Prompt 13: Free-writing 3

I know it is only Saturday. Weekends are awesome. That is, when one does not have to work during them. It is alright. I am looking forward to Monday.

"Why are you looking forward to Monday?" you may ask. It is quite simple. On AMC, there is going to be a "Friday the 13th" movie marathon starting at 8:00 p.m. I do not know how many movies will show that night, but I will be staying up a while. :-) I am talking about the original "Friday the 13th" movies.

In all honesty, I think the remakes of the "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "Halloween," and "Friday the 13th" movies are ridiculous. The remade "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is horrible. I have seen the original movies so many times, I can tell which parts of them are scattered throughout the remake.

When it comes to movies, I believe the originals are the best. Every once in a while, a person may stumble upon a great remake. Those are few and far between.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 12: Do you plan to do plastic surgery or botox to cover up the effects of aging?

I will not get plastic surgery or botox to hide my aging.

I choose to age graceful and true. Not phony or fake. I am 100% natural in all things. My makeup, clothes, and so forth.

I choose to be who I am. I will not be something I am not because of botox or plastic surgery. To me, that stuff is fake. It is not natural.

There is only ONE way I would have plastic surgery. If I was in a severe accident that damaged me beyond recognition. That is it.

I was born natural; I will die natural.

Besides, if someone cannot accept me for who I am? They are not worth my time and energy. That is why I could not make a living as an actress or anything of that nature. They expect you to look, act, and be a certain way.

My motto: I am just me. Get over it!

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 11: At what point in life did you stop trying to look older? At what point in life did you start trying to look younger? If neither are true, talk about looking your age.

I have never tried to look older or younger than I am.

I have not changed much in looks in thirty-four years.

I have been told by the majority of people that I look eighteen years old. I have not ever been told that I look over twenty-five. Well, except maybe once or twice.

Most people would get offended by being told they look older than they are. Personally, it does not bother me. I could care less what people think about me when it comes to my looks.

I will admit that I love being told that I look like I am in high school. I always say "Thanks for the compliment" any time I am told this. I take the looking younger than I am from my grandmother. She died when she was in her early 80s. However, she looked like she was in her 50s.

My looking younger than my true age will come in handy for me when I do hit the high ages.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 10: Do you look similar or very different from how you looked ten years ago?

I look around at the people I used to go to school with. They really have not changed much in their looks. Yes, they have gotten older, had children, or gotten married. However, they still look the same. The only difference may be a new hairstyle or something minor.

I still look the same as I did back when I was younger. I have had customers that worked at my former elementary school speak to me, calling me by my first name, "Hello, Cindy." I look at them and respond, "Hello. Do I know you?" The first customer who did that had been the hall monitor when I was in elementary school. My fourth grade teacher has even spoke to me and I had to do a double take. One of my former co-workers was a girl I went to school with over 25 years ago! She still looked the same.

It really surprises me when I am still recognized after all these years. I have even reconnected with the lunch ladies from my middle school days! I remember the day I ran into my best friend's mom at college. She said, "Hi Cindy." I looked her and responded, "Hi. Do I know you?" She told me she was Felicia's mom. I asked her what gave me away. Her response, "Your trademark ponytail and Backstreet Boys jacket." We burst into laughter.

I suppose it is a good thing that I have not changed in looks much. I do not mind. I am still the tomboy I always have been.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 9: If the figurative oxygen mask of life were to drop, would you put on your own first or assist others?

I have always been the type of person who put others before myself. Some people call me a "nurturer," while others deem me "caretaker." Those same people tell me I need to learn how to accept help from others and take care of myself. For some reason, that makes me feel selfish.

If I were in the situation where the oxygen mask of life dropped? I would assist the others first. It is whom I am. It is whom I have always been.

I love to help others. I have to get past the "I feel selfish" train of thought when it comes to taking care of myself. The selfishness I feel when I put myself first for a change. Putting myself before others, when I am used to helping everybody else, is a foreign concept to me.

If everybody would help each other, this world would be a better place.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 8: If you had the superpower to know what everyone was thinking (but not saying) would you use it?

Yes, I would use it. 

Why?

1. I would know how to approach people without offending them in some way. This especially comes in handy when you work in the restaurant business.

2. I could get even more writing ideas. 
By knowing what people were thinking, it would help me be able to write in the various point of views. This would include children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly. When a person is in their thirties, it can be difficult to write with the mind of a child. 

3. If I were interested in a guy and wondered if he liked me, it would help me decide whether or not to approach him. It would save me time and heartbreak.

4. I can sense when something is bothering my loved ones. I would be able to know what is on their mind and how to help.

5. It would come in handy in preventing something bad happening to me. This could be an assault.

I would love to be able to know what people thought.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 7: Free-writing 2

I tried to complete my Day 7 entry for the NaNoWriMo prep early. It did not work. Why? I am stuck. Today is an "Off" day or I can do a bonus writing "assignment." I was going to attempt to gather research on the topic of rape, statistics between 2002 and 2012, as well as resources for victims of the crime. 

Let me tell you ... It is a pain in the butt! I can do searches on Google, Bing, and other search engines all I want. There is so much stuff out there, I do not even know where to begin! It does not help that the statistics I am looking for only go to 2010!

HELP!

I do have other options for Day 7.

A. Take the day off and give myself a break. Besides, I spend up to eight hours just on one calendar prompt. It would be nice to just sit back and relax. 

B. Work on one of my other character's profile. The main character is done for now. I have went as in-depth as I can without repeating myself about her.

C. Choose a bonus assignment to do.

I think I deserve to take a break. I may just not do anything for today's NaNoWriMo prep challenge. The host did say we could take it off. I think I will.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 6: Free-writing 1

I have made it through the first five days of the NaBloPoMo. I am proud of myself and feel accomplished.

I am grateful that I came across this blog challenge by accident. I have become a more disciplined writer, even if it is blogging only. Blogging has always interested me, but, I never had the confidence to write one. I did not even know how to write one in the past. I still am unsure of how to build my blog following. However, I will not give up.

In other aspects of my writing life, I am preparing for next month's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I am a member of Writing.com and of the October NaNoWriMo Prep group. My friend, Brandi, has a calendar set up for the participants. Each day is a different aspect of the preparations. I am glad for this because it helps me do the following: become a more disciplined writer, plan out the novel I want to write during November's NaNoWriMo, and be able to stick to the minimum word count requirements to complete the challenge. To reach 50,000 words in thirty days (November 1st through 30th), a minimum of 1,667 words are needed to keep on track. However, the writer can write as many words as they want in a day. There is an advantage to writing these extra words. If something happens in the participant's life that may prevent them from writing for a couple of days, he or she will have a cushion to fall back on. I like the idea of not falling behind in the challenge and getting closer to my completed novel sooner.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Writing.com, participating in November's NaNoWriMo, or taking a chance in the NaBloPoMo challenge, I have included that information for you below.

My Writing.com Referral Link

http://www.Writing.Com/?rfrid=amethyst78

National Novel Writing Month Organization

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

National Blog Posting Month

http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo

From what I have seen, the NaBloPoMo is monthly. I have seen prompts for many months in a row. Plus, when registering for it, you are asked to choose which month you are participating in. 

I may just participate in this monthly to see how far I can go.

NaNoWriMo is yearly. It is every November. However, they do have "NaNoWriMo Camp" in other months. Go to the site for more information.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 5: Do you tend to cover up your failings or admit your mistakes?

I will admit my failings. I take responsibility for my choices in life, whether it be financial, professional, educational, or otherwise. 

I will be the first to admit when I have done something wrong. I would rather tell the truth and get it over with. It is better than waiting for someone else to tell their truth and bring you up in it, even if they lied in reality.

I prefer to tell the truth upfront as the consequences are usually minor. Of course, that depends on the what the situation is in the first place.

There is another reason I admit my failings instead of hide them. I hope to prevent others from making the same mistakes in life I have. It will save heartache, pain, and regret.

I know I am not perfect. Some people get in my face and say, "I am sorry I am not perfect like you." They say it for meanness. My response, "I am far from perfect and I will be the first to admit it."

Besides, if I were perfect I would have everything I want. I would not have teeth or health problems. I would look like a supermodel and have 20-20 vision. I would be able to remember everything I read and study easily. Plus, I would have all the money I wanted to live my life like I please. That includes a writing career.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 4: How good are you at telling a lie?

I have had to tell little white lies before. Only minor ones when I was a child. At some point in their life, any child does. 

My grandmother taught me that "Honesty is the Best Policy." I was always considered a "Miss Goody Two Shoes" growing up. I was considered a tattletale. I am sorry, but, I cannot stand bullying. Another pet peeve of mine? A person who gets punished for something he or she did not do, while the troublemaker gets off the hook. I lost count of how many times I was punished because of this back in my school days.

On more than one occasion, I have been told that I am too honest for my own good. Mainly by my best friends and some co-workers I have had along the way of life.

I prefer to be honest. However, I believe I have mastered the telling of a little white lie down to an art. I am older. I have also mastered the "there is a time to open your mouth and a time to keep it shut" philosophy. It is about time.

Mind you, I am more honest than not. That is just who I am.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 3: Do you enjoy acting?

I enjoy acting for entertainment purposes. I was in a Christmas play once and had fun doing it. Of course, I learned the songs first because I love to sing. I auditioned for the part of "Host" and ended up getting "Co-Host" instead. This upset me because the young man who was host did not take the role seriously. It is sad when you, the co-host, can say both people's lines. I could even tell the guy where he messed up. I enjoy RPing (Role-Playing) which is a type of acting.

If it is acting like everything is alright when the opposite is true? I do not like that kind of acting. On the flipside, I would rather not look weak to everyone around me, should I break down in tears. If someone wants me to be (act) like something or someone I am not? No. I would rather be me than anyone else. I am only myself. If people cannot like or love me, for whom I am as a person, they are not worth my time and energy. I have better things to do than care about what others think of me. As long as I am true to myself, that is all that matters to me. I follow where my heart leads.

There are times when I have thought about acting professionally. However, with my teeth and body in its condition, I would not make it in that business. I am not perfect or anorexic thin. I am slim, but, I am not toned. I could make it as a movie extra though.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 2: Are you good at hiding your feelings or is your face an open book?

I have to be honest here. I try to hide my feelings rather than let them show. It does not help that I have a someone close to me who seems to get satisfaction out of hurting me. In my opinion, he is verbally abusive. If he sees that his words affect me, he smirks. This person makes me feel like I am weak if I let emotion show.

There are those who know me and can always tell when something is wrong. I can try to hide my feelings from them, but, they are able to pick up on it. That tells me my face is an open book. I do not even notice it.

I am the type of person who holds emotions in. I do not like others seeing me cry or anything else. My train of thought is that this makes me seem weak to others.

Holding emotions in is not healthy. It is hard to let them show at the same time. It is no wonder I stay to myself all the time. I do not get hurt that way.

I will have to find a place where I can let go of the pent up feelings. A place where I do not feel vulnerable or as if I am being scrutinized. It is affecting my health in the most negative way.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Prompt 1: When you saw the word mask, was your first interpretation protection, covering up, persona, or performance?

When I first saw the word "mask," I thought it referred to Halloween 2012. That is when everyone wears costumes, adults and children alike.

Another interpretation is the "mask" people put on during their daily lives.

There are those of us who may suffer from depression. Others have low self-esteem. We put on a happy face and carry on like nothing is bothering us. Those around us may think we are free of worries or just happy all the time. That is not always true.

We wear the figurative mask to hide our true selves. This could be due to many reasons. We do not want others to know that everything just may not be alright. People may just prefer to be loners and stay by themselves. We do not want to feel like a burden to those around us. Thus, we prefer to keep things to ourselves.

I am one of many who wears a mask every day of my life. I may look fine on the outside. The smiles and laughter abound. On the contrary, I am tore up on the inside, trying to fight my way out of the darkness. I am working on healing myself. It is a painful thing. Of course, life is never easy. If it were, we would learn nothing.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

A New Challenge: NaBloPoMo

I was playing around on the internet when I stumbled upon something new. A NaBloPoMo. I wondered what the heck that meant and checked it out. I had heard of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but, a NaBloPoMo? This is what I discovered.

NaBloPoMo stands for National Blog Post Month. This challenge was inspired by the NaNoWriMo that takes place every November. For NaBloPoMo, you blog between October 1st and October 31st. There is a prompt for each day. If you are interested in this challenge, go to http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo for more information. It is worth a try, right? Talk about a well of ideas when you are stuck! As a writer, it can be difficult to come up with ideas at times. This could be just what you need to get writing again.

This is the first time I am participating in this event. I am looking forward to it.

Until next time ...

Happy Writing!

Recently Published Poetry

I was recently published on Yahoo Voices. I am a Yahoo Contributor. Please feel free to check out the links to my work. I only ask that you do not take it and claim it as your own. 

I know that may anger my readers, but... There are people out there low enough to do that to those of us who worked hard to create the piece. When you post your work online, it is best to be careful where you post it. I am not trying to deter you from publishing online. I just want you to be careful because you put everything you had into your work of art, whether it be a poem, short story, or novel.

Here are the links to my profile and published content.


Yahoo Contributor Profile 

Winter Has Cometh 

Angels in the Midst 

I hope you enjoy reading my poems as much as I loved writing them.


Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Updates on Writing Goals and New Ones

Update on end-of-month writing goals...

I did not reach my goals set for myself like I thought I would. I do not feel like a failure either. Things got pretty hectic near the end of this month. Therefore, I will just go for them again for the month of February.

Writing goals for the month of February...

I will start out small and set three goals for me to reach. Once I reach those, I will set more.

1 - Write two poems.
2 - Write more of my novel.
3 - Edit two of my old writings.

Until next time...


Happy Writing!

Deciding on What to Write

I set three writing goals for myself to reach before the end of this month. I do not seem to be getting anywhere. I have been dealing with a migraine and other writing obligations that I must meet before deadline.

I will have to take a mini-break after completing the articles for my deadline. Once I get back from it? I am going to write those two poems I want to write. Somehow. Even if it is only a skeletal version. At least it is something.

I am looking forward to writing more regularly instead of procrastinating from doing so. Procrastination does not get me anywhere. Anyone for that matter.

Until next time...

Happy Writing!

Magazines and Sites I Recommend for All Writers

Over the years of writing, I have found a few good sites to visit. There are also quite a few writing magazines I find helpful. I would like to share this information with you. I hope it will help you as it has helped me.

Websites

http://www.writersdigest.com 
This is the site of Writer's Digest magazine. It is chock-full of articles and tips on how to improve your writing and prepare yourself for the road to being published. It is also home to competitions Writer's Digest hosts. This is my favorite writing magazine and I highly recommend it. My most favorite issues of all are the special editions.

Their bookstore has the best selection of writing books. Some books include: Writer's Market, Poet's Market, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, and Songwriter's Market. They can be a little expensive. However, they are worth the price. I promise. You can find information and articles about how to submit your work, listings for publishing agents and contests, and much more.

http://www.writermag.com 
The Writer magazine is pretty good. It also offers tips and articles on how to improve your writing craft.

http://www.pw.org 
This is Poets & Writers Magazine. It is highly recommended for those of you who love to write poetry. Get ready for some long, information-packed articles.

http://www.publishersweekly.com 
Publishers Weekly is THE magazine to have to keep up with current publishing trends. It helps make research of the various markets out there easier for us writers and authors.

http://www.writersmarket.com 
This is a great site to supplement your copy of Writer's Market with. It includes extra information about the publishing industry, contests, publishers, and writer's conferences.



http://www.writing.com 
This is a wonderful site for beginner and novice writers alike. Writing.com is the site that helped me get back into writing again. Once you join, you get a portfolio of your own. There are various membership options. They are free, basic, upgraded, premium, and premium plus. The amount of portfolio space and price of the membership depends on which on you choose. The portfolio space is as follows...


Free - 10 items
Basic - 50 items
Upgraded - 250 items
Premium - 1000 items
Premium Plus - 2000 items


What makes this site even better is that other members will visit your portfolio. More likely than not, they will give you a rate and review (r & r for short). It is a wonderful community. I have made some great friends here and been a member for 9 years.


Feel free to check out my portfolio there.


http://www.writing.com/authors/amethyst78

May these magazines and websites inspire you. I hope they will provide the help and guidance you needed to reach your dreams.


Until next time...


Happy Writing!

End of Month Writing Goals

Hello again. It is near the end of January. I have been writing and editing articles for my friend. I am a freelance editor and writer. I spend more time doing this more than personal writing. This can be essays, poems, or whatever comes to mind.

That being said, I have made some goals to I want to achieve by the end of this month.

Here they are...

1 - Write two poems.

2 - Enter a contest or two at http://www.writing.com.

3 - Write more of the novel I began last November. (This is a result of the annual NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month challenge.)

Tip: When you set your writing goals, start small. 

For more information on NaNoWriMo, go here...

http://www.nanowrimo.org

Big goals (i.e. write a novel in thirty days, get published within a certain time-frame) are great. However, if you fall short of reaching them? More likely than not, you are going to berate yourself and want to give up. That is why you want to break these up in small goals. It is a step-by-step process. 

You can do it. I believe in you. You should believe in yourself, too.


Until next time...

Happy Writing!

My Love of Writing Begins

I have always loved to write since I was child. English and Spelling were tied for first place as my favorite subjects in school. The part of English class I enjoyed most was Creative Writing. I would rather do that over the boring stuff any day!

As I grew older, I wrote poetry and short stories. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of my work from that time because I did not have a computer. I wish I had made copies of it all. I would have quite the collection of material. 

With this blog, I will share my personal writing experience with you. This includes my work, writing successes, and failures.  I invite my reader, whomever you are, to join me on this journey. Enjoy yourselves. I hope this inspires you to go for your dreams without giving up. Maybe it will spark your interest in writing, too. 

Until next time ...

Happy Writing!