A Day In The Life Of NanoWrimo

Happy Friday!

As you may have guessed today I'm sharing my experience as a NanoWrimo participant and having a catch-up with you all.

First let me say welcome to the newest Beachwalk Babes who have recently signed contracts with Beachwalk Press. Huge congratulations to Crystal Donahue and Deanne Parker!

If like me you are starting to feel the cold, you can grab a bargain read to snuggle up with as part of the Beachwalk Press Series Spectacular. There are 17 titles available for only 99 cents! Click here for more details.

Personally, I'm very pleased to be able to share with you my blurb for Dating in the Dark...

Blurb

Can you find what you need hidden within the dark?

Hiding out in his sister’s bakery to recover from a recent injury isn’t an ideal solution for newly unemployed meteorologist Damian Trent. Especially since he doesn’t like cake. But hiding anywhere is preferable to facing the media frenzy revolving around his life. He has no intention of being seen by anyone. That is, until he hears a honey-toned voice over the phone.

Public relations agent Sophie Rose has a boss who makes her working week a hellish one. He drives her to her need for sugar, so the recently opened Sweet Delights Bakery is perfect for her much needed Friday treat. But one day when she calls to place an order, she gets an unexpected surprise.

Sophie’s keen to dump her V-plates, though only the right man will do. Damian, with his sexy, yet familiar sounding voice, seems the ideal person for her to gain some much needed experience with. But why do they need to date in the dark?

Content Warning:  contains sensual sex

Dating in the Dark happens to be my NanoWrimo project from last year. If you aren't familiar with Nano, it's the National Novel Writing Month where writers aim to write a book from November 1st - 30th. Yep, you read that right. Write an entire novel in a month. I didn't achieve it last year, which makes me wonder why I'm attempting it again. But the truth is, as difficult as it sounds it's very motivating and gets the cogs whirring on full speed. Although they tend to have a tendency to pause every so often. Make that very often. Procrastination is my Nano downfall. For example, take a look at one of my writing days...

Wednesday.

Wake up with the thought that this is going to be the day of all the words.

8.30am Shoo teen boys out of the door and take daughter to school.

9am Return home. Getting excited to get some words down. But first coffee and toast. How can I function without coffee? Switches the kettle on and sorts laundry as I wait.

9.30am Have coffee and washing machine is full and working magic. Time to create magic of my own. Switch laptop on and open file. But wait - must check to see if I've had a life changing email.

10.30am Checked emails, deleted spam, checked bank balance and somehow ended up on social media. This time no distractions!

10.45am Answer the door to the postman. Now what was I doing? Oh right, must check email and social media.

11.15am Puzzled as to how I ended up on social media. Gets the focus back and enjoys the flow.

12.10pm Gets a call to collect injured daughter from school. Cuddles needed.

2pm DVD and food a distraction from injury. Check emails and social media. Life still not changed from either. Get more words down while listening to 'Let It Go'.

3.15pm Teen arrives home. Needs equipment for homework ASAP that only I will have the power to locate. Closes file and gives in to family time.

8.30pm Daughter in bed, teens hiding in their pit (aka, bedroom). Irons school uniform, rescues stinky PE kit from school bag that is needed for the next day.

9.30pm Checks email, social media and achievements of other Nano'ers.

10pm Reads through the days efforts, tweaks some, deletes more and starts to add to word count.

11.15pm Hits sticky patch. 

11.30pm Still stuck. Bed and reading time.

1am About to nod off. Thinks of way out of sticky patch and the most awesome idea ever. Idea is so awesome I will remember it forever! Falls asleep.

Thursday

Today is going to be a day of all the words. Now what was that idea I had???

Yes Nano is tough, and no doubt I won't be a winner this year either. But something that makes you think of words can only be good. So to anyone else out there taking part, good luck! It might take a lot longer than a month, but hitting The End is the best feeling ever. And then the hard work really begins ;-)

I'm off to check my emails...and my social media...and is the laundry basket full again? Have a great weekend all!

~ Tracey

   

Vacation Over!

I've never done NaNoWriMo before and this year I did for my first time. And I won! Yay! What a great feeling. Its so rewarding for your word count ticker to turn purple and say Winner! Yes, I know, I didn't really get a prize...or did I? I got two stories done! Wanted:Wife which has been accepted by the fabulous Beachwalk Press and another short novella that's not really doing anything at the moment.

After NaNo, I took a two week vacation! I wish I could report I went to a topical island and had hot cabana boys serving me fruity drinks, but I'm afraid I can't. Instead I organized and cleaned my heart out. And I had a few very lazy days where I sat on the couch and watched TV. My two weeks is up. (I finished NaNo early) That means I can write again. I won't be doing it full-time. I still have a big to-do list to accomplish since I had those lazy days. But, I will allow myself a little writing time if I want before the kids are on break and no writing what so ever will happen.

I'll be back on 12/24 (Christmas Eve)--if the world doesn't end before then. ;) Happy Holidays!

NaNoWriMo...a time sucker

Are you doing NaNoWriMo? What is it? Basically, someone decided that November should be national novel writing month. Who ever did, forgot about the upcoming Holiday's apparently. :o/

I've never done NaNo before, so I decided to give it a try. I didn't start a brand new piece like you're suppose to. I just wanted to write the goal, 50,000 words in a month. My count is currently 21,032 and I haven't even gotten started today.

NaNo has been good for me. I'm writing more and pushing myself. Some days I write the bare minimum for NaNo standards and some days I double it. Its nice when I have  a day I wrote a lot. I'm normally a scene/chapter writer. When I finish a chapter, I am done for the day. I have written two chapters on a good day since NaNo. I think this has been good for me as a full-time writer because I am showing myself what I am capable of. And it helps because I have a goal of writing more full-length works.

But, because of NaNo, I haven't had time for much else. Promotion...not really happening right now. Talking on the phone...nope. Its just me and my laptop, a heating pad for my back ache, and my lovely characters.

Anyone else doing NaNo?

Lacey Wolfe

Okay, what was I thinking?

I'm not sure.
Last month I signed up for NaNoWriMo. I set up my profile on their site and added some buddies. I even had a book I was hoping to finally finish. It's a story I've had in my mind since I sold my first book.
Fine.
A few days ago I found out a publisher I used to edit for needed new editors. I emailed the Editor-in-Chief and she gratefully rehired me.
Okay, I'm fine with that to.
Now it's November 1 and I haven't written one word on my new WIP. In fact, I've decided not to write anything on it. (Will I ever get that book started?) Instead I decided to use the support from my Buddies to finish the second book in the Winter Creek, Montana series. Then I'm hoping to finish the third book in another series I have with a different publishers. (The same one I edit for.) Yes, I know it's against the rules. I don't plan on writing 50,000 words this month. I won't need that many to finish these two books. But I do need the support.
Because I'm going to need it.
I'm doing all of this while moving into a new apartment and looking for a job.
Can't say my life is ever boring. But this kind of pressure I can handle.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Hey, anyone else attempting Nano?