K.M. Weiland's new book launched today: Dreamlander
It's a great read for fantasy lovers, I've reviewed the book on Goodreads and Amazon.
Just 99c, check it out!:
December's here and NaNoWriMo is over. Long live NaNoWriMo.
In my pre-NaNo post I listed 8 things to give up to get those 50k words. I didn't go completely without. I did stay away from television for the first few weeks and haven't watched very much since then. My fav' shows at the moment are Castle, Bones, Justified and The Walking Dead (okay the last one is a love/hate relationship). I did give up a lot of social media time. I was almost non-existent on Twitter and Google+ and I only wrote one blog post.
My days revolved around the word counts. All I could focus on was the 50k prize. And I did it. I finished the first draft of Undead Kev and have almost finished Warracknabeal Kids. Now it's over, I've taken a couple of days to shake the daze from my tired mind and it's time to get on with things. Here's a list of my plans for December. Did you take part in NaNoWriMo? How do you plan on recovering from the crazy?
- 3 pages - before NaNo my routine included writing three pages longhand first thing in the morning. These pages can be garble or clear story ideas. It doesn't matter. You can use the words to plot or just to dump all thoughts crowding your mind and blocking your creativity. I gave up my 3 pages during November, but I find it a refreshing way to start my writerly day.
- Meditation - visualisation techniques and guided audio recordings help me to clear my mind and plan my words. It's just 5-10 minutes out of my day but really sparks the creativity.
- Short Stories - novel writing has exhausted me over November. I'm taking a little break and concentrating on short stories for a while.
- Blog - I can't wait to get around and visit blogs again. I'm gonna be a blog-reading machine!
- Reading - I decided to try some books off the high school reading list. Finally got around to reading Catcher in the Rye and now I'm working my way through some Steinbeck classics.
- Educating - Learning grammar rules via Grammar Girl, workbooks and my good friend Denise Covey (a grammar guru).
I know many NaNoers are jumping right in with their editing. I'm going to take a little break and look at editing in the new year.
I've also got my Christmas tree up - what do you think?
I've also got my Christmas tree up - what do you think?
I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!! :) I am sooo doing that someday in the future. :D
ReplyDeleteMy plans for December include editing and hopefully starting to finish the second book in the series. Maybe I will also have a bit of time here and there to start on a new project.
LOVE YOUR BLOG Charmaine! :)
Nice December goals! I have a few too, including revisions/evaluations of some of my short stories written last year. But I also have to finish a NaNo novel from last year. ;)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of NaNo, congrats on your achievement!! It sure feels good doesn't it?
Nice Christmas tree!
ReplyDeleteMy goal now is to edit my 2009 Nano novel, but whether I'll manage that or not is another matter.
Well done on finishing NaNo. Love that unique Christmas tree!
ReplyDeleteGood job beating nano. You haven't missed much while you've been gone, November was very quiet.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back.
mood
Moody Writing
I'm so glad you stopped by my blog...coming over to yours is a real treat!
ReplyDeleteI pretty much followed the same path you did...little TV, less blogging and visiting, etc. NaNo came right when I was developing my blogs, though, so I did try to keep them up a bit. Got a few articles to write for some sites, and shorts as well.
Love your blog! Love My Zombie Dog! Great cover. I mean, really, really cool. Not cheesy at all (a cover, to me, is as important as your first sentence). I think it will appeal to your demo. It appeals to me, and I'm on about the same emotional and mental level as a ten year-old.
Great to meet you. Nice tree, too!
it would be fun if you get a book for present under that tree :PPP
ReplyDeleteHa! Love the tree. :D
ReplyDeleteI've already got Dreamlander on my Kindle. :)
Oh my gosh, I am sooo copying that tree! Too awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a fantastic strategy. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting it done, and having a new book spun. That tree is grand too and all those shows are liked at my zoo.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment today. I do appreciate it, and figured I'd pop by your place to return the favor. Oooh, I like it here! Guess I have no choice but to sign on as your newest groupie.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on completing the NaNo. I'm so impressed with anyone who can finish that trip. Love your tree. Ours is even stranger. Ever since we got a couple kittens a few years ago, we simply put up a cardboard cut-out tree, spray painted green, and permanently affixed with bubble lights. (Talk about easy set-up!)
Ha! That's a great (and appropriate) Christmas tree. Love it. Nice to visit your blog! and DREAMLANDER sounds like a great deal. :) Congrats on finishing NaNo!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing NaNo. Didn't even attempt it this year as I knew I wouldn't finish. Cute Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing NaNo! And it's good to take a break now. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI also love the book Christmas tree, and I think you're super smart to do the whole "wait a month" thing w/your Nano MS. You might consider reading in the same genre as your Nano MS this month. But what you've got on tap sounds good as well!
ReplyDeleteenjoy the holidays! :o) <3
Congratulations on finishing NaNo. I've never participated but I think I'll give it a go next year. And I must add, LOVE your Christmas tree!
ReplyDeleteI'm back in Sydney and have my internet back at last! Woot!
ReplyDeleteI think I need to try that 3 pages trick. It's a good way to 'just write' and get the inspiration flowing.
Oh, and best christmas tree ever!
Great tree. Congrats on finishing NaNo. I did it too, unofficially as I had already started the novel. I managed to do the 50,000 words, but the first draft of the novel is still not finished so I will be continuing onward with it.
ReplyDeleteI love the Walking Dead, although with the intro of sword woman this season it is becoming a bit super-heroish. Up until this season it was played really straight. It still continues to surprise, unlike most of what is on television these days.
Love that Christmas tree! Enjoy your time to relax - sounds like you've earned it. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Charmaine.Still waiting for you to arrive at the library, lol!
ReplyDeleteLove that Christmas tree. Will be a shame to pull it down.
Your reading sounds great - loving reading Grapes of Wrath again, but not sure about Catcher in the Rye.
Looking forward to our writing group break up tomorrow.
Denise
Congrats on finishing. If I ever do NaNo, I'll wait before editing.
ReplyDeleteI love the Christmas tree. :)
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ReplyDeleteAwesome tree! I want one...
ReplyDeleteI only got to 34k with NaNo, so I'm just ploughing on. Struggling a bit the last couple of days, but I think it's just that "middle section" syndrome where I'm questioning the whole thing! You did a great job - finishing one draft and almost finishing another. You deserve to unwind a bit!
Love the book Christmas tree!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on winning NaNo!!
I managed to get 60,000 words written in November for my NaNo book. I still have another 30,000 or so to write before the book's done. I want to finish that up this month and then take some time to read. I miss reading. :)
Congrats on your NaNoWriMo success!!
ReplyDeleteYour tree is pure genius!!
We've been trying to decide whether to spend money on a Christmas tree this year as we're not at home for the day itself. No need now! That's an awesome idea! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI did Nanowrimo and won (!) but it seems to have sapped my juices. I'm battling to get back into writing. Maybe daily pages (Artist's Way) will help.
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the Christmas tree. Is that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire I spy near the top?