Reconstructing Life With Tomaotes

Last check-in was a bit of a pity party. I was feeling very down about feeling overwhelmed. I am still feeling overwhelmed, but the light at the end of the tunnel no longer looks like an oncoming train. Thanks to one of my ROW80 buddies Dawn Montgomery I learned about time management with the help of a tomato. She suggested The Pomodoro Technique. The basic premise is to set a timer and work for 25 minutes, called Pomodoros, then take a 5 minute break. After you run 4 consecutive "Poms" you take a 20-30 minute break. My plan is to use the poms to help me make it through tasks and focus when I am writing or doing writing related tasks.

New revamped ROW80 goals:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.

That is about 3 1/2 hours a day if I run them consecutively, less if I only get 5 min breaks.

Notice Rowan pretending to fight on the right.

I didn't even try to push myself to reach the old goals and I just today decided on my new goals. In this sort of limbo state I still managed to plot in Hiveword Sunday and Tuesday. We did a little demo on Monday for a friend. We left at 10am and didn't get home till 2am the next morning, but it was loads of fun. The only other goal I worried about was visiting ROW80 friends and I was able to visit and comment on 5 posts.

What tips and tricks do you have to reach your goals? How do you reward yourself when you meet a new one? Leave me a comment and don't forget to let me know where you came from so I can follow you back.

Photos by Pixabay.

Liebster Award Nomination

I was graciously nominated for the Liebster by fellow Lake Writer, Elise VanCise. The Liebster is a getting to know you kind of post. A fun way for bloggers and readers to get acquainted. The nominator picks 11 nominees and gives each of them a set of 11 questions to answer on their blog. In response, the nominees choose 11 new nominees from their circle and gives them a different set of 11 questions.

Basically, it's kind of like an interview. You might even be nominated more than once. Which is okay because you get to answer different questions and have more fun. Now on to my set of questions hatched by Elise.

1. If you could spend a day in a book which book would it be and what would you do?

Easiest question EVER! I would choose Lord of the Rings. My heart already lives in Middle Earth so getting to spend a day there would be a dream come true. The thing I would like to do most is spend time with Tom Bombadil. No he wasn't in the movie, stop looking at me like that. I adore that he was able to handle the ring and not be influenced by it's power. 

Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None have ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster. —The Fellowship of the Ring

2. What are 3 things that are rarely known about you?

Secrets, embarrassing stories and confidential information. No, seriously I'm not gonna tell you.

3. What is your favorite coffeehouse treat?

Mile High Peanut Butter Pie from Austin's Coffee. Where they know not to include the whipped cream, but to double the peanut butter crumbles. I will go with it's because they love me.

4. Do you like to write with music or utter silence? If music, tell us what inspires your muse.

Usually I write with my husband yelling at the video game that he is playing in the same room and snoring coming from my son's room. Maybe this is one of my problems with the writing experience

5. Tell us what makes your hometown awesome.

We have the whole Disney World thing going on. Plus there is Sea World and Universal. When I lived in Orlando I was a pass holder and pretty addicted to Disney. I have literally been the last person out the Magic Kingdom gate. The staff never said anything to us, but followed us from Fantasy Land through the stores and to the front gate creating a human blockade to keep us from turning around. When they closed the gate there was loud and rowdy cheering. It was quite the experience.

6. What inspired you to become a writer?

There is a story in my head and I need to get it out so that I can have room for stuff like the bills and other things I am supposed to be doing. That and apparently I am into torturing myself.

7. What is your favorite book to movie adaption?

I don't really like movies that much. Yes, I have been told I am an odd one before. They are usually pale imitations of the tomes that they are portraying. That being said the costuming, scenery, visual effects and set building in the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies were stunning and made a part of that movie come alive for me. Not that my imagination couldn't experience it until Peter Jackson put it to film, but they left the Shire standing. I can actually take a trip there, if I could ever afford it. I think that makes them my favorite adaption.

8. Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is at a coffee shop or a Denny's type place. Even with all the hustle and bustle it is still quieter or at least less distracting than my house.

9. Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)?

Yes, I have. I participated in 2011, 2012 and 2013. I decided to take a break in 2014 which I regretted a week or so into November. I will be back for the 2015 season.

10. Do you have a routine or thing that makes you feel ready to write? Like a special shirt or a writing exercise.

No, but I should probably get one of those. Maybe if I had a routine it would help me get in the mood to write faster and more often.

11. If the Tardis appeared outside of your house. What would you do?

If the Tardis appeared outside my house I guess I would load the gun. If the Dr. is here, shit just got real!

Well, there you have it 11 random things about me. Now it's my turn to pass the spotlight.

I would like to nominate 11 people, but to be honest there aren't 11 people who come to my blog on a regular basis. Instead I have listed 1 person from Lake Writers, 4 people who subscribe to my blog who also have a recent post and last but not least **YOU**. That still doesn't get me to 11, but sometimes your best is all you can do.

1. Katherine Starbird
2. Susan Says
3. ... MICHAEL DI GESU ... ... ... In Time ... ...
4. Menopausal Mother
5. Writing Off The Edge
6. YOU! THAT'S RIGHT IF YOU READ THIS FAR THEN I NOMINATE YOU! LEAVE A COMMENT SO I KNOW TO FOLLOW YOU BACK TO YOUR BLOG AND SEE YOUR ANSWERS!

Your questions are:

1. What is your name? What is your quest? What is your favorite color? OK so those aren't my real questions, but I couldn't resist.

The real questions:

1. What character from a book would you most like to meet and why?

2. What is your favorite TV show?

3. Have you ever suffered from writer's block and if so how did you get around it?

4. What is something only your family would say about you?

5. Where would you go on a dream vacation?

6. Do you have any hobbies besides writing and reading? What are they?

7. If you could live in another time, which time would you choose to live in?

8. Who would you rather be Pinky or The Brain?

9. What is your idea of a perfect date?

10. If you could have a supper power what would it be and why?

11. What 3 words describe you best?


ROW80 quickie:

1. Write 500 words per day on any project.
Monday: More of the writing in the book thing while on the road/indisposed.
Tuesday: 648 actually typed on The Most Magical Place
Wednesday: 1206 on this post (Probably too many, but fun.)

2. Blog at least every Wednesday and Sunday.
Still doing this and feeling accomplished.

3. Check out at least 10 posts from each new ROW80 linky before the next one comes out.
I only made it to 8.

4. Use Twitter at least once per day.
Check again.

5. Post on my author Facebook page at least 3 times per week.

As Meatloaf would say, "Two outta Three aint bad."

6. Read 1 book per week.
Not much progress.

Some images by Pixabay
photo credit: stop the writers block via photopin (license)

ROW80 and a Bonus

If you have been reading you know I am participating in A Round of Words in 80 Days. My goals were to post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The other goal was to write 1000 words per day. I have been doing well on posting, but I have only written 1000 words on one day this past week. I have also found it hard to post the updates on Sunday. So in the spirit of making my goals fit around my life I will not be posting on updates on Sunday or at least not long ones.

So as far as my novel is going I printed out what I had so far and reread what I wrote so that I can get back in the story. I realized that I need I lot of editing, but I am trying not to deal with it now. My goal it just to get the first draft done. Do you have any ideas that can help me get back into the story that I put on hold for a month while we celebrated?

Today is a light update day so I need to give you a reason to leave happy. Bonus pictures of cute kids.

My kids at their birthday party.

My nephew dressed up for a dino parade.

My "Niece" riding the horses at Disney.

What Can You Do With One Word

I decided to try the One Word and see what I came up with. The word was available and you have 60 seconds to write as much as you can.

She ran through the forest and wouldn't stop until she reached her destination. She needed to get the available information to the right hands. There are several people who would do anything to get what she had. The old tattered page was safely tucked away in her pouch.

I haven't been writing much, but I have been enjoying the holiday season. Even though it is like 77 degrees we are getting into the spirit of the season. We decorated the house and tree. We went to Disney and saw the lights with family.

I also went to see a movie with a great friend and got to pose with Gandalf.

What's Stopping Me?

This post is very picture heavy so beware!

The month of November is not over, but I am so done. I hit a few road blocks and I would love to share them with you.

My first obstacle was always a known quantity. I am a stay at home homeschooling mom so my children are my number one distraction.

You already know that the Renaissance Faire stole one of my weekends.

Fully armored combat by our knights.

To the yield not the death, so we can hit them again next weekend.

 

Father and son hugging isn't that cute.

The girls have to help the Knights defeat their most challenging foe...the rope.

Ren fighting with Three Musketeer type weapons.

Hubby

My little man on the jousting horse

Next I was kidnapped and forced to go to Disney. With a wonderful friend and her family.

Rowan on the steps of town hall.

Rowan, Alexis and Gwen riding the People Mover.

Gwen holding Abby.

Throw the kids in jail with Zurg.

Gwen and Alexis

Dear friends Susan and Gregg with Abby.

Gwen holding Ariel.

Alexis was so happy to get this horse.

Ariel and Grandma

Ooooo, Ahhhhhh,

Murmur, murmur, murmur.

Then last, but certinally not least we have Thanksgiving. We were blessed to get to see friends from out of state.

Rowan was trying to tell me something, but he was so cute I had to take a pic.

Cousin Chloe holding Lilly.

Too cool

The real star of the show.

Of course there was the Black Friday sales. My sister and I were able to spend a lot of time together and we got some great deals. There was not much crazyness where we were or we were just lucky enough to miss it.