenties. A perfect day.

Quote for Today
“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire”. ~ Pamela Hansford Johnson. What an awesome show dont tell quote.

Writing Today
Alas the children woke earlier and I didn’t quite meet my quota. But I wrote.

Todays background photo is of a little princess on New Brighton Beach, waiting to meet the waves.

Did I mention Nanowrimo is free? Of course your donation is appreciated to help cover costs if you can afford it.

Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge Best Writing Memories

I’ve been working my way through the Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge including a bite along with my six days a week postings.

Today the Challenge has front seat.

I discovered Nanowrimo in Australia at the end of October 2017 (thank you Raine) and with no preparation worked on my first book. 50,000 plus words. 1667 words a day. It was in the back of my mind for years.

To get the writing done, I needed to get up early (and I was an owl so a big adjustment to the old body clock).

We were traveling Australia chasing sunsets and exploring places the likes of which I’d never seen before. Big red rocks, long stretches of highway with road trains screaming past, wild life intent on suicide moves, or quietly passing near our campsite, red gorges where crocodiles roamed, colourfull birdlife including a shy cassowary, homes underground, gems sitting on the ground, dust storms, rain storms, hail storms, a rare orchid, and lying in bed at night listening to the whales sing, plus so much more including the beautiful people we met along the way, or shared journeys together.

The dining room table my office, the word count my guide, letting the words flow straight through my fingers to my laptop.

This lifestyle is a precious writing memory as I shared the adventures with my soulmate. He passed away last year, taken far to early. We had more adventures planned. But it wasn’t to be.

Six years of travel together, no regrets. Precious memories.

Now, I’m working on a new adventure. Six days a week I begin with my butt in my seat and the goal to write 1500 plus words.

I believe everyone has at least one book in them and that you can write yours. Nanowrimo is a great platform to use.

Lifehacks: Put Your House To Bed

Day 5

Today’s lifehack is: Put your house to bed each night, before you turn in.
It’s a pleasure to wake up to.
To do this, have a clean and shiny kitchen sink,
do a five minute declutter, throwing out or putting things away in the main living area.
There are heaps of YouTube videos on how to do this. Knock yourself out.

Quote
“Be the best version of your self.” – Unknown

Writing Today
I had my second COVID jab yesterday. It has left me with the mother of all headaches and I’ve been rather sleepy. So I listened to my body. Kept up the panadol, water and slept. No writing today. Completely missed the O’Dark Club.

October is InstaWrimo where authors post a photo from prompts.
Todays: Meet your MC.
Currently her name is Lauri (names often change by the end of the story. I use a name generator but sometimes the character doesn’t fit the name.).
Lauri is the wife of the local vicar. As she deals with empty nest syndrome and the death of her mother, she is given a companion dog named Teddy.

Todays photo is called Freedom.
It was our first motorhome on her maiden voyage. We escaped flooding for peace by the sea. In her we escaped earthquake after shocks. Eidlewize gave us freedom to reset our equilibrium. She was easy to put to bed at night.

Freedom to Escape and reset our Equilibrium

Lifehacks: Learn How To Cook a Signature Dish

Day 3

We’ll need to put our heads together this week because we’ve all discovered things that make our life easier.

When we leave home, we need to have at least one dish we know is edible and others enjoy.

Correction
Ouch it smarts to find someone has complained and had your post taken down!

I do apologize for attributing the following quote to CS Lewis without checking first. Thanks for the heads up Scott!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

– Author Unknown

“And this too shall come to pass.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 I’ve checked the source of this quote.
These words sustained me through my darkest days.
Our mourning, grief, hurts, trials and worries are for a season (long or short), and although even if the situation never resolves itself, our thinking can change.

Writing today.
Sunday is my day off. But wouldn’t you know it, those characters keep yapping in my head!

October is InstaWrimo where authors post a photo from prompts.
Todays: Your Novels Setting

I’ve created a seaside town with tourists, ship cruise stop, a big city “over the hill” very loosely based on Akaroa, but lots of made up streets buildings and all the peopleare from my imagination.
Cos I can.
I’m still looking for a name, which is why the book name is Mystery 2 at this stage.

Any suggestions?

Two Questions
Whats your signature dish?
Are you taking up the Nanowrimo challenge? So great to get your messages about writing.

The Best Life Hacks You’ve Discovered

Day1

We’ll need to put our heads together in this series because we’ve all discovered things that make our life easier.

This one comes from a recent conversation. The weather in New Zealand is so changeable. We can get all seasons in one day at anytime of the year.

Layers. The best way to dress is with layers to strip off and pull on as required. Choose clothing that matches and is interchangeable and you’re sorted.

No writing today. I was awake in the small hours and woke up groggy (I hadn’t been drinking – just in case you’rewondering).

Nanowrimo is just around the corner. Maybe this year is the one for you to join in? You’re going to write that book you always wanted to?

October is InstaWrimo where authors post a photo from prompts.

Todays:
I am…

thinking of things to incorporate in the plot I want to write.

We visited the swan again. She’s still sitting on her eggs. No sign of daddy-o.

Two Questions
Whats your clothing hack?
Are you taking up the Nanowrimo challenge?

I’d love to read your answer below…

Let Go, Release, And Start Over

“Happiness is letting go of what you think life is supposed to look like.”

We dream and plan and set goals. This will happen on such and such and we’ll go there tomorrow in time for… it goes on.

And then things don’t go as we plan. Our dreams are up in smoke. We feel heartbroken and frustrated. Why me? Its not fair.

The only thing we truly have control of is the reaction we have to life.

If we can’t let go of the past, we’ll fail to forge ahead. It will hold us down, resulting in frustration, anger or bitterness.

Let go and let God handle it. In our mind picture the hand over of the thing or situation that hasn’t gone as we planned it.

Writing didn’t go as planned. My body clock is rebelling at daylight saving hours. Just over two hundred words today. It happens. Tomorrow is a new day.

Today’s photo is the woodland scattered with mauve, blue and white flowers in the dappled light.

Decide To Look For Happiness

Even In The Small Things

“Happiness is not a goal, it is a byproduct” – Eleanor Roosevelt

The spring blossoms are painting pretty vistas all over The Garden City at the moment. Spring always makes me feel happy.

Today we begin a happiness series. I hope it lifts you up and gives you courage to take on the day with great expectations of happiness.

In Writing,
Lucas arrives at the police station for the early morning shift to find his old friend Shane in the cells. The circumstances of his arrest were out of Shanes hands and he wants to start over and break away from the lifestyle he’s been involved in.

As you work towards your goals, I hope waves of happiness flow through you, washing your day with joy and peace.