Knocked Down and Explosions

I'm not really sure exactly what is going on. I was knocked down hard by the 10th anniversary of a devastating personal tragedy. It was all I could do to complete day to day tasks and homeschool. It is the end of the round and my story is still bugging me. I contemplated not bothering for the rest of this round and just moving on, but the more I tried not to focus on how many days in a row I had gone without writing the more the story popped into my head. Do you know what it is like to try to concentrate on primary English lessons when some mad freak is calling lightening to set a huge pavilion full of people on fire and someone else is lobbing fireballs at them. Yes, I know it's a bit over the top, but my characters are getting frustrated and restoring to explosions in public to get my attention. Oh, the poor innocent bystanders.

I feel like I keep coming back to the same thing. The life I'm living VS the life going on in my head and I must tell you I'm getting on my own nerves. I know I have to decide what I really want to do and pursue it. I know homeschooling is a priority over writing, but I don't know how many things I can do while maintaining the small gains I have maid with my health.

I am aiming for writing and visiting ROW80 friends every day.

How are you all doing on your round? My hope is that it has been more productive than mine. Please leave me a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

Photos from Pixabay.

The Nothing Is Coming

There is so much difficult stuff going on right now that I haven't even made time to write. I think I want to do this, but I am feeling as apathetic as Morla. Though thankfully I am not currently residing in the Swamps of Sadness, but I feel like I have recently visited.

"We don't even care, whether or not we care"

I have literally made no progress on any of my goals. I have been busy tending to the home stuff, school stuff and personal stuff that writing has fallen to the wayside. I am listening to the book Quitter by Jon Acuff while working on other stuff. He is funny and I am enjoying it, but I fear in my current mood the advice is mostly bouncing off. However, one thing did stick in my head he said there is a formula to fill in and remind you what you need to do to keep you going toward what you are dreaming about doing with your life.

Do I want to _____? Then I have to _____.

He said it was easy to figure out and say, but hard to practice. So mine would look like this:

Do I want to be a writer? Then I have to write every day.

He also suggested using the time first thing in the morning before your excuses have had time to wake up to work on your dream. Then he had a very funny bit about getting up earlier. I am convinced. Trying to work on writing things after the kids have gone to bed is obviously not working for me. Dang, now I sound like Dr. Phil. So I will be trying going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. Hopefully I can beat my little early riser and get some stuff done.

What sacrifices do you make to chase your dreams? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.



Photos by Pixabay.

Pikachu Kept Me From Writing

That's not just some gimmick to get you to click. I have an Etsy shop and I have a few things for sale on a constant basis. When I filled my last order I forgot to restock. So now I am working my rear off making these cute little beaded Pikachu key-chains and don't have time for writing. I usually keep enough in stock that I can handle orders, which honestly don't come often, so I have a ship in 2 business days policy listed. All I can say at this point is big fat HAHAHA. Must get back to weaving electric rats.

What crafty things do you do? Can you make anything, besides people and a whole new world that is? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.
From the title and intro you know that my hands have been bound in a small Pokemon army and have not been free to type.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I am still doing this! Even if I have nothing, but failure to report.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
OK, so I planned to make this happen, but nothing doing. I still want to know what you guys were up to so I will probably click the old linky and stalk you all. Mwahahahaha. Um, that came out way creepier that I intended. Oh well, no time for edits.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
Still on track for this goal. So I guess it wasn't a complete fail of a check-in. I got 50%, though that would be an F if I was being graded. I have sad, but with selling the Pikachus I also have moola and right now that's kinda important.

Photos by Pixabay.

100 Days To Nail A Habit

As part of next years homeschool journey I wanted my children to start a gratitude journal. Of course I will be joining them because I believe teaching by example is the best way to teach children. While looking up exactly what goes into a gratitude journal, especially for someone as young as 7. I stumbled across a 100 Day Habit Challenge and we all know how easily I am swayed into joining a challenge. This challenge reminded me a lot of ROW80 because you set your own goals. You pick 3 goals in different categories to focus on over the next 100 days and you replace old bad habits with newer and hopefully good and productive habits.

The categories are creativity habit, anything habit and health habit. For the creativity habit portion you choose a project that would make you ecstatic to complete in the 100 days. The anything habit can be, well anything, a new morning routine or catching up with a friend/family member everyday. The recommendation was whatever will make you happy, is good for you and does harm to none. Finally, the health habit can be any habit that will help you improve your health. There is even a nifty calendar you mark off every day as you work on your new habit for 20 minutes or more. The theory is the more you check off the less you want to skip it and risk breaking the streak.

My creativity habit is to write every day and finish the first draft of The Most Magical Place. My anything habit is to get up at the same time every day and stick to a morning routine. My health habit is to go to bed by 2am. We agreed to start tomorrow so that means I haven't messed up yet, right? 

I googled it and I think the idea or at least the printable calendar was formed on this site, but the idea of a 100 day challenge is not a new one. The first one I found didn't have her branding or the quotes on the printable.

Have you ever heard of or tried a gratitude journal? Was it helpful? Do you work all year to break old habits or is January the only month that sees good habit attempts? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 August & September Goals Rundown

1. Write 2 Poms every day.
I wrote Thursday, but not Friday or Saturday. I am behind on planing and gathering materials for our next homeschool year because I didn't do anything in June except Camp NaNo, eating and sleeping.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Still a win in this category.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I did make it around to visiting my ROW80 friends as well as my IWSG friends. I love seeing what you guys are doing, it keeps me inspired to try harder.

4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
More win! I even managed to post another day. When I stopped over to visit Kristen, one of our ROW80 friends, she gave me reasons NOT to facepunch a bear. I am not entirely sure I needed more reasons not to facepunch a bear, but there you go. The post made me laugh so hard I just had to retweet it. Go read it if you haven't already.

Photos by Pixabay.

Wait, What Day Is It?

It's moving right along day. I gotta make this quick because I am at 22,764 of a 25,000 goal for this Camp NaNo and I would like to make it to bed before the sun comes up today.

Do you speed up or slow down when you are getting near your goal? Does the pressure of a challenge help or over stress you? Make sure you leave a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I should have edited this goal because I fell behind and needed a minimum of 1,248 words to make it across that finish line. I am doing it! Not just the 800 I originally intended, but I am almost there. This is me not breaking into a happy dance yet because I have too much to do. So moving right along.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Yes, so far so good. I didn't even realize it was Wednesday until my husband asked me if I was planning to skip my post because I got a late start on writing tonight. I have been writing until late and crashing, but wanted to take a minute to say I am getting close and make sure someone has the champagne, cake and sparklers ready.

Today's Mascot Nosey Dog

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
Oh crap guys. I totally flaked. I wanna know how you all are doing and I will get to see you before next check-in.

4. Tweet about my post on check-in days.
I know this is not exactly how Twitter works and I am still reading and favoriting people's tweets, but finding and checking out possible links to retweet just had to go. I guess if I am telling you again I must be feeling guilty, but can't worry about that now. But onward, upward, till the goal ye win.

PS: I am fairly sure Blogger is possessed and is trying to make sure I don't get to writing so pictures may or may not be screwed up and there is nothing I can do.

Photos by Pixabay.

Officially Behind and Panicky

I am officially behind. I now need at least 850 words to make it across the Camp NaNo finish line. At this moment I can tell you I truly have no idea what I am doing. I am kind of stuck. I could probably make it though or just move on, but every time I sit down to write something or someone interrupts me. Not things I can just ignore, but stuff that if you try to ignore it gets much louder and much more stressful. I can't go somewhere else and there is no where in the house that is safe. I am not getting enough sleep and my concentration is waning. I feel unbelievably overwhelmed and like there is no point in trying because it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen while my son is in the house or at least younger. I don't want to quit another thing, but there just doesn't seem to be space in my life for all the commitments I already have and of course I am the one whose dreams have to go on hold.

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I don't think I wrote anything since the last check in, but I had been up until 5 am trying to get some done and have to be up no later than 10 so the days have all begun to run together.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
So far so good, but each check-in makes me feel more sad and panicky.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I visited like 2 people. This is one thing I am sorry I didn't make it to. I really enjoy seeing what my ROW80 friends are doing. I kept clicking on a link and falling asleep, which often results in being smacked in the face by my phone...REPEATEDLY.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Strangely enough for the past few days I have been doing this. I have no idea why because I didn't set the alarm I was going to. I guess just interesting stuff crossing my feed and I can retweet quickly.

Photos by Pixabay.

Baffled By Falling Behind Again

I set the goal lower than NaNoWriMo and still I am loosing steam. I went to the memorial service today for my Great Uncle Joe and realized that I didn't recognize half the people there, though I was related to them. It made me so sad because it seems that our extended family has stopped gathering except for funerals and weddings. They are kind and amazing people, but everyone is so busy with life and we always think there will be tomorrow. I tried to write tonight, but I am having trouble concentrating so I will leave this short check-in and go to bed.

PSA: Not sure I have said this recently so I will say it now. Back up your files! Go on, do it now. You don't want to loose what you have been working so hard on, do you?

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
I think I wrote on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but all the days are running together. There is no

time where there is peace long enough to write while people are awake and the more I need some time alone the harder it seems to get people to go to bed. I am still ahead of my projected goal, but just barely. Hoping it holds out and I can make it across the finish line.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I am on target for this. So far so good.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I did a lot of reading, but was having some trouble commenting on Wordpress blogs on my phone so didn't say hello to as many as I would have liked.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
So much no. I really want to and I think I will, but it seems to slip through my fingers every day. I am wondering if I should just change this one. Must think on it.

Photos by Pixabay.

Stuck At The Bottom Of A Martini

While people who are easy going and polite are a treasure to have in your company. They are boring to write about and I assume if they are boring me to write about they would be boring to read about. I mean stuff blew up and that was interesting and fun. The female main character was scared and angry yelling at the male main character while attempting to put as much distance between them as possible and that made for interesting writing, but I am in a lull between moving away from one event and moving to another. They are sitting awkwardly in a living room talking about the freaking weather. The weather?! I wanted him to say something quipy and slightly antagonistic to rial her back up, but I don't even know what about. I am stuck and she is all like, "My martini is gone and he has been looking down at his mostly empty glass for over 15 hours! Get a move on writer lady!" All that she says to me, but not what they should talk about or how to get to the next scene. I'm about to just stop trying to force this scene, leave a note and MOVE ON!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what do you do when you have a general idea of what kind of interaction you want to occur, but are lacking the specifics? Where do you turn for ideas? How do you feel about leaving a note and moving on? Make sure to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

So moving on...

Today's mascot is a typing duck!

ROW80 July Goals Rundown

1. Write at least 800 words per day on my Camp NaNo novel The Most Magical Place.
Was doing really well on this, but only wrote just over 200 so far today and I am not thinking I will make it because it is already after 9 and I am working on this.

2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
Well, this is the first and I'm here. YAY!!! OK, so maybe it's not that exciting, but like I said I'm feeling bored and restless.

3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I was able to do this and have visited lots of friends, but don't remember exactly how many. I also made sure to leave a comment.

4. Post to Twitter every day.
Yeah, I completely forgot to even post when I got my initial goals post out. So set an alarm on my phone to remind me. The worst part about posting on Twitter is I usually get stuck there for a while because there are so many good links to check out.

photo credit: ducktyping via photopin (license)
Other photos by Pixabay.

Writer Down, Writer Down!

I am not sure what happened, but by the time I realized I missed the midweek check-in it was already Thursday and I didn't have time to post. This is an extremely busy time of year for me. I have to find and organize the kids curriculum on top of a hundred other things that normally go on. Oh, who the hell am I kidding, I haven't been able to get this writer thing going. Every check-in feels like the same old crap. I post how I didn't reach my goals AGAIN and that I will do better next time or I rearrange my goals for the billionth time and still don't reach them. I am truly not sure what I am doing. It seems like I dream about writing, talk about writing and read about writing, but when it comes down to it I never seem to get much done. So here I am again saying that I haven't gotten much done. I know, you're all shocked.


ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.

I was able to work on my plot Monday and Thursday. Today was a rough day where I wasn't able to make anything besides dinner happen. That may not seem like a lot, but it felt like a monumental task to me.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
Nope, not a peep since last Sunday.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
More NOPE! Where did that damn cat get to?

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.
I visited a little from last Sunday's list, but nothing for Wednesday's.

How do you make writing a priority? How do you get everything done and make time for writing? Why do I keep asking the same questions and not making any progress? <Possibly rhetorical question, answer with care.

Top by Pixabay.
photo credit: Procrastination dragon via photopin (license)

Brought to You by the Letter N

Today I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to Nope Cat. This check-in is brought to you by Nope Cat. Doesn't that bring back the warm fuzzies like you are watching Sesame Street? No? Well fine then. We move on to why Nope Cat is my new mascot.

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Spend 2 poms on plotting using Hiveword.
Nope, didn't get this done. Not even ONCE since Wednesday.

2. Spend 2 poms on posts for this blog.
More nope! I am sure you are all surprised.

3. Spend 1 pom on social media for blog posts.
This pom is 2 outta 4. Those odds aren't even as good as Meatloaf's and that's saying something. I'm not sure what it's saying, but definitely something.

4. Spend 1 pom on visiting other ROW80 bloggers.
I was able to do this and I am glad I was. I love seeing how the productive people live as I lay about eating bonbons and watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

In closing I believe I may need a swift kick in the ass. Figuratively or maybe literally. I am so disgusted with today already I am turning the calendar page and pretending today is a figment of my imagination. 

PS: Please leave me a comment and tell me who the mascot for your most recent post is, but also make sure to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back. 

Photos by Pixabay.

Writer Energy Level Low

Working on the Blogging From A to Z Challenge is taking all the writing energy I have. I am happy with my progress on this check-in, but there's always room for improvement.


ROW80 Rundown:

1. Blog every day in April. (A to Z and ROW80 there are NO brakes.)

So far I've missed F, but have gotten the others out and I like most of the posts so that is something.

2. Check out at least 3 A to Z posts per day. 

I have only been making it to 2 per day. My favorite part of A to Z is finding all the new blogs. I need to do more hoping.

3. Check out at least 5 posts from each new ROW80 linky before the next one comes out.

This did not happen at all. Again I cry more hoping.

4. Use Twitter at least once per day.

I have been tweeting my A to Z posts so mostly doing this, but I have been neglecting retweeting and checking out the cool stuff that has been posted.

5. Post on my author Facebook page at least 2 times per week. 

Again, I've been posting everyday so another win.

6. Read 5 books in round 2.

I don't even anticipate starting this until April has come to a close.

Photos from Pixabay.

Eternally Juggling

Like most people I am struggling, I meant juggling. Well, maybe some of both. My routine has become as hectic as an octopus standing on land heaving flaming torches while balancing a sword on his head and trying to eat an angry crab. Oh, he's also being kicked from behind, at random, by a woman in stilettos.

Writing torches in the air for this post:

• A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80)
• The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG)
• Prep for A to Z 2015 Blogging Challenge
• One Year Reading Challenge 2015

IWSG:

Okay, so I may be over committing myself, but I really like joining challenges. Some people can do these things on their own, but I am not that competent or organized. I need the people to help me stay motivated and to bounce things off. I love that you all are so bouncy and supportive.

Things have been keeping me from writing or maybe I have not been trying hard enough. It isn't the big things. Everyone recognizes major challenges when they arrive and pushes the pause button on non-essential goals. It's the little things that pilfer my time without me even realizing it's gone. The Facebook is chief among those time sucking miscreants, but you can't overlook more mundane things like housework and homeschooling. Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread.

What do you do when you feel like a eleventy-one year old hobbit?


ROW80 rundown: 

1. Write 500 words per day on any project.
Sunday: 631
Monday: 374
Tuesday: Sleep and snuggling sick kids, but no words.

2. Blog at least every Wednesday and Sunday.
I am thinking these are a win.

3. Check out at least 10 posts from each new ROW80 linky before the next one comes out.
I got to 8 and midnight hit and I decided to work on my post.

4. Use Twitter at least once per day.
I was not able to get to Twitter Tuesday.

5. Post on my author Facebook page at least 3 times per week.
I am going to have to think about changing this goal. I have only been able to get it done once since I jumped in. Let us see how it goes for the rest of the week and then I will decide.

6. Read 1 book per week.

With Sherlock out of the way I move onto The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. It will be fulfilling my "book over 100 years old" category. I am only a few chapters in, but am liking it. I guess I should have read these classics long ago. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for all who stopped by from the different groups. Leave me a comment and say hello so I can follow you back and see what you are up to.

photo credit: _DSC9593 via photopin (license)
photo courticy of Pixabay

A Good Chase

I have been working on my main work in progress and have come to a dilemma. I need to write a chase scene. I want it to be exciting and meaningful all at the same time. I have been doing some research and looking around the interwebs information and advice on writing a good chase scene.

Some of the tips that I ran into several times said in many different ways are:

Make each sentence simple and precise – Short sentences make the reading flow much faster keeping the action flowing. It would be hard to keep up the pulse pounding action while your character takes time to jimmy open a window. Just smash it instead.

Use active verbs – [thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action] Yeah I know it's not quite that simple, but what I am trying to say is don't find an amazing euphemism for an explosion. Just have the car explode.

Avoid all qualifiers – Nearly and almost only count in horseshoes and grenades. Something should either happen or not.

Stay on your character – Action scenes are sometimes so complex we are tempted to describe the whole setting. What people really care about most are your characters and what is happening to them.

I think these suggestions will help me write a pulse pounding chase scene. Do you have any tips I didn't cover? Do you use a completely different method? Please share, I would love to get all the help I can before I dive into my first chase scene.


photo credit: jenny downing via photopin cc

photo credit: ˙Cаvin 〄 via photopin cc

Midweek Check-in And My "Don't Mess With Me" Stare

My midweek check-in and things are not going as smoothly as last week.

Writing 500 words everyday – I have not met this goal, but it seems this one has been the hardest one. I thought it would be the easiest. Funny how things turn around on you. I was able to write four out of the last seven days so at least I got some writing in.

Posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday – Well I thought this would be the hardest and so I may have set myself up to miss some. I was not able to post last Friday.

Posting a flash fiction for Friday Flash – Which brings me to my last goal. I didn't get a story posted, not because I didn't have the story, but because I ran out of time during the day (and night). For the life of me I can't remember what I was doing, but I am sure it was important.

Model for "Don't Mess With Me" stare.

So what is my plan to help me reach my goals? I am implementing an hour of writing time and combining it with my “Don't Mess With Me” stare. After the kiddos are in bed and before I start to get ready for bed will be my writing window. This is my new plan anyway, but you know what they say “The best laid plans of Mice” and all that.

What plans do you have to help you reach your goals that you have been falling short on or have you been right on target?

photo credit: rachfog via photopin cc

Trouble With My Main Character And Music

I am having a little trouble still with my main project. It seems the main character has gotten an attitude and doesn't want to talk to me. Which is hard because I need to know how she is feeling. Anyway, I was trying to figure out a way to make her talk and I thought music might help. I know a lot of writers have music always playing while they are writing, but I generally like the silence that my life so rarely affords. I wrote one scene based on these two songs by one of my favorite bands Empty Hats.

Calling On Song   

Happy Man good performance  

I was trying to think of music that would represent my MC or that she might like. She lives in a world of magic and mystery so all kinds are possible. What song would you say that she, or anyone, should definitely hear?  

Distracted By Monsters

Today is a check in day with ROW80. It's the writing challenge that knows you have a life!

OK so I have been doing pretty good on my goals. I met the one I thought would be the hardest and got the three posts out. Which pushed me considerably toward my write 500 words on anything goal. I have an outline for a story and feel confident that I will be able to get out a flash fiction for Friday Flash.

However, I was not able to write 500 words everyday. See there was Monsters University and had a great time hanging out before and after. Out of eleven pieces of my goal I was able to meet ten so I am feeling pretty good about that.

this day called Saturday. I am sure you have all met him. He just likes to play and is very convincing. On Saturday the kids and I went to the movies with my Mom. We went to see

What are the fun things that distract you from your writing?

So Far Not So Good

OK, so what do you write about when you can't think of anything to write about? I am stuck on my novel because I took too much time off. I can't seem to get back into the story. I tried writing a few short stories about the characters like Elise suggested, but I am not making any progress. I am still ill so that is a giant set back. I don't mind sharing that I am feeling a little hopeless and this isn't even the Insecure Writers Support Group.

Do you have any more suggestions that I could try? I would love to hear them.

photo credit: FindYourSearch via photopin cc

Insecure Writers Support Group February

This is the first Wednesday in the month so it is time once again for the IWSG. So last month, I must say, I did not meet the goals I set for myself in ROW80. I was in the hospital for 10 days and unable to work on my novel. I feel so inadequate at this time. I wish I was more dedicated, but I know that I have to take care of my health before I can get back to tormenting my characters. However, I also know that sometimes if I don't make myself write I will just be lazy and not do it.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated?

photo credit: Olivander via photopin cc

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.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Last year I read a lot of posts about the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. It is held on the first Wednesday of each month. I found the idea very interesting so I joined. If there is something I am really good at it's complaining, but I don't think that is exactly what this is for. The home page also says something about neurotic writers uniting so I figured this is just the place for me.

I reread some of my manuscript and man am I going to have my work cut out for me when I go back to edit. NaNo is about pounding out the words with no editor, but I am not sure if that is the best way to work. I realized while I was so busy getting down what they did, saw, heard and smelled that I forgot to write what they looked like. So I know that I have to go back and add the physical descriptions of the characters. It is not like I didn't know what they looked like yet it is just that I forgot or didn't do it. My question for anyone out there reading is do you gently work in what they look like in little bits or should I just dump it on the reader when they are first introduced?

Another thing I am having trouble with is naming cities and towns. This is a fantasy so I have to make up the map and I have a rough sketch and idea where things are, but not names. I keep writing things like ***NAME THE DAMN CITY ALREADY*** and ***THE LITTLE TOWN TO THE NORTH THAT WILL NEVER HAVE A FREAKING NAME***. I am not sure if it is helpful, but it makes me feel better. Especially when I am writing and feel like I am screwing up because I haven't named some of the vital elements and people. If there are any fantasy writers out there how do you name your characters and towns?

photo credit: AlicePopkorn via photopin cc