If you have followed my tumblr, then you realize that I have made a schedule.  So far that schedule has been working for me.  I go to work, Monday through Friday: 12pm to 8pm.  Work can be slow at times at this call center, thus giving me a lot of time to write before another call happens.  

Got a Long Way to Go:

In the above picture, I have about half of that notebook to type into my Microsoft Word document.  Then....

I'm almost done with this notebook.   Thankfully, with this job, I have gotten more of my second draft done then I ever have before while I procrastinate when I was jobless.  Learning how to make more time for myself is one of my goals while I continue to work at this temp job.  This means spending this weekend to type everything in the previous and current journals that I have pictured.  

www.indieauthortiffany.com 

Update: Paper and Inspiration

Hello guys.  It's been a while since I have updated this website.  I am sorry for that.  I'm still writing this book.  The more that I write my book, the more I figure out the plot.  On Saturday's I will be writing what I have in my notebook, into Word Document.  

About two weeks ago, I met someone who has been writing their book for thirteen years.  I often wonder how long it would take me to write my book.   That is a good sign of dedication and his dedication does inspire me to continue writing my book.  I actually met the guy, in person, a few years ago at an anime convention.  I read his first draft.  He has come a long way.

Now since I finally got a job.  I think about this man when I need some inspiration to write and continue working.  He works at a very popular shopping store which I have worked at before.  I hated every moment of working at that store and would go home and sleep or complain soon afterwards.  Knowing how hellish that store is and how much dedication this guy has, is really inspiring.  

I want to finish the second draft of my book before August.  

Indie Author Tiffany 

Plans for The Future

Hello guys.  I have not updated in a while.  I am sorry for that.  Yes, this blog is still alive.  Unfortunately, real life stuff gets in the way and a lack of motivation does take over.  Thankfully, I am on the second draft of this ebook.  I have about 28 pages so far.  Who knows what will be cut out or kept in once the second draft is made and the editing really kicks in.

In the meantime, in order to keep my blog updated and not forgotten.  I plan on doing some book reviews on books that I am reading in order to help me with my writing.  One such book is Writing Dialogue  by Tom Chiarella.  I admit that my dialogue is pretty weak and I have no idea how to make my dialogue interesting or natural.  There will be a book review once I am done with the various exercises in this book.

Aside from book reviews, I am going to start posting weekly updates.  This will help keep my recent followers updated.  

Indie Author Tiffany

World Building and Researching Part 1

Researching 

In addition to finishing my first rough draft for my story, I have started world building.  One of my first posts on this website discussed that the setting of my story will be in Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States.  Although I have lived near that area since 1993, there is still a lot to learn about the city's beach, events, and even its history.

Through writing my first draft, I ended up adding a fantasy realm for my merpeople to in habit.  The setting in my fantasy realm takes place at a village near a beach.  Due to taking Marine Biology in 2006, I forgot a lot of information I learned about the ocean.

These are what I am using to regain that knowledge of the ocean.  

This book is not just filled with pretty pictures but also a ton of information about the ocean.  I plan on reading this book fully; front and back.  My story has a ton of sea travel and I better know the ocean like the back of my hand.

 

Videos on Youtube and Animal Planet

There are a ton of playlists and channels dedicated to oceanography on youtube.  One of the most interesting sources was Mermaids: The Body Found.   This creative documentary has some people believing that merpeople exist with various stories of mermaid bodies found or encounters with mermaids.  I never knew about the Aquatic Ape Theory until I saw this documentary.  

This post was originally on Indie Author Tiffany.

Moving Beyond National Novel Writing Month (November)

Today is January the first, 2014 and I hope that everyone has had a Happy New Year.  I am still writing my novel beyond the 50,000 word goal.  Part of my writing process has me writing some parts of my story in my notebook, some parts in a writing app on my iPhone, and then putting everything together on my computer.

Writing Tips

What I use to write with depends on whatever I have lying around, if I'm waiting for an appointment, or who is with me.  For some reason, typing in my Iphone is more acceptable than writing in my notebook when I am with friends.   Everyone thinks I am writing a long text message to a friend rather than trying to add more words to a long story.  

I have joined National Writing Month's forum which is open all year long.  You can click here to view my profile.  Also feel free to add me as a friend on the forum.  It's always nice to see what others are writing.  There are a few very helpful threads that have helped me continue writing my novel.

One thing that helped me out last month was knowing that I was writing a rough draft.  There was and still is no need to feel like every word on paper or screen has to be perfect.  Editing will become important on the second draft and whenever I let another pair of eyes view my work.   What slowed me down on the first week was constantly stopping and editing my work as if I was on the final draft.  

The last tip was generally knowing what direction my story was going, what my character's personalities were like, and how my characters respond to certain situations.  For me, knowing such things helped prevent writers block and kept me writing.

This post was originally from Indie Author Tiffany

Winning National Novel Writing Month

Last month was the ever so popular National Novel Writing Month.  Each participant had the chance to reach the goal of writing 50,000 words.  I started participating in National Novel Writing Month  around the second week of November.  There was a lot of time sitting at home, turning down friends who wanted to hang out, or leaving parties early to return to my novel.

I'm not sure how I would have felt if I did not reach my goal.  There was a ton of sadness I felt at the idea of not reaching my goal.  I guess that sadness was the competitive side of me who did not want to tell my friends that I did not reach my 50,000 words goal; especially after turning down so many chances to hang out with them.

Last month I believe I spent the most time in years typing my story down.  There is a good feeling in no longer having my story exist in my head.  In other words, National Novel Writing Month was fun.  I hope to participate in the event again next year.  

Networking and National Writing Month

Getting Tips in Unlikely Places

So last week was Nekocon, an anime convention.  At the end of a panel titled "How to Make Your Geek Job a Reality", I had the opportunity to share with the panelists the websites I have created.  While I was there at the anime convention to promote websites not titled "Indie Author Tiffany", one of the panelists discussed National Novel Writing Month.  

National Novel Writing Month 

Apparently November is a month when writers get together and write a novel as soon as possible.  Before I turned ten I was able to quickly create long stories within a month and check my grammar and spelling mistakes to the best of my abilities (the best a ten-year-old could).  I find with a deadline, cases with writer's block has been happening less and less now.   My deadline for this month is to finish my rough draft for my story or at least get REALLY close to finishing my electronic book.

I just created an account today on National Novel Writing Month.  There are prizes for people who accomplish writing 50,000 words at the end of November but I am more concerned with finishing my rough draft.   

This Website 

For anyone who is actually reading this website, may have noticed that I barely update.  The reason for the lack of updates is simple; I do not know what to write about on this site.  That's the honest truth.  In addition to writing my first draft at a quick pace this month, I will be looking at other indie author websites and seeing what these authors put on their websites.   By doing this, I will get some ideas and there will be more posts in the future.

This post brought to you by the website: Indie Author Tiffany