“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
Carron Stevenson Author 