Goals - Why Make Them?

So, I was going though old post on Facebook and found this one from 2012.

Talk about surprise the heck out of me. Looks like I've been slacking off for a few years now. LOL Now of course two of the books were already written and only had to be edited before publishing. But I did write a short story as well as a full length novel and 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo in that same year. Sheessh...

Makes me wonder where all my time is going these days. But it also makes me want to get my bootie in gear and be more productive. So even though I might night achieve all the goals I set out to do, looking back and seeing what I did accomplish is a great motivator. So much so here's a brief summary of what I did get done for 2016. :)

** Submitted and received a contract with Entangled publishing for Sinful Secrets. (YEAH!) Finished writing the first draft of Wicked Games in June, which now sits awaiting edits. Attended the RWA National conference in San Diego. Survived the many rounds of edits on Sinful Secrets over the summer. Went on a wonderful writing retreat with three awesome writers. Wrote 50,000 words during NaNoWrio on Sam's story, the next one I'll be presenting to Entangled. Sinful Secrets was released November 16, 2016 and I learned all kinds of new promotional ideas. And then finished off the year going through some really tough health issues with hubby, but all is well now.

Looks like I did get quite a bit of writing done. Just need to tackle those pesky edits and I'll be in business again. Sigh.... Wish I knew how to like this stage more.

What about you? How did your 2016 play out?

Entangled Publishing

Wishing you all a happy and blessed weekend!

      

National Novel Writing Month 2016

Yep, it's that time again!!!

Halloween, you may ask? Well, yes that, too. But while all the neighborhood kiddos are running around in the dark, all decked out in costume on my front lawn, and wondering why the heck no one is answering the door, I'm getting ready for a month of awesome writing!

Of course I have candy. But it's all mine! I'm going to need every last piece to survive. And since all my kids are grown, too old to Trick or Treat, I'm giving myself permission to ignore the chaos this year. Trust me. They'll live. LOL

So who's doing NaNoWriMo?

Come on. I highly recommend it! It's fun! And any progress is well worth the time, effort and stress of trying to get that word count in. I've participated since 2007, have several published books under my belt, as well as others that will someday get the attention they deserve. (Note to self. Add this promise/goal to calendar.) In some form or fashion, NaNoWriMo helped me get on track, stay on track, and move forward. The accountability is priceless!

Join me and let's watch those word count trackers move!

My username: mdohno

Good Luck!!

It just so happens, Sinful Secrets is a NaNoWrimo creation. :) It's due to release from Entangled Publishing on November 14, but you can pre-order it today!

Pre-order Here!

Time is All I Need

If only I could figure out how to manage my time better, I'd be on my way to a less stressful life.

Now I know adding NaNoWriMo is a decision I didn't have to include in this maddening month of mayhem. But it's actually helping me keep my stress level down.

I know, right? C R A Z Y!!

Procrastination is my worst enemy. Well, that and my non- existent organization skills and urge to check on what's new and exciting on the internet. ugh... Word of advice. Stay off Pinterest! Whatever you do!! Don't pull it up. Don't scan down the list of pretty and interesting pictures. Don't click on anything. Just don't go there! LOL

Despite it all, here are my accomplishments so far this month.

* Edits almost done on next book. Getting ready to send it off and see what happens. :)
* Cute humorous Nano story I'm working on with my daughter coming along nicely. 4K words so far. Progress is slow, but lots of brain storming going on while I'm completing other daily tasks.
* Working on finishing next thriller as well. (I know. I'm walking a fine line! But after taking Margie Lawson's workshop at a conference in October, I'm energized!)
* Started my Christmas shopping already!
* Getting ready for Thanksgiving. Might be having my family here this year. Yikes!

Looks like I'm getting quite a bit done now that I've written it down. Yeah! I think I'll celebrate! Not even going to try listing, or thinking about, the things needing attention in between all of this fun stuff. They will get done. They always do. LOL

Yes, I know! It's an addiction!! LOL

Come join me! :)

4 Days Down and A lot of Words to Get There

Gia, My Great Motivator!

I have to admit, I haven't had the blazing start I was hoping for these past few days. But I have made progress. Not only am I trying to reach that NaNo goal of 50,000 words, but I'm also trying to finish up edits on my next book. Crazy I know!

Four more chapters to go on that!

Yes, I'm excited! LOL

My NaNoWriMo survival kit:

Trusty Laptop
Music
Earphones
Beverages (lots of beverages)
Snacks
Notebook/Pens and Pencils (for when I need a boost in the creativity department.)
Flash drive to save my work
Do Not Disturb or Else signs for family :)
Picture of Captain Jack Sparrow ( My secret muse...crap. Not a secret anymore.) LOL
Jacket for when I get cold

That's about all I can think of right now. Time to quit procrastinating and see if I can get a few more words in before bedtime. Who needs sleep anyway! Ha!

Here's to more progress!

It's That Time Again!

I’m gearing up for another NaNoWriMo round. J

Yes, it can be addictive! And if there was a support group in my area, hubby would make sure I was all signed up and first in line when the doors opened. LOL

The truth? My favorite part of writing is just to do it. No editing. No worries. Just let the words flow as the ideas filter through my scattered brain.

Maybe not the best strategy since there is so much editing to do when I finally do go back through the manuscript. But the adrenaline rush and new story produced at the end makes all the hard work worthwhile. You can’t fix what you don’t have, right?

Number one reason I participate:

NaNo gets my booty in the chair every day. Helps me remember why I love writing so much. And that in my book is Priceless!!

So who else is Nanoing?   :)

Need another friend to support you along the way?

You can find me under: mdohno

Best of Luck!

NaNoWriMo - Halfway There

Today is the midway point for those of us trudging along in the trenches of NaNoWriMo. I've finally crossed over 22K words and have set my goal today for 25K. Oh, dear. Did I just write that goal down?! ack!

You'd think reaching 1,667 words a day would be easy. When nothing else is going on, I have to admit the writing does come pretty easy. I just write. I don't have to worry about the editing because that will come later. But let's face it. How often in life is there ever a time when nothing else is going on?

We 've had Birthday celebrations, Golf dinners, tennis lessons to get to, Drama tournaments, groceries to buy, dinners to prepare, laundry to wash and fold, etc. And no matter how early I start getting things organized and letting friends and family know my plans each year, this is about the point where I'm ready to throw in the towel.

I can see my family standing in the background with their hands folded across their chests as they secretly pray I'll do just that. They're supportive and happy I'm doing something I love to do. But, they're also a bit tired of warming dinner in the microwave and searching those blasted laundry baskets to find the clothes they want to wear and then having to iron it themselves. The horror! I believe I may have spoiled them a bit. :)

Well, I do hate to disappoint them. But I'm not giving up. Instead, I'm digging my heels in, determined to hit that 50K mark before November 30 is over. Or else!

They'll be so proud of me. And well, let's face it, I'll be a lot easier to deal with and live with as well.



I'm claiming one of those Big Ones for myself! :)

Keep those fingers going fellow NaNoers. Dont' give up! We can do this!
Too bad I can't count the words in this blog post! LOL
Now Back to Work!

2nd Day of National Novel Writing Month

 

November is here and it's time to get back to business! 

 

What I'm working on for NaNoWriMo:

 

Murder on Hall D

 

A light mystery/suspense/comedy

 

 

 

 

Can't wait to see where this story takes me. LOL I think my brain is on overload from all the new adventures on the horizon. A senior getting ready to head off to college next year. Another getting ready to take her driver's test. And my son, who has always kept me on my toes, will be entering high school next year. Whew... Throw in the new puppy we got in August and top it off with the writing and I'm lucky I make it back home with a small bit of my sanity each morning after running errands. :)

 

NaNoWriMo is the perfect escape!  Ahhhh.....

 

 

Word Count so far:  3002



 

 



Target of Betrayal - Live

Finally after months and months of edits and more edits, Target of Betrayal is alive, a mean available as an e-book. LOL Still waiting on the print version, but it shouldn't be much longer.

I'm excited, exhausted and relieved. So hubby ask me today, now that it is finished, what I plan to do with all my free time. Imagine his surprise when I smiled and told him "Now I can focus fully on my new NaNo story." I was almost jumping up and down. He's like, you're writing another one? Yep. It's official. He thinks I'm crazy. :)

Even with all the extra hassles of getting Target up and running, the NaNo story is coming along quite nicely so far. But then, for me, the first few days are always the easiest. Those last ones are down right brutal!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement through these trying months! I appreciate you all so much!

Amazon  

Barnes & Noble  

Good luck to all my fellow NaNo'ers!!! Write, Write, Write!

Rescue Me, Somebody Please!

Just kidding. Although, I must say, I've felt this way several times lately.

October has come, and as I sit here staring at my computer, procrastinating as usual, I'm realizing the month's almost gone! Time flys when you're having fun and when your not, well, I think it flys faster. LOL We started out with football games, tennis matches and Homecoming. Now we're winding down. The fundraiser for tennis was a huge success and the team is off today for a trip to Regionals, (Yay Go, Team!)

But, even with all life's distractions and the wonderful memories we've made along the way, I'm happy to report that I managed to stay on track. "Target of Betrayal" is due out the first of November. Yes, I'm doing a happy dance. This is the first story I ever wrote, finished back in 2007. The first draft was a whopping 104,000 words. Yikes! Needless to say, it has gone through one heck of a major overhaul. :)

Now it's time to get ready for NaNoWriMo! This is National Novel Writing Month for those of you trying to make sense out of the abbreviation. The goal? Write 50,000 words in 30 days. It's alot of hard work, but so rewarding. My first attempt was back in 2007. I'd finished one manuscript and was worried I might not be able to do it again. NaNo helped me set goals, priorities and realize writing was definitely something I wanted to do. If you ask my hubby, I've become a bit obsessed over the years. LOL

He just doesn't understand my new battle cry.

 "I get to write something new! Yippee!"

After all this editing, I'm about to burst with all the great possibilities. All I have to do is pick one idea floating around in my head, focus and then smoke up those computer keys. :) One of my goals this year is to challenge myself to write a simple romance. Those of you who know me are shaking your head. I can see you! And hear you! "What no guns? No herione being chased by the bad guys, her time running out?" Did you see the word CHALLENGE above. LOL And I never said there wouldn't be guns! 

Let's Get This Party Started!

Here's a link in case I've enticed you to check it out. :) 

 National Novel Writing Month 

  

Avoid the Slush at All Costs

In my efforts to procrastinate this week, I came across a book I started reading last year by Jack Bickham. “The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)”. Chapter one is title “Don’t Make Excuses.” Gulp. This hits home with me on so many levels. “Writers write; everyone else makes excuses.” Well, that means if I’m a writer I must write. I’ve been doing pretty good with this ever since NaNoWriMo and have almost finished editing a book I plan to send out to a publisher the middle of January. The following are a few tips I’ve come across from several different sources along the way that I feel have made my work stronger.



1. Lead with a powerful scene, a witty exchange or a dazzling description.

2. Make sure the right person is telling the story.

3. Create the right amount of internal monologue.

4. Don't have too many characters.

5. Make sure the characters you do have don’t walk, talk and act the same.

6. Add texture to your story with echoes, allusions and metaphors.

7. Check to make sure every scene is necessary to move the story forward.

8. Be sure there is a sense of time and place in your story.

9. Make your dialogue lively. Listen to those around you, then use what you hear.

10. Up the ante where you can.



(Raising my glass of sparkling cider)  Here’s to avoiding the slush pile and reaching our publishing dreams!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

All or Nothing!

I can't believe how quickly this month went!  As if time doesn't fly fast enough, how about throwing in a goal of writing 50,000 words in thirty days.  I must be crazy.  It's been one wild and furious ride full of ups and downs and lots of times I thought I'd never get it done.  But after pushing myself to the outer limits of my sanity and staying up late, late, late, I did it!  And I even have a few hours to spare. LOL.  NaNoWriMo Rocks!

Although, I will forever wonder why the month of November was picked for this challenge, it won't stop be from trying again next year.  I guess that's exactly what it is.  A challenge or test of sorts.  If I can stick to sitting down every day to write and actually come up with a story that is workable during this hectic month, then there is no reason I can't do it any other time.  All it takes is a little extra dedication on my part, quite a bit of understanding from my wonderful family and lots and lots of caffeine.

The next few days will be a time of winding down, relaxing and recuperating after all that hard but satisfying work.  Oh, who the heck am I kidding?  I'll be doing all the laundry and ironing I've been putting off for the last thirty days.  And here I thought my kids might get tired of having to dig through the baskets to find their favorite shirts, pants or matching socks and actually fold the darn clothes.  Not.  LOL   But before catching up on all my mommy duties, I do intend to celebrate my success.  I think I'll treat myself by heading to the nearest bookstore to buy a great book from one of my favorite authors.  Reading for fun sounds awesome right about now.  :)

The Home Stretch

As you can tell by my colorful NaNo calendar, some days are better than others. LOL And I bet you're wondering why I'm making blog posts when I have so many words to write to reach that 50,000 word goal.

It's all good. Breaks actually help me get back on track and boost the imagination when it seems to get stuck while working on one project for too long. I've got so many different projects started it's not even funny. But usually one will catch my attention and I can't shake it. This is what clues me in to what I need to be working on at that moment.

NaNo is great in that it keeps me working on the same project for longer than a few weeks. But boy is it hard. And boy do those words seem to disappear close to the end. I'm having a hard time getting the old fingers to move in the right sequence, which leads to many misspelled words. I'll laugh when I go back through the manuscript later. And at some points I know I'll have a hard time trying to figure out just exactly what I was trying to say.

So it's back to work for me now. I'm so close and yet so far. But I'm having fun and that's just the icing on the cake!

Come on my fellow NaNo'ers! You can do it!!!

Why NaNoWriMo Works

That is, the reason it works for me. Two weeks down and a little more than two weeks to go. I’m trudging along, hoping to burn up the keys with my brilliance. But in truth most days are slow and grueling as I try to crank out those 1667 words.

* But during NaNo there are no excuses.

* I sit down everyday and write.

* Rules? What rules?

* Editing is a big No No.

* I have lots of buddies struggling right along with me.

* Being creative and thinking outside the box comes easier for me since I can ignore my internal editor or critic.

To sum it all up. The entire process is fun again. I have that magical feeling I experienced the very first time I sat down and started writing my first manuscript. The time before I learned about all the rules and how difficult the publishing part of the journey would be.

Now to hang on to this after Nano is finished. If I can get those words on the page during this month and still keep up with the rest of what life throws at me, there is no reason to believe I can’t.

Here's to the finish line, 50,000 words and a new writing routine!

One Week Down!

Whew! And what a week it's been. NaNo kicked off November 1 and everything else in my life is protesting big time. But never fear. Determination is here. LOL I will sit in my chair every day. I will write. I will reach the finish line. I've reached a little over 9,500 so far, but I'm still running a tad bit behind. I hate that little read box on the calendar above that indicates a day I missed. The yellow is bad enough. What a great motivator. No way do I want anymore of those showing up. LOL

50,000 words here I come!! :)

No Plot? No Problem!

NaNoWriMo is Here!

Second day of Nano and still going strong. LOL The first few days are easy to get those 1667 words. Then every day after that gets harder and harder. Is it excitement that gets the ball rolling, the thrill of starting something new and fresh maybe? What ever it is, I sure wish I could sustain it through the entire process. It's such a great rush!

Best of luck to all those trudging along with me!
Keep up the Great work and I'll see ya at the finish line!! :)

Deadline Approaching

Ack! Ever have one of those weeks when everything goes wrong and you can't find a single minute to spare? Well, why does it always happen when you have something really important to do? I'm working on getting my submissions out to the agents who requested them a few weeks back and I can't believe how many distractions have jumped up and screamed me first, me first!

For instance. Getting sick really stops you in your tracks. Not much you can do but take your medicine and pray it passes quickly. (okay, feeling much better now. thank goodness.)

Homework and projects must be done. No way around that. But this past week I even thought about calling the teachers and begging them on my hands and knees to give my kids a few extra days. LOL (it's Friday. No homework for the weekend. Yippee!)

And until my oldest turns 16 next year, I'm pretty much the only means of transportation for my three who are determined to going in as many different directions as they can find. (no way around this one.)

Throw in the dang dog, who decided the bag of candy looked like a great treat and is now not feeling very well, and I'm at my wits end.

Almost. I've taken several deep breaths and come to grips with it. If I don't make my self imposed deadline it won't be the end of the world. I am allowed to give myself a few more days. Besides, I still have 3 whole days to work through the last eight chapters of my manuscript and get it sent off. Reminds me of that Smokey and the Bandit song. I gotta a "long way to go and a short time to get there" (youtube link thanks to my good friend Will Simon!) It's doable. Yeah, I can do it. And then I'll be ready to start something new for NANO. Oh, I get exciting just thinking about sitting down to write without having to worry about editing a single page. Creating is my favorite part.

That's right. November 1 is coming fast. Hope your ready to join the masses this year and have a blast doing what you love!

NANO - It's a Writer's Dream

Thirty Days and Nights of Literary Abandon! Sound good? Well join me this year as I once again set out to write 50,000 words in thirty days. Alot of you have heard of NANOWRIMO by now, but for those of you who haven't here is a link to answer all your questions: National Novel Writing Month

It's become one of the biggest ways for me to beat procrastination and boost my creativity. There are no excuses for not getting those words on the page. Trust me, the laundry can wait and hubby really can take care of most of those pesky little mishaps. When I first attempted this back in 2007, I thought for sure my family would have a major melt down. To my surprise they were supportive and cheered me on to the finish line. The second year all three of my kids signed up to participate in the Young Writer's Program. I was so proud. :)

So get your life in order, frozen meals prepared and creativity sparked up. 6 more days till the fun and chaos begins! I can't wait!

Come on take a chance. See what you're really made of. Will you join me? :)