Day 6 - late but hey it's NYE

Happy New Years 2014.

We had a really fun New Years with friends tonight.

But I am still getting my blog entry in because I had a great day earlier working on getting what I've written so far.  I spent about an hour taking an inventory on all the scenes I've written so far - with current page numbers and listing the POV for the scene.  I am getting a much clearer picture of what I need to work on, and frankly some of what I can cut, as I move forward with this project.

I am full of optimism for this upcoming year, not just because of my DYSB 365 challenge, but for all my goals for 2014.

My Best Wishes to you and yours for a happy, healthy and productive 2014.

~CJS

Day 5 - Multi-tasking

Today has been a busy day with all the crazy stuff in my life as a full time working mom of three boys. Work, getting the kids, dinner, and all those little things.

Basically I've had lots to do with no big open pockets of time that I have on the weekend to devote to this process.

However, because of my committment and because of Tom's unknowing encouragement, I managed to write a little and review a bit more.  I still plan to spend some time mapping out what I've done and creating a plan for where to go with filling in and tying it all together.  

I've have also spent time voting for Tom Hiddleston on the E Online Celebrity of 2013 race again though, but today is the last day thankfully.   One less distraction from my work!  But I feel good about it.  It looks like hopefully he'll get a much deserved win.  Hopefully he will feel the love we fangirls have for him.

I'm keeping this short and sweet tonight because I have writing to do!  I like the scene I am working on.
So I'll get back to it.  ~CJS

Day 4 - Not the most productive but still a good day

Day 4

I still have no precise word count to report, however I did get into my 50K (and counting!) novel project and am basically re-acquainting myself with it. I need to spend some time mapping out what I have thus far and where I actually plan to go.

The problem with what I did today, and have done in the past, is that rather than really create new scenes or development of the characters, I spent time reviewing what I've already written.  It's really a pretty bad use of my time, but since it's been months since I've worked on this, I really am not sure where to start and what needs work.

So I am very hopeful that this new challenge I've made for myself will help correct that problem.  Once I've begun writing every day, and have really dug into this project, I think I should be able to spend more time creating and less time reviewing.  And then on to the edit, where things get really fun.  Ha!

I did, however, spend a rather ridiculous amount of time voting on the E Online Celebrity of the Year contest which is now down to one Ian Somerhalder, about whom I care nothing at all, and the wonderful Mr. Thomas William Hiddleston.  Needless to say I've been voting my little heart out for TWH.

While I did hear my imagined words of encouragement from Tom, I felt that he would certainly have added that while "Darling, you should be writing" he wouldn't mind terribly if I voted a time or two hundred for him in the contest.  At least that's what I told myself as I repeatedly refreshed the page and voted a bunch of times.

Day 3 - Old school

What a great day for this challenge!

I realized yesterday that I needed to do some more research on blogging.   And I was also just due for a trip to the library since the series of books I'd found just hadn't caught my interest.  Granted, a great deal of my interest lately is focused on one handsome devil with a fantastic voice named Thomas Hiddleston, but I must find other interests.  Right? 

Just a quick note though on my Hiddleston obsession.  I got The Love Book app on iTunes and I am in so much love with this.    It was absolutely the best $2.99 I've spent in ages.  You get access to many wonderful poems, short stories and bits of prose all with varying views into love.   The real  show stopper though, the real melt my heart wonderfulness about this app is that there are actors, including the amazing Mr. Hiddleston, who read the poems aloud to you.  Another fantastic favorite is Helena Bonham Carter who reads Harry Potter excerpts, among other things. Yay! As an adult, how often do we get to so thoroughly enjoy having someone read to us?  Poetry?  And ok, yes, I am a junkie and having Tom read me WH Auden and Shakespeare sonnets just makes me ridiculously happy.  Go get it now.  And you're welcome.

Back to the finding other interests though.  :)

I went to my local library in search of new fiction to read but also to see if I can find a few books on blogging to help me in this challenge of mine.  I did have a moment to reflect that I was kickin' it kinda old school to hit the library for tips on blogging rather than internet surfing for the solution to my internet blog publishing questions. 

I came home with several books and began reviewing them.  I got a lot of good direction and perhaps will share some more as I get further into the books I picked up.

But then I felt my imagined encouragement form Mr. TWH telling me, Darling, you should be writing. 

So I dropped my blog research and began my writing.  I am very happy to report that while I do not have a good word count number to give, since I'm not certain of the number of words I had when I began writing, I have reached 50,000 words in the novel I've begun in the series I'm working on! 

I think it was about 2000 words because I know I was at least at 47,000 words and I'll assume more than that.  Surely of those 50.000 words, only 10-15K may be worthy of being kept, but still reaching 50K is a big deal and I'm excited. 

I'm signing off for the night but I'll tell you that:

• I am still working on development of this blog
• I am writing and am excited
• I am very much in love with The Love Book app and highly recommend it!

Day 2 - Lots to Learn

Day 2 - Word Count - 658

On this second day of my challenge, I did make myself sit down to write specifically because I'd set myself this goal.

I heard my imagined encouragement from Mr. Hiddleston and I began to work on a project I had worked on earlier in the year but set aside as life got in the way. 

I am very encouraged with having set a solid goal and am hopeful that making the commitment will turn into something of value in the end.   

I did get a bit discouraged as I was looking for a new image to put on this blog post. 

I am realizing, thankfully early on, that I have a lot to learn about the blogging side of this DYSBWriting365 challenge. 

After coming up with the crazy idea and throwing together my initial blog post, I then started doing a bit of research about building a successful blog.  Cart before the Horse?  Yes. 

Oops. 

It took no time at all in my Google searching for dos and don't to realize I'd committed a big Don't on the list. 

Do not use an image that does not belong to you and is not listed for free use. 

So I removed the pic I'd found on Pinterest and used for my first blog post. I will be doing some more research on incorporating images into my blog so this is a more interesting page, but in the meantime, tempting though it may be to include a beautiful image of the gorgeousness that is TWH, I would not ever want to utilize someone else's copyrighted images. 

It's an important note to self that I must learn as much about copyrighting in general, especially as I intend to have my own copyrighted work before long! 

Looks like Creative Commons is a good place to start for images, but I'll be doing some research and hopefully my next post will be more visually appealing.

But in the meantime - Day 2 of writing is done.  And Day 2 of blogging - may have been a bit overwhelming but ...done! 

Day 1 - The Beginning

Welcome to my little personal writing challenge tracking blog.  In this blog I will track my progress, my struggles and hopefully my success in my goal to complete a full year with a daily writing commitment.  An editor friend of mine frequently suggests to us aspiring writers that we follow the Artist’s Way direction of writing something every day just to get the habit in place and to strengthen our writer's muscles.  As the new year looms, I am finally taking her advice and making myself this goal.

I will write every day.  Even if it’s the grocery list.  Even  when it’s awful.  Even when it’s not convenient.  I will just write.  Every Day.  And then blog about it. 

This blog may show what I’ve written.  Or it could just list a daily word count.  Or could possibly be a post that tells about my writing experience for the day.  The goal is to blog whatever will keep me accountable. 

So - Write something every day.  Blog something about it.  365 days.  The DYSBWriting 365 Day Challenge! 

Why DYSBWriting? 

Confession time.  I am a recently converted and completely smitten Tom Hiddleston fangirl.  I stumbled upon the ridiculous amount of fangirl love out there for him on Pinterest and other places and quickly found myself in binge viewing mode over a weekend stuck in the house with my 3 crazy wonderful little boys (while we were all iced in and unable to leave the house for school or work). 

Many interviews were watched, pictures scrolled through, and Marvel movie watching commenced.  I have purchased my tickets to see his play which is being broadcast from London to my humble Dallas movie theater in February.  In short it’s become a bit of a sickness. 

BUT the upside to my Hiddleston obsession is that, while others jokingly say that all of Tom Hiddleston’s wonderful qualities make him a “life-ruiner”, I find his fangirl-love-inspiring qualities better suited for inspiration, rather than destruction. 

I saw a picture on Pinterest, that had Tom’s lovely face along with the words “Darling, you should be writing” and I’ve decided to use that as an inspiration piece.  I will hear him telling me with his flawless accent and mesmerizing voice, “Darling, you should be writing.” 

The benefits to this imaginary prompt are:

1)      How could we fangirls refuse Tom anything?  So write I shall.

2)      If I am cranky and not wanting to comply it’s not like he’s my real life husband or sister or friend who I could quite possibly snap at for telling me what I should be doing.  To borrow a Loki line – “ I do what I want!” 

Fortunately I have a wonderful husband who is incredibly supportive and kind and full of wonderful qualities himself and he happens to be tolerant of my fangirling and 100% in my corner in my writing goals. 

This blog, while officially named and essentially inspired by my fangirling is dedicated to the man with whom I am blessed to share my real life. 

Here we go!  J