Thanksgiving Day: What Are You Thankful For?

   Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope your Thanksgiving Day is going wonderfully smooth and you're all happy and content. I'm taking a moment to write up a blog post while my Mother and sister cook up dinner, my brother and room mate clean the remaining bits of the house, my youngest sister watches, and my dad jumps in where needed while I'm cleaning up any dropped eggs or jumping in when help is needed.
   I have to admit. I'm truly content right now. Yeah, I've been having problems with my new room mate but it's mostly because we're learning each other's boundaries and she's learning the house rules. My only complaint is the disrespect and not listening issue she's been giving me. My Dad sat us down and had us talk it out and so far we haven't had any issues but we'll see what happens in a week's time.
   Other than that, I'm completely content. I have my new netbook which kicks ass, two fantastic parents who love me endlessly and support my dream of becoming a published writer (I mean, they bought me my new netbook when we really couldn't afford it. I'm so grateful to them right now), a great family, and a chance to pursue my dream of getting published.
   I've learned so much from this month alone. I've reached my NaNoWriMo goal without much issue, and I've gotten myself back into the habit of writing every day. I've noticed my writing style has changed and grown, and I, as a person, have matured. I'm happy and thankful for everything.
   So in short, my list of what I am thankful for it: My Mom,and my Dad, who are amazing and the best parents I could ever hope to have, my siblings who are fantastic and always have my back no matter what (I LOVE YOU GUYS, EVEN IF I DON'T ACT LIKE IT ALL THE TIME)... my dog, Rascal my cat Liger (who helps me write; she listens as I spout out ideas and bounce them off of her), and my three birds, Yamato, Eiji, and Tomo.
   My new netbook, Toshi-- again, something I really have to thank my parents for. NaNoWriMo, because every year is a new adventure with them and during those thirty insanity-filled, frantic days I alway learn something new about myself as a person and as a writer, and my writing skills always grow and improve.
   I'm also thankful for my muse and first reader/fan, Arcane. Without her, my current noveling project wouldn't exist and without her my NaNo novel wouldn't be as far as it is right now-- she saved my word processor when it started messing up and quit working. I LOVE YOU, MY MUSE AND TECH SUPPORT.
   Mom, I want you to know that I cherish all my moments with you, even if it's just our bitch sessions over a glass of wine, a run to the store, or a trip to Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. You're a huge support to me and without you, I doubt I would ever have started writing. You've taught me that even if your life is chaotic and you don't seem to have a lot of time, you can still accomplish your goals and still have fun. You've taught me a lot, Mom, and I want to thank you for everything and tell you how grateful I am and how amazing of a Mother you are and I know that in the end, you'll probably always understand me the best, even during those days where I don't understand myself and I hope that one day, if I have my own kids that I can be both a mother and a friend to them, just like you are to me. I love you.
   Dad, I love our sessions where we bounce ideas back and forth. You've helped my writing in so many incredible ways and I hope that one day when you read my novels that you will see those ideas you give me or suggest during our idea sessions. You've always helped me push myself and keep on track with my dreams and even though some days I act as if you're the villain in my story, I want you to know that when I do that, it's because I believe you're strong enough to take it... I know it upsets you, but I want you to know that in the end, I'll always be your Pumpkin and when I need to hide away from the world or break down and cry, you will always be the one I go to, because I know I'm always safe in your arms, no matter what. I love you.
   The words 'thankful', 'I love you', 'grateful', and so on are just words. I know they'll probably never express how I really feel because in the end, the feelings are bound by the words used to describe them-- that's why it's difficult to convey emotions from the page to your readers. If you don't do it right, then they're just words on a page. But I hope you guys get the meaning behind my words. I love you both, with all of my heart and I hope you guys know how thankful I am that you're my parents and how much I respect you both.
You're both amazing, to put it simply.

   I hope everyone's Thanksgiving went as good as mine and I hope you all have something to be thankful for... Even if it's just one thing then your life is going good.

Happy Thanksgiving,

- Siddy

NaNo Updates

I know. I'm feeling pretty uncreative with my blog post title. I've even given up on naming my chapters or even dividing the book up into chapters. I'll go back and divide it up after NaNo. I've hit 60k at last. I'm finally getting back into my groove and slowly bringing my word count up higher and higher each day.
   At the moment, I'm sitting at my writing desk, with my music paused, cold coffee sitting beside my desk lamp, and my cat sitting on my lap. I'm just a few moments from taking a break to stretch out stiff muscles, reheat my coffee and pet my poor cat who has been sleeping on my lap the whole time I've been writing, silently encouraging me-- or begging for attention. I still can't decide which one it is.
   I was thrilled by the Holly Black pep-talk NaNo sent out. My three favorite authors, Tamora Pierce, Holly Black, and Naomi Novik, have all done pep-talks now, so I'm thrilled. Also, I got the email that my NaNoWriMo hoodie has been shipped so I should be getting that soon too!
   But for now I'm off to stretch my muscles, give my birds fresh food and water, and give my cat and dog some attention before I eat dinner and return to writing.

   Keep up the good work, fellow Wrimos!

- Siddy


P.S.
Don't forget that it's donation day for NaNoWriMo, so if you enjoy NaNo and can afford to give a bit, please help them out! NaNoWriMo depends on us to keep going!

Words Have Not Forsaken Me

Ahoy readers,




   Sorry for the lack of posting and tweeting... It's been rough here. First I spent a week in Southern Ohio, then half a week in Texas for Arcane's graduation... I even got a tattoo of a male house sparrow in flight, just like I wanted. It's beautiful, and it's beautiful in Texas... Like a whole different world. Within my first night in Texas I was pinched by a crab (those things pinch as hard as budgies bite), and watched geckos run from me. Within my first day I saw wild sea turtles, jellyfish, dolphins, and all sorts of other ocean life... And the birds there are incredible. Of course, I couldn't help but be comforted when I saw the house sparrows down there acting just like the ones up here.
   In southern Ohio, I felt more at home than I had in a long time... It's been four years since I've seen many of the places down there... They were familiar in a strange Déjà Vu kind of way... My memories of those places were so faded in my mind that it felt as if I had simply seen them in a dream a long time ago and was now seeing them in real life. I had a lot of fun with Aiden and her friends, and Michi, and Sammy... The kittens were adorable. I spoiled them while I was there... Especially Toast.


   But now that I'm home it's back to the usual routine... And for some reason my dad and I ended up in a vicious fight and tore out each other's throats (figure of speech; my throat is still intact, if not a little raw from yelling so much). I don't know what to do or how to handle this situation any further, so we'll see what time holds in store for it. However, it's effecting my writing a little bit-- but I'm still trudging along and I'm happy that the words for my stories have not forsaken me yet.
   I'm ready to move out for a few weeks, though... But I would be too much of a burden to whomever would take me in, seeing as I have no job (yet) and, therefor, no money. So instead, I'm going to have to keep trudging my way through and figure things out for myself. I'm determined to graduate, thanks to Aiden and her genius but evil mind... And I'm also determined to get published this year-- or at least send one of my novels out in the mail to be considered by publishers. Those are my two goals for this year.
   Of course, I'll be happy if I finish the first draft of last year's NaNo novel by October so I can write the sequel for this year's NaNo.


   Also, we have a new edition to my flock. A blue and white budgie my youngest sister found in the backyard and saved from our dog. I named him Tomo and he's skittish but has the potential to be tamed, so I plan on working with him.
   But that's enough of an update for now. I hope next time I can talk more about my writing.






Well, keep reading, readers~




   - Siddy

Think it's Time for a Break?

Hey everyone,


   I spent all day yesterday writing on and off. It felt good to be able to sit down and just write. However, whatever inspiration hit me is gone now and for the moment I'm struggling to crank out the words. I hung out all day at a funeral service, tending to a baby that my Mawmaw is taking care of, and dealing with relatives... Which can be comparable to being a ring master and trying to run the circus from hell... So I'm wondering if exhaustion is part of my problem because I am ready to go to sleep.
... And I'm usually nocturnal.
   But the funeral service was research for my novel and now I have another bit to add in my notes for when I write the second draft. Also, I'm adopting a new bird tomorrow. The dearly departed has a parakeet (budgie) companion that's in need of a home, and I have the room, food, and my dear starling, Yamato, who is desperate for a bird-friend right now... We'll be picking him up tomorrow. I'm really excited for that. He's supposedly tame too, so that's a big plus. As much as I love Yamato, he's not exactly what one would call "tame". He interacts with me, but he's hardly the bird to sit near you and enjoy your company. He'd much rather steal food from my fingers and pry at the keys on my keyboard when I'm not looking-- and when I do look, he then flies away and mocks me from afar while I clean the droppings from my computer keys... It's just his way of showing me that he loves me.
   But back to the subject of writing... I wrote a short story and a half yesterday. And after that, I wrote more to a just-for-fun story I started working on. So I accomplished a lot. I've been trying to take pride in every piece of writing I do and reward myself for everything I finish writing. I noticed I usually don't do that with pieces of writing that have nothing to do with my novels, so I've been trying to change that.
   It seems I am failing at my attempt to write at the moment, though... So I think I need some R&R and a good night of sleep. So off to bed I go!


   Good night, world,


- Siddy




P.S. 
I want to say sorry to my friend, Aiden, who almost disowned me because I signed up for Twitter. If you could only see all the references, connections, authors, publishers, book clubs, and so forth on Twitter, you would completely understand! (jk) Wuff you~! >w<