Writing Rituals – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

My day starts with the alarm – Matt Redman singing 10,000 Reasons. Because when I lost Geoff, I really needed a reason to crawl out of bed. Water. Coffee.
On to prayer and a Bible reading, water, and meditation. Coffee. Turn on laptop. Coffee.
Tune into the O’Dark Club. Water. Write 1500 words in 20 minute sprints. Coffee.
Okay, thats the dream morning.
It happens once or twice a week like that.
I do start with the alarm, prayer, and then I get side tracked several mornings a week.

Quote for Today
“Put your butt in the chair and write 1000 words a day.” – ubiquitous writing quote.

Meditation
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Prov 16:3 God feeds the birds, but he doesn’t throw their food into their nest.

Writing Today
89 words. 89! Then school run and childcare while Mum went to dentist and completed messages.

Nanowrimo is all about encouraging writers to fulfill their dreams.

The background photo is of the pretty tulips my daughter planted in her garden around the Golden elm we planted in Geoff’s memory.

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

Your Favorite WordNanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Love
Love is one of my favorite words. Wear the garment of love because it goes with everything else you wear.

Love is the answer to so many questions, even the big ones like world peace and caring for our environment.

Todays quote is the essence of every successful love story.

Quote for Today
“I saw that you were perfect and I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.” – Angelita Lim

Meditation
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. … Love never ends.”

Writing Today
Exploring brother – sister relationships, one I never had the privilege of having.

Nanowrimo is digital for the second year in a row. Prior to that, writing groups met locally.

Dreams and Nightmares -Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

It’s been a long time since nightmares plagued my sleep. Demons were put to rest when I slept with a man who faced death many more times than I did:
a van that broke down in the outback when the roads were unsealed and much less traveled;
a tour bus brakes failed when travelling a mountain pass;
an air balloon accident where others lost their lives;
the same cancer diagnosis twice – eight weeks to eighteen months to live.

He put things into perspective with his courage and outlook on life.

Quote for Today
“I have had dreams and I have had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams.” – attributed to Jonas Salk, inventor of the Polio Vaccine. I couldn’t verify the source of the quote. The quote works well for today’s challenge.

Meditation
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Writing Today
Didn’t make my word quota, and with back to back meetings had no hope of catching up. But I did find out about Lauri’s brother…

Todays background photo is the main street of Oamaru with some of its beautiful Victorian architecture.

Nanowrimo rewards participants with badges as each goal is achieved.

Happy 95th birthday Winnie Ther Pooh.

If Your Novel Were A Meme

– Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

This is a challenge. What is a meme?
Does it have to be a picture / cartoon? Thankfully no.

“The vicar walked into the church to find a body lying by the baptismal font.”

Quote for Today
Good morning meme “Just five more minutes”.

Writing Today
Packing up to move the camper on to our next destination (which was completely changed due to high winds and a phone call) so I only managed half my word quota. It happens.

Todays background photo is twelve-year-old Benji. Getting him up some mornings is as hard as getting a teenager out of bed.

Nanowrimo is for all ages, youth, mid life, senior. The goal is to encourage writing with plenty of support.

Overheard dialogue – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

To overhear dialogue, one needs to be out and about, listening for ebb and flow. Conversation is interrupted. Laughter begins before the sentence is finished.

Some people have unique things, analogies, old adages said in a modern way. Write them down for later use (carry a notebook or use the one on your phone). Um, it’s a bit creepy to listen in on some conversations. This is for research.

A caveat here. Remember those who listen at keyholes hear nothing good about themselves. Be discerning and wise about what you record.

Quote for Today
“Well done is better than well said.” Old Addage

Write down all your great ideas when they arrive. And then stop talking about writing and actually do it.

Writing Today
Someone is sleeping in the Vicars office at the church. And someone is sleeping in Mrs Browns campervan. We finally find out who.

Todays background photo is blossom springing forth from the tree trunk.

Nanowrimo has volunteers all over the world who support writers in their area. Check their website for your closest local. With COVID everything is online again this year.

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: Always Get A Receipt

Day 4

Today’s lifehack is: always get a receipt when making an eftpos transaction. It closes the sale and protects you from being scammed.

Quote
“Life’s too short. Be an Avid Reader” – Carron Stevenson Author

Writing today.
So I heard on The Self Publishing Author Show (SPF #291) an interview with Dan Clark from Brain:fm (not to be confusedwith Brian fm).
They provide music tailored to your brain and the work / tasks you do.
I gave writing a go while listening to specific tempo Classical Music. It worked! Nailed higher than usual word counts without breaking a sweat.
The sprint flew by.

October is InstaWrimo where authors post a photo from prompts.
Todays: Adventure
There’s definitely adventure in my cosy mystery and in life as we camp out and watch my daughter and her partners home get built.

What I’m Reading
I read several books at a time. Currently I’m reading:
1. On craft – The Relaxed Author by Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre
2. To Study – The Princess Spy by Larry Loftis
3. Self Improvement – Shades Of Light by Sharon Garlough Brown
4. For enjoyment – The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrew’s while I’m waiting for my next Lucinda Riley book to come from the library – currently in the Seven Sisters series.

5. With my grandsons – Playing For Pizza – John Grisham
6. Various versions of the Bible in my early morning meditation. I’m trying to bring in an evening reading, but I drop off to sleep.

Total books read this year (to date) 145 – started out aiming to read 50, but got carried away.

Todays photo:

is my cosy nest where I like to read in the evening. On a good day, I turn the pillows to the other end of the bed, open the rear doors and enjoy the view and sunshine washing in. Benji always claims his spot with me. The beautiful quilt was made by my lovely friend Rhonda. Her Instagram is @rhonda.robertson.925

Benji has claimed his spot to snuggle in for a reading session

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 #2

Day 2

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

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

– C.S. Lewis

One of the best things I did to lift myself up and move forward was gather positive and uplifting quotes and stories. Words from the Bible, and quotes about life.

Writing today.
I circled writing time and guarded it closely, putting up a big defense wall. And sat in my seat and wrote.

October is InstaWrimo where authors post a photo from prompts.
Todays:
Working Title – “Cosy Mystery 2”
Definitely not “exciting and mountain moving”

We visited the swan again. She raised herself and I could only see two eggs. No sign of daddy-o but I’m hoping he has three babies on his back.

Two Questions
Whats your favourite motivational quote?
Are you taking up the Nanowrimo challenge? Go on, 1667 words a day, its doable.