advice

A novel in two weeks? Yes, I did.

This is the EXACT dance I did at 3:12 a.m. Sunday, June 15th, 2014

Okay, so the process is not done yet, but I actually received a few FB PMs about my post. Most PMs were good, some sad and others were very encouraging!! 

One said, "OMG I wish I could do that!! You amaze me!" Me: GURL STOP!! LOL

Another said, "You are reminding me what a slacker I am! Me: Psst...So am I!

The one that stuck with me most said, "I WISH I had that much free time, energy & creative brain power!" Me: Say what now?

Let's start with the FREE TIME:

I love the support and messages, but I must tell you. I didn't have the time, I forced the time to bend to my will and be my B*&$^! I work full-time or something like it. Mon-Thurs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and every Sun for 10 hours from 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. I'm supposed to have Fridays off, but over time has me working 6 days a week. I only have Saturdays off and to me, that doesn't count because I work from until 6 a.m. on Saturday and have to work 10 hours the next day. Now, I am glad I have a job, many don't, but I DON'T want to be there 6 days a week. I don't care how much they pay me!

Then there is my Mister :) Anyone with a hubby, BF, GF, etc... knows that if you work 6 days a week ALREADY your lovah is going to expect you to spend the ONLY day you have off with them or at least, part of the day, so when instead, you open your laptop and place ear buds in your ears and ignore him or her, expect some trouble in paradise.

My Mister's face when I power up the Mac...again.

So, I didn't & I did have free time. Why both? Because I sacrificed time with my Mister, friends and family, sleep, personal time and did I say SLEEP? 

This was my writing schedule:

Work: 11p.m. to 6 a.m.

Writing: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Sleep: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Writing: 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Eat, shower, and maybe watch half a movie with the mister WHILE I kept the laptop open.

•Refer to the OMG gif above•

10 p.m. Ready up for work.

11 p.m. work while plotting out my next chapters and praying I didn't forget anything.

^^I did this for 12 days.^^

Now, let's address ENERGY

I didn't have any...

 Moving on to Creative Brain Power

 I had the idea to write a novel like this when I was cruising on FB looking at a page called, Swirl World and I thought, what if two people who had never met in person fell in love with each other? Then I was like, "Nah, too contemporary & too boring!" Also, I've seen books with a similar plot, but I have never read them. Then I was like, "What if a dude in the KKK fell for a black chick?" I was getting there! I went to work and ran my idea by a co-worker who I like to call my MUSE. Over the two weeks, I explained in detail what was happening to Katie and Logan and listened as she gave her advice and opinions. I also interviewed a few ex-cons willing to give me some insight on what happens during that parole process, I spoke to a few peeps who worked in a prison and I watched a documentary or two.  

After a week, I had 30,000 words and I was proud of myself. However, I was tired, I'd missed a swim day with my sister and nephews, the Mister: refer to the OMG gif and did I say I was tired?

By the time the second week came around, I was ready to put the book up. I'd only planned to write 20,000 words to get a head start on my 70,000-word goal for Camp NaNoWriMo. Instead, I am writing book two for NaNoWriMo. Anyways, it's 9 a.m. and I'm tired so I'll get right to the point -she says after all that writing- I'm no superwoman and I am not typically a fast writer. I just had an idea and I sacrificed a lot of time to write it. That's all. 

So, if I can do it, so can you. I know that sounds corny, but it is true. Good luck and happy writing!!