A Funny Thing Happened . . .

FULL STOP?

A week ago, I was going gangbusters on my goal to write the 6^th book in my Detective Quaid Series called A Passion for Murder. But then it all came to a sudden stop!

At first, I thought it was just a little burnout or the dreaded writers' block, but the truth – I’ve grown to hate my subject matter. I simply couldn’t write another graphic murder. It’d become too much. I thought, wait a day or two, or three and work on finishing the edits for book 5, Murder, Just Because, but the same thing happened. MJB is a book I’d hoped to have published by years end, but I couldn’t stand reading the chapters where murder had occurred. These were words I’d already written, but I wasn’t interested in rereading them.

 If I can’t read my words why would anyone else? 


I recently read a quote that said, “Failure can be a comma, or a full stop. You choose.”


While I’ll fail to win at NANO this year, I’m hoping my “Full Stop” is only a comma and that I’ll figure out my next writing path soon.


But at the moment, this is where I’m standing - on a road with no clear direction.

     

Photo by Oliver Roos on Unsplash

IWSG -- NANO FINISH

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Question - What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?

As I write I’m surrounded by books. I have a comfortable chair, the view or at the least the sound of the waves, a bottle of water, my laptop of course, and my cell phone.

An Update

This year I took the challenge offered by the National Novel Writing Month with the hope of finishing the 5^th book in the Detective Quaid Series, MURDER, JUST BECAUSE. I did it, with time to spare, but when I reached 50,000, I was burned out. I had to walk away for a few days. 

Thank goodness I finished right before Thanksgiving, so what better way to recoup than to concentrate on the holiday, family, and shopping. There's still, a long road ahead, but thanks to NANO I'm a lot closer than I was. 

The next step is to begin editing. Chapter by Chapter until the 2nd draft is complete.

I've begun that process this month. At first, because of the burnout, I didn't think I would, but now I'm proceeding. Ready, willing, and able to turn all these words into a book.

Don't forget this month also brings a new 

WEP Challenge - RIBBONS & CANDLES

Wishing you all a successful month and a truly lovely holiday!

IWSG - NaNoWriMo

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Alex and his gang have revved up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, they'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Today's Question:

What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?

The unlimited creativity! You get to be anyone or anything at anytime or place.

Pure and simple. J

I know that's cheating. Such a short answer, well, maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. All I know is that this month is National Novel Writing Month and I'm all up in it!

I've set  a goal and that's to finish Motive for Murder and I'm sticking to it.

J

So you may or may not see me around for the rest of the month!

Good luck fellow NaNo Writers!

Be sure and say hello to the awesome co-hosts

Joylene Novell Butler, Jen Chandler, Mary Aalgaard, Lisa Buie Collard, Tamara Narayan, Tyrean Martinson, and Christine Rains!

The Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG

Have you read the 

WEP Constellations/Halloween

Entries?

Now's your chance!

The winners are announced!

Congratulations to all the winners!

IWSG - WHERE'S DINNER?

Time for the meeting of the

Insecure Writers with Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

His awesome co-hosts are Stephen Tremp, Karen Walker, Denise Covey, and Tyrean Martinson! 

     Insecurity is a constant thing, something I can banish to the background temporarily, but never really get rid of. I think, and I'm guessing here, that most writers/creative people feel that way. If you don't, then you aren't reading this post because you'd see no reason to belong to the IWSG. J

     Yet, despite all my insecurities, I'm still participating in the NaNoWriMo. This is my fifth time and regardless of a win or not, I've actually felt like a winner each time I've participated. The opportunity to write and have an entire communities support is priceless. In the real world, it's a very different story.

     I love it – you say you're doing NaNo and the world allows you to skip out on other responsibilities, at least the online world does. In the real world, say you're doing NaNo and they look at you as if you've lost your mind.

In my house, it goes something like this:

"What's a NaNo?" Even though it's my 5th year, the same question.

"You're going to write, you do that every damn day now. Husband's snide smile follows.

"Hey Mom, where's dinner?" 30 days out of the 30.

"Mom, all my shirts are dirty." Laundry, it may get done (this I don't promise) but it won't be put away. Notice the living room chair it is now a mountain of stacked clean, folded clothes.

"Mom, where are the spoons?" Dishes stacked up in the sink. Silverware disappears first even though they see the mess in the sink, they all ignore it.

"Pizza, again. I love NaNo!" says a grateful son. Dinner I don't have to cook and they appreciate.

"If you cook Thanksgiving dinner, we'll do the shopping." 

Who can pass up a request like that? I try to have NaNo finished before this, but it's not always possible. Besides, if you stick to the rule of not going back and doing any editing, this is the best time to do that – as long as you've reached the 50,000 that is.

My Goal is:

November 30^th – Book 4 – DARK MOTIVES is complete, well, the first draft is.

(a quickly created cover for NaNo)

Sometimes Dark Motives arise from the best of intentions.

I'm looking forward to this celebration!

Wishing you all a very successful NaNoWriMo!

and/or

the ability to push those insecurities to the background for a very, very long time!

Is eternity too much to ask?

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo?

Does your family understand and offer support or are they like mine and suddenly become even more needy?

*****

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's

 possible; and suddenly you are doing the 

impossible.

Francis of Assisi 

*****

I just learned that 8 of my 9 submissions to 
~ espresso stories ~
tales you can swallow in a single gulp

were accepted for publication. Please drop in and give them a read and a vote. 
I'd love to see them climb the charts!
Such awesome news.
These are micro-flashes of 25 words or less.
Can you tell a story in 25 words, give it a try, it's a blast!
Let me know your favorite.

'Adventure Leaves No Room for Love'

'Don't Bother Me'

'Hell Hath no Fury . . .'

'Nothing Will Stop Me Now'

'Dinner's Ready'

'Don't Break The Eggs'

'Remember Your Vow'

'The Cost of Freedom'

Don't Break the Eggs
is mine.

THE BEGINNING - NANO

This November I'm doing NaNoWriMo. 

If you want to connect 

click here --> Yolanda Renée

I'm working on my WIP - Dark Motives!

I'll still be blogging just not

as frequently as the last few months.

 I'll also be participating in the
Realms Faire Joust with M Pax 
as Lady Enigmatic.

Join the fun November 9 - 13, 2015

 I do hope you'll cheer me on!

The Halloween post winner 
where an excerpt from 
The Snowman
STONE'S MASTERPIECE
was shared
Stone's Masterpiece also made
THE HORROR PRESS
how awesome is that?

but the winner of the day is

Debbie D.

Via Random.org

their number was 5


CONGRATULATIONS DEBBIE!

I'll be sending you a copy of

Murder, Madness & Love
&
Memories of Murder

This is my inspiration for the 79 Word Challenge.
I understand today's post is the last post for this 
Challenge. I'm sad to see it end but thrilled that I made the last posting.
My piece is called

ANNIHILATION



Happy Nano - ing!