Keep Going. Never Quit. You’ve Got This

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” — Richard Bach

Nanowrimo is done and dusted for another year. How did you go?

This year is the first time I didn’t complete my goal and I’ve been feeling a bit down and cross with myself.

Then I looked at what I had accomplished. A manuscript that needs work. Thirty thousand plus words. But thirty thousand words more than if I hadn’t worked on the script when I could.

Life happens.

I’m looking at what I do have and what I can do with it. So I continue to write. Showing up each planned writing day to write 500 plus words (Fast 500).

Build on the habit you began with Nanowrimo. Write each day, in whatever time you have.

If your in the same boat, you’re not alone. Work on consistently adding words, until there is a manuscript to edit.

Be an amateur who doesn’t quit. You’ve got this, my writing friend. Have a fabulous day.

Background photo is one of the beautiful sunsets we had while the Motorhome Babes gathered near Oxford, New Zealand.

Size Matters Not. Look At Me.

I don’t know why, but this little fur baby reminds me of Yoda.

So here are some fav Yoda quotes.

“When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.”

“Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things.”

“Wars not make one great.”

This cute little fur baby is the last of the ragdoll cross litter. (The neighbours tom cat bet the breeding program). I’m so tempted.

“Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate…hate leads to suffering.”

Enjoy Thanksgiving weekend. Even though we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in New Zealand, its a great reminder to remember all we’re thankful for.

Nanowrimo
It looks like for the first time ever, I won’t meet my 50k word goal. But the mystery will be solved.
But I’m still writing, just not as fast.

Children’s Book Update
The book is with the editor and the printer is creating a mock up of the textured paper books. We’re in a holding pattern.

And the best Yoda quote:

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

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Picked up the Key To The Door

Moved into my new home on wheels and I am Loving it. Thank you Karon and the team at RV Supercenter, Christchurch

Its been a stressful week getting it sorted and I keep reminding myself how fortunate I am. It will seem so easy when viewd in a tear from now.

I haven’t been getting many words written, and keep going off on a tangent. My mind wouldn’t settle. It was most likely stress. Or, was I allowing myself an excuse to procrastinate?

Homeless

My dear friends Gerard and Femmy, I’m so grateful for your hospitality while I was homeless. Even havong to share your company with an Irishman turned out to be fun. He happened to be on his way from a MMM project in the top of the south to Karitane near the bottom of the south.

MMM

MMM refurbish and help maintain Christian churches, camps and schools. Check them out on mmm dot org if your interested in volunteering your skills, or seeking their help.

Road Trip

A group of motorhome Babes are getting together tomorrow to plan a North Island tour. How awesome is that? Yep, I’m going. We’re departing the South Island the last weekend in January ’22.

Writing

And finally, we’re down to the truth. I’m settling in to the daily routine in a different way. Cracked my daily goal of 1500 words but didn’t reach my catch up goal of 5k. I’ll keep chipping away at it. There’s two sides to every story. I realised I needed to include the other side. It’s been an interesting insight.

Sleep deprivation and PTSD have both made very interesting research.

Nanowrimo Day 6

Quote for Today (From Nano 2015)

“Begin each day from the last sentence you wrote the preceding day. This prevents those cringing feelings, and means that you have a substantial body of work before you get down to the real work which is all in editing.” — Will Self

Nanowrimo:
Day 6
Keeping the momentum going. And today there’s a bonus. A wedding. A real live, real life one. And it was beautiful and heartfelt and joyful. Ah, the romantic in me sighs.

The background photo – a pretty rhododendron while on our walk.

Nanowrimo Day 2

Quote for Today (From Nano 2015)
“Find your best time of the day for writing and write. Don’t let anything else interfere. Afterwards it won’t matter to you that the kitchen is a mess.” — Esther Freud

Nanowrimo:
Day 2
The best intentions flew out the window, but I had a good couple of sprints early in the morning and trend is looking optimistically great.

The background photo – camelia on our morning walk. Love spring and the colour it brings.

Writing Snacks – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is writing snacks. Simple. I dont eat until later in the day on 16/8 or 19/5 intermittent fasting. That means my body fasts for 16 or 19 hours and I eat in an 8 or 5 hour window.
Check out Gin Stephens book Fast, Feast, Repeat or her inspirational podcast of Intermittent Fasting Stories.
Take the 28 Day Challenge and you’ll find this is an easy way to care for your body.
They say people come to intermittent fasting to loose weight, but stay for the health benefits. You just feel better. The body doesn’t ache so much.
And there’s no “diet” foods. There is no expense to eat this way. No marketing to follow. It’s free apart from your normal food costs.
If you choose this way of eating remember to fast clean. Black coffe/tea and water. Anything else triggers an insulin response.

Quote for Today
“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.” – Bethenny Frankel – TV personality and entrepreneur.

Meditation
Let food be your medicine and medicine your food – Hippocrates

Writing
Yesterday was a national holiday in New Zealand. I took it as a holiday too, hiring a motorhome while the one I call home is in for its annual service and deep clean.
I also caught up with my cousins and we all agreed we need to get together more frequently.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. It isn’t too late to decide to join in.

The background photo is the mile long jetty at Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia. Don’t you just love pelicans?

Pelican, Hervey Bay Jetty. Your diet is a bank account.

Soundtrack and Speedrun – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays two challenges are soundtrack (best music to write to, or specifically chosen to lend a specific mood to the story) and speedrun (a summary of your story in five words).
When I write it can only be music – no words. Currently I’m listening to brain stimulating classical music.
The story: heroine ignites people; saves country.

Quote for Today
“Wake up thinking Thank You”

Meditation
Think of three things your grateful for.

The sermon on Sunday was about how we wake up, thinking grrr I didn’t get enough sleep. We rush through our day and then go to bed late at night thinking grrr I didn’t get enough done.

Each time you take a break, write down what you’ve done in the last hour or so. At the end of the day you’ve created a “ta dah” list. Focusing on what was done, not left undone, go to bed with a grateful heart.

Let me know if this practice changes your day.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. I now have a mindmap of my plot. (She does a little dance).

The background photo is of the beautiful Tarawera Falls, New Zealand

Character Flaw – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is about truth. We are all flawed and fall short of the person we want to be.
It’s hard for a writer to give their hero flaws. Or to give the villian a save the cat moment (a humane and kind gesture).
But perfect people don’t exist in real life and would be boring to read about.
Thank goodness for The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

Quote for Today
“Stop trying to ‘fix’ yourself; you’re NOT broken! You are perfectly imperfect and powerful beyond measure.” – Steve Maraboli

Meditation
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Eccl 7:20

Writing Today
I woke up with the plot for Book 2 of The Cosy Mystery Trilogy, but it was several hour later when I arrived early for yoga, before I could scribble it down.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. It isn’t too late to think about writing a book. My first book was written with a rough idea, no plot whatsoever.
Authors show no one their first draft. It’s always the 2nd, 3rd or 22nd before its good enough to share.
But you can’t edit a blank page, whether it’s a manuscript or life.

The background photo is of the pretty Azalea’s in the Millbrook Reserve, Christchurch.

Be very kind to you today.

Plot Twist- Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is for mystery and thriller writers. Readers love working it out, but they love a good twist, whether they see it in advance or not – because the author must give clues leading to the end result.

Quote for Today
“When something goes wrong in your life just yell ‘Plot Twist’ and move on.” – Molly Weisf

Meditation
“Above everything else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Pr 4:25

Writing Today
The writing took a back seat. It happens. I met with a group of writing friends. Such an encouraging and positive experience.

Nanowrimo has helped many successful writers get their career started.

The background photo is of the newest family members. Five little kittens joined us yesterday morning.

Something Old, Something New – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge definitely lends itself to romance. ‘ Something old, something new, something borrowed something blue’ – the tradition required for every bride on their wedding day. Im looking from a different perspective.
In a way our lives have had a demarcation – our old life before Covid, and our new life after Covid.
None of us knows what lies ahead, but our reaction to it will determine what our new life looks like.

Quote for Today
“Our philosophy is about reaching back to move forward. We have something different to say with a sensibility that is both old and new.” – John Varvatos (fashion designer).

Meditation
“Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor, open your eyes, and you will have enough to eat.” Pr 20:13

Writing Today
The WIP is at a stage of summarizing the chapters to tie up loose ends. Four chapters put into a few sentences. Sounds easy, but it is not.

Nanowrimo is about learning good writing practices that set you up for your writing career.

The background photo is of the Otago Central Hotel, reaching back into the past, using old machinery to create modern design. Modernising the old hotel for cyclists and other visitors. Old. New.