Almost Nano'd Out

November 26, 2017

I'm currently at a word count of 44,647 in Nanowrimo. I wrote while driving home from my parent's house today. (I didn't drive.) I'll finish by the 30th, but I don't think I'll be done any earlier than that. 

We spent the week at my parent's house. Tonight we put up our Christmas Tree after we got back home so Anthony could get some practice not taking ornaments off. We didn't decorate it. He's loving the lights so far. We will decorate when he gets used to it. Although he's already been parking his cars on the branches, so perhaps he thinks it should be decorated with cars.

Now I'll go right into the photo challenge so I can get on to my next task. I've got a busy week ahead of me.

(Just a quick update, I DID NOT get right into the photo challenge. I folded Anthony's laundry, and then got him back to sleep after he woke up. And then I texted my mom. So here I am, back at it.)

Day 19

Laughter

Laughter is easy with this kid. And for this kid. If we laugh, he laughs. If he laughs, we laugh. This is after he asked us to put a diaper on a bear at my parent's house. (Asked by pointing, he still doesn't say many words. He's a good pointer though.)

Day 20

Food

I'm trying to show a picture taken on the correct day. So Day 20, is Nov 20th. Which means on this day, the only photo I took of food was when Anthony fell asleep in his apple sauce. It was fun to clean up while he was sleeping. I am one of those people who takes photos of food I'm proud of making. But not on that day.

Day 21

Home

At the time this photo was taken, I wasn't home. I was in the town I grew up, and in my parent's home. (Not the one I grew up in.) It feels like home. Anywhere my family is feels like home. This is Anthony helping his grandma sweep the kitchen.

Day 22

Colour

Not much explanation needed. I stepped outside and took this photo on the night of November 22nd. I love the small town view of our land of the living skies. Also it FINALLY warmed up that day.

Day 23

Energy

This is how we used up our energy on Nov 23rd. We built our snow family. Even a Drogo snow dog. Clint and I ran out of steam. Anthony, just kept on going like the Energizer Bunny. He never quits. Momma: zero energy. Baby: all the energy.

Nov 24

Adventure

Is there anything more adventurous than a sled ride? We took it easy this week. Didn't have a lot of adventures. BUT Anthony loved the sled adventures.

Nov 25

Beauty

My boys fill my life with beauty.

Nov 26

Tradition

Photos next to the tree after we put it up is a tradition. Even selfies that are just for us. (And the post, as it turns out). We don't have a specific date picked out for putting up the tree, but today seemed perfect to us. We will decorate tomorrow. 

Okay gang. That's it. Wrote my NanoWrimo words, and I did a blog post. I have one more blog post to do tomorrow for Mommy Connections, and I'll be almost all caught up. I'll do one more post probably December 1st when I'm celebrating being done Nano. And I'll catch up on my last four days of photos.

Happy Sunday! 

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

Mid November Update

November 18, 2017

I feel like I should be using any spare time to work on my Nanowrimo project. However, I'm exhausted right now. I'll write tonight. For now, I'll do a blog post.

I've had a big week for writing. I went to see the Writer in Residence to talk about my novel. It was good. Basically, what I got out of it was to keep on going. Keep on editing. Keep on trying. Don't give up because what I'm writing is good. It's nice to hear.

Today I went to a Writing For Children workshop. I've written one book for children before, and I gave it to my friend after her baby was born. It was a long time ago, and I think I could do better now. Especially because basically, my life is reading to Anthony. I've read A LOT of children's books.

The workshop was good. I was exhausted because Anthony was up really early today, but I'm glad I went. There are so many different styles of writing for kid's books. Unfortunately, the one I would pick, takes a lot of time (because I would use rhyming). It takes a lot more time that writing 1,667 words a day in a fiction novel take. Of course, this is in my humble opinion.

I will be working on a few children's books ideas in the next little while. Just some silly practise ideas. I'll know more about them soon enough.

I am now on my 162nd day of writing in a row. This month, I've been working really hard. I'm trying to do it all, and to be perfectly honest: it's exhausting.

(Writing)

Exhausting.

I'm on par with my Nanowrimo words. If I continue this pace (1,667 words a day), I will be done 50,000 words by November 30th. I can't do anymore that that because I don't have the time. I'm currently at 28,956 words. I haven't done any today yet.

I've put editing on hold until December. I can't even pretend to have time for that.

I usually don't start writing until Anthony goes to bed at night. I also try to throw in a Christmas craft (in an attempt to save money I'm doing crafts for stocking stuffers), or do some baking. (Or laundry or cleaning.) 

I am glad I'm doing it. It's a happy exhaustion. It's an 'I'm getting a lot done' exhaustion. I just hope I can keep it up in December. 

I'll be jumping right back into editing. I miss my novel. I miss the characters (although they're still visiting in my current writing), and I miss making little important changes.

Now for my Gratitude Photos: 
I made it to Day Eight last time. I left off on sleep. (I want sleep now.)

Day Nine:

Holidays

This is one of my holiday crafts. These are little winter tuques for the Christmas tree. I'm hoping they get better and better the more I make.

Day Ten

Kindness

I'm lucky enough to have experienced some wonderful random acts of kindness. And kind considerations. However, one of the first things I think of when I hear the word kindness is my mentee. Anthony and I have been mentoring at an elementary school in Saskatoon for two years now. The little girl we are lucky enough to hang out with is so sweet. She loves Anthony so much, and always has kind words to say. She made me this crazy little creature. She thinks it looks like a fish. I thought maybe it was a bird.

Day Eleven:

Friendship:

I have awesome friends, but I want to talk about Anthony's friendships. He's lucky enough to be friends with many awesome little girls. (So far, he doesn't know very many little boys). I like that he will be raised around a bunch of strong and awesome women. They all take after their strong and awesome moms.

Day Twelve:

Music

Winter doesn't usually bother me, but lately, I've been waking up with a dark cloud hanging over my head. I think because after not getting enough sleep, it still feels like the middle of the night when we wake up in the dark. For the past few days, I've been listening to 90s music on Google Play, and for my free two weeks of satellite radio in my car. Music cheers me up. I sing badly, I dance badly, and I make my son giggle. Win win win.

Day Thirteen:

Time:

My mom and I

My son and I

Time goes ridiculously fast. My brand new baby is now 18 months. My mom's brand new baby is 36.

Day 14

Creativity:

Creativity. Flowing out of my pen in the form of children's stories.

Day 15:

Family

Tonight I was exhausted. I took a break from trying to do this post (I've been working on it on and off since 3), and I went to snuggle my family. It was exactly what I needed. Just outside the photo is Drogo. He wouldn't snuggle.

Day 16

Inspiration

I'm lucky. I can find inspiration in almost anything. These days it's writing and reading. (I'm reading Stephen King's book On Writing.)

Day 17

Weather

It's cold. My penguin had to be dug out, and he wants summer back.

Day 18

Change

Change is good. It's hard but it's good. This photo shows my change in fitness routine. I have one now, and it is making me braver and stronger. :) But in general, change is good. If I can't decide what to change, I usually change my hair colour or cut.

That's it guys. Now to write 1,667 words. I'm going for 2000 though. We will see if Anthony wakes up or not. He's my deciding factor.

I'll try to catch up next week so I don't have to do two weeks of photos in one post. 

Happy Saturday! (She says while sitting in bed in her PJs to write at 8:30pm) 

 Oh - once again - this is the Photo Challenge I'm following: 

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

Writing update, Nanowrimo, and photos

November 8, 2017

Writing and Nanowrimo

This is going to be a quick post because it's been too long! Unfortunately, I went straight from the trip, to Halloween, to Nanowrimo, so I haven't had time to blog. 

PS: HALLOWEEN: 

 Book Worms.

I am on day 152 of Writing Everyday. I was getting a lot of editing done, but now it's working towards my 50,000 words on a new novel with Nanowrimo. I'm going to finish. I have no doubts about it. I'll have 50,000 words by the end of November. I just have to keep going after that so I can finish it. Finishing a second novel (even if the first isn't published yet) would be a pretty amazing thing. I've started more than one and not finished them.

I also have two writing events this month. 

I'm meeting with Saskatoon's Writer in Residence at the library to discuss my novel. It's a program from the Saskatoon library. I'm using that meeting to discuss the first novel because I really want to get it published. (Broken record.) I'm excited to do this, to get feedback, and to get it ready to send out again. 

I also am taking a workshop on writing for children. I never thought I'd be interested in this, but there is no better time to learn and try it out as now - when I have a test subject who loves books. 

These will both eat into my Nanowrimo writing time (as is this blog post), but it'll be worth it. And I'll still get my 50,000 words. (If I don't I'll be writing a post about it.) Being a mother while attempting this is a lot different. I try to write when he's awake, but as with the writing everyday goal, it usually starts when he's asleep for the night. 

By the way, I just got to 10,000 words in my Nanowrimo writing. Behind schedule, but not by a lot.

I'm stealing some time this morning to write this post because I miss my blog. I like blogging.

Photos

I want to do a photo challenge for November, but I'm already behind (as in, I haven't started), so I've decided to combine my Blog posts with the photo challenge. That way I can update once a week, and not have to worry about daily posts on Instagram. I over Instagram as it is.

This is what I'm doing: 

 I found this on Pinterest and printed it out.

Now to add 8 days of photos. 

Day One: Words

There couldn't be a better photo prompt for this month because it's nothing but words for me. 50,000 words. Editing words. Happy Words. As a writer, I deal with words. I love words. This is a journal that Clint gave me to help inspire my writing.

Day Two: Technology

Another appropriate prompt because I use my laptop for almost all of my writing. I don't plan. I just write. I make notes in the above journal about details so I don't forget them. Mostly, I just type though. I can't imagine writing a novel before this particular technology was around. I wouldn't be able to read any of it.

Day Three: Nature

Nature with a side of Anthony. Winter has hit.

Day Four: Clothing

That's another Anthony one. Winter is a lot of work with a little one to dress. Lots and lots and lots of clothes. It makes me miss sunscreen.

Day Five: Knowledge

Knowledge is a good thing. You're never too old to learn about new things. Or too young. I love watching Anthony learn about new things. I love learning from him.

Day Six: Memories

I keep thinking about first memories. Anthony may be getting his soon. I hope he remembers laughing, and playing, and being loved. 

Day Seven: Innovation

Writing while watching my kid grow and change. (and a messy living room.) Truth be told, I don't have a photo for innovation so I got creative. (Innovation.)

Day Eight: Sleep

This photo is hard to see, but as a Mom, sleep is important. Getting myself to sleep is important, and so is getting Anthony to sleep (because when he sleeps, I write.) I tried a new technique last night because he WILL NOT go to sleep on his own. I put him in his crib and rubbed his back until he went to sleep. It was a success. Thank goodness.

That's all folks. I'll update again next week.

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/