Sunday, October 20, 2013

Lost and Scared ROW80 Check In

An Around the Words in 80 days check in (ROW80)

When it come to my novel in progress, I feel a mix of emotions.

First I feel lost. Where in the world am I going with this plot? I have no idea I've always been a  panster when it came to writing. I have wrote outlines and characters charts and when I started writing I never use any of the information I outlined it's goes out the window so I stopped planning and just start writing.  I will come up with an ending. It's float into my head while I write. That the only "planning" I'll stick with.




Second I'm scared. Scared to write for some reason.

I'm excited I know know this is the best thing I've written so far, and the best story idea I've come up with. Note the best for me, not sure it's a wonderful book it's a first draft but it could be great. This may be another reason I'm scared.

I really need to write!
Does anyone else feel this way?

~Annie

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Book I WANTED day 15 OctPoWriMo

Just One Year By Gayle Forman
Picture from Goodreads 
The writing prompt today is writing a poem inspired by a piece of News, well I saw that a book I wanted to read came out today.  My poem about a book....laugh. Enjoy. 

A Book I WANTED
A book I WANTED to read came out today.
Saw the announcement on Facebook.
Even had a reminder on my smart phone,
that I don't remember putting there.
I WANTED to read this book!
It's like a reminder of a crush I once had...
It's a sequel, really a parallel story to another novel.
Hmmm... like falling in love
First novel about a year in a girl's point of view.
Like finding joy and happiness with someone and then it's GONE.
This book, the second book about the boy's point of view.
I WANTED to know what happened, his thoughts, his actions in that make believe year.
The wait....full of  heartache.
If I sit here and think about the story I'll make that feeling come back.
Sigh.....

Ok.... I want to read that book, so do I rush to the bookstore?  
By Annie 
The book I'm talking about is Just One Year by Gayle Forman, its the sequel to Just One Day. If you haven't read it yet and love YA novels I highly recommend this book.  I hope Just One Year is just as good!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Lost in Noise Day 14 OctPoWriMo

The Writing Prompt for the today is to write a poem about silence. To look at an object and write about the silence around you.  But I wrote the first thing that popped into my head at the world silence.

Lost in Noise
You would think I was lost in a world of silence,
but I lost in a world of noise. The noise of the world.
The noise you hear every day and tune out.
In the noise I don't hear and the noise I hear
better then the sound I want to hear.
I want to hear your voice but instead
I hear the deep hum of the world as it buzz all around us.

So I gave up I'm sorry I gave up, but I still want to hear your voice.
by Annie

Come join the writing poetry challenge at OctPoWriMo 2013 

Sunday, October 13, 2013

I lost 1/2 pound

First week of ROW80 check in is over. Write everyday for 80 days writing challenge.
I wrote a scene yesterday, and it hit me I know what my heroine is feeling but what does she want? What's her desire? What's her goal? I know her inner conflict but what am rooting for her to achieve? Because I know what the hero want and how my heroine is reacting to his dicions toward that goal, scenes for to achieve the hero's goal are going through my head. But that only half the story.
I think if I knew what my heroine want then writing my daily goal would come easier.

Write everyday
I think I wrote two days out of five so far. 

Post a poem everyday.
I think I posted two poems.

Exercise three days a week.
I make it to the gym three times this week and started a new class.

Lose five pounds.
1/2 out of 5 pounds.

Goals for this week:
Write everyday.
Write a poem everyday and post on here on my blog.
Lose 4 1/2 pounds.
Click here to find out more about ROW80 

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Relate More to Beast then Beauty Day 12 OctPoWriMo

Don't remember where this picture came from but it's not mine and this is 
Disney's Belle (Beauty)
Today's poetry writing prompt is about shadows. While we could write about shadows, the prompt more about writing about our shadow side. Our non-virtues, hate, greed, lust, ect.








"Relate More to Beast then Beauty"

I love the tale of Beauty and the Beast
Relate more to Beast then Beauty
For who could love me?

Love me? I didn't even love me.
Thought they hated me,
then thought they thought me not worth it.

Related more to Beast then Beauty.
Pain in chest - empty, hollow, lost,
Knives and scissors, pointy, sharp.
But something stopped me.

For who could love me?

My family loved me.
Every single one loves me.
Told me God saved me.

Death had his chances.
Six times before age six weeks,
but he lost his chances.

God saved me.

God is the one who loves me.
Gave me a chance, not Death.
Saved me (gave me life) for a reason.

Love me? I love me.
No more self hate digging a hole in me.
Still hate knives and scissors.

Took me years to get here,
but still not there
the question changed.

For what man would love me?
If I like a man - a crush.
I'll think of every reason for him to not.

I'm boring, life not exciting, living at home.
He's not going to understand, or like me back.
He's want sex, and dump you - silly child of God.

You have a hearing lost,
as you stubble over words, do you want to explain why?
Why bother.

Relate more to Beast then Beauty
I am beautiful, Beast still there.

This is my shadow mix my light with my darkness.  

By Annie

This poem really explain why the story I'm writing right now is basic on Beauty and the Beast. I always wanted to write a story basic on this fairy tale.  But this is the first time I've felt I've a good story idea.

~Annie
P.S. I posted the wrong day number on my post yesterday. it was day 11 not 10 lol. 

Friday, October 11, 2013

Sounds of Her Life Day 10 OctPoWriMo

this picture doesn't belong to me
check out her website here
She sits on her deck.
In the silence come
the hard crackling creakling of cricketers
Shoooommmm of a semi truck on the highway.
the zoom zooom zooooooooom of a motorcycle on the road in front of her house.
the soft tap tap as she typed on her laptop.
woof, woof say the dogs at something in the backyard.
In her life these sound stayed the same,

but her life changed and changed as she grew up in this house. 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Write, Right? Day 9 OctPoWriMo

Write, Right?
Write, I need to Write,
Right Now.
Write
One word,
One sentence,
One paragraph,
One page,
Write something!

by Annie

If you like to join the OctPoWriMo poetry writing challenge click this link.

Row80 Q4 First Check In 2013

Row80 Q4 First Check In 2013
Monday:

Writing:
            
            I kept telling myself You need to write, it's the first day of Around the Words in 80 days and you need to write! Well I felt a mental block or something.  It's keep saying what are you going to write. Do you have a plan.  No I didn't have a plan.  But all I had to do was write something.  That my writing goal for right now, write something.
            Well I decided I need to read something. That my writer's mind need to cut off and I needed to turn on the fun reader's mind. Need to eat some words, put some words in maybe the words would flow onto the blank screen of the computer. I read two chapters, wanted to read more but like I said I needed to write.  I decided at the gym that a character that I struggled to give a name, would be named Wanda. (you can believe a bookworm, fairy tale loving teen could be named Wanda, right?) I decided to write the introduction for this character.  I wrote 57 words of her part of the story. (She's a secondary character.)


Healthy Living:
            
            At the gym I decided I want to try out a class.  I noticed that was a dancing class going on in the "classroom" of the gym.  I thought maybe I'll try that class next time.  So I asked the guy at the desk what class was going on and that I would like to try a class. Turn out that there was another class next, called Body Flow.  I talked to the girl teaching the class she said it's like a yoga but without the UMMM.
            I tried it.  My balance not great and my flexibility could use some work but it was fun.  I need something else to do.  The treadmill was getting boring.  My gym just started offering more exercise classes. Only problem is the membership fee is more then what I'm paying right now.  They trying to get more people to join or pick the higher fee so they offering the classes with on extra cost this month.  The good news is that mama said she'll pay the different if I really want to take the class.  Yay, Thank you Mama! So I'm closer to my first goal of losing 5 pounds and my bigger goal of being long and lean!
            Oh but the plan to not eat cookies at Cookies and Compline - failed.

Tuesday:
            
            We went gourd hunting. I want to paint a pumpkin and a ghost on a gourd. Also I thought the young girl I'm taking care of 2 days a week would like to paint one too.

Writing:
            
           I didn't write a word not even a poem.  I found all kind of other stuff to do that I somehow can't remember what they are now.  
Healthy Living:
            I didn't eat any carbs for breakfast or lunch.  I had spaghetti for supper but I'd planned to eat spaghetti for supper.  It's was good day for my diet.

Plan for today: Write! Write on story. Write a poem.


How did y'all do the first few days of ROW80?

Monday, October 7, 2013

Me and My Nails Day 7 OctPoWriMo

All day I've been asking myself what story about me do I want to share with you? Today's Poetry Prompt is The Power of Narrative Poetry and Ms. Scott talked about her winning two story slams. So Cool!
 So for poem I writing it right now "live" and imagaining I'm at a story or poetry slam and all I know it I'm talking about today and my nails.

Me and My Nails
Hi I'm the girl more tomboy then girly girl,
Little I wore jeans and big shirt no dress for me.
Wouldn't touch one with 9' pole, expected Easter.
That was me more tomboy then girly girl.

But then met a boy no no not that kind...
Gay boy who noticed how she dressed.
Changed her dress and make up, more fashionista.
Now I wear dresses and cute tops but still wear jeans.

But life happened, and I needed a bright spot
One day picked a color for my nails
pink like cotton candy, happy times, fun times.
A bright happy color right there on her hands.

Today at make up store
having a sale on these wonderful color called nail polish.
What color should I pick?
calming blues? Natural browns?
pretty pinks? Bold reds?
Picked a bold purplish red and a calming light blue.
By Annie


First Day of ROW80 Goals (Around the Words in 80 Days)

Writing a lonely act. It helped to have people around who support you, even if it's on the internet like the site for the writing challenge called Around the Words in 80. I'm grateful for these other writers. It's the first day of this challenge and it couldn't have come at a better time. I need some encouragement. I haven't written anything on my story in a week.  If you read this blog then you know I've written some poetry but nothing else.
  • Writing Goals
  • Write every day.
  • Contiue to write a poem at day.
  • Post poems and ROW80 check in posts.

My goal for this week is simple write something every day and post..  I hope to build up to the word count daily goal of 500 words. I want to have the first 25% written by the end of the month. I have a bunch of scattered scenes written and have reached the first 10% mark.

Health goals
  • Lose 5 pounds


I want to make it a habit to go to the gym 3 days a week, and by the end of the month be going 5 days a week. I need to lose 5 pounds. (First weight lose goal marker) I try to tell myself that I really only want to be healthy and not worry about the extra weight.  Still I really want to lose the extra weight I just want to lose it and still eat my bread too. Eating goal limit my bread and sweets. That mean stop eating cookies with my church college group. I still going to Monday's night Cookies and Compline just not eating the cookies. 

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Butterflies in Me Day 6 OctPoWriMo

Butterflies in Me

Next
The Future
Sleeping Beauty Stage
Dreaming When Will I Wake Up?
The Tunnel No Light at End
Maybe I'll Write?
Nanny?
Wait.
Eyes
Toward Me
Expected to Speak
Blush, Wish Earth Swallow
Disappear Blend in Wall
Must Speak Right Now
More Wallflower
Smile.
Crush
Draw Closer
Throat Heart Throbbing
Rest of Body Frozen Solid
Tongue Rooted Top Mouth
Finally Eyes Met
He Walk By
Lost

By Annie

Saturday, October 5, 2013

I'm a Young Woman Who Day 5 OctPoWriMo

The Poetry Prompt challenge for today was write a list poem with the started I'm a woman who.... well I read Sincerely, Aishah's Poem and she started with "I'm a young woman who" so since I'm a young woman too, I stole the line from her poem I hope she doesn't mind. 

I'm a young woman who hopes the 30's are indeed the new 20's.
I'm a young woman who quiet and wait and watches like a spider (only I'm harmless).
I'm a young woman who prays for healing - come I'll pray for you.
I'm a young woman who born with hearing lost prays to hear the birds sing every day.
I'm a young woman who believe in true love but yet to find hers.
I'm a young woman who want a man (not a boy) who will stand by her side.
I'm a young woman who willing to stand alone as long as she has God.
I'm a young woman who love the power of God, the true  and real "magic" of the world. (In Jesus' name I pray)
I'm a young woman who loves books.
I'm a young woman who has...needs to write. (It's burned on my heart)
I'm a young woman who doesn't realize how blunt her tongue.

I'm a young woman who still discovering her passions.  

Friday, October 4, 2013

Gentle Day 4 OctPoWriMo

Oh, how I wish my dreams
would come on a gentle breeze
I lay in bed and want to scream
Sometimes I think the angels of fate teases

Or maybe it's the muses that teases
Please be gentle to me for I'm a writer
I need to write the visions I see
fingers on keyboard I pull an all nighter.

Oh, True Love, be gentle to my heart
where are you? Where's Cupid's arrow?
When will love journey long start?
I guess I'll meet him some tomorrow.

Go told me to go straight and my path is narrow.

~Annie


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Bold Butterfly OctPoWriMo Day 3

The prompt today is what was our first poem or what made us love poetry?
Well I don't know if this was my first poem but it's the poem that made me realized I had something to say with poetry. 

Bold Butterfly
A high school Junior I wrote a Shakespearean poem,
in creative writing class about swimming a race.
How I shot into the water, lived the moment.
In that moment I loved the chase.

Not the fastest swimmer, I loved
the feeling of the water treading alone my body,
the butterfly, oh how I remember thee, my beloved.
Modest in life, there I was bold, even in a swimsuit, oddy.

That was what I wrote a while ago in another being,
The me now and the me then would be disagreeing.


In high school I was on the local swim team, but I didn't join until later, most of my teammates had been on the team from a young age.  While I loved swimming since I was 7 I didn't discover the swim team until I was a teenager. My favorite stoke was the butterfly, one of the hardest stoke in swimming but I loved it. Also I was one of the better swimmers on my team in that stoke.  So one day in creative writing class it's what I wrote about and since I shared something about me, my teacher liked it.

~Annie

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Fat Burn! OctPoWriMo

Hello I came up with my poem for today while at the gym this morning.

Fat burn!
As I
On the
Treadmill
Praised God.
Fat burn!
As I
Sang of
Amazing
Love - God
Turned my
5'5 frame

Long and lean.

[Turned out my poetry was hiding at the gym. ;) ]

If you like to learn more to to join me and others as we write a poem everyday of October. 31 poems 31 days! check out the blog as this link OctPoWriMo.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

From this Moment i'll be happy

from this Moment i'll be happy.
i tell myself.
It's a new hour, It's NEW!
i tell myself.
"It's a new Day" on repeat.
But it only MonDay.
Maybe I'll watch Castle
or Downton Abbey! 

(on DVD)

(Yeah I know I posted this on Tuesday)

[Bend the rules I say. BEND! Oh... I broke that one]

~Annie



October's Challenges

It's October and I have three different challenges.

First challenge is a writing challenge called October Poetry Writing Month also known as OctPoWriMo. I will be writing a piece of poetry every day of this month.  In fact I'll post a piece later. Click the link to learn more on the OctPoWriMo's blog.  Love for you to join and write with me.

Second challenge is called 90 days of positive thinking or look like Charlize Theron (Family joke I think it started when Daddy asked Mama who she like to look like. Her answer Charlize Thorne from the Dior commercial. Now there a picture of Charlize on our refrigerator. This challenge is a lose weight challenge with positive thinking (with the help of exercise and a better diet).  I will be posting about living healthier. Recipes of the food I'm trying and love and exercise routine I'm working on. Today is day 5.



Third Challenge is another writing challenge called Around the word in 80 days that will start on the 7th and end on the December 26.  This challenge is for the writer with a life ;).  I think it a good writing challenge for learning to live a writer's life, more important your writer's life.  We all have to write around life, work, children, husband/wife and the events that pop in out of nowhere. You picked your own writing goals, whether it's a word count or amount of time to write, you get to pick a measurable goal. Check in twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday.  For information click this link ROW80

Sunday, May 26, 2013

JuNoWriMo and ROW80

Last time I reported for ROW80 I said I was going to write short stories.

Well.....

I wrote one short story about a girl who had a crush on a guy who worked at the gym and the next thing I know scenes for my retelling of Beauty and the Beast YA novel come flooding in and took over.  The life of a writer, right.... or at least my life as a writer.

I started writing down there scenes hoping to catch them before they washed away.  During this time I got an email from JuNoWriMo (Writing challenge in June to write a novel in 30 days [Created by different people then the ones who created NaNoWriMo that take place in November.])

And I thought great idea I'll write this novel for JuNoWriMo!

And then I planned to write another novel that had a few scenes floating around in my head in July for Camp NaNoWriMo (more about that later) I imagined that once I started writing B&theB more scenes from the other one will flood in too.

This plan could change in a month.

It's written on this blog and not in stone.

I have no idea why but the blog hop linky wouldn't work....sorry no blog hop for ROW80

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The Short Stories Plan ROW80 Day 45

My plan is to write a short story per week. I have "scenes" running through my head for each of my projects and I need to learn what's going on around them to better plot out these stories. So I'm going to create short stories from the scenes. Most of these scenes are scattering moments. And I read recently that scattering moment are very important in short stories.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Around the Word in 80 days - Day 42 After quitting I'm back

Hello Around the World in 80 days aka ROW80

Sorry I disappeared.  But I went through a few weeks of not writing including blog posts.
The last post I wrote was about not quitting, and then I don't write. I felt like I was quitting.  Hate that feeling.

So I'm back.
And working on three "projects"
One is a short story but it could be a harlequin novel but don't think it'll be that long.
Second one is a Young Adult contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast (new story idea)
Third one is the second draft to YA novel about a girl who see angels Work title Feathers and Deaf which plot has taken a whole different road.

Will come up with a plan on Wednesday.

Here is the Blog Hop of the other darling writers of ROW80 (hoping its show up)


Friday, April 19, 2013

Q is for Quit However Don't Quit Now!



Q is for Quit However Don't Quit Now.
Is for me.
I having a hard time coming up with something for each letter, having to have decide to take this challenge at the last minute.....


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

H is for Hunger, Not Food Something Else...Anything Else

No not that kind of hunger...



Have you even wanted something so bad you could taste it?

That the kind of hunger I'm talking about - wanting something.
(Now I'm trying to think of something not food relative.....)

All right you want a giant shark plush!









 
Source: ohgizmo.com via Megan on Pinterest


What all are you going to do to get this giant man eating plush?
Are you going to the store?
Search the Internet?
What if someone tell you (like your parents, your roommate or your spouse) that there is not way they're having that in their living room!
Creating an antagonist or any character really is knowing what he or she wants and at what length they are willing to go to get it and what or who stand in their way.

What is your character hungry for? Is a very important question for an author.  One I notice I have a problem with while writing.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

F is for Frightening

The antagonist can be frightening.
I once read a tweet that said something along the lines of a thing is more scary if unseen.  This was advice for writing came from a agent who also wrote a few books, I think. 

If you follow a few lit agents on twitter you get some interesting advice.

Friday, April 5, 2013

E is for Evil





Is the antagonist evil?
In my story there is dualism at work, (think Star Wars) and the characters are influenced by this good and evil hidden in their world.
So in the case of my story yes the antagonist is evil, can she or he be redeemed and forgiven? Without a doubt. Am I going to write my antagonist being redeemed I have no idea.

My Heroine Alana see angels but the questions are. Are they good or bad angels?  Are they even angels? And what else is hidden from sight?

Thursday, April 4, 2013

D is for Don't Dare Give Up


There is one thing we can all learn from the great antagonists of storyland.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

C is for Confict and Creating My Antagonist. (Also A ROW80 Check-in)

C is for Conflict and Creating my antagonist.

So far this A to Z Challenge and round of Around the Words in 80 Days Writing Challenge (I'm trying to do both challenges.) I have giving a lot of thought about what is an antagonist and who is my story's antagonist.
All because I started with A is for Antagonist. At first I planned to write about anything writing and decided my A would be for Antagonist but then I accidently posted on the A to Z challenge blog list A is for Antagonist instead of the name of my blog, A Force of Love.
When I went looking for my blog on the list I realized my mistake but then a few people come over my blog and commented how they like antagonists. Born was the new idea my topic for the A to Z would be all things antagonist or at least my thoughts about antagonists.

I'm still brainstorming who is my antagonist but I both by the end of this A to Z challenge to know who this person is.

Ok C is for Conflict.
The antagonist is not the person who determing to destroy everything.  Most of the time they want something and it doesn't goes well with what the protagonist wants.  There lies the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. They are in each other ways to get what they want.

For ROW80 this is my brainstorming the plot of Feathers and Deaf.  All about antagonists.

Until next time, happy writing and blogging.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

B is for Bad Guy

Is the antagonist a bad guy?

We could aim the question back at you, Glinda.
I do think The Wicked Witch of the West was crazy and had a mean laugh.  And for me as a child she was at the top of the list for villains. She was Dorothy's antagonist. 

Dorothy's wanted to get home and according to Glinda she needed to visit the Wizard.  The Wicked Witch of the West didn't not want her to meet the Wizard, and the movie never tell why.  Since they're desires are against each other they are each others' antagonists and Glinda and Dorothy are allies.
While Glinda is not Dorothy's antagonist I wonder if she is the story's bad guy.  I once heard or read that the true villain set the story in motion.  Glinda knows that Dorothy wants to get home and the red slippers on her feet the whole time she skipping down the yellow brick road have the magic to send her home from the beginning but instead she send her down a path that leads to murder.  In the end Dorothy goes home with blood on her hands and Glinda stay as the most powerful person there and therefore rules Oz.
All this is not to change the way you watch Wizard of Oz or the way you look at the Good Witch Glinda, but it's another thing I learned from writing my 2nd YA novel you need to have an antagonist (which my novel doesn't) and you need to know all your bad guys.

Monday, April 1, 2013

A is for Antagonist


What have I learned from writing my second full length YA novel?
I have learned I need to have an antagonist.
Really I wrote an novel with no clue who the murder was.  I kind of hoped the person would jump out and scream I DID IT! Nope, no luck.
As a writer we need to know who the antagonist of our novels are. They can stay hidden from the reader like the notorious A in Pretty Little Liars.




Is Mona the Antagonist?

Does her desires and wants conflict with the liars?

The protagonist's and the antagonist's desires have to cause conflict for the plot to move forward and the story to avoid being boring.









Around the Words in 80 days' Goals (ROW80)


I have decided I need to extend my "little world" So this 2nd round of Around the Words in 80 days, is about extending my world, changes I can make to get beyond "me." 

The last round I learned I have a hard time keeping my goals for 80 days so this time I'm breaking it into 20 days/set of goals.

How am I going to do that?

I'm going to get each 20 days a theme.  The first theme is create.

Writing/Editing Goals
  • Not only weekly and mid-week report but daily reports.
  • Visit a ROW80er's blog each day.
  • Edit a page of my Feathers and Deaf WIP each day.
  • Work on some plot ideas to improve Feathers and Deaf.
  • Write a page of my notebook story titled Days with Caleb.

Life Goals

  • Check out, maybe buy, Matthew Hussey's Book Get the Guy and watch the matchmakers' TV show Ready for Love.  (Hey as a child I loved the show Love Connection!  My best friend and I would stay up late to watch it, thro I think I liked the show more than she did.) If nothing maybe I get a story idea out of it.
  • Keep applying for jobs and anything else I think I need to do to improve my chances of landing a job like washing my black pants for in store applying and interviews. I need a day job to support this writing habit.
  • Re-decorate my bedroom and my sitting/TV/writing room.

This is my plan to create and extend my world.  I leave you with a music video titled My Own Little World by Matthew West. (Below that is the blog hop)


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

ROW 80 - 8 Days Left

Alright eight days left of my first round of around the words in 80 days and the next one starts April 1st.
What have I learned from this writing chellenge so far?

  1. I'm not good at keeping goals for 80 days.
  2. DON'T GIVE UP!
  3. Today is a new day for aiming at the goal.
  4. You may have to change the goals, but don't give up!
  5. That I'm still learning.
  6. Write, Write, Edit Edit.
  7. The story or editing will happen one word at a time.
Goal for the eight days left.
  • To edit one page a day.
  • To not give up on my writing, or on other things in my life.
Yesterday Lee McAulay left this Emily Dickinson's poem on the Around the Words in 80 days blog.

“They may not need me, but they might
I’ll let my smile stay just in sight
A smile as small as mine might be
Exactly their necessity.”
 
I think I'll remember it for today's motto.
 
Well ROW80ers, how's y'all writing coming?
Happy Writing,
Annie Laurie

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Happy, Sad, Searching, Crush (Edited)

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”
Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This is the perfect quote for me right now.  I watched the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower the other day and now I want to read the book.  When I heard the quote I thought perfect.

I have been overwhelmingly sad this last week, most likely because an old friend from church had heart surgery and never woke up, she passed on Friday and I wonder about the choices I have made... are they good or are they bad?

I want to start over with everything... From Around the Words in 80 days writing challenge to... well different things.

Two songs have been on my mind the song I Have a Crush on You and Reba McEntire's Somebody. Again with the opposite train of thoughts.

I just get the feeling that someone is searching for somebody and this song came to mind. Here Somebody may this person be filled with hope.


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Sunday, March 3, 2013

1/100 books 2013

Read the first book I will add to my 100 books in 2013 list in the tabs above. The book Just a Day by Gayle Foreman

Author's Paralyzed, Angels and my ROW80 Check-in




Dear Writers,
Do you get paralyzed at the thought of writing or working on your novel?  I do when I think about all I have to do in order to fix the plot holes in my Work in Progress. I get overwhelmed  and can't even look at what I have written.

Any advice?

I have decide to work on a short story a memoir.  I'm following the same outline I posted here. Right now I'm hoping to write the triggering event. The event that the reason I think anyone would want to read a memoir about me even if its only the people at my church. My fiction story isn't the only thing that feature angels.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

At the Beginning and a ROW80 Check-in

Hello ROWers and others readers,
On Sunday's check-in I said I would work on an outline for my story to create a second draft, post a picture of me on this blog and write an About Me page for this blog.
So far this week I have worked on the outline.  The outline can be found here. It's a 9 steps outline for plotting.  Its made into blocks (not by me). So far I have taking the main events in my first draft and put them in the plot blocks.
Sorry I'm not going to show it.  It contain spoilers just in case this book it published someday.
But I will tell you that I cut my oragial beginning.
The first event of my plot started at a halloween party, but I had written an introdution the characters a long introdution to the characters before that.  I think I should introdutes the chararters at the party right before the first changing point happens.  I really need to think about the first line, first phargraph and page.  According to this outline the event should show up in the first line somehow, but I don't want to throw the reader into the action and not give them some people to care about on the way.  This what I plan on working on once I write the About Me and post a picture.

How are y'all coming with ROW80 this week?

Sunday, February 24, 2013

9 Steps Plotting Outline and A ROW80 Check-in


Here is a plotting outline I found over at Jody Spark's Blog

 

I'm thinking about using it for writing my 2nd draft. Thank you Amy Beth and Hunter for their advice in the comments from my last ROW80 post. They answered my call for help.

Goals for the next week of ROW80 (decide to roll with this day by day, week by week)
To create an outline for my 2nd draft based on this plotting outline.
To create an About Me page for this blog.
Add a picture - time for me to say this is me (so to speak)

So how is your writing coming?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Help! My ROW80 check-in (On Writing)

 
Hello ROW80ers and others who happen upon this blog,
 
I'm stuck.  Some people call it writer's block.  I hate that term, it make it sound like all your creativity is being held back by a brick wall or something.
 
I feel like it everything else in life that hurting my creativity and writing. I sit there thinking about something else other then the story.
I need to create a 2nd draft somehow pull what I've written for the 2nd draft with what I like about the 1st or rough draft.
 
Anyone have a writing exerciseI can do to get my story moving again?  Anything? Please help.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

It's Time For a ROW80 Check-in Again?

I can't believe it's Sunday and time for a ROW80 check-in again....
Well I did mange to keep my Lent promises no sweets, no twitter and no Facebook, since its Sunday I can check and post on twitter and Facebook but not for the next 7 days. Will I make it is the big question. I hope so. Maybe God will help.
Writing....?????
Hmmmm
I'm learning that I can't edit, instead I want to write another story with characters of the same names. I need to rethink how I'm going to do this 2nd draft.

Maybe I'll write the story backward from scene to scene just a thought.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Lent Day 2 aka I can't believe I gave up Twitter

I gave up looking and posting on twitter and Facebook for Lent. It's driving me crazy that I can't look at twitter or post the random thought that just pop into my head..... It only day 2 it's has to get easier.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Lent and ROW80 Check-in

Today is first day of Lent and Mid-Week check-in For ROW80.
This whole round of ROW80 I have been back and forward on my goals changing them or not reaching them.
Writing goals
First it was write 100 words a day then I changed it to write 500 words a day but then I didn't write every day.
So now I've changed it again to simply write everyday.
Since Sunday I wrote on Monday and Tuesday.  I haven't wrote anything today yet.  There still some of today left I hope to write later after the Ash Wednesday service at 6.

I wrote about a family crisis for my MC's new friend, of course this made me realized I still don't have a major event or crisis for my MC to go through. I mean what drive her to do the things she does? I know she wants to find her friend (forever best friend) and this trying to find her friend changes through the book, first it just looking for her in the lunchroom.

Life goals
I have applied for some jobs.
Need to apply for some more.

For Lent I gave up (I hate that we say I gave up for Lent but I can't think of another way to put it) anyway I gave up for Lent: sweets, twitter and facebook.  Will only check and maybe post on twitter and facebook on Sunday.  So all my twitter writing buddies you may only see me on Sundays. I realized this morning that I spent most of the morning of twitter and facebook I think its a good sign I need to give them up for a while.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Another Prayer For Your Crush and More




 
Praying for love.
 
I believe you can pray about anything, God's listening. Nothing is more important to God than love, His Love.  But these prayer are for love on earth that so many of us wish for.
 
 
A prayer for all out there looking for their valentines this week.

Thank you Lord, that they will find love. Love that is perfect for each other and have no fear. No fear of being judged, criticized, controlled, abandoned, rejected, or being shamed.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 Prayer from The Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God by Joy Lamb.

Since the prayer I wrote about talking to your crush was popular, here is another.

Thank you Lord, that you have broken down the barrier of the dividing wall between me and the one I like.  In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, Amen.
Changed from another prayer in Joy Lamb's book The Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God.

Also I believe when someone come to mind you are meant to pray for them, and that special someone or even your crush come to mind a lot right?
Here's one to pray for the men in your life.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I asked in Your Holy Name that You continue to change (Name) into the man you planned for him to be, to lead down the path you choose for him long before he was born. For him to draw closer to You and achieve great things in Your Glory. Amen.

(sorry I don't have one to pray for women I'll have to think about that)

Are there any prayers you say for the ones you care about?


Sunday, February 10, 2013

How Lisa Burstein Helped Me write. ROW80 Check-in

Yesterday on twitter I saw that Lisa Burstein author of YA novels Pretty Amy and Dear Carrie and New Adult novel The Next Forever, tweeted that she writing and if anyone would join her. So I tweeted I would. I'm glad I did, I got my story moving and now I need to introduced a family crisis for one of the characters.
Thank you Lisa Burstein.
I have no idea where I'm on goals other then I'm behind.

Friday, February 8, 2013

valentine's day wish list and An Angel by Her Side Book Review

Source: goodreads.com via Annie on Pinterest

Lately I read a series about Amish and angels called A Heaven on Earth Series by Ruth Reid. Her newest book is An Angel by Her Side.

Every book struck a chord in me. It was like I was reading the book at the right moment in my life and the realization her characters discovered was for me too.

But this post isn't just about this amazing series, it about a valentine's day wish list or boyfriend wish list.

A man I can pray with.

In every book the hero and heroine pray together for the crisis going on in the book, it give the impression that if those two get married praying as one is forever in their future.

I just think it's a beautiful picture.

A couple kneeing, holding hands, heads bowed, praying either out loud or silently to their Lord Jesus Christ.

Read any good books lately that inspire you or what's on your valentine's day wish list?

Annie Laurie

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

ROW80 Check-in I'm Here But No Work To Show For It...

I'm here but with no work to show for it, does that count?
I'm think about doing a discovery writing exercise Elizabeth Greentree is fond of. She warned against trying to write a novel in 30 days so not going to try that one (yet) I'm thinking of settling into a writing cave (my room) with coffee and snack and staying there for a few hours only writing. Hmmm I might. And just write down all my characters hopes and fears ( like Beth suggested) and create a few flash fiction (like Shan suggested.)

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Life and ROW80 Check-In

This pass week I didn't do to well on my goals in fact I lost sight of them.

I need to throw something at my characters something that make my MC Alana and the new girl Mallory become friends and grow close.  Something that make new girl become new best friend.

One goal this week is to throw a few things at my characters so readers can get to know them. Would like to write a total of 500 words by next suday. Yes I'm starting out
(again) small.

Life Goals.
Get a job.
In order to do that:
  • update references 
  • update resume
  • Apply for 3 jobs at least this week.
To learn to dream again.
I guess you could say that writing and wanting to be published is dreaming.  But see, I write because I have to write.
My friends were talking about thier bucket lists on Wednesday and I realized I hadn't thought about what I wish to do in a long time.  In the past two years my family lost three people and in my grief I think I lost sight of dreaming for the future.  Writing help me through my grief. It gave me an esape place, so I didn't count it as dreaming.  I counted it as a need.

Thank God I'm no longer in that grief fulled place. Now I need to move forward and I think a job would help.

Here to moving forward. I hope you have a wonderful day and happy writing.
Annie Laurie