Don’t Break The Chain

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Continuing on from yesterday’s post about committing to daily writing I thought I’d share with you this wonderful resource 🙂

Jerry Seinfields Dont Break The Chain which I actually discovered last year.

Seinfeld’s method for success: Each January, he hangs a large year-at-a-glance calendar on his wall and, for every day he writes, he has the pleasure of drawing a big red “X” over that day.

Drawing those Xs is fun and rewarding, so he keeps doing it. Soon he creates a chain of red Xs.

The idea is to never break the chain.

This programs your body and mind to sit down and write daily – but it also motivates you to continue the beautiful string of big, red Xs. If you don’t write one day, you don’t get to draw the X.

It doesn’t matter what you write. Blogs, articles, fiction, your memoir. It can be anything, as long as you’re actively and daily pushing yourself and more importantly, writing every single day!

So if you want to give it a go (I will be again this year) you can download your copy of the calendar from the Writers Store here! It’s free of charge and once you’ve downloaded it once, you can just print it off every year.

I failed miserably with mine last year (I think I got to March lol) but that was probably because I didn’t have a desk or a wall I could stick it on (I was using my dining room). But this year, now I have my own little corner I have somewhere to put it 🙂

Fancy it?

The Daily Writer & A New Challenge

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Firstly, my apologies…..I am so behind with blog reading (about 3 days) but I will catch up over the weekend, I promise 🙂

On the 31st December I am due to finish using Judy Reeves book, A Writers Book Of Days which has been my companion throughout 2012. I’m a firm believer in a daily writing practice and I have no hesitation in saying that using Judy’s book has improved my writing ten fold. Yes, it’s been hard work at times. There have been days when I really haven’t felt like writing, there have been days when the prompt given didn’t really inspire me. But I still did it, and have written a piece for every single prompt in the book (well, ok, it’s not the 31st yet, but do you honestly think I’ll give up now? Lol). There are about 400 prompts in the book (the 365 plus bonus ones) and if you average it out as 500 words per prompt, plus my Nano work I reckon that in 2012 I wrote, approximately….220,000 words! 🙂

It was only after Nano that I realised that the book was actually coming to an end. When I turned that page and saw December. Now, I could just start all over again on January the 1st, but that’s not really a challenge is it? I want something new, something different. So, I’ve decided that during 2013 I will be working with this.

The Daily Writer by Fred White looks brilliant! I’m so excited to be starting another year round challenge (I don’t make life easy for myself do I?). I’m hoping there will be lots of inspiring ideas in this one that I can share 🙂

But to keep me on track with the WIP (The Last Word Cafe) I’ve joined Sally Quilfords 100K in 100 Days challenge. Which is to write 1000 words a day every day…piece of cake after Nano right? 😉 I did it last year but didn’t keep track of how many words I wrote every day, (and this year Sallys set up a FaceBook group!) so I’ll be more aware of my word count 🙂 It’s so hard when you hand write a lot though….so 2013 will see me using the MacBook Air for all my writing. I will kind of miss my notebooks, but I’m sure I’ll be able to fill them with lots of other stuff 🙂

Fancy joining me this year? committing to writing daily?

The Editing Process

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

To continue with the theme of editing this month I came across an excellent video on YouTube where writer David Farland gives a talk that describes his editing process.

Farland breaks his editing down into 6 separate processes/types of edit:

1. Triage
2. Voice Edit
3. Descriptive Edit
4. Shotgun
5. Syllabic
6. Line Edit

It’s a very interesting talk, and yes, it is long. So grab a coffee, your notebook and pen and enjoy. A lot of what he said made total sense to me, although the idea of editing my MS 6 times is a little daunting! Lol

I think I’m beginning to know where to start now. How about you?

Why I Use Kindle to Edit My Drafts (michaeljholley.com)
Learning to Love the Editing Process? (cultofajracewood.wordpress.com)

Boxing Day

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Boxing Day was traditionally the day that people gave their servants a Christmas Box, a small gift to recognise their loyalty and service.

As a child, I thought it literally meant that they had boxing matches on this day 😉 Most of my childhood was spent knowing that Boxing Day meant a large spread of buffet style food and a visit from family. A chance to all get together for a party!

As an adult, I’ve still kept the tradition of having a spread, but, as we don’t have family to invite round (all say awwwww lol) it’s turned into a relaxing day, almost a pyjama day! Lol.

It made me laugh when I first read Peter Jones book, How To Do Everything and Be Happy (which I HIGHLY recommend by the way) because he has adopted the idea of having a Boxing Day once a month, which I do try to do.

So today I’m going to spend the whole day reading 🙂 I’m not gunna even pick up a pen or go on my iPad…..if you see me online SHOUT AT ME!

See you on the other side!

courtesy of digitalart/freedigitalphotos

what are your plans for today, now that Christmas Day has been and gone?

I LOVE Santa

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Been up since just before 5am….. A combination between excitement and knowing there’s a lot to do today 😉 Unfortunately, it seems I’m the only one in our house today who was eager! So I spent the next 3 hours sodding about on Facebook and Twitter (which were quite dead as everyone was busy opening presents!) catching up with blog stuff and writing my prompt. Two cups of tea later and feeling pretty bored I finally had company.

As far as I’m concerned you should open your Christmas presents in the dark, don’t you think? It’s not the same when it’s daylight outside, that’s just wrong! Right, that’s it, next year I’m getting them all up earlier!

Not a great amount of presents under the tree this year because the kids ain’t kids anymore *deep sigh*

But, it does appear that I have been a very good girl! There was only 1 thing on my Christmas list this year and it seems that Santa* thought I deserved it 🙂

A MAC AIR! *squeals* It’s still in its box but I’ll be fiddling with it later 🙂

Am now recovering from a hearty Christmas dinner 🙂

Hope you’re all having a lovely day….can’t wait for my pudding!

*Huge thank you to the hubster 🙂

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Yeah yeah, I know it’s officially To Do List day, but, I’m having a couple of weeks off 🙂

It’s Christmas Eve people! 🙂 Are your stockings ready?

This is our tree 🙂

I will be posting tomorrow (because I have to or I’ll break my blog every day for a year challenge) but it will probably only be pics of my pressies.

So all that remains is for me to say…..

Courtesy of digitalart/freedigitalphotos

Have a lovely day 🙂

And I hope Santa brings you lots of good stuff! 😉

Now….I’m off for a mince pie! I may be a little quiet…it will depend on whether Santa brings me what I wanted 😉

Never Suffer From Story Timeline Confusion Again!

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

A quick post today I’m afraid, but with the link to a fabulous resource!

Courtesy of Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos

Those of you who read the Womag blog would have seen this, but for those of you who don’t…..

Wendy Clark has a very clever husband! He has designed a Story Timeline template for other writers to use (and share, on condition she is credited).

Follow the link above to download, and if you’re going to share please credit Wendy (or rather, Mr Wendy) with a link.

Have fun! I’ve downloaded mine already, and boy, is it gunna come in handy!

PLEASE NOTE:
A newer version is now available with extra features. Find the details here : Story Timeline

Who Am I?

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I wanted to rope the hubster in on this one, but I got impatient. So I thought I’d try it on my own. Write the answers down as quickly as possible. I got to about number 12 without pausing…then it got hard lol

Who Am I?

1. Vikki
2. A Woman
3. A Mother
4. A Wife
5. An Animal Lover
6. A Cat Owner
7. Unfortunately, A Smoker
8. An Aspiring Author (snigger)
9. Online, AngelChild
10. A Member of Weight Watchers
11. A Book Addict
12. A Blogger
13. A Fan of Oasis
14. A Chocolate Lover
15. A Procrastinator
16. A Person Who Finds It Hard To Make Decisions
17. A Carer (to everyone!)
18. A Tea Drinker
19. An iPad User
20. A Convertible Car Driver

He he he…..ok, 2 things struck me.

1. Are these answers more about “what” I am, rather than “who” and is there a difference?

and

2. There is a distinct lack of personality traits. Nothing below the surface, if that makes sense?

Am I shallow? Are these the things that are most important to me about myself and what define me?

I guess it’s more about how you interpret the question? Has anyone else tried it yet and did you find yourself skimming the surface?

Ok Laura Hopwood (my MC in The Last Word Cafe) you’re next!

One final time….. Who are you? The owner of 9 Blog of the Year Stars now! Thanks to Pat Wood 🙂 Thank you so much honey! I will do some more nominating tomorrow!

Writing For 100 Hours?

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Are we all still here? Lol 😉

Could you write for 100 hours, straight? LIVE on a web cam?

Well that’s exactly what David Varela is doing, and in the process, raising money for charity. David is hoping to raise £3000 for The Arvon Foundation to go towards their work with children. They run writing schools to encourage children to write.

So David will be writing for 100 hours, with as few breaks and as little sleep as possible. If you donate, you can request a subject for him to write about.

Thanks to Hannah in my writing class for the heads up on this….absolutely amazing!

Please check out David’s Web Cam & Site which I can’t embed here, but what I can imbed is an interview David did recently about his challenge.

He must be absolutely shattered poor luv!

Would you ever consider a writing marathon? I wrote for a whole day once (about 8 hours) when the hubster was at a chess thingy….it was exhausting! Lol

Beautiful + Inspiring…GO ME!

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I’ve been nominated for the Beautiful Blogger Award by Hezalyte at Iridessence Indeed and by Ayesha Shroeder Anushka at Finding My Creature Kristi at Dressed To Quill Jane Ayres Patsy Collins and Cheryl at Catching Fireflies for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award *squeals* Thank you so much ladies 🙂 What can I say? How many nominations can a girl get in a 2 week period? Lol *blush*

I’ve already received both these awards in the past, so wow! Surely I should be drop dead gorgeous by now and inspiring everyone across the world *snigger* No? It doesn’t work like that? Oh well 😉

The rules are the same for both of these. Say thank you to the blogger who nominated you (done). List 7 facts about yourself and then nominate 7 bloggers….so lets see, you know I’m a rule breaker, so rather than list 7 things about myself I’m going to show you the town where I live. All the photos taken by me 🙂

Some of you may know I live in Rochester (Kent) in the UK. The town was frequented by Dickens who lived close by. He loved the place (as do i!) so much that he was inspired to use a lot of the locations in the town for his books.

This is the Cathedral graveyard where you’ll find the grave of Little Dorritt.

Below, The Vines, where Dickens would often be seen walking (no doubt mulling a plot over). He was seen in here, leaning against a fence people watching the day before he died.

The Cathedral, 2nd oldest in the country, after Canterbury.

Dickens chalet, where he wrote some of his masterpieces. It was moved from his garden to its current location after his death.

The Castle, site of many a battle! Dickens would often be seen walking round it talking to himself.

Dickens wanted to be buried in the Castle Moat, but when he died, Queen Victoria wouldn’t allow it and insisted his body be laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. The first, and only time an English monarch has ever over ruled a persons last will and testament.

Eastgate House, featured in two of Dickens novels. He obviously found it inspiring as a location.

Restoration House, famous in its own right, but now, people come to stare at it because Dickens used it for Miss Haversham’s house in Great Expectations. I don’t know if Dickens ever got to go inside, but I have 😉

And finally, Minor Cannons Row, which lies behind the Cathedral. Dickens used it in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

I could have shown you sooooo much more, but this post is turning into 2 posts lol 😉 So now, back to business 😉

I’m nominating the following bloggers for the Beautiful Blogger Award
Holly Michael
Bridget Whelan
Florence at Ramblings From The Left
Sabrina at Creativity or Crazy
Sam at Him, Her and Us
Madalyn Morgan
Bel Anderson

I’m nominating the following bloggers for the Inspiring Blogger Award
Cheryl at Creating Space 365
Sue at sassyspeaks
Lin at Voices in My Head
Joanne Phillips
Morgen Bailey
Patsy Collins
Sue at The Long & The Short Of It

So on top of all that I’ve also been nominated again for the Blog Of The Year award, this time by Hunter Emkay and Chris Stocking so a huge thank you to both! It appears I now have 8 stars 🙂

Please take a moment to visit some of these wonderful bloggers and I hope you enjoyed the mini tour 🙂 Do you find where you live inspiring?