Protecting Your Writing Time

   I recently got into a debate with my best friend. She felt as if we had been spending less time talking and hanging out than we usually do. She lives across the country so it's usually time spent sitting on the computer, talking on webcam or instant messenger.

   I disagreed with her and insisted we spent plenty of time together. She complained that I'm always "busy". And that's when it hit me.

   I've heard many writers say it: "Protect your writing time!" and I always shrugged it off. "I write plenty," I thought to myself, puffing my chest up proudly. "I don't need to defend my writing time more than I do!"

   The truth is, I used to let anyone invade my writing time until I realized how much more productive I was when I pushed them away while I wrote and how precious that time really is. "This is what they meant!" I realized. I must have at least doubled what I normally got done. I was shocked by the difference of my accomplishments. So I made a New Year resolution to protect my writing time more fiercely and I've been keeping that resolution going.

   My friend noticed this and while I explained when the year began that I would devote more time to my writing, she isn't happy about the cut back in my time.

   But it made me realize how much time writing takes up. If you're serious about it, then you'll find the time no matter what and you'll protect that time. I know I will even if my friend is upset for a while. Writing is what I do and I'll do it until the end.

   Family, housework, friends, work... All of these things can eat up your time and the next thing you know-- You're out of time to write. On my busy days I juggle things. I'll do some dishes, pick up my room, clean up the living room, and in between those things I'll give myself ten minute writing sessions as a reward. The words you write in those ten minutes add up. They really do.

   Other days I end up so busy that the only time I have to write is right before bed and by then I'm too exhausted to do much else other than sit in my desk chair, staring at that blinking cursor that's waiting to move with each letter I type, and doze off. Those are the days I turn in and decide to start anew the next day.

   But when you get that writing time, or start to make a schedule with your writing, you have to defend that time like your life depends on it-- because in a way, if you're serious about becoming a writer, it does. Learn to manage your time and compromise. I know I'm learning it now and it's paying off already.

   Family and friends might get jealous over the time you're giving to your writing but if you really care about the story you have to tell then you'll muddle through and keep on track.

   Do you have any friends or family that are or have been jealous or feel neglected because of the time you give to your writing? Do you have to protect your writing time more fiercely or make more time? What kind of schedule do you use if you use one?

   Please share your own experiences and advice! : )

Back in the Saddle

   It feels wonderful to get back into my desk chair and focus on work. Now that things have settled down my attention can go back to my novel-in-progress. I feel like I'm getting things done and I'm not going crazy because I can't write.
   A little while ago, the Positive Brigade came over to take us out. We went to Little Italy and had a lovely night out, visiting Lake View Cemetery, taking many photographs... It was a wonderful time. My new picture on my profile was taken by Shelby, who is an incredible photographer. We had a lot of fun and will return to Little Italy one day. Especially the bakery that is there.
   I'm still keeping up with my journal. I want to try keeping a 'Morning Pages' journal too but first I have to find a notebook that isn't being used for something else. After I try it for a little while, I'll let you all know how it goes.

   My dad's going to set up my mother's desk in the room connected to mine so my mom has an office she can use. It's one of those big 'L' shape desk. My dad said he'll find a spare piece that he can set up in my room so I have an actual desk instead of using my dresser as a make-shift desk. It'll be nice to have leg room when I'm writing.
   Meanwhile, everyday I'm pushing myself to keep editing and try to get more and more done each day. Some days are good but some days are slow and editing is painful, but the more I do it the more I learn with each sentence. And I have to keep learning to improve myself as a writer.

To The New Year

   Well, it's the end of the year and time to say good bye to the old year and hello to the new one. It's also that time to make resolutions. So here's my resolutions:

• Edit my novel-in-progress
• Write two full first drafts during 2011
• Get an agent and send edited novel-in-progress out for publication
• Get rid of all negativity in my life (more as in negative people instead of negative tasks as in work)
• Join a local writing group
• Learn to drive
• Experience new things (i.e. build something, go to new places, see new things, go camping, ect, ect.)
• Read more books and keep a journal
• Protect my writing time more than I have been

   There's my list. I hope you all manage to accomplish all your new year resolutions. This will be my last blog post for 2010, so farewell 2010 and hello 2011. I hope you'll be better and full of new adventures. I look forward to the new chapters in my life and the exciting new adventures that lay ahead.
   Looking back on this year I could have accomplished so much more. I don't want that regret at the end of 2011. I want to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every moment of it-- even the hardships.

   So here's to the new year and the new adventures that are waiting~
   May it be blessed with happiness, fortune, love, and excitement.

- Siddy

New Year Updates

   I've decided that New Year's Eve or day, at the latest, I will be incorporating my planned updates for my blog. It won't be completely done when I change the layout as I don't have my banner or such finished yet, but it'll be done enough to work. So be ready for a new layout and a new name!

   So here I am, preparing for the New Year, and working on my resolutions. One of the biggest things I want to leave behind is the anger issues I've had this last month or so. I've been thinking everything over very carefully and I think I need to start doing that now. So from this point on, I'm going to ignore the biggest source of my anger-- it'll be gone soon enough anyway, and by ignoring it I'll be frustrating it further.
   I have to start working on editing my novel and making my way towards getting published. That's going to be my main focus this upcoming year. I also want to start outlining for next year's NaNoWriMo earlier than I did this year and rewrite another novel-in-progress of mine before NaNoWriMo.

   What are your New Year resolutions? Do any of them have to do with writing?

- Siddy

Have a Fantastic, Fantasy Christmas~ With a Pinch of Writing

   Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you all had a good Christmas with people you love. Christmas isn't Christmas unless it's spent that way.

   I received wonderful gifts from my parents-- most fantasy themed, just as I love it! One of my favorites being a silver ring with a dragon on it.

   Isn't it lovely? I also received a dragon shirt, with a lovely silver dragon perched on a cliff looking dignified and proud, another one with two dragons and their riders ready to battle. I also got a dragon egg with candy inside-- though to get the candy you have to break the egg so I won't do it, a gold Asian dragon pen, Stephen King's "On Writing", and the Writer's Market 2011. Part of my Christmas gift was my new Samsung Transform-- a phone which I'm not sure how I lived without.

   Christmas was a good day. Even my dog enjoyed it as she used my leg as a pillow, snoozing after we opened all our gifts.

   And we can't forget the warm slippers my mom bought us. A sure essential for writing in the colder months, I'm sure! My youngest sister has the pink ones on the left. Mine are the black ones on the right.

   My aunt bought me beautiful journal too. I'm very excited about writing in it.  Along with all this, I also have some cash handy and stashed away for later days.

   Once again, I hope you're all enjoying your holiday season and spent it in the company of those you hold dearest to your hearts.

Merry Christmas and Happy Yule!

- Siddy

Pet Peeves and What REALLY Pisses me off

   I have many pet peeves. I'm aware of my pet peeves. But usually I can get over my pet peeves if someone does them. One I do get pissed off about is when someone puts things on my desk and clutters it up when I specifically say not to. And putting things in my desk chair instead is no better. To me, that just means you're being an ass and looking for a fight.
   No, my pet peeves I can usually overlook and ignore. I have three younger siblings who are all aware of what irritates me. I've had to more or less learn to overlook my pet peeves. But one thing that really pisses me off is when someone is mad at me and ends up taking it out on my siblings.
   It is a crime I cannot forgive. Especially if they go after my youngest sister. She's autistic and only 13-- younger mentally. I've had this happen recently. Someone was mad at me and went upstairs where they told my youngest sister that I was angry at her because she kept interrupting my show on the TV. Now my youngest sister wanted to ask me but couldn't. You see, it was past her bedtime and the deal is that she can watch TV as long as she doesn't come back downstairs after her bedtime. So she stayed upstairs. Hours later, I came upstairs to go to bed. I have to go through her room to get to mine.
   She sat up and asked me in a quivering voice if I was mad at her. I was stunned. It felt as if someone had slapped me across my face. I had never heard my sister have that tone before when she asks if I am mad at her. I quickly reassured her I wasn't mad and asked her why in the world she would think that I was.
   And that was when she told me. That someone told her I was angry at her about the TV when I was actually angry at them.

   What kind of person would tell a 13 year old autistic girl that their oldest sister was angry at her over a TV? What kind of person would say that and hurt a little girl just to spite me? One that has lost all my respect, that's for damn sure. It's an unforgivable crime in my eyes. My youngest sister and I have a rough time getting along as it is. I try to get close to her and often times she pushes me away yet she torments me for attention. We've been getting closer lately-- and suddenly that someone does this, forcing her to wait hours before I come upstairs to reassure her that it wasn't her I was angry at. Had I know she had said this I would have fixed it sooner but I had been completely unaware. Thankfully, my little sister knows I'm not and was never upset at her and has been more than happy to watch Soul Eater with me today. She loves the series now.
   And there is no way that it was an "accident" as so many other things this someone has been playing off other situations. The fact is that they were angry and they opened their big mouth when they should have kept it shut and my little sister ended up upset because of it and now I'm pissed off.
   To degrade me, pick on me, and torment me is one thing... But to go after any of my siblings is a completely different thing and once someone does that, friend or not, they are an enemy from then on. Are some people really so desperate to feel like a 'big' person that they'll upset a child? A disabled child at that? I'm disgusted! When I upset her when we fight is one thing. We're siblings. All my siblings and I have fought at one point or another. We all know that in the end we'll come to terms with everything and always love each other and have one another's backs. No matter what we'll always be there for each other. But for someone not even related to her and older than my 20 years to do something like this... Disgusted doesn't even begin to describe my feelings.

   So to that someone... I hope you are happy. You've ruined our friendship and upset an autistic 13 year old girl and made an enemy of a 20 year old writer and probably other members of my family. I hope karma comes back and bites you hard on the ass one day.

   That's the end of my rant and Gods help anyone else that ever angers me through upsetting my siblings in any way,

- Siddy

Upcoming Updates?

   Hello, readers. I plan to update the blog soon with a new name and layout. Along with my own maturing I feel the blog must mature with me. So I'll update the layout and name in the future eventually. Probably shortly after New Year's if all goes well.
   But it'll be done when it's done. With any luck I might be able to get Arcane and her crazy skills to help me out with it. If I can get her to help then the blog will look amazing.
   I hope everyone's Christmas season is going well. Mine has been full of trials but what can one do? We'll see what happens and how everything goes after the holiday seasons. What do you guys all want for Christmas? I, myself, couldn't ask for much. I got everything I needed and wanted this year. I have my new netbook, Toshi, and a nifty android cell phone. I had the best NaNoWriMo of my life thus far and a first draft ready to be edited as soon as I can manage to print it out.
   It's been snowing almost nonstop here. I'm waiting for it to drop down cold enough so I can toss boiled water outside and watch it turn into powder and steam. Knowing my luck, it won't drop down that cold now that I want it to. If it does drop down that cold I'll post pictures and try to post video of it.

   I have my desk cleared and cleaned up and did some writing tonight. I'll do more before the night is over. I like how my desk looks but I can't wait until I have an actual desk so I can have leg room but for now my dresser/desk will do perfectly. Here, just to share it with you all... This is a picture I took and posted to my Twitter after a writing mishap and my light bulb busted while I was settling in to write:

   I have my sketchbooks up there too from working on Christmas gifts for my parents, so it looks a little cluttered. I was also considering getting a second lamp for the other end of my desk but we'll see what the future holds.


- Siddy

Post-NaNo Hangover

  Hoo boy, this year's NaNo hangover hit me hard. To make things worse, I won't let myself start editing until after the holidays (unless it's just organizing notes or preparing everything for editing) because my family ends up really busy around this time and my parents need all the help with the house as they can get.
   But I have other things to keep me busy, though. Like the chaos in the household and keeping on our house guest to find a job and do everything she needs to do. It's extremely tiring but it had to be done.
   I'm working on a new layout and name for the blog, so you can expect some changes soon. I've designed my own crest and with any luck and a bit of help from my dearest friend Arcane, I might be able to change everything soon.
   I would like to start posting some artwork and short stories soon too. Perhaps after the new year. And once I get my new cellphone I'll be able to post more photographs too.

Hope everyone is having a nice (and not extremely stressful!) holiday season!

- Siddy

Until Next Year, NaNoWriMo

   Well, it's over and my Post-NaNo Hangover hit me hard this year. I've been easing myself away from coffee by drinking tea again and contemplating certain scenes for my novel. I can really see the potential in this story. It just needs me to polish it up and whittle away the roughness until it shines.
   The weather held off until the end of November too. It's almost as if it waited to snow just to mark the end of NaNoWriMo. We're supposed to get snow for the next eight days, a clear day on the ninth day, and then more snow on the tenth day. As long as it stays warm in the house, I don't mind. I may have to go find my snow boots, though.
   But it feels strange. NaNoWriMo went by so quickly. I miss it already, and although part of me was ready for it to end so I could relax a little, the rest of me didn't want it to end. But there's always next year and I have editing to do and other stories to work on until then. Others in my WriMo group say we should make it a NaNoWriYe or NaNoWri∞. I love these suggestions and after December and all its trials and stresses and joys I might join them in doing this. But for now I'm forcing myself to take a little while to let myself relax, let my fingers recover from the endless typing, and to let the story sit for a little bit while I contemplate. When I pick it back up, hopefully I'll be able to see it with a fresh view and I'll be able to edit it more proficiently.
  It was a good month that went by with surprising speed. The MLs in my group did an incredible job and I once again want to give them a shout out and let them know that they are awesome. This was one of the best years I've ever had in NaNo and I look forward to next year already.
   This was a fantastic learning experience for me. I found out more about myself as a person and as a writer. Each NaNoWriMo brings new surprises for me and new challenges and each year I've managed to overcome them and learn more and every time I sit down to write or read I better myself as a writer. So here's to NaNoWriMo 2010. One of the best NaNos I've ever participated in.
   So I'm off to sit by the fireplace and read a book that I've neglected all November and drink a cup of hot tea while enjoying the peanut butter cookies I've made as a reward for all my hard work and effort in November.
And to all my other fellow Wrimos out there I want to say great job. You've earn every reward you may be giving yourself.
Enjoy.

- Siddy
95,414 words.

P.S. I'm dedicating this win to my Mom and Dad. Without their support (or my new netbook that they bought) this year probably wouldn't have been so amazing or successful. I love you guys with all my heart. Thanks again for everything you guys do.

The End is Nigh

   Title is dedicated to my sister. She'll understand it if she ever reads this thing.

   Well, the end of NaNoWriMo is in sight and I'm at a total of 85k even so far. My story is at it's climax and I'm ready to write the ending.
... Okay, well I'm not ready to write the ending. Just like beginnings, endings tend to give me some hassle. But I have to keep forcing it forward, word by word. Even if it isn't right at least it's written. I can make it right at a later time. The point is to get it written first.
   I am completely exhausted, though. The struggles with our house guest has left me irritated and uneasy these last few weeks. Things will either smooth out and she'll learn our rules or else she'll leave. One or the other will happen in the end. We'll just have to wait and see which it is. The lack of sleep isn't helping either. Once NaNoWriMo is over, I vow to get to bed earlier and get out of bed earlier.
   I miss Arcane too. We're talking tonight over MSN longer than we have been able to in a while. I wish my cell phone was fixed so I could call her and talk with her. It would help a lot with my current stress and she is my muse... It would be useful to have her during NaNoWriMo, though I did perfectly fine.
   On Monday, my sister and I are going out with Grandma to see the new Harry Potter movie and we have a write-in to attend later that same night. They're also talking about planning a write-in during the last hours of NaNoWriMo. That would be a lot of fun. I hope they can manage it.
   But for the moment, I'm off to bed.

   Keep writing, Wrimos! The end is (sadly) in sight!

- Siddy

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

Personal Goal has been Reached

   I am proud to say that last night I crossed the 75,000 word mark in NaNoWriMo! 75,000 was my personal goal and I'm very happy that I hit that goal. This was definitely one of the most challenging NaNoWriMos I have ever done but I have learned so much from it and matured greatly from it.
   I look at my writing more as work instead of fun. My largest jump in words this month so far has been 10k in one day. But the month isn't over and my story isn't done. So I'll keep working, even when the story is finished.
   But for today we have to prepare the house for Thanksgiving and get everything all ready. We have a handful of relatives coming over this year so the house has to be cleaned up. My dad gave us permission to stop occasionally to do writing sprints. I can clean that way easily. So off I go! I hope everyone else enjoys their Thanksgiving.

Stay thankful for everything you have.

- Siddy

All Night Write-In

   All Wrimos know about the Night of Writing Dangerously, but many of us can't afford the money to get all the way to the Night of Writing Dangerously. So the Cleveland WriMo group started their All Night Write. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it. But here I am, in my room, staying up all night and writing to be with my fellow Wrimos in spirit.

   It's 2:30 AM here and I'm almost at 70k. I have to hit 70k before I can go to bed. That's the deal I made with myself. Also, my room mate keeps mocking me because I write my daily word count goal on my hand and she says it looks like a serial number. I end up chasing after her, yelling "EXTERMINATE" like a Dalek.

   I've given up on coffee trying to keep me awake. I switched to grape kool-aid~ Cold, sweet, and full of purple goodness~ <3 

   But now I'm just procrastinating. I have to return to my writing. And kool-aid.

Keep writing Wrimos!  And go Cleveland WriMo group!

- 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!

*NaNo Happy Dance of 50k Goodness*

I am proud to announce that last night I hit the 50k mark in my NaNo Novel! This is the earliest I have ever hit it and I'm extremely pleased with myself.

But I'm not done yet! Now it's onward to 75k and then who knows from there. Of course, I had to reward myself. So I went out fishing for Lake Erie Steelheads with my grandpa. Sadly, we didn't catch any. In fact, the only thing we caught was the poor minnow that was attacked by my lure and ended up tangled-- not hooked but tangled-- in my lure's hook. I'm happy to say that it was released unharmed (physically, at least. I can't speak for his mental state. I mean, it's probably thinking "I was just attacked by a plastic-looking fish that's more than twice my size with hooks sprouting from it! Of course I'm not okay!") and will continue to swim for another day.

But now I'm off to get into my pjs and snuggle up with a blanket to write a little bit before I go to bed. I have a horrible OCD issue with the blue progress bars on my NaNo profile and I can't stand them being too close together.

Good luck to all my fellow Wrimos! Keep writing!

- Siddy

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<