A to Z Challenge 2013 – N is for…

Posted on 2013/04/16 by Tonette dela Luna

~ NOCTURNAL ~

This beautiful photo was taken of the moon two nights ago. Why am I such a nocturnal creature? Is it because of my name? Who knows. But some of my best work is done in the wee hours of the night.

(via lifes-a-drain)

Everyone’s asleep, no distractions nothing but me and the keys as we sit down together and create.

(via deathbeforelove19)

I understand that this method doesn’t work for everyone. Also, I’ve had great writing sessions during the daylight hours. In fact, just yesterday I had seven writing sprints. They were a combination of 50mins or 30mins sessions and my word counts flourished.

(via luz-sonriente)

(via lower-ykwal)

In fact, as of yesterday, I have surpassed my total word counts for both novels and I’m quite pleased with the fact I’ve written nearly 80,000 words in fifteen days.

(via alltheghostsinthewalls)

(via douchebgalo)

Still, I have favored my nighttime writings over any other throughout the day.

(via alvar astúlez)

What is your favorite time of day to write? Do you have particular writing rituals that help your process? Do you find that it is at night when the magic happens?

(via muugiii)

=8=

Today’s theme is brought to you by the letter

A to Z Challenge 2013 – M is for…

Posted on 2013/04/15 by Tonette dela Luna

~ MISE EN PLACE ~

I love food. I would sooner go to an amazing restaurant for a full sensory experience than clubbing any day. The culinary term, mise en place, is French for ‘put in place.’ In the culinary world, a chef would gather all the necessary ingredients for his recipe. In like manner, a writer has his tools: plot, theme, characters, and all the ingredients for a great story.

Back at the letter “B”, I had my Bug-Out Bag. The contents can be considered the utensils: pots, pans, stove, oven. The ingredients, when used in tandem with the utensils, yield wonderful results. At least, one would hope. Much like a sunken souffle or a burnt pot roast, too much of one thing and not enough of another lead to something less than palatable. In story creation, we need to find the right balance of ingredients: a pinch of wisdom, a dash of suspense, mixed with a heavy dose of conflict to leave readers satisfied.

What are your favorite writerly ingredients when writing a story?

=8=

Today’s theme is brought to you by the letter

Week in Review – 2013/04/08 – 2013/04/14

Posted on 2013/04/14 by Tonette dela Luna

Week Two in my Write-a-palooza is history and I lived to blog about it.

Yesterday was the first #NaNoThon and I chugged out the words. My friend for this event was iA Writer. So good. Distraction free writing with no temptation to check the internet. Better yet, I used the iA Writer iPad App so it gave me a different feel and motivation to up those word counts. A feel good moment rounding out the night with good numbers for both novels, 13, 481 words in total. If I keep this pace, I actually might finish the stories in fifteen days. That is, by Monday. Wouldn’t that be a riot? If that were to happen I think I’d continue on to Book Two in my fairy tale mash-up. I’ve been dreaming up characters this past week and am excited for the second subplot in Book Three already!

Updated stats per my goals for this writerly journey. The deets of my original goals can be found here and here.

Camp NaNoWriMo April, 2013 – Current word count, not including Sunday’s totals = 33, 296 (I wrote 17, 079 words this week.)

Savvy Authors April Boot Camp – Current word count not including Sunday’s totals = 33, 976 (I wrote 19, 385 words this week.)

Blogging A to Z Challenge – A through L posted

Round of Words in 80 Days – Two Mid-Week Check-Ins and Two Sunday Check-Ins (including today)

Excited at the progress.

I did surpass my goals of doubling my word counts. I would like to finish my novels by next weekend and get a head start on my next writing projects during the last week of April. I figure why stop now? I think there were a couple days during the week when I felt things petering off, but I’ve gotten my second and third winds now. It helps to have a great family to give you the recharge necessary to forge ahead.

I think I’ll spend today reviewing my remaining blog drafts and do more character research. Diving into these characters’ minds has been the most fun this month.

There’s another Camp NaNo and Savvy Authors Boot Camp coming in July. The months in between will have me revising previous WIPs, then kaPOW, I’ll be primed for the next round of finger-numbing, wrist-aching, head-scratching story creation.

Should be a blast.

A to Z Challenge 2013 – L is for…

Posted on 2013/04/13 by Tonette dela Luna

~ LITTLE FREE LIBRARY ~

As purveyors of words, we need to take notice of the importance of this organization and thank the people behind it. It’s global result? The world is reading.

The. World. Is. Reading.

How awesome is that?

I think this is the best thing I’ve seen since ‘Take a Penny, Leave a Penny.” And now that the little guy is no longer in circulation, let’s keep this one going. We are writers. It is our duty and privilege to support such a worthy cause.

=8=

Today’s theme is brought to you by the letter

A to Z Challenge 2013 – K is for…

Posted on 2013/04/12 by Tonette dela Luna

This writing year started off with a bang. Inspirational words from quite a charismatic little man keep me motivated each day. Today’s message is a simple one. It aims to motivate and renew the spark that brought you on this writing journey with me. Now that we’re nearing the halfway mark of this writing extravaganza, I think it might be time for a pep talk courtesy of your

~ KID PRESIDENT ~